Malware Prevention

Tools and Techniques to prevent malware infections.

'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. (Continue reading...)

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. (Continue reading...)

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. (Continue reading...)

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. (Continue reading...)

How do I stop popups?
Popups that appear in your internet browser are usually fixed using a good popup blocker. (Continue reading...)

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. (Continue reading...)

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. (Continue reading...)

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. (Continue reading...)

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. (Continue reading...)

Is my anti-virus database up to date?
Keeping the database of virses that your anti-virus program uses up to date is critical. Here's why. (Continue reading...)

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 they chances that you can. (Continue reading...)

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. (Continue reading...)

What are these access attempts in my router log?
Any device sitting on the internet is subject to a constant stream of "internet background noise". It's why you really want to be behind a firewall. (Continue reading...)

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. (Continue reading...)

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. (Continue reading...)

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. (Continue reading...)