Win 7 Pro Security

[waynezo]

I use CCleaner Superantispyware and Malwarebytes monthly. I run Microsoft Security Essentials. What is the best way to protect my system when Windows 7 is no longer supported?

Any advice or opinion is appreciated.

 

[torchwood]

Hi

Plenty of free AV's out there.
If your using a VPN i'd opt for Panda
Bitdefender is in my opinion the best for LEAST user interaction
Kaspersky on the other hand goes totally the other way - but your in the USA:sarc:
Avast/Avira, (owned by the same company)

just a couple, plenty more out there.

REMEMBER
IE11 will also not be updated, also turn it OFF.


Roy

 

[waynezo]

Thanks for the info. Not running VPN. Does VPN give additional protection besides hiding my identity?

 

[garycase]

Malwarebytes and Security Essentials is a good combination. Although the platform won't be further updated after Jan 14th, definition updates will still be provided on a regular basis. Microsoft's official position is "MSE will not protect you after 14 Jan"; but in reality it will provide excellent protection unless there is a significant vulnerability in the platform itself (i.e. the scanning "engine").

And it's not at all clear that Microsoft may not in fact violate their own stated policy, since they WILL be providing security updates for Windows 7 users who elect to purchase their ESU plan, which will provide security updates for Windows 7 for up to 3 more years [$50 for the first year; $100 for the second; and $200 for the 3rd] So if a vulnerability is discovered in the MSE platform, it seems likely the will resolve it -- the only question is whether users without ESU will receive the update. In any event, I'm certain such an update would be quickly publicized, so you'd at least know what the risk was of continuing to use an unpatched MSE.

 

[treehouse]

After trying various others, I find Kaspsersky Free AV good on my Win7, although the updates tend to slow my 4GB down a fair bit for a few minutes [Er, actually it's just 2GB. Yikes]. Not too much nagging, but check when installing for the agreements - after the essential one (or two, I'm not sure now) it goes on to put up another two EULA that aren't essential and give them more permissions than you might like.


I'd say it's important to have something with live scanning, for when opening or copying files, and a good set of addons/plugins on your browser, rather than a routine monthly, weekly or even daily scan. When there's an infected file, you want it caught immediately, or it'll mess with the system before you've had time to find it, and getting rid of viruses is sometimes an enormous and complex task. Kaspersky has a browser addon for most browsers, I think (certainly has for Firefox). The other browser addon I'd recommend is UBlock Origin, which works pretty well out of the box to block security and tracking issues, blocking access to dodgy sites and stripping pages of dicey content.


Longer term, one of the problems with W7 not being supported is that other software providers also start to abandon it. I've kept my XP machine running for ages, but now just offline, and several programs I kept it for stopped putting out XP updates. Not a massive problem if you just stick with a version that works, but sometimes irritating if your favourite program is being developed and has great new features, but you can't use them without upgrading your Windows version.


Depending on how you use the system and apps, there's the other option of a dual-boot system with something like Linux, keeping Windows offline and only downloading what it needs via the Linux system...I've not learned much about what this would involve yet - I'm just working out options myself. I'm thinking it's time to abandon Windows and go full Linux, but it's a wrench losing a few pieces of software that it won't run (the same, even under Wine or whatever). I've got really used to writing scripts in AutoHotkey, for example, to make my computer do all sorts of things it wouldn't otherwise, and write whole programs, and I'll have to learn a new programming/script language for Linux, probably Python. Finally found the best note-taking, text-grabbing software, CintaNotes, only to find that doesn't have a Linux version either. Eventually, I'll get used to the change - I've dabbled with Linux already.

 

[michael diemer]

If you plan to be online a lot, I would use a paid AV. Personally, I am using the premium version of Malwarebytes. It does its thing very seamlessly and quietly, I hardly know it's there. Updating is fast, too. And they gave me a great deal on extra machines. I now have it on 3 of them.



If you're not going to be online much, MSE + regular MB is fine. I'm sure others have their own views, there are many options. But this is my experience, FWIW.

 

[RolandJS]

"...IE11 will also not be updated, also turn it OFF...." Disabling it in Windows Feature or Services, correct? I'm going to remember that also for MSE and WD.

 

[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.

 

[RolandJS]

Freebooter, can patch my pc home updater be set to only alert me and let me decide which apps to update?

 

[FreeBooter]

Freebooter, can patch my pc home updater be set to only alert me and let me decide which apps to update?

I have no idea its a portable program see you can schedule a scan.

 

[file3456]

A) Ccleaner is NOT a malware cleaner.

B) Check out System Ninja and use that in conjunction with Ccleaner. (Note that if you use Spotify you'll want to exclude the download songs path in System Ninja).

C) VPN's don't offer malware protection. Only a new IP address with an encrypted connection so that your ISP, etc can't see what you're doing. Read my post on my forum here on picking a good VPN.

D) Use the now free Sandboxie for your browser. You'll need to go into the default box settings in Sandboxie and allow your browser profile to stick on browser exit so that bookmarks, etc stick and nothing else. They do have a support forum. Use them.

E) Scan ALL downloads at Virus Total. Read the community input if it may be a false positive. In fact, bookmark the link for quick access. That's what I do.

F) Clone your computer/s. I use a combination of AOMEI Backupper and Clonezilla. I use Clonezilla in order to clone my encrypted hard drives. It's used in the Parted Magic live CD I have. You need to use the advanced options and do a sector by sector. That's if you use something like Truecrypt or Veracrypt.

G) My sentiments on the update crap. In synopsis, it's largely a fallacy unless the update is for hardware or software.

 

[file3456]

Also note that MSE is ONLY a baseline scanner. Check out Immunet.

Immunet AntiVirus

Goodbye Microsoft Security Essentials: Microsoft Now Recommends You Use a Third-Party Antivirus

 

[Aardvarkly]

Also note that MSE is ONLY a baseline scanner. Check out Immunet.

Immunet AntiVirus

Goodbye Microsoft Security Essentials: Microsoft Now Recommends You Use a Third-Party Antivirus

I have tried several times to install Immunet to my new installation of W7 Pro. The Immunet Download manager runs and runs and runs but doesn't finish. I get a message about needing a Microsoft update KB3033929. This update hasn't been installed by the Simplix pack so I assume it was undesirable for some reason.
I also downloaded BitDefender free that took over half an hour to download and then when it was finished it said "Minimum software requirements not met. Download IE10.

Is there a different free Antivirus I can use instead that will be less fussy about what environment it is installed to?

 

[file3456]

I haven't had any trouble installing Immunet and I don't even use updates. If you need that update then apply it. I wouldn't use Bitdefender as they inject themselves between your TLS connections and you'll have to whitelist domain after domain. They really made their product a PITA.

I really don't know of any good anti-virus software. I don't even use any, but I have Immunet on my parent's computer. I use Sandboxie for my browser and scan all downloads at Virus Total. I also clone my computer periodically. If you do those three things you really don't need anti-virus software. You would need it if you have the tendency of browsing shady websites or what ever.

 

[Aardvarkly]

Interesting to hear your take on antivirus. As long as your system works for you then "thumbs up" but I don't have your expertise or your luck. I have been pretty safe in recent years as I settled down to my core software collection. I used to sample lots of new stuff and was glad to have a bit of protection. I now know that if I can't download direct from the publisher's site I give it a miss. Places like Cnet and Sourceforge, etc. acting as download agents are known for adding their own rubbish to the load.

The jury is still out on what I should do next........

 

[TechnoMage2016]

I use CCleaner Superantispyware and Malwarebytes monthly. I run Microsoft Security Essentials. What is the best way to protect my system when Windows 7 is no longer supported?

Any advice or opinion is appreciated.

Nothing you've mentioned depends on MS Updates, so what's the problem?


CCleaner destroyed my PC twice, over a period of time, so I won't let it anywhere near my PC(s).
But Super Anti Spyware (SAS) removes all tracking cookies, that can build up into the thousands, so I bought it and set it to update and scan daily. Malwarebytes never did anything for me, so I don't waste my time on it anymore.
If you really want a bonafide AV program, there's still AVG (FREE).
Here on Windows 7, I still use Windows Defender, set to update and scan daily.
As a little side preventer, I use "Spyware Blaster 5.6" and "Zemana Anti-Logger".. also free.


I'm on the internet daily, and I've not had a virus attack me in Years!!!


Good luck Mate!
TechnoMage

 

[RolandJS]

"...if I can't download directly from the publisher's site I give it a miss..."
I thought SourceForge was pretty good; what about FileHippo, MajorGeeks?

 

[RolandJS]

"...CCleaner destroyed my PC twice..." How did that happen? Settings were too assertive?

 

[treehouse]

I'm no expert, but one technique I have with things like Ccleaner, and most software updates, is not to jump immediately and update to the latest release as soon as they come out. Sometimes they're fixing security holes, so I don't want to wait too long, but I fear that if you install when it's fresh off the press, that's when all the bugs are going to be found by the community, so (selfishly) I let others hit the bugs first, report it and have it fixed. When I run Ccleaner and it tells me there's a new version, I just run the old one and then update it ready for next time. Especially true with things that don't matter all that much and updates are generally for new features rather than security patching - which is most things. AV database updates excluded, of course - they're only tweaked to detect newly discovered viruses, so it's good to update often.


I wish I had a clue what to do about Windows Updates - some say they don't update from a fresh install ever, and that the updates are just bloat or for more control and spying by M$ - others advise that you should update all the important ones for best security.


I also wish I knew whether all these fairly large updates just accrue on my smallish drive, or fix something and then get deleted - the monthly rollup stuff all adds up to a big chunk of disc. I hardly understand the info when I try to figure out what it does, or it just says something bland about fixing security issues. I generally ignore the non-critical stuff. It keeps on offering me Silverlight, but who needs it? It's supposed to be deprecated according to wikipedia.

 

[file3456]

Interesting to hear your take on antivirus. As long as your system works for you then "thumbs up" but I don't have your expertise or your luck. I have been pretty safe in recent years as I settled down to my core software collection. I used to sample lots of new stuff and was glad to have a bit of protection. I now know that if I can't download direct from the publisher's site I give it a miss. Places like Cnet and Sourceforge, etc. acting as download agents are known for adding their own rubbish to the load.

The jury is still out on what I should do next........

Read post #11 again. Specifically the part about scanning ALL downloads at Virus Total.

And when you install something you shouldn't use the quick or express install, what ever it's called. Go through the options so that you can opt out of any possible third-party offers bundled with the software.


Check out this site. They have a freeware section, they scan everything, let you know if it has third-party crap and they have a great collection of all kinds of goodies. Some known, some not so known. Been using Snapfiles since circa 2007. Been a happy downloader ever since. In fact, I think it was Snapfiles where I got a great monitor interaction software from called Input Director. I have a laptop sitting here on the desk and I can just mouse over the screen and access it. Best of all, this software is free. At least the version I have installed. It does say in the program licensed for personal non-commercial use.

From Snapfiles I also found a program called Yawcam. It allows me to use a webcam as a proximity sensor. Once the camera detects motion in my room it will launch a shutdown shortcut and my computer will automatically shutdown. Since I have all my computer's encrypted I don't want anyone venturing onto my stuff. Would you? So once the computer is shut down, there is no way in hell you're cracking AES 256 with a 25+ character password committed to memory. One day I'll do a cascade of ciphers. Like AES and Twofish. If I did three my computer speed would suffer.

I use the VNC App in a local network Config. to turn off Yawcam before I open the door.