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Now some steps to help make your computer more secure in the future and some final "housekeeping" procedures.
Step 1 - Enable UAC
User Account Control will prompt you for permission when a task needs adminstrative rights, some people disable it because they find it bothersome, but UAC enabled helps to prevent your computer from unauthorized changes, such as installing software, which makes it more difficult for malware to install inself on your computer.
To turn on UAC:
- Open User Accounts by clicking the Start
of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking User Accounts and Family Safety (or clicking User Accounts, if you are connected to a network domain), and then clicking User Accounts. - Click Turn User Account Control on or off.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. - Select the Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer check box to turn on UAC, or clear the check box to turn off UAC, and then click OK.
Step 2 - Keep your programs updated
There are several programs on your computer out of date the creators of malware like to target.
Java
- Please download JavaRa v2.1 to your desktop and unzip it to its own folder
- Run JavaRa.exe, then click on Remove Java Runtime.
- Select the Java version you have from the drop down list, and then click on Run Uninstaller
- Press Yes if it asks to uninstall the product.
- Allow the uninstaller to remove the installed version.
- When its finished, go back to JavaRa, and click Back
- Click on Update Java Runtime and then select Download and install latest version.
- Press Next
- Press Java Manual Download.
- A browser window will open with the Java download page.
- Click the Windows offline link to download Java.
- Run the installer.
- Close JavaRa
- Since Java is not needed to browse the internet, it is advised that you disable it in your browers. Instructions can be found here
Adobe Reader
Acrobat Reader can be downloaded here. Please make sure to uncheck the "Yes, install McAfee Security Scan Plus - optional"
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox can be downloaded here.
Step 3- Firewall Protection
There are several options I would recommend for a firewall to help protect your computer. Windows has a built in firewall that you can enable if you choose to do so. Instructions to turn on the firewall can be found here . If you would prefer a different firewall, Comodo Personal Firewall and Sunbelt Personal Firewall are two good options for a FREE firewall to help protect your computer from any unwanted intruders.
Step 4 - Clear Restore Points
Create a new, clean System Restore point:
- Right click on Computer and select Properties >> System protection >> Create.
- Give this restore point a descriptive name and click Create.
- When the new restore point is created click on OK >> close the System Properties window.
Flush Old System Restore points:
- Next click Start (Windows 7 Orb) >> Run (or the Windows key and R together) to bring up the Run box and and copy and paste in:
cleanmgr
- in the box and press OK.
- Select the system drive, C >> OK.
- Ensure the boxes for Recycle Bin, Temporary Files and Temporary Internet Files are checked, you can choose to check other boxes if you wish but they are not required.
- Click on Clean up system files >> Select the system drive, C >> OK.
- Now click on the More Options tab.
- Under:
- Click on Clean up... >> Delete >> OK >> Delete Files.
Step 5 - OTL Cleanup
- Open OTL
- Click the CleanUp button at the top, it will ask to reboot your PC, please allow it to do so
And some other general information to help keep your computer clean in the future.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Anti Malware Protection ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MalwareBytes Anti-Malware This is an excellent Anti-Malware product. It offers free malware scanning, free malware removal, and free updates. It is recommended to periodically run a Quick Scan to keep your PC as clean as possible. Remember to check for updates before running a scan, so click the Update tab along the top, then click Check for Updates.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Free Antivirus Protection ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Always make sure you have an antivirus program! If for some reason in the future you'd like to switch programs here are some recomendations: Microsoft Security Essentials or Avast! Antivirus both are FREE to use. Please remember that you can only have one Antivirus installed at a time.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Staying Updated ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keeping your PC updated is important to protect yourself against future infections. There are many infections which will exploit loopholes within Windows itself, Java and Adobe Reader. Keeping these updated is a very good habit to get into.
Automatic Updates Updates to your Operating System are vital in closing loopholes and fixing bugs which some infections exploit. To keep your Windows updated, ensure that 'Automatic Updates' is enabled on your PC so updates are downloaded and installed automatically. Click here to find out how.
File Hippo Download and install FileHippo update checker and run it monthly it will show you which programs on your system need updating and give a download link.
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