Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
All Categories »
Viruses and Malware
»
Malware Prevention
Tools, tips and techniques to prevent malware infections from reaching or impacting your machine.
'SymRealWinOpen is undefined' - why do I get this?
An update to your popup-blocking software may be in order if you get the message 'SymRealWinOpen is undefined' on your machine.
Can a virus be transferred into our system, or our router, from our granddaughter's smart phone?
For a virus to infect a smart phone, it would have to be written specifically for that smart phone and poses little danger to your network system. But what kind of protection do you need for (and from) her laptop?
Can just opening an email download both viruses and spyware?
It's extremely unlikely to get a virus by just looking at an email these days. The same applies to spyware.
Do I still need anti-virus software if my computer came with a security suite?
Many computers come pre-configured with security suites. I'll look at why you might or might not want to keep them, and why they might not be free.
Do you really need anti-virus software?
Does leaving my external hard drive connected put its contents at risk from malware?
An external hard drive does run certain risks when it comes to malware, but often not the ones we think of. Avoiding malware remains the best solution.
Does using a virtual machine keep me safer?
By running a non-Windows OS within Windows using a virtual machine you can avoid some issues, but only certain types.
How can an anti-malware program possibly scan all my files in a reasonable amount of time?
Anti-malware software is amazingly tuned and optimized for doing what it does. On top of that, scanning all your files might not always be needed.
How did a website install malware on my machine?
An unfortunately common attack vector for malware is via malicious or hacked websites. I'll look at the signs, and the steps you need to take.
How do I avoid trojans like Win 7 Home Security 2012?
Win 7 Home Security 2012 is the latest in a long line of so-called "scareware" trojans. I'll review this malware and how to stay safe.
How do I block trojans and the man sending them to me?
Repeatedly getting trojans or any form of malware simply shouldn't happen. To resolve this, we need to drop back to basic security principles.
How do I get rid of this infection that keeps coming back on my machine?
It's frustrating to go through the steps of cleaning your machine of malware only to have it return almost instantly. We'll look at possible causes.
How do I keep malware from reaching my machine in the first place?
In an ideal world, we'd prevent malicious software from ever reaching our machines and thus, we'd never need to remove malware.
How do I keep my USB device from becoming infected?
When using a portable USB flash drive or disk it's important to understand the risk of infection; you may not be as safe as you think.
How do I pick the right tools to protect my system?
There are many choices when looking for solutions to protect your system. I'll review how I look for things and how I make my decisions.
How do I safely copy files from my old PC to my new one?
It's something we take for granted, but copying files from PC to PC is one avenue for malware to spread. I'll review the best way to stay safe.
How do I safely get security software onto my newly reinstalled machine?
How do you safely install virus protection - when you don't yet have virus protection? A firewall is very good security. That plus one other practice should keep you safe.
Popups that appear in your internet browser are usually fixed using a good popup blocker.
How do you use more than one anti-virus program?
While no single anti-virus program can catch all viruses, running more than one anti-virus program can cause problems. And it also might not help.
I got a call from Microsoft and allowed them access to my computer. What do I do now?
A very common scam has people supposedly from Microsoft or your ISP or other authorities calling to help you with computer problems. Don't fall for it.
I'm being notified of an intrusion attempt, what should I do?
Intrusion attempts are actually common - you'd be surprised at how much internet traffic is due to infected machines trying to infect other machines.
I've installed anti-virus software, but Windows says I haven't. What do I do?
Windows tries to ensure that you have anti-malware tools installed, and warns you if it thinks you don't. Sometimes it's wrong.
I've received a popup telling me I'm infected and recommending a download to fix it. Should I?
Messages that indicate you have a problem and recommend a specific download as a solution are immediately suspect. There's typically a safer solution.
If I have all the recommended security in place, is my computer safe and un-hackable?
After following all of the recommendations to keep your machine safe and secure, it's tempting to think that you're done and you are now safe. You're not.
Installing Microsoft Security Essentials
Microsoft Security Essentials is a basic anti-malware package that's available for free from Microsoft. I'll demonstrate how to install and configure MSE.
Is autorun really that evil, and if so, how do I turn autorun off?
Autorun is an increasingly used attack vector for malware. Common techniques to turn it off are incomplete. I'll show you how to turn it off, and recommend you do so.
Is it okay to run several malware scans at the same time?
I tend to avoid simultaneous virus scans. What's more important is to make sure your several tools are not competing as they search for various types of malware.
Is it safe to connect a drive infected with a virus to my computer?
Mounting a disk drive on your system can expose you to various types of malware, most notably viruses. We'll look at steps to do so safely.
Is it safe to have other browser tabs or windows open while I do my online banking?
Websites open in different browsers, windows, or tabs should be unable to interact or see each other. Emphasis on "should".
Is it safe to leave programs opened on my computer when I go onto the internet?
Basic internet safety is about protecting your computer from viruses and malware. Once that is in place, it's safe to browse the internet.
Is my anti-virus database up to date?
Keeping the database of viruses that your anti-virus program uses up to date is critical. Here's why.
Is my computer secure now that I'm running anti-virus and anti-spyware software?
"Is my PC secure" really has only one answer: no. A more practical question is: what steps can you take to be as secure as possible?
With all the reports of sniffing and malware and hacks ... is it even possible to bank online securely? Yes. If you're careful.
Is there a way to bypass keyloggers?
Keystroke loggers can log a lot more than just keystrokes. We'll look at a couple of ideas for bypassing them, and the chances that you can.
Just how dangerous is it out there?
With daily dire warnings and admonitions, it's easy to believe that the internet is dangerous. With appropriate and simple safeguards, it needn't be.
My anti-virus performed a virus removal but I still have a symptom, how do I get rid of it?
Your anti-virus program may claim successful virus removal, but if symptoms remain then clearly the job's not really done.
What are (and how do I get rid of) "Antivirus 2010" and "Vista Spyware 2010"?
Antivirus 2010 and similar are malware that tries to fool you into installing viruses or spyware, and then charges you for the promise of removal.
What are Warez? They appear to be free, but are they safe?
Warez, or pirated software, while free often comes with an exceptionally high cost in the form of viruses, spyware and more.
What does "To help protect your computer, Windows has closed this program" mean? And what do I do?
"To help protect your computer, Windows has closed this program" is a sign that Data Execution Prevention has been invoked. I'll look at what that is.
What's a port scan, and should I be worried about them?
Infected and malicious computers out on the internet are continually looking for ways to infect your machine. A firewall is an important barrier.
What's the best way to bank online using a dedicated machine?
Using a dedicated machine is one approach to significantly improving the security of online opertations. I'll examine the approach and alternatives.
What's the difference between a "quick" and a "full" scan, and which do I want?
Many anti-malware products offer both a "quick" and "full" scan. I'll examine the common difference, and outline what I generally suggest you do.
What's the fastest safe way to abort a malware download?
If you realize that an unexpected download has begun and think it might be malicious, it's good to try and stop the download right away.
What's the minimum amount of internet security software I need?
It's common for machines to be overloaded with security software. Too much, however, can cause problems. I'll look at the minimum needed.
What's the risk of connecting to the internet without protection?
Connecting to the internet without protection in place is a very dangerous thing to do. Fortunately, this danger is very easily dealt with.
Where is Windows Defender's Vault?
A vault is a place where programs like Windows Defender put suspected malware rather than deleting them. Typically, it's managed right in the program.
Why am I getting a network attack from China?
Internet connected computers are constantly probed for vulnerabilities. Many come from China, but safety steps are the same no matter where from.
Why are my two anti-virus tools giving different results?
It comes as no surprise that different computer protection tools operate differently. Here's a short rundown on my recommendation.
Why didn't I have to tell my firewall to allow a technician remote access?
A firewall traditionally protects you from threats coming from the network. A technician's remote access session might well have been invited in.
Why don't anti-malware tools work better?
It's possible to get malware, even with anti-malware tools installed, for a variety of reasons. I discuss some of the reasons why this happens that I feel are the most significant.
Why, in IE's Tools, Internet Options, is the Home Page selection grayed and unusable?
In an effort to prevent malware from hijacking your browser's home page anti-spyware software may inadvertantly prevent you from changing it as well.
Will not using the keyboard fool key loggers?
It sounds counter-intuitive, but avoiding your keyboard will not bypass keyloggers. I'll look at why, and what you need to do instead.
Will turning off programs save me from hackers when I get online?
Many computers are online all the time, receiving no additional threat from hackers. It's your browsing habits that matter.
Will using an on screen keyboard stop keyboard loggers and hackers?
Using an on screen keyboard instead of a real keyboard might stop some logging, but there's no guarantee that other techniques aren't also being used.
Microsoft Security Essentials provides basic anti-virus and anti-spyware scanning for free. It appears to be a reasonable anti-malware tool for many.
Would temporarily unplugging from the internet protect me while I work on something sensitive?
While it seems like temporarily unplugging from the internet would block much of what malware might do, in reality it doesn't stop much.