Make my computer invincible

[Little Darwin]

To get invincible, you need more than to unplug it and put it in the closet. This still leaves the possibility of someone gaining access to the physical box and installing malware. You get closer to invincible if you enclose the system in a thick lead box, then encase the box in several feet of alternating layers of concrete, lead and armor plating. Take the resulting room sized box and launch it into deep space. This ensures that the number of potential hackers with access to the box are as limited as humanly possible.

However, all of the advice offered in this thread is good... proper protective measures (software/firewall), and avoiding risky activities get you as secure as you are going to get for a usable system.

 

[Mylan]

There is no way possible to make your computer 'invincible'. You may need to follow the advice of others, and just disconnect from the Internet.

Don't use the computer, put it in the box that it came in and put it in the closet.

That being said ... follow this guideline (even tho' your friend knows how to to remove viruses

Make your Internet Explorer more secure - This
can be done by following these simple instructions:
From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then


click on Options.Click once on the Security tab Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted. Click once on the Custom Level button.

• Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
• Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
• Change the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as
  safe to Disable
• Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
• Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to
  Prompt
• Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to
  Prompt
• When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
• If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings,
  press the Yes button.
• Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the
  Internet Properties page.
• Use an AntiVirus Software - It is very
  important that your computer has an anti-virus software running on your
  machine. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the
  future. See this link for a listing of some online & their stand-alone
  antivirus programs:
  Virus,
  Spyware, and Malware Protection and Removal Resources
• Update your AntiVirus Software - It is
  imperitive that you update your Antivirus software at least once a week
  (Even more if you wish). If you do not update your antivirus software then
  it will not be able to catch any of the new variants that may come out.
• Use a Firewall - I can not stress how
  important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer. Without a firewall
  your computer is succeptible to being hacked and taken over. I am very
  serious about this and see it happen almost every day with my clients.
  Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk
  greatly. For a tutorial on Firewalls and a listing of some available ones
  see the link below:
  Understanding
  and Using Firewalls
• Visit Microsoft's Windows Update Site
  Frequently - It is important that you visit
  http://www.windowsupdate.com
  regularly. This will ensure your computer has always the latest security
  updates available installed on your computer. If there are new updates to
  install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the
  site until there are no more critical updates.
• Install SpywareBlaster - SpywareBlaster will
  added a large list of programs and sites into your Internet Explorer
  settings that will protect you from running and downloading known malicious
  programs. A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
  Using
  SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and
  Malware
• Update all these programs regularly - Make
  sure you update all the programs I have listed regularly. Without regular
  updates you WILL NOT be protected when new malicious programs are
  released.

Follow this list and your potential for being infected again will
reduce dramatically.

Ok so if i do this list of stuff to IE will that make it safer to run than google chrome or firefox??

Also i got the computer this is my setup:
- ccleaner
- Perfectdisk 11
- avg free
- microsoft security essentials
- defraggler

is this is a good setup?

 

[Petey7]

Uninstall AVG free. All it will do is interfere with Microsoft Security Essentials at best. And its been known to delete good files and cause BSODs. I would download and install the free Version of MalwareBytes and do a scan (quick or full) once a week.

 

[Corrine]

Ok so if i do this list of stuff to IE will that make it safer to run than google chrome or firefox??

Also i got the computer this is my setup:
- ccleaner
- Perfectdisk 11
- avg free
- microsoft security essentials
- defraggler

is this is a good setup?

Hi, Mylan.

Yes, in my opinion, locking down IE as suggested by Jacee will indeed make it safer to run than other browsers.

You need to uninstall either AVG free or MSE as two antivirus software programs will cause conflicts. My personal preference would be to remove AVG and keep MSE.

If you haven't installed Spywareblaster and an anti-malware program such as MBAM or SAS for occasional scanning, that is also advisable.

Of course, I'll also repeat my suggestion for WinPatrol. Information on some of the features are available at WinPatrol Features

 

[Greg S]

Ok so if i do this list of stuff to IE will that make it safer to run than google chrome or firefox??

Also i got the computer this is my setup:
- ccleaner
- Perfectdisk 11
- avg free
- microsoft security essentials
- defraggler

is this is a good setup?

Hi, Mylan.

Yes, in my opinion, locking down IE as suggested by Jacee will indeed make it safer to run than other browsers.

Does this vary with different versions of Win 7? I'm running Professional and I checked on the first 4 or 5 mentioned and those are default settings are they not?

 

[Mylan]

ok thanks a bunch guys all this stuff has been really helpful

 

[Night Hawk]

Uninstall AVG free. All it will do is interfere with Microsoft Security Essentials at best. And its been known to delete good files and cause BSODs. I would download and install the free Version of MalwareBytes and do a scan (quick or full) once a week.

Actually any av program could falsely identify something as bad when not. False positives are not that uncommon amongst different programs.

As far as Malwarebytes and Sunbelt Software they teamed up. Sunbelt produces the VIPRE av software. The annoucement for that is seen at Sunbelt Software and Malwarebytes Partner to Improve the Security of the Internet

ok thanks a bunch guys all this stuff has been really helpful

You may want to add this one to your favorites or bookmarks since everyone has had quite an input here.