Common Security Settings

Hi mixxie,

Quick suggestion, as you're allready using Firefox, most likely the malwares/spywares you received are tracking cookies. Spywareblaster will avoid those from even entering your system:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Also, keep in mind, every program you download can contain ad/spyware unless confirmed the other way. Kazaa is not safe, bittorrent is not safe, any other p2p program is not safe. The networks used by them are filled with ad/spyware and virusses (who sais the person that first released a program didn't use an allready infected computer to do so?)

Then, keep windows up-to-date, always! Security patches come out regularly and not for the fun of it.

An overview of other things that you can consider are listed at:
http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/

Greetings,

LucF

Spybot is good.
adaware goes well with it.

Might be a good idea to create an account which has almost NO rights on the computer. Use that one to get your torrents.
Also with windowskey+L you can switch between the admin acct and the new stripped account. So you can run spybot on the adminaccount whilst getting torrents and stuff.

Also where's your AV? You need a proper antivirus program. I suggest kaspersky (for AV as well as firewall really).

I use SpyBot in combination with Ad-Aware.  Make your passwords complicated.  If you need more control and want to lock things down more run the command gpedit.msc to be able to tweak the local security policy.

Also try this.
Make it so only the admin can config the firewall.

Then delete all access rules.
Reboot.

Only let the critical processes pass through.

Keep it nice and tidy!

Here is a list of good programs:

Program name / where to download / progtam type
Zonealarm (www.zonelabs.com) (firewall)
Ad-aware (www.lavasoft.com) (anti add/spyware)
AVG antivirus Professional (www.grisoft.com) (antivirus, i prefer it above norton)
Spybot, Search and Destroy (http://www.spybot.info) (anti Spyware)
Wheresjames (www.wheresjames.com) (Startup controll)

Also make sure you check c:\windows\sytem32 regulary (assuming your standart harddrive is c:) look for programs that have been added\cganges recently. programs in the system32 directory DONT need to be in the system registery to run. that means that you cant simply check what programs start on startup

Second, UPDATE your antivirus regular. new virusses come out all the time, so dont think (like many people) you are safe behind old definations.

Furthermore, check regulary what programs run on your PC by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL if you see a program you never saw before, watch it. if it seems hostile (you get a feeling for that if you watch often) kill it.

Last thing i want to mention is checking if noone is making a connection attempt to your modem(and especially telephone modem). If someone connects to your telephone modem, he can break the password, and work on your name with it. the thing that follows is that he can internet on your costs, and that he can use it as a layer between himself, and illegal stuff. make sure that doesnt happen.

oh, and if u want REAL security, try linux.... nothing is better then linux in the security part

Don't over do it with software protections.  It's alright with an antivirus scanner (e.g. norton), a spyware detector (e.g. adaware) and a decent firewall (e.g. norton internet security) -- that is, one each -- any more added will just become an overhead and slow your pc to a craw.  

What's better protection?  Consider these:
A hardware firewall, for instance, use the firewall in your router.
A backup plan, i.e. get a DVD burnner, image your boot disk (with software like Norton Ghost) to a dvd for easy restoration, and backup everything else at least once a month.
Keep your OS, programs and data on separate partition/drives.  Limit your windows partition to less than 6G for easy backup.

Unless you want to spend half of your life on the computer, don't touch linux.  It's tough, demanding, addictive, too much to learn for Bittorrent sake, and just as (in)secure as Windows out of the box.

(Just for the record, BSD is considered more secure than Linux)

"Unless you want to spend half of your life on the computer, don't touch linux.  It's tough, demanding, addictive, too much to learn for Bittorrent sake, and just as (in)secure as Windows out of the box."

Agreed, but it IS better then windows for security

"Don't over do it with software protections.  It's alright with an antivirus scanner (e.g. norton), a spyware detector (e.g. adaware) and a decent firewall (e.g. norton internet security) -- that is, one each -- any more added will just become an overhead and slow your pc to a craw."

i never said they have to run AT A TIME. i have on acces firewall,virusscanner,registery and spyware protection. however, 1 program, can miss out spyware. That point has already been proven. because they use other scanning tactics, some spyware just wont be seen.

i dont want to sound paranoid however. you are right that 1 of them at a time is enough, and in case you suspect spyware/virus, use the other to for a much more complete check(or a once in 2 month complete scan).

its always hard. security takes ram, CPU and all other things that u sometimes dont wanna miss. but 1 main program of each, and the rest as an aid, will do just fine.

Indeed, the use of alternative scanners adds defence in depth.  Although installing more than one of any given types of scanners (virus or spyware) will do more harm to your productivity than bringing you security, I do highly recommend the use of the free online scanner services, such as these:

Virus scanner
Panda: http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
Macfee: http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/
Symantec: http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp

Spyware scanner
http://www.spywareguide.com/txt_onlinescan.html

The online scanner doesn't add any overhead to your system, and you can be sure they are up to date.  The downside is they will not remove the threat if found, and it's up to you to fix it.