How to maximally secure a PC with Win 7?

[Marie SWE]

To answer inspiron7 question.

There is a lot that can be done to make win7 more secure, but hackers are starting to target win7 so without extended security updates you might want to consider doing as I have done on my old tired computers.
I use win7 offline for work in office, adobe photoshop etc etc. Then I have the computer with dualboot with Linux. which I use for online purposes such as email, surfing online banking, etc. and i downloading documents, mail, pdf, etc. and then switch over to win7 to do the work in win but offline.

If you are not familiar with linux then it is okay, there are many in here who use linux and can help you with the first beginner questions ... and there are very good linux forums.
As a beginner, I recommend Linux Mint, as it is a bit like a windows environment. Many also recommend Linux ubuntu.

That's my 50 cents to you

 

[Banyarola]

Lots of snippy people here when you have an opinion different then theirs...

 

[Marie SWE]

Lots of snippy people here when you have an opinion different then theirs...

Yep........ you were unnecessarily aggressive, it would have been enough to suggest win10 carefully.
If you now hate win7 why are you participating in discussions on a win7 forum?

Listen inspiron...W7 is no longer SUPPORTED by Microsoft...There are no security updates for it any longer except for MS essentials. Any W7 vulnerabilities that show up are no longer being fixed by MS..

You are asking for trouble if you keep using it..

Give it up, move on the W10

Try GOOGLING it...Google is your friend...

if I had wanted to get your message out and get others to listen, I would have chosen to write:

win7 is no longer supported if you don't pay for it.
Continuing to use windows7 without security updates is very risky and a risk you should not take.
I would suggest you use win10



Doesn't this sound less aggressive but with the same message?

 

[SIW2]

The OP asked a question. You told him to do something different..

He politely let you know he does not want to use win 10.

So I would please you to tell me how to maximally
secure Win 7 .

Yet you rudely persist in trying to tell him to do what you want.

Listen inspiron...

Give it up

Lots of snippy people here when you have an opinion different then theirs...

 

[Snick]

Do you have any intention of answering the OP's question, or are you intent on telling him that you want him to do something entirely different.

In England, the polite word is wazzock.

wazzock! Haven't heard that for a long time!

 

[Bruing97]

There are a few good antiviruses you can try, Avira is a free antivirus, but may not be safe enough. You could also try Norton or Bitdefender that are good, but are heavy on the pc.

 

[inspiron7]

Could someone tell me which is the safest internet browser for Win 7,and which add-ons to use,please?

 

[Marie SWE]

Could someone tell me which is the safest internet browser for Win 7,and which add-ons to use,please?

Hi
I personally use Firefox ESR with add-ons: uBlock, NoScript, AdBlocker Ultimate, Duckduckgo Privacy Essentials, and Facebook container.. this on winXP, win7, win8.1 and on Linux.

And in Firefox about:config you have the ability to adjust extremely much to increase the personal integrity and also the security of disabling certain functions and also activating certain functions.

 

[inspiron7]

Hi
I personally use Firefox ESR with add-ons: uBlock, NoScript, AdBlocker Ultimate, Duckduckgo Privacy Essentials, and Facebook container.. this on winXP, win7, win8.1 and on Linux.

And in Firefox about:config you have the ability to adjust extremely much to increase the personal integrity and also the security of disabling certain functions and also activating certain functions.

Thank you very much!

BTW,I created a new thread about my PC freezing while gaming :PC randomly freezing while gaming,not getting BSODs but have minidumps

Please someone help me for that thread too.

 

[AK6DN]

You can get extended support ESU https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4527878/faq-about-extended-security-updates-for-windows-7
but you have to pay for it.

Not quite accurate. Corporate volume sites can pay Microsoft to get ESU Windows 7 support.

Individual users CANNOT legally subscribe to this service. So if you are not a corporate entity Win 7 is EOL in terms of any ongoing security patches.

For me, I subscribed my Win 7 systems to the '0patch.com' paid service. There is a free version as well but not all patches are offered (only critical security patches). Cost for paid service is very reasonable.

Absolutely make sure you have a router / firewall between your computer and the internet.

For a browser I use FireFox with Ghostery, Add Block Plus, NoScript, Privacy Badger, HTTPS Everywhere add ons.

And for sure use a backup program like Macrium Reflect (what I use), AOMEI, etc to do system disk (and data disk) backup images at reasonable intervals in case something does go south and you need to basically wipe and restore your system.

 

[inspiron7]

Which is the most secure free e-mail client for Win 7?

 

[SIW2]

Thunderbird has already been suggested in post #6.

You could also switch to a different email client - e.g. thunderbird, and maybe a 3rd party media player - vlc or whatever you fancy.

 

[inspiron7]

Thunderbird has already been suggested.

Thank you.

 

[Dana Reed]

This is for Marie SWE

Excuse me for butting in, but you said something that I can relate to. Instead of getting involved with Win10, I would rather switch to Linux for online activities, but I am reluctant because of the learning curve. Are you recommending dualbooting over running Linux on a flashdrive? How much memory do you need for Linux Mint? Dualbooting seems like a hazardous thing, with booting up being so lightning fast it's hard to jump in and change the order. I might screw something up and end up without Win7 for good.

 

[Marie SWE]

This is for Marie SWE

Excuse me for butting in, but you said something that I can relate to. Instead of getting involved with Win10, I would rather switch to Linux for online activities, but I am reluctant because of the learning curve. Are you recommending dualbooting over running Linux on a flashdrive? How much memory do you need for Linux Mint? Dualbooting seems like a hazardous thing, with booting up being so lightning fast it's hard to jump in and change the order. I might screw something up and end up without Win7 for good.

Hi Dana Reed

Yes, it's a pretty steep learning curve if you want to go advanced, but not as steep as it was 5-10 years ago.
Linux mint and ubuntu have become more and more user-friendly with each passing year.
I tried linux for the first time in 2005 and it was a nightmare and I gave up after a month. In 2018, I decided to learn linux before win7 EOL and use it as the primary OS. and I did
If you have a desktop computer, Linux mint20 works fine out of the box. And If you have a laptop, Linux mint Debian edition (LMDE4) works better out of the box.
I have run a desktop computer dualcore 2.66GHz with 2GB Ram and a mechanical Sata disk and it worked quite okay. If you surf with a hundred Firefox tabs and several different programs running at the same time, then I recommend at least 6GB of RAM
SiS chipset and linux don't mix... intel chipset and linux is just 99.9% uncomplicated.. it just runs.
I have not tried running dualboot with flashdrive
On this laptop I am sitting with right now, I have two mechanical Sata disks.. 2nd generation i3 and 8GB Ram.
I don't have a regular dualboot menu on this one, I use the bios boot menu to boot from each disk. When I installed Linux mint (LMDE3) I disconnected the windows7 disk so it couldn't affect my asus OEM win7 installation in any theoretical or unfortunate circumstances.
On my other computers both on my desktops and laptops, I use the linux boot menu.
I am also under the same username on linuxmint.com so you can read some threads about different things I came across while I learned the first steps with linux mint.

 

[FreeBooter]

Please install all available important Windows updates, you can check and install Windows updates by opening "Start Menu --> Control Panel --> Windows Update" applet and click "Check for updates".


Patch My PC Home Updater is a free, easy-to-use program that keeps over 300 apps up-to-date on your computer. It is an easy way to update or install any of these programs on your computer. It is a free and very useful tool that allows you to keep your computer secure by automatically updating older versions of installed software so that possible security vulnerabilities are patched.



Make sure to keep your antivirus software up to date.


You should be very careful with usage of the peer-to-peer file sharing programs, these file sharing programs are use to infect computers. It is therefore possible to be infected by downloading manipulated files via peer-to-peer tools and thus suggested to be used with intense care.



Even with antivirus software watching your back, follow these rules to reduce your risk of infection:

• Open only attachments that you’re expecting. If you receive something unexpected from a friend, don’t open it. Instead, email or phone that person to ask whether he or she really sent you something. Your friend’s computer might be infected and trying to infect your computer, as well.
• Be wary of items arriving in email that ask for a click. For example, if you receive a message saying somebody wants to be a Facebook friend, don’t click it. Instead, visit Facebook from your browser and look to see whether the person is listed on your “waiting to be friended” list. The more emailed links you can avoid, the safer you’ll be.
• If you receive an important-looking email from a financial institution that asks you to click a link and type in your name and password, don’t do it. Instead, visit your financial institution’s website through your web browser and log in there. Chances are good that there’s nothing wrong with your account, and that email was only trying to steal your username and password. (This type of scam is often called phishing).
• If you prefer running a third-party antivirus programs, you’re welcome to do so. But don’t run two third-party antivirus programs and firewall at same time, because they often quarrel.
• Avoid websites that provide pirated material. If you have to download a file from the Internet, an email, an FTP site, a file-sharing service, etc., scan it before you run it. A good anti-virus software will do that automatically, but make sure it is being done.
• Never use the same password, especially on your bank account. If you use the same password for everything, or on many things, and it is discovered, then it takes only seconds to hack your account. Use a strong password. Use lower case, upper case, numbers, and symbols in your password. Keep it easy to remember but difficult to guess. Do not use dates or pet names.
• Some pop-up windows or boxes will attempt to corner you into downloading software or accepting a free "system scan" of some type. Often these pop-ups will employ scare tactics to make you believe you need what they are offering in order to be safe. Close the pop-up without clicking anything inside it (including the X in the corner). Close the window via Windows Task Manager (press Ctrl-Alt-Delete).
• Never use illegal file-sharing services if you do you're on your own if you enter this realm. There is little quality control in the world of illegal software, and it is easy for an attacker to name a piece of malware after a popular movie, album, or program to tempt you into downloading it.
• No matter which browser you use, keeping it current is vital to preventing infection. Take advantage of your browser's pop-up blocking, download screening, and automatic update features.
• You can drastically reduce the risk of an infection by knowing what and from where you are downloading a file. We recommend that you install a site advisor like Norton Safe Web or Bitdefender Traffic Light which will help you decide if the site is trustworthy or not. As a general rule it’s recommended that you download files from known and reputable sites that have confirmed that the download is malware free. If you are unsure about the quality of a download, leave the site and research the software you are being asked to install. If it is OK, you can always come back to site and install it. If it is not OK, you will avoid a malware headache.

 

[inspiron7]

Please install all available important Windows updates, you can check and install Windows updates by opening "Start Menu --> Control Panel --> Windows Update" applet and click "Check for updates".


Patch My PC Home Updater is a free, easy-to-use program that keeps over 300 apps up-to-date on your computer. It is an easy way to update or install any of these programs on your computer. It is a free and very useful tool that allows you to keep your computer secure by automatically updating older versions of installed software so that possible security vulnerabilities are patched.



Make sure to keep your antivirus software up to date.


You should be very careful with usage of the peer-to-peer file sharing programs, these file sharing programs are use to infect computers. It is therefore possible to be infected by downloading manipulated files via peer-to-peer tools and thus suggested to be used with intense care.



Even with antivirus software watching your back, follow these rules to reduce your risk of infection:

• Open only attachments that you’re expecting. If you receive something unexpected from a friend, don’t open it. Instead, email or phone that person to ask whether he or she really sent you something. Your friend’s computer might be infected and trying to infect your computer, as well.
• Be wary of items arriving in email that ask for a click. For example, if you receive a message saying somebody wants to be a Facebook friend, don’t click it. Instead, visit Facebook from your browser and look to see whether the person is listed on your “waiting to be friended” list. The more emailed links you can avoid, the safer you’ll be.
• If you receive an important-looking email from a financial institution that asks you to click a link and type in your name and password, don’t do it. Instead, visit your financial institution’s website through your web browser and log in there. Chances are good that there’s nothing wrong with your account, and that email was only trying to steal your username and password. (This type of scam is often called phishing).
• If you prefer running a third-party antivirus programs, you’re welcome to do so. But don’t run two third-party antivirus programs and firewall at same time, because they often quarrel.
• Avoid websites that provide pirated material. If you have to download a file from the Internet, an email, an FTP site, a file-sharing service, etc., scan it before you run it. A good anti-virus software will do that automatically, but make sure it is being done.
• Never use the same password, especially on your bank account. If you use the same password for everything, or on many things, and it is discovered, then it takes only seconds to hack your account. Use a strong password. Use lower case, upper case, numbers, and symbols in your password. Keep it easy to remember but difficult to guess. Do not use dates or pet names.
• Some pop-up windows or boxes will attempt to corner you into downloading software or accepting a free "system scan" of some type. Often these pop-ups will employ scare tactics to make you believe you need what they are offering in order to be safe. Close the pop-up without clicking anything inside it (including the X in the corner). Close the window via Windows Task Manager (press Ctrl-Alt-Delete).
• Never use illegal file-sharing services if you do you're on your own if you enter this realm. There is little quality control in the world of illegal software, and it is easy for an attacker to name a piece of malware after a popular movie, album, or program to tempt you into downloading it.
• No matter which browser you use, keeping it current is vital to preventing infection. Take advantage of your browser's pop-up blocking, download screening, and automatic update features.
• You can drastically reduce the risk of an infection by knowing what and from where you are downloading a file. We recommend that you install a site advisor like Norton Safe Web or Bitdefender Traffic Light which will help you decide if the site is trustworthy or not. As a general rule it’s recommended that you download files from known and reputable sites that have confirmed that the download is malware free. If you are unsure about the quality of a download, leave the site and research the software you are being asked to install. If it is OK, you can always come back to site and install it. If it is not OK, you will avoid a malware headache.

Thank you!

 

[FreeBooter]

Thank you!

You are very welcome!

 

[file3456]

Which is the most secure free e-mail client for Win 7?

There's no such thing as it pertains to email security, though I do chose to use Thunderbird. In order to minimize being owned you should not allow the parsing of HTML in emails and don't allow the loading of images. If you use PGP (I doubt) there is a CVE with PGP private key comprise if you allow a email client to parse HTML content and that content is malicious.

As to images being loaded automatically, that could be a source of hacker potential from the stand point of a canary token or malware. Yes, images can be laced with malware.

On top of that you need to be very leary of the sender email address and attachments. I scan everything at Virus Total, though, if that attachment looks like some kind of Windows script or some file extension you don't recognize, don't download it.

Yes, without parsing HTML and loading of image your emails will look like crap. To the trusted emails you know you can trust and have to parse HTML you can temporally parse the HTML.

To turn off the parsing of HTML in Thunderbird go to: View | Message Body As | Plain Text.

To not load images by default go to: Tools | Options | Privacy | Allow remote content in images. Untick.

 

[Snick]

I agree with F22 Simpilot
Post #39
Great explanation & advice!
Snick