Security questions.

[Chiumiento]

I have no money so anything you prefer has to be free please & thank you.​

1. I have all of the sudden not been able to use my scan for malware in my ainti virus. What I mean is if I put a file on my desktop then right click it and click on scan for malware. It says something weird like a installer or something. Here is what is says.




What is says it is doing is downloading it onto the system I do not know. I have recently done a duplicate files finder scan. Also I did the new drivers for both my sound card and my video cards. But it was working fine after both of them I am wondering if it was the duplicate file finder.

2. I use Ca 2010 for an anti virus. It is given to my by my ISP (Road Runner). What I am wondering is if there is any other kind of program I should use for security. Like a on demand scanner or anything else. Like a malware scanner or something. The Ca that I use it called CA internet security plus.

3. Should I be using a third party fire wall. I want my computer to be as safe as possible. I want it to be as secure as I can get it. Is there a file encryption I should use or anything like that. I do use bitlocker encryption. Something else I was wondering is if there is a program that I could get for free that will make my ISP secret. I do not want sites or anyone to be able to see me or where I am or anything like that. I forget what it is called exactly. But I want to have a untraceable I.P. address.

I just noticed that anything I do with my anti virus that same thing pops up. So it must have something to do with my anti virus. Something must have happened. Also it said that it found to things Grokster, And AtlasDMT.com. How do I get rid of them When I did another scan the atlasDMT.com was gone after I quarantined it and deleted it. But the Grokster has not and will not go away. Every time I rescan it is there. How do I get rid of it. Please help. Even if someone can remote access me and help me would be great. I can always call Ca and fight for hours until they do it for me for free. But it is so hard to get them to. I wish someone would please help me. I have a whole bunch of Tools from CA that the guy left on here for me from last time. I guess they will do all the work to get rid of stuff. But I am not sure exactly how to use them . I mean I kind of know. But I do not know where to look for them. I do not even know how to use my anti virus to check where they are in my system.

 

[Jacee]

Grokster is a peer to peer sharing program that was shut down in 2005.

Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop
|MG| Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.50 Download
* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.

* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.

* When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please save it to a convenient location. Copy and Paste that log into your next reply.

 

[Borg 386]

If you want to get rid of programs all the way, including the registry entries, you may want to try using Revo Uninstaller. They have a free version.

Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems

However, make sure you read a couple tutorials on using this tool. You can very easily hose your sys making it unusable.

Either that or you can go into your registry and delete any keys related to Grokster. (Depending on how comfy you are with editing the registry) Then use something like CCleaner or Glary Utilities to clean out the leftover junk.

Both CCleaner and Glary Utilities are free

Once again, read a tutorial or 2 on using these and ALWAYS make a backup/restore point before you go digging in the registry.

 

[Corrine]

Hi, Chiumiento.

First, please follow through with Jacee's recommendation regarding MBAM. I am replying merely to address a couple of the questions raised in your post.

2. I use Ca 2010 for an anti virus. It is given to my by my ISP (Road Runner). What I am wondering is if there is any other kind of program I should use for security.

I tried Computer Associates, also provided by Road Runner. I found it had false/positives, used a lot of resources, and support was terrible. A friend also installed it and had a problem. It took quite a while to straighten out the mess they made of her computer. She is now, happily, using Microsoft Security Essentials.

If you elect to replace Computer Associates, note that CA does not uninstall cleanly. I recommend using AppRemover.

The following antivirus software programs are free for personal use. My preference is Microsoft Security Essentials.

avast! 5 Home Edition
Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic
Microsoft Security Essentials

3. Should I be using a third party fire wall. I want my computer to be as safe as possible.

If you elect to replace CA, you will need a software firewall replacement. The Windows 7 firewall is very good. It is also advisable to be behind a router.

 

[Chiumiento]

Hi, Chiumiento.

First, please follow through with Jacee's recommendation regarding MBAM. I am replying merely to address a couple of the questions raised in your post.

2. I use Ca 2010 for an anti virus. It is given to my by my ISP (Road Runner). What I am wondering is if there is any other kind of program I should use for security.

I tried Computer Associates, also provided by Road Runner. I found it had false/positives, used a lot of resources, and support was terrible. A friend also installed it and had a problem. It took quite a while to straighten out the mess they made of her computer. She is now, happily, using Microsoft Security Essentials.

If you elect to replace Computer Associates, note that CA does not uninstall cleanly. I recommend using AppRemover.

The following antivirus software programs are free for personal use. My preference is Microsoft Security Essentials.

avast! 5 Home Edition
Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic
Microsoft Security Essentials

3. Should I be using a third party fire wall. I want my computer to be as safe as possible.

If you elect to replace CA, you will need a software firewall replacement. The Windows 7 firewall is very good. It is also advisable to be behind a router.

I saw a firewall in the Great programs for free somewhere it said something that is was a good fire wall. I think I will try that one. Thank you. Very much. Does Microsoft essentials have all the stuff I need like on demand scanners and all that stuff.

 

[Jacee]

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
Yes (on demand scanner), and so does Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

 

[whs]

We all have the desire to have a system that is as safe as possible. Unfortunately even the biggest armada of security programs is no guarantee that you are really safe. Plus there may always be other system failures that bring your OS down.

I therefore always recommend a proper imaging strategy. That will safeguard you against any event (even a disk failure). It will not help though, if your mobo, PSU or other major hardware pieces go on the blink. You may want to study the 2 tutorials I made on the subject.

1. A general overview: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/128494-imaging-strategies.html

2. A very good free imaging program that is easy to use: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[parabellum]

I would also download SuperAntiSpyware portable and run it. Then rerun Malwarebytes. For MSE, just install it and tick the option to scan USB's. For the system image idea, if something happens to my system, I always reformat rather than using system images, as 2 other drives hold all data (disconnected before a reformat). Reinstalling Win 7 on an SSD doesn't take too long anyway and the 5 or 6 programs I use daily don't take any time either.

 

[whs]

Reinstalling Win 7 on an SSD doesn't take too long anyway and the 5 or 6 programs I use daily don't take any time either.

You are lucky. With that few programs a reinstall may be OK. But what about all the updates. Last time I reinstalled one of my Vista systems (dated from Febr. 07) I got over 200 updates including SP1 and SP2. Plus I have a lot of programs and system settings. The whole operation took me 3 days (not full time though). I think I prefer an image from last week which puts me back into business in less than 1 hour.

 

[parabellum]

Reinstalling Win 7 on an SSD doesn't take too long anyway and the 5 or 6 programs I use daily don't take any time either.

You are lucky. With that few programs a reinstall may be OK. But what about all the updates. Last time I reinstalled one of my Vista systems (dated from Febr. 07) I got over 200 updates including SP1 and SP2. Plus I have a lot of programs and system settings. The whole operation took me 3 days (not full time though). I think I prefer an image from last week which puts me back into business in less than 1 hour.

I never have more than 10 programs installed, and 80% of those are less than 10mb utilities. Last time I checked 200mb of updates isn't that much with my quota. My choice though.

 

[Chiumiento]

I do not have a SSD. What about me using a backup disk. That does not work. Can't I update my backup disk like ounce a week or so. Then I can Just use that is anything happens. I do not have a windows 7 disk so If my system was to crash I hope that My backup disk is what I need. If I needed to reinstall my whole system would a backup disk be what I need. I have a backup disk and a system restore disk. Is that everything I would need if I ever got into trouble. I was also wondering. Is there a way I could just put all the files and programs I have on my computer on a DVD. Or is that what one of my disks do. Please tell me what both of them do.

 

[Wishmaster]

Imaging covers activation status of everything as well.
Windows, Games, Applications etc.

In just a couple minutes it will have formated the HD, rolled back to an earlier time just as it all was the day you made the Image.

You can make a Image and record it to DVD, if it will fit.
However, please keep in mind the safest, most reliable method is to save the image to another Hard Drive (Seperate from the one you are imaging) either internal or external.

 

[Chiumiento]

I am working on getting the right cables to hook up an external hard drive. Also I oreder an anti static wrist band. I called a local computer place. They told me that there is no need for anti static wrist bands. I do not have any rugs in my house other than 2 little ones by the front and back doors. I do have blanket so I worry about everything. I do not want anything to ahppen to my computer if I touch it

 

[whs]

I never used an antistatic wrist band. But in an area where it is very dry (e.g. Denver), that may not be such a bad idea.
If you get the external harddrive going, do the imaging as explained in the tutorial I linked in post #7. From that you can always reinstall. But also burn the Recovery CD - that has the program which will actually pull the image in - it is not the image itself.

 

[Chiumiento]

Okay. I actually have 2 extra HDDs. i would like to use both of them my computer has a spot for both to. But I am not sure if it will power it. I was told that it would. By HP. But I found a site to check what power I need if I was to update. But it has way to complicated for me. I had no Idea what I was doing there. I hate this. I love computers. I want to know everything there is to know. But I think I will be fine with my regular PSU. I do not have a really expensive computer. It is the HP Pavilion p6654y. I do want to make it a good computer someday though if I could. But I have read that I will have to upgrade my PSU. Are they expensive?

 

[Chiumiento]

Also how long will the imaging take. Will it take me a while. Or not. Is it a hard thing to do. I would read it right now. But I have to go to bed. I will tomorrow hopefully have the time to.

 

[parabellum]

The HDD will fit and the PSU is (just) enough. Honestly, that really is a poor case. It can only fit one other 3.5in drive. The thing you need to check is that the motherboard has a SATA port spare and the PSU has one spare SATA plug:

HP Pavilion p6654y Magnesium Gray Edition Desktop PC Product Specifications HP Pavilion p6654y Desktop PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

I think you have the requirements but you'll need to open up the case and possibly void the warranty if it is on warranty.

 

[whs]

An image can take anything from 3.5 minutes (my case when I image 20GBs from a SSD to an internal HDD), or it can take 1 hour for 100GBs to an external disk. But that does not really matter because it can run in the background.

 

[Keiichi25]

You will also find that a few of us will warn about Peer to Peer programs... Unfortunately, given the number of questionable practices, the best solution is to recommend avoiding them as much as possible as they are one of the vectors to getting trojans and viruses when you are trying to get something from a less legal channel and tends to cause more problems than it is worth.

This post isn't meant to berate you for it, just trying to warn that unfortunately, a lot of new users who find the 'free stuff', often pay for it in the long run and usually with bad results.

And as WHS pointed out, no armada of good security software will protect you from the new ways to hack you due to the fact that 0 day attacks will never be detected or figured out until days after the attack. The best you can do is to try and keep a reasonable image of your last known good system and be a little paranoid about everything you do in the future.

 

[Chiumiento]

The HDD will fit and the PSU is (just) enough. Honestly, that really is a poor case. It can only fit one other 3.5in drive. The thing you need to check is that the motherboard has a SATA port spare and the PSU has one spare SATA plug:

HP Pavilion p6654y Magnesium Gray Edition Desktop PC Product Specifications HP Pavilion p6654y Desktop PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

I think you have the requirements but you'll need to open up the case and possibly void the warranty if it is on warranty.

My PC has 3 extra ports for an SATA. But it only has enough room for 2 extra hard drives. That means I could have 3 total hard drives. I do not plan on doing any p2p programs. I am wondering though. I do have uTorrent. But just for when I need it for files from on this forum to extract. But when I check my firewall it has an opening that says it can pass through both TCP and IP ports. Here is a picture. Of what I mean.