R1ch so have i just been really lucky then? Becuase these precations seems really over the top and scaremongering to me, I always turn off firewalls and i dont have any virus protection for the last 8 years running various winodws OS, using firefox, and I've only managed to get 1 vrius, and im on the internet at least 3-4 hours a day. I do have a router but that's it. I've never had any of my accouts for anything hacked/stolen and my cpu usage is pretty low when nothing is running, i try and keep an eye on it.

SkelA

Macedonia13074 Posts

March 02 2010 15:20 GMT

#62

On January 11 2010 20:15 SchOOl_VicTIm wrote:
It says MS Security Essentials not available in my region... wtf =/

Same here .. so where i can download that pls !

Edit: Ok found it but i have a pirated winxp and it asks me to validate windows .. can i still install?

yenta

Poland1142 Posts

March 02 2010 16:30 GMT

#63

On March 03 2010 00:20 SkelA wrote:
Edit: Ok found it but i have a pirated winxp and it asks me to validate windows .. can i still install?

I'm not sure but I think upon failing windows validation it will break your Windows Install

On March 02 2010 23:42 UdderChaos wrote:
Becuase these precations seems really over the top and scaremongering to me.

I think this is a good set of standard, minimal precautions that should be taken. Over the top would involve some sort of virtualization / daily fresh installs going on.

Grobyc

Canada18410 Posts

March 02 2010 17:14 GMT

#64

thanks for this R1CH, didn't see it until now :D

Necosarius

Sweden4042 Posts

March 02 2010 17:23 GMT

#65

On March 02 2010 19:44 CharlieMurphy wrote:

Show nested quote +

r1ch,
enlighten me on how to get passed the windows genuine thing? I can't update without installing that pos first.

I would like to know this as well. Thanks r1ch!

Edit: and thanks to those who recommended noscript, it's awesome!

WhuazGoodJaggah

Lesotho777 Posts

March 02 2010 17:48 GMT

#66

On January 11 2010 13:55 R1CH wrote:

Show nested quote +

Congratulations, you probably have a rootkit.

yeah he is an idiot because he doesn't blindly follow the shit you preach?

I have a friend who very rarely uses his computer and fucking autoupdate is always fucking hiom over because he can't use his cumpter when he wants to because 23123 updates have to be done first. Very efficient, right.

And always updating your software to the latest version per se is just as stupid as not updating at all. Are you a software engineer? Don't you know that you can open doors with updates just as easy as closing them?

An open source app can be all nice and fine and checked for malicious code then made closed source do an auto update and bam you have shit on your computer.

Such general security guidlines suck, as nothing will every replace using your own brain.

Btw, do you like it that almost all websites require "secure" ~8charater with number pws?

Sadir

Vatican City State1176 Posts

March 05 2010 22:40 GMT

#67

thx r1ch

SoLaR[i.C]

United States2969 Posts

March 05 2010 22:49 GMT

#68

Norton 360 2010 is totally rad. I have it and haven't had even the slightest infraction as far as security goes.

Frolossus

United States4779 Posts

March 05 2010 22:58 GMT

#69

for the DEP section in windows 7 there is no apply to all programs button thing.

LuCky.

Zimbabwe91 Posts

March 05 2010 23:20 GMT

#70

OK Rich which web browser would you recommend?

-FF 3.6
-Opera 10.5
-Chrome 5.0

R1CH

Netherlands10342 Posts

March 05 2010 23:25 GMT

#71

On March 02 2010 23:38 Durak wrote:
I have a question for R1CH. I tried to install Gunbound from http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=112506 and I got a DEP error (screenshot bottom of page 4). How can I tell if Gunbound is safe to run? It's a fairly old game so that might be what's causing it.

Most free Korean games (or any games from Asia for that matter) use pseudo-rootkits as a crude form of anti-cheating. This usually includes packed/crypted executables that weren't designed for DEP. So yes, it's safe to run, but if it's GameGuard (a common antihack), this may cause crashing in other programs you have running at the same time, especially Firefox.

Raelcun

United States3747 Posts

March 05 2010 23:41 GMT

#72

So would you recommend running noscript R1CH or is that overkill? My brother in law is like the biggest noscript fanboy I've ever seen but it seems a bit much.

R1CH

Netherlands10342 Posts

March 05 2010 23:42 GMT

#73

On March 03 2010 02:48 WhuazGoodJaggah wrote:
I have a friend who very rarely uses his computer and fucking autoupdate is always fucking hiom over because he can't use his cumpter when he wants to because 23123 updates have to be done first. Very efficient, right.

And always updating your software to the latest version per se is just as stupid as not updating at all. Are you a software engineer? Don't you know that you can open doors with updates just as easy as closing them?

Updates install in the background, it even tells you that you can continue using your computer while they install. Unless it's really old PC, updates can be installed with minimal interruption.

If you seriously think Microsoft and any other large vendor introduces new security holes with security updates then I don't know what to say. The Microsoft QA and testing department alone is bigger than entire companies. You're at far greater risk from known, exploitable vulnerabilities than hypothetical future security holes.

offchance

United States15 Posts

March 06 2010 00:44 GMT

#74

one of my XPs did validate security essentials, another one didnt. Im not sure if theres a way around that

R1CH, what do you think of avast? i found it useful when it blocked some sites from opening popups/running malicious scripts

also, how do i get rid of another version of XP, it still gives me a choice when i reboot. Is there a good way to import installed software or i have to redo it on a newer version?

also some link, esp updates, still open in IE, even though i have something else for defaiult browser. How do i fix that. Is installed IE in itself a threat even if im not using it?

d(O.o)a

Canada5066 Posts

March 06 2010 15:30 GMT

#75

Where can I find something to download or at least scan for missing .DLL files in my windows registry?

lynx.oblige

Sierra Leone2268 Posts

March 06 2010 15:43 GMT

#76

Great thread, thanks R1CH.

Durak

Canada3685 Posts

March 06 2010 16:00 GMT

#77

On March 06 2010 08:25 R1CH wrote:

Show nested quote +

Thanks R1CH. I appreciate your answer because it doesn't just tell me what to do but explains it.

KingKRule

United States84 Posts

March 06 2010 16:01 GMT

#78

I didn't understand half of it but thanks R1CH!

Biochemist

United States1008 Posts

March 06 2010 16:28 GMT

#79

How often do people intentionally package things like keyloggers/malicious rootkits/etc in pirated copies of major programs like windows/office?

QuickStriker

United States3694 Posts

March 06 2010 17:09 GMT

#80

Hi R1CH, I was wondering if I can get some advice and help from you. I mentioned this also on one of the blog that mention you and thought it might be more productive to say it here:

So basically starting yesterday, my laptop (windows 7 ultimate and very old since 2006) have randomly restarting and rebooting itself. Just RANDOMLY. There even isn't a pattern, whenever it feels like it. I touch the back part of laptop and it is hot but I wonder if it is really because of overheating since I don't have a blue screen and just restart. I feel like this laptop either has a virus or something OR it's time to slowly say goodbye to my 4 years old laptop and get a new laptop. In that case, can you recommend me a nice laptop to buy (I don't know how to build one but I suppose if I receive help...) that's inexpensive, like you did with the desktop specs?? :D

And also briefly mention what my problem could be with my current old laptop...

Also adding that I did follow your guide and have Microsoft Security Essential which works like a charm and free! And tell me if I should add any more info to this to clarify better if you are to help me. Thanks!!