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Anti virus & other useful tips…

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Alekko

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Hi everyone,

I’m starting this thread after reading that some of our members are having problems with viruses and spam. I wish all of you to contribute with your suggestions how to keep our computers and e-mails clean from viruses, spam and adware.

I’ll start first…

Viruses:

If you use Outlook or Outlook Express (not sure for other programs), make sure that all your folders are set to View --> Current View --> Messages with AutoPreview. This way, you’ll see 3 rows of the text in the body for the unread msg.

You’ll be able to see who you got mail from, what is the message and if there is an attachment. If you think that it is suspicious and it has an attachment, just delete it. This way (in this preview), you are NOT activating the virus. If you double-click on the e-mail (to open it) containing a virus, virus WILL be activated. So, previewing and deleting without opening the e-mail will save you of getting the virus.

Users of Outlook 2003, you have to go to View --> Reading Pane --> Off, AND select View --> AutoPreview.

Additionally, make sure that your anti virus program is always up-to-date (you won’t believe me how careless some people are).

Good and free anti virus program that I can highly recommend is Grisoft’s AVG Free Addition, found here:

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

Scroll down to the end of the page to download it. Save it to your computer and run installation. After that, you can tweak: when you want program to check for new definition updates, schedule HD(s) scanning, set to check incoming and outgoing e-mail and much more. My parents and friends are using this program for many years without ever getting a virus.

I use Symantec (Corporate Addition from my office). There are also stand-alone versions. Symantec is another great program, but it is not free. But I can highly recommend it (anti virus program ONLY).

Spam:

If you have Outlook (not sure for Outlook Express) you could set it to send those spams to the specific folder and just briefly go through them to ensure that you’re not going to delete something that was unnecessary flagged as a spam.

Adware/Spyware:

Also, there are good programs for detecting and/or preventing adwares and similar garbage getting into your computer.

One that will keep your computer of getting it is free Spyware Blaster, found here:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

After installing it, you can download the latest database and protect your computer from getting them. You have to download the database manually (it is free ver. after all :)), so do it on a regular base. It WON’T clean your PC from what you already have, it’ll just prevent from getting it.

To check & clean, you’ll have to use something like LavaSoft’s Ad-Aware, found here:

http://www.lavasoft.com/

I used this program, but I didn’t update it to the new version yet. I will appreciate someone else’s suggestions about these kinds of programs, those that you have good experience with.

Pop-ups & banners

Another kind of programs are the one which will prevent those ads and pop-up windows while you browsing.

The one that I use and recommend is free Secret Maker, found here:

http://www.secretmaker.com/

It has many other settings (not just pop-up and banners blocking) so read the info and set it according to your needs. New version of IE has good pop-up blocker, but I use both.

But common sense is always the best prevention…

Hope this helps and that you’ll have safe computers.

Cheers everyone,
Alex.

--
Oly E-300 (ver. 1.2), C-8080 (ver. 75) & IS3.
Oly 14-45, Sigma 55-200, HLD-3 & FL-36.
OM 4/3 adapter, OM 50mm 1.8, EC-14 1.4x Teleconverter.

http://alekko.fotopic.net - C-8080 - Wowzie
http://alekk.fotopic.net - E-300 - Voltzie

 
I knew about this program, but I never used it and, because of that, didn’t want to mention it. It is good and I’m glad that you suggested it. I’ll try it, because I don’t have one right now.

I hope will get more good suggestions…

Cheers,
Alex.
 
I hope some will be useful to you.

Cheers,
Alex.
 
Alex,

As you noted the best source of protection is using safe hex habits and common sense. Here's a few links for you ...

BroadbandReports.com Security FAQs -- Very extensive list of security FAQs ...
http://www.broadbandreports.com/faq/security
... especially the
How to Secure (and Keep Secure) My (New) Computer(s): A Layered Approach
http://www.broadbandreports.com/faq/8463

In addition to antivirus need a good anti-trojan, malware and key logger scanner.
a² http://www.a-2.org/en/software/free/
and
Ewido http://www.ewido.net/en/
have "free version" of their software

The 16 Best-ever Freeware Utilities
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_16_free_utilities.htm

If you're using Firefox, the IDN Info extension
http://4t2.cc/mozilla/idn/en

is a good extension to alert you that a domain name contains characters that can be confused with other characters, a popup message warns of possible domain spoofing.

--

 
Unfortunately Spybot S&D 1.3 has fallen behind.

In the latest PCWorld Spyware tests
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,119572,00.asp
Spybot S&D only caught 54% of adware and spyware in their tests.

Seen similar results in other tests.

Hopefully the new 1.4 version, now in beta, will fair better.

Like most others, I've used both Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware for years.

Recently uninstalled Spybot S&D and now using Microsoft AntiSpyware which Microsoft bought from Giant.
--

 
Jon,

Thanks for these links. They’ll keep us busy for days. I’m very interested in a2. So far, I kept my PC clean, but I wanted to try it.

Excellent post Jon.

Thanks,
Alex.
 
Alekko said:
Jon,

Thanks for these links. They’ll keep us busy for days. I’m very interested in a2. ....
Click to expand...
You're welcome.

a² has improved/added features lately -- unfortunately most of the "good" features are not available in a² Free; only a² Personal. (USD 39.95)

Both a² Personal and Ewido Security Suite are relatively new and neither have program "Help" files or user guide/manual available in English at this time.

Awhile back after using both a² and Ewido I decided to buy the Ewido Security Suite and continue using the a² Free as a stand alone second scanner. Two main reasons for choosing Ewido Security Suite was it can scan archives and has the quarantine option for suspicious files you were not sure about removing. The only major plus a² had over Ewido, at the time, was a² has their own forum.

When it comes time to renew my Ewido Security Suite I'll definitely give a² Personal another look.

Anti-trojan Software Reviews
http://www.anti-trojan-software-reviews.com/

--

 
Overall, very good suggestions, though I'm not fully comfortable with enabling any kind of preview pane. That might be enough for a webbug to phone home or some way for a virus to get a tiny foothold.

Rather, if things look suspicious, into a quarantine bin it goes until I have more time to examine the message more carefully. That's at least at work where I have to use Outlook. At home I use an old but reliable "brain dead" mail program that doesn't render HTML and can't auto-launch anything. :-)

On the anti-spyware front, the Microsoft product is very Zone-Alarm-like in its behavior, for those that use and like that tool. It's currently in "beta" which means free for now, but it will eventually cost to keep updated.

Note that unlike Adaware and Spybot, the MS product attempts to actively prevent spyware infections, not just identify and clean them after the fact.

For pop-up control (not prevention, as some are good/useful/needed), and full protection against Internet Explorer bugs and Active-X vulnerabilities ..... use Firefox. :-)

(But keep it updated regularly as they've had a few issues of their own recently -- but all promptly fixed).
Alekko said:
Hi everyone,

I’m starting this thread after reading that some of our members are
having problems with viruses and spam. I wish all of you to
contribute with your suggestions how to keep our computers and
e-mails clean from viruses, spam and adware.

I’ll start first…

Viruses:

If you use Outlook or Outlook Express (not sure for other
programs), make sure that all your folders are set to View -->
Current View --> Messages with AutoPreview. This way, you’ll see 3
rows of the text in the body for the unread msg.

You’ll be able to see who you got mail from, what is the message
and if there is an attachment. If you think that it is suspicious
and it has an attachment, just delete it. This way (in this
preview), you are NOT activating the virus. If you double-click on
the e-mail (to open it) containing a virus, virus WILL be
activated. So, previewing and deleting without opening the e-mail
will save you of getting the virus.

Users of Outlook 2003, you have to go to View --> Reading Pane -->
Off, AND select View --> AutoPreview.

Additionally, make sure that your anti virus program is always
up-to-date (you won’t believe me how careless some people are).

Good and free anti virus program that I can highly recommend is
Grisoft’s AVG Free Addition, found here:

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

Scroll down to the end of the page to download it. Save it to your
computer and run installation. After that, you can tweak: when you
want program to check for new definition updates, schedule HD(s)
scanning, set to check incoming and outgoing e-mail and much more.
My parents and friends are using this program for many years
without ever getting a virus.

I use Symantec (Corporate Addition from my office). There are also
stand-alone versions. Symantec is another great program, but it is
not free. But I can highly recommend it (anti virus program ONLY).

Spam:

If you have Outlook (not sure for Outlook Express) you could set it
to send those spams to the specific folder and just briefly go
through them to ensure that you’re not going to delete something
that was unnecessary flagged as a spam.

Adware/Spyware:

Also, there are good programs for detecting and/or preventing
adwares and similar garbage getting into your computer.

One that will keep your computer of getting it is free Spyware
Blaster, found here:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

After installing it, you can download the latest database and
protect your computer from getting them. You have to download the
database manually (it is free ver. after all :)), so do it on a
regular base. It WON’T clean your PC from what you already have,
it’ll just prevent from getting it.

To check & clean, you’ll have to use something like LavaSoft’s
Ad-Aware, found here:

http://www.lavasoft.com/

I used this program, but I didn’t update it to the new version yet.
I will appreciate someone else’s suggestions about these kinds of
programs, those that you have good experience with.

Pop-ups & banners

Another kind of programs are the one which will prevent those ads
and pop-up windows while you browsing.

The one that I use and recommend is free Secret Maker, found here:

http://www.secretmaker.com/

It has many other settings (not just pop-up and banners blocking)
so read the info and set it according to your needs. New version of
IE has good pop-up blocker, but I use both.

But common sense is always the best prevention…

Hope this helps and that you’ll have safe computers.

Cheers everyone,
Alex.

--
Oly E-300 (ver. 1.2), C-8080 (ver. 75) & IS3.
Oly 14-45, Sigma 55-200, HLD-3 & FL-36.
OM 4/3 adapter, OM 50mm 1.8, EC-14 1.4x Teleconverter.

http://alekko.fotopic.net - C-8080 - Wowzie
http://alekk.fotopic.net - E-300 - Voltzie

Click to expand...
 
Hi Inigo,
Inigo Montoya said:
I'm not fully comfortable
with enabling any kind of preview pane. That might be enough for
a webbug to phone home or some way for a virus to get a tiny
foothold.
Rather, if things look suspicious, into a quarantine bin it goes
until I have more time to examine the message more carefully.
That's at least at work where I have to use Outlook. At home I use
an old but reliable "brain dead" mail program that doesn't render
HTML and can't auto-launch anything. :-)
Click to expand...
You could be right. I tested this few years ago with infected e-mails and it was OK. This is per Microsoft’s recommendation we found on their site. But time has changed…

That MS version of Zone Alarm seems to be a good program according to reviews. But because it is expected not to be free version after beta testing is over, I didn’t want to get “used” to it. But many I know like it.

Thanks for your suggestions,
Alex.
 
Inigo Montoya said:
Note that unlike Adaware and Spybot, the MS product attempts to
actively prevent spyware infections, not just identify and clean
them after the fact.
Click to expand...
Spybot S&D's resident "SD Helper" and "TeaTimer" does provide some limited protection from spyware/adware making changes to your system. But the combination of Javacool's free SypywareBlaster and SpywareGuard have been rated better.

The paid versions of Ad-Aware includes Ad-Watch which provide resident protection to system.

--

 
Alekko said:
That MS version of Zone Alarm seems to be a good program according
to reviews. But because it is expected not to be free version after
beta testing is over, I didn’t want to get “used” to it. But many I
know like it.
Click to expand...
There's no "Microsoft" version of ZoneAlarm I'm aware of -- MS did team up with Computer Associates "CA" to offer a 1-year free subscription of CA's eTrust EZ Armor Security Suite which is a combination of eTrust EZ Firewall and eTrust EZ Antivirus. The EZ Firewall is rebaged older version of ZoneAlarm Pro.

At the very beginning of the MS/CA promo it was the full version of EZ Armor, shortly after it was "EZ Armor LE". The firewall in the "LE" version (like the option in ZoneAlarm Free) had a trial period of full version of EZ Firewall that prior to end of the trial period you had to pay or it became a version similar to ZoneAlarm Free.

MS did buy Giant AntiSpyware which is now Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta. The last I've read MS is going to provide it free for Win XP users.

http://news.com.com/Windows+anti-spyware+to+come+free+of+charge/2100-7355_3-5577202.html

Recall reading another article about IE 7 that mentioned that IE 7 and MS AntiSpyware was to be integrated.

--

 
Great info Jon, I really appreciate your knowledgeable coments.
Jon_T said:
MS did buy Giant AntiSpyware which is now Microsoft AntiSpyware
Beta. The last I've read MS is going to provide it free for Win XP
users.

http://news.com.com/Windows+anti-spyware+to+come+free+of+charge/2100-7355_3-5577202.html
Click to expand...
Jon_T said:
Recall reading another article about IE 7 that mentioned that IE 7
and MS AntiSpyware was to be integrated.
Click to expand...
This is good news. I didn’t know about this.

Cheers,
Alex.
 
My combination at home :

Firefox Browser 1.0.4 + Ad Aware + Avast Antivirus (much lighter than Norton, Mc Afee,etc , as efficient and free) + Spybot S&D + Black Ice Firewall + Secretmaker = no problems so far

Pretty much the same combination at work without Black Ice (we use hardware firewalls)

--
Cheers,
Alex

My C770 Gallery : http://www.nightfall.gr/gallery

 
Thanks Alex. Nice protection.

You reminded me that I forgot to mention firewalls, because I have a High Speed at home with a router/firewall and didn’t even think to mention that.

Thanks for this,
Alex.
 
Hi Inigo,
Inigo Montoya said:
I'm not fully comfortable
with enabling any kind of preview pane. That might be enough for
a webbug to phone home or some way for a virus to get a tiny
foothold.
Click to expand...
Just in case if you are interested…

I just tested this feature once again. Colleague of mine got an e-mail with the virus. He was not sure what it is and fwd it to me. I checked and saw that our Symantec program will protect me.

So, I did a test. I switched back my folder view to default (without auto preview and with reading pane ON – feature only in Outlook 2003). As soon as I selected that e-mail, it activated anti virus protection and virus was deleted. On older versions of the Outlook (2002 and below) this will be like double-click and open. This means that virus will be activated. Nothing new here :).

Then I asked my colleague to send me that e-mail once again. I switched back to preview and turned off the pane. I selected the e-mail, and nothing happened. Virus was not activated. I could safely delete it and empty Deleted Items folder.

But common sense should be the first protection…

Hope this will help,
Alex.
 
Alekko said:
I just tested this feature once again. Colleague of mine got an
e-mail with the virus. He was not sure what it is and fwd it to me.
I checked and saw that our Symantec program will protect me.
Click to expand...
The preview panel vulnerabilities had to do with HTML code embedded into the header of the e-mail. Hence exposing those using the preview panel to the vulnerabilities without actually opening the e-mail.

I would have thought MS had fixed the preview panel vulnerabilities by now -- quite old. (FYI I don't use either because their of past/ongoing vulnerabilities -- I use Mozilla Suite for browser/e-mail; prior to Mozilla used Netscape)

If MS has not fully fixed the preview panel vulnerabilities, a work around fix in Outlook and Outlook Express has been to set to "Read" all e-mail as plain text, and in the security settings settings use "Restricted Sites Zone" (make sure the Restricted Sites Zone is set to High) and "Block images and other external content in HTML e-mail". (If recall correctly some of the older versions of Outlook and/or Outlook Express did not have the option to read e-mail as text)

Also just to note that "most" current AV apps now have e-mail scanning, several years ago only the top AV apps like Norton Antivirus had e-mail scanning.

--

 
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