General PC Security for beginners

[Flopper]

Greetings,

I'd like to know the best methods of checking your PC/laptop for viruses and spyware.

I currently subscribe to McAfee Virusscan, which includes the firewall software, and regularly scan my machine in Safe Mode. At the same time i use Ad-Aware to check for Spyware.

However i'm concerned that some little sneaky virus could evade all of this and send my information out. I use my laptop for on-line banking and obviously security is a top concern.

Thanks

ps. Running Windows XP Home Edition.

 

[greyted]

Hi Flopper:

Have a read of these:
faq760-4866 (by member Thoey)

faq608-3482 (by member manarth)

faq608-4650 (by member bcastner)

Worth a search through the various FAQ's in forum760 Virus Spyware Discussion and forum83 Security, hacker detection & forensics.



Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.

Sir Winston Churchill

 

[Sympology]

I'm not familar with the McAffe software, but on my firewall I have keyword detection.

In this I put the first 6 digits of my credit card details & passwords (don't put it all in just in case your firwall gets hacked!).
Then if i, or anything else tries to tansmit that string, a pop up alerts me and asks if I want to proceed. If I dn't answer or click no, the digit string is blocked.

Not foolproof, but a start.

Stu..


Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[electronicsfreak]

Also a few other programs worth keeping around. Housecalls online antivirus scanner. Also I reccomend using mozilla firefox instead of internet explorer except for when you have to use one of the rare sites that does not support firefox. Other than that firefox is much more secure and safer. If you do decide to use it however I reccomend disabling java on it untill you need to use it for that is about the only weakness ive found in it. Another program good to keep around is hijackthis although not something to meddle with yourself unless you know what your doing. But if anything ever happens and you cant get rid of something you can use the program and post the log on here and we will go through it.

Housecall

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Firefox

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Hijackthis

http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10379544.html?tag=lst-0-1

Also if your on broadband , get yourself a router if you dont have one. You can get them anywhere from 40 dollars and up and there a nice addition to any home system. Allow you to network more people plus they have built in firewalls that is always an added security.

 

[awoodall]

Your best bet is to remain PROACTIVE.

Remember to run Updates on a routine basis. It amazes me how often I speak to someone with Virus and spyware issues, and when I ask if they have been running updates, they give that curious puppy dog look.