Windows 7 Security

sandymay · 13 Jun 2010

I really want to make sure I have air tight security and was wondering if someone can confirm if this is good or if I should do more:

1. Windows 7 with all of the latest Microsoft patches.
2. Microsoft Essentials setup
3. Microsoft Firewall enabled
4. Microsoft Whole Drive Encryption performed.
5. User account only used while surfing the net. Admin account only for updates.

Would this setup 100% protect me if I land on a hacked site that attempts to load a nasty payload on my pc. I use my computer for business reasons and want to make sure I'm as safe as possible.

severedsolo · 13 Jun 2010

Hi there sandymay :)

Firstly, there is no such thing as a 100% secure machine. It doesn't exist!

However, as long as you are sitting behind a decent router with a built in NAT firewall (that is basically ANY router) then your security setup looks good to me

Can I also suggest you download the free version of Malwarebytes? Malwarebytes It is a "On Demand Scanner" if you update it and do a full scan once a month as well as using MSE in "real time protection mode" then I think that is a pretty solid setup

richc46 · 13 Jun 2010

Your computer is safe, not 100%, but it is safe. The security that you did not add into the mix is called a sandymay. Yes, use your own common sense to surf the net. You know which sites are safe. Stay away from those that are known problems. In additiion I use WOT. when I google it indicates right on the google page the safety rating. It is the Web of Trust. Make a system restore in case you do not like it, instal and try. I like mine

Safe Browsing Tool | WOT Web of Trust

severedsolo · 13 Jun 2010

I think what rich meant there was a Sandbox not a sandymay

this is the one that I use: Sandboxie - Sandbox software for application isolation and secure Web browsing

richc46 · 13 Jun 2010

severedsolo said:

I think what rich meant there was a Sandbox not a sandymay

this is the one that I use: Sandboxie - Sandbox software for application isolation and secure Web browsing

LOL sanyboxie is very good, but I meant sandymay (the posters name) use the posters common sense. LOL

severedsolo · 13 Jun 2010

richc46 said:

severedsolo said:

I think what rich meant there was a Sandbox not a sandymay

this is the one that I use: Sandboxie - Sandbox software for application isolation and secure Web browsing

LOL sanyboxie is very good, but I meant sandymay (the posters name) use the posters common sense. LOL

ahh yeah that too. Sorry rich thought it was a typo

sandymay · 13 Jun 2010

Interesting that you mention Sandboxie. On XP, I used a similar setup to what I referenced in my original post, but I had also setup virtual pc. I used the virtual pc for all browsing while the main pc itself was used for accessing financial data, email, etc.

I was planning on not installing virtual pc this time but it sounds like some sort of virtualization is recommended.

I would like to stay with Virtual PC only because it is a Microsoft product. I suspect it works with Win 7?

severedsolo · 13 Jun 2010

It does indeed :) it comes bundled with XP mode, but you don't actually need that bit: Download Windows XP Mode

If your Computer doesn't support Hardware Virtualization you will need Packages 1 + 3 otherwise just package 1. Package 2 is XP Mode

(you may have to put your OS as Windows 7 Professional and above to get the download, don't worry you won't be breaking any rules if it isn't as that only applies to XP Mode)

Bare Foot Kid · 13 Jun 2010

Hello sandymay, welcome to Seven Forums!

Have a look at the tutorial at the link below.

How to Create a Virtual Machine in Windows Virtual PC

sandymay · 13 Jun 2010

richc46 said:

Your computer is safe, not 100%, but it is safe.

I just thought of something. I know you said it is not 100% safe, but why would that be? If you are running under a user account rather then an administrator account, there is no chance of a system change taking place, isn't that correct?

I know I use a Linux distribution on another terminal of mine and in those forums, uses rave of 100% security is you only use a user account.