How to make windows invincible? Same problem - different tonicum!

General Topics
1

Hi malware fighters,

The problem is similar as described here: http://invincible-windows.blogspot.com/
The solutions to achieve this could differ a bit. The general outline is also the same. Like in the article for step 1 I would recommend other free scanners like avast and a couple of other on-demand scanners (DrWebCurit, stinger.exe, MBAM, SAS, SpywareBlaster, RUBotted, Threatfire, etc. while I am not particularly fond of the big ones because well malcreants create their malcode with these in mind, for step 3 I would only suggest real time scanning as additional to the avast shield’s scanning. And for step4 I would like to suggest in-browser security added to Firefox in the form of security extensions: NoScript, finjan, WOT, RequestPolicy, Firekeeper, JSView, CSP, ABP with the malware blocking list. And furthermore another important step to make your Windows OS invincible is to use it with normal user rights for your normal online activities, so 92 % of known malware have far lesser impact on the Operational System than with full admin rights. Now waiting for your personal brew to make Windows invincible to to-day’s threats?

polonus

2

Wow…didnt thought of this… :o

This seems effective!

Ill try…^^

Thanks pol^^

-AnimeLover^^

3

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Well, since you asked… :slight_smile: I think trying to make Windows invincible is more trouble than it’s worth. Each user needs to strike a personal compromise between security and usability. Here’s what I do:

  1. Keep my OS and software up-to-date. Use automatic updates wherever they’re available.
  2. Practice safe hex. Staying away from dodgy sites. Don’t execute any unsolicited content in an email, even if Avast doesn’t block it. AV and other anti-malware can’t reliably protect me from new exploits. Download software only from reputable sites. If I feel a need to scan a download with my AV because I’m not sure of the provider, then I shouldn’t be using it anyhow.
  3. Backup all important data.
  4. Use a relatively secure, less popular browser such as Firefox.
  5. Use a NAT router.

My mother does 1-5. I’m not surprised she never has any problem. I also do the following:

  • Use Avast On-access scanner with the Standard Shield and Network Shield.
  • Disable all active content from anywhere but trusted, whitelisted sites by default with the Firefox NoScript extension.
  • Use the Perspectives extension for Firefox to guard against a man-in-the-middle attack when using an encrypted connection.
  • Use a software firewall to control outbound Internet connections. I use the ancient Sygate Personal Firewall 5.6.
  • Monitor system changes with WinPatrol.
  • Use Sandboxie when browsing dodgy sites, installing and executing untrusted programs, and processing active media with a questionable origin.
4

Invincibility is a myth and would may your computer use almost impossible and totally unbearable.

More realistic is a good back-up and recovery strategy, to be able to get you up and running in minutes rather than hours/days. If you don’t want to lose it back it up.

– SYSTEM BACK-UP & RECOVERY
If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.
If you have a back-up and recovery plan, you can recover from anything in minutes, not hours or days.

  1. back-up all the things that you don’t want to lose, data files, like documents, spreadsheets, emails, email account details, registration keys, address book, favourites/bookmarks, downloaded files/programs, etc. the list goes on and on but if you don’t want to lose it back it up. There are many back-up programs that can simplify this task and run it every day.

  2. Recovery - re-installing your system really is a poor choice and one of last resort. There are tools (Drive Imaging software) that take exact images of your Partitions or Hard Disks and these images can be restored in minutes if you suffer a major catastrophe and that doesn’t have to be a virus attack.

I do a weekly image of my partitions and save them to my 2nd hard disk, they can also be saved to off-line storage, DVD, USB external hard disk, etc. as part of my weekly system maintenance.

So if the worst comes to the worst at most I lose:
A. 6 days worth of program updates or new installations, but with my daily back-up I can recover most of that.
B. less than one days data files, emails, etc.
None of these is a problem and much quicker than a system reinstall and I don’t have to go on-line to download the myriad of security updates needed to secure my system where there is a chance to get reinfected whilst my system has vulnerabilities because of these missing patches. Not to mention all my system tweaks and program settings are retained and I will have saved myself many hours of work and a huge amount of stress.

Many of these programs cost, there are some free ones, but it will take some research on your part to find these tools and decide on what is best for you from reviews, user feed back, etc. good luck.