Sanders Media

My last post got me thinking about ways to avoid trouble in the first place. Smart browsing can negate many of the online dangers we face. Here are some tips I’ve come up with.

1. Know who is using your computer. It is never a good idea to let someone you don’t know well have unfettered access to your computer. While no one wants to come across as suspicious, taking precautions is never a bad thing.
2. Set ground rules. Make family and friends aware of your expectations regarding your computer. It’s not like allowing them to watch your TV. Your computer contains private info, and has the capability send that info across the web.
3. Don’t go to sites that are unfamiliar. Many sites exist solely to plant malware on your computer.
4. Setup user accounts. An easy way to manage the use of your computer is to require user login. This allows you to control access to your computer at the point of entry.
5. Make sure you are using the most current version of your browser. Browsers are constantly updated to keep up with current threats. You can’t take advantage of these updated security features if you don’t update your browser.
6. Purchase a trusted security suite. I know most new computers come with a security suite, but I’ve found these to be sub-par. In my experience,  Trend Micro and AVG have the best total security suites. You’ll want the paid versions as they are much stronger than the free versions. If you’d like to do your own research, go to sites like CNET.com and Amazon.com. Ignore the professional reviews, and stick to the user comments. You can find out what works in real world environments by reading the user reviews.

There is no reason to be fearful of the dangers on the web. You only need to be wary. By using common sense and trusting your instincts, you’ll avoid most trouble.

I helped a client dispose of another Trojan for Windows. This piece of malware digs deep into your computer, and makes Google or Yahoo searches impossible. Essentially, anytime you use Google or Yahoo to search for any subject, the resulting links will not go to their correct destination. This Trojan causes the links to go to predetermined spam sites. I found this article at techspot.com which helped me solve the problem. For your convenience, I’ve also posted the instructions below. Take special care to follow the 8-step Viruses/Spyware/Malware Preliminary Removal Instructions as well. Lastly, download Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware program. I’ve found it to be one of the best around.

Procedural Steps
1.

• Start->Run-> Devmgmt.msc ->ok
• On the toolbar, Click on View -> ”Show hidden devices”

2.

• Scroll down and locate Non-plug and Play Drivers
• Click the + sign to expand

3.

• Search for “TDSSserv.sys”
  • More exploits: clbdriver.sys, oUltraf, seneka.sys,
• Right click on it, and select “Disable”

4. Restart your computer

5. Confirm ‘TDSSserv.sys’ is disabled. Repeat Step 1-3. Cancel to exit.

6. Begin or resume UPDATED 8-step Viruses/Spyware/Malware Preliminary Removal Instructions.

Last week, I was hired to clean up a computer that had been infected with some malware. Malware stands for Malicious Software. The computer literally took 5 to 7 minutes just to start up. After start up, I was barraged with a series of windows saying the computer was infected, and I needed to purchase Antivirus 2009.

As it turns out, after some research, I found out Antivirus 2009 is a very nasty bit of malware that will slow the computer down, and it is very difficult to clean up. It’s files were littered over the entire hard drive. I found some very helpful cleanup tips here and here. Avoid Antivirus 2009 at all costs. 

A good way to avoid being exposed to malware and viruses is to create a login and password for your computer. My client did not fall for any scam. It occurred while he was on vacation. If your computer is in an open area where anyone can have access, it is a good idea to create a login.

Lastly, do yourself a favor and invest in a good internet security suite. I would avoid those from McAfee and Norton’s. They tend to slow down the computer nearly as bad as spyware and malware due to their inflated sizes. I prefer AVG. It’s leaner, and doesn’t get in your way once you’ve trained it to your preferences.