[WarrenH]

Hello, I'm back for the first time in a year and a half. Old computer had dying graphics card and insufficient power supply, so I just built my own system for the first time. Running Windows 7 (64-bit) with Kaspersky security system. Would like some help finding additional security progams that are Windows 7 friendly. Have used TFC, Malwarebytes, Spyware Blaster, Spyware Guard and SuperAntispyware in the past. Not sure if they are Windows 7 friendly and whether these programs are still recommended. Would appreciate a response and helpful links to anything I need to download. I want to build a fortress ahead of time to minimize the trips I have to make to the Malware forum to clean the system up. Your help is always appreciated. Thank you, WarrenH

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Hi WarrenH,

Welcome back to Geeks to Go!

Could you provide the exact version of the Kaspersky security system that you have installed? This way we can determine what exactly is needed so the fortress that we build to protect you does not come tumbling down due to being over secure.

While I await your response I will gather some information and other programs that will be helpful to you.

Donna

[DonnaB]

Hi WarrenH,

Welcome back to Geeks to Go!

Could you provide the exact version of the Kaspersky security system that you have installed? This way we can determine what exactly is needed so the fortress that we build to protect you does not come tumbling down due to being over secure.

While I await your response I will gather some information and other programs that will be helpful to you.

Donna

[Digerati]

No sure why you are looking for more with Kaspersky security system in place. It provides anti-malware and has a firewall. That's what you need - along with good user discipline (since the user is always the weakest link).

I run 64-bit Windows 7 on all my systems and use Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) as my anti-malware solution, with Windows Firewall. Then every week or so, I perform supplemental scanning with Malwarebytes's Anti-Malware - though in 2 years with this setup, MBAM has never found anything MSE missed.

The rest is up to me. I don't participate in illegal filesharing via torrents or through peer-to-peer (P2P) sites, I don't visit illegal porn or gambling sites, and I don't click on unsolicited links or downloads.

Note that Windows 7 is not XP. XP was designed over 10 years ago and was designed to support legacy hardware and software from 10 years before that - in the DOS era. And XP was designed with security as an afterthought.

Windows 7 was designed to support today's software and hardware with security a top priority. And 64-bit Windows 7 is more secure than even 32-bit Windows 7.

[WarrenH]

Thanks Donna and Digerati,

I've installed Kaspersky Internet Security 2012.

Sounds like you're saying I just need to put Malewarebytes on it and run it once a week or something and I'm probably fine.

[DonnaB]

You're welcome! And if I may add the following:

Sounds like you're saying I just need to put Malewarebytes on it and run it once a week or something and I'm probably fine.

Pretty much! Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 is an excellent program that covers all the bases. Click on the link to Kaspersky and scroll down a bit and click on Features and Benefits. Though not every AV is fool proof. Total safe surfing comes down to the person behind the controls. You!

Depending on how often you use your computer you need a basic maintenance schedule of sorts. Here's what I do for my Personal Computers.

1.) Run Ccleaner:

Download Ccleaner if you don't have it already.

Install and use with the default settings.

NOTE:
Ccleaner includes a Registry cleaner, and we advise not to use this or any registry cleaner as there have been reports of them clearing out needed registry entries and messing up PCs. In addition, what they do clean up is so small that little or no advantages are noticed.

Also, modifying registry keys incorrectly can cause Windows instability, or make Windows unbootable. No registry cleaner is completely safe and the potential is ever present to cause more problems than they claim to fix.

Registry cleaners cannot distinguish between good and bad. If you run a registry cleaner, it will delete all those keys which are obsolete and sitting idle; but in reality, those keys may well be needed by some programs or windows at a later time.

TOUR > http://www.piriform....er-installation

2.) TFC-Temporary File Cleaner by Oldtimer

Download TFC-Temporary File Cleaner

Double-click TFC.exe to run it.

Note: If you are running on Vista, right-click on the file and choose Run As Administrator

TFC will close all programs when run, somake sure you have saved all your work before you begin.

• Click the Start button to begin the cleaning process.
• Depending on how often you clean temp files, execution time should be anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or two.
• Please let TFC run uninterrupted until it is finished.

Do not be alarmed when the desktop disappears. It will reappear on reboot.

Once TFC is finished it should restart your computer. If it does not, please manually restart the computer yourself to ensure a complete cleaning.

3.) Disk cleanup which is included in Windows.

4.) Windows Defrag- I personally prefer Auslogics Disk Defrag though you will find Windows defrag is included with your OS that is installed.

Auslogics Disk Defrag:

It does a more comprehensive job at Defragging
It will actually show you what it is doing
At the end of working it will show you how much speed you picked up
You can view an online log of the files that Auslogics defragged
Please do not run any other Auslogics programs other then this one as they may cause unwanted results.

5.) Malwarebytes that I scan with 2 - 3 times a month.

I perform the above maintenance procedure in the order given above.

6.) I also have WOT (Web of Trust) installed.

• WOT, (Web of Trust), warns you about risky websites that try to scam visitors, deliver malware or send spam. Protect your computer against online threats by using WOT as your front-line layer of protection when browsing or searching in unfamiliar territory.
• WOT's color-coded icons show you ratings for 21 million websites, helping you avoid the dangerous sites:
  
  • Green to go
  • Yellow for caution
  • Red to stop
• WOT has an addon available for Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Opera.

Also, please read the following links to help prevent infection and enhance your safe computing abilities to prevent from having to visit the Removal forum.

Basic Computer Security for the Home User
How to Prevent Malware
Preventing Malware and Safe Computing
"So how did I get infected in the first place?" © Tony Klein

Some of my own tips for safe computing:

• Make sure Realtime scanning is enabled. A Firewall is a definite plus.
• If you can't afford a cost effective virus protection then use some free online tools.
• Don't trust pop-ups that tell you that you may have spyware on your machine. Most of these are money making schemes designed to get you to buy their removal product, which in some cases also contain malware. For a list of those to avoid see here: Rogue Programs to avoid
• Make back-ups of your most personal files frequently by whatever means you have available, i.e. Tape, CD, DVD, USB Drives, Ghost programs, etc. You never know when you'll have to reformat and start from scratch and without current backups of your personal files, you're basically at a lose. You can always reformat and reinstall programs, but you cannot replace your data if you haven't made backups.
• Be careful where you "surf". If you know you are going to click a site that is questionable, then at least be intelligent enough to disable javascript, java, ActiveX installations, etc... You "surf" these sites at your own risk.
• Uninstall and quit using P2P networking programs like Kazaa, BearShare, eMule and Limewire. These are your most likely weakest links if you're using them. Primarily most stuff transferred is illegally obtained and if you won't give it up you eventually pay the consequences.
• Don't give access to your computer to friends/family who appear to be clueless about what they are doing. Otherwise you'll come home from school/work one day and your computer will be trashed. In my opinion, a PC is just that, a PC (Personal Computer).
• When in doubt -- don't download it and don't install it until you've researched it.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask!

Donna

[WarrenH]

Donna,

you've been very helpful. Thank you so much for your time!

WarrenH

[DonnaB]

WarrenH,

It was my pleasure.

As I said above, we're only a click away if you ever have questions or concerns.

Donna