As the Senior Network Administrator for a major medical practice, keeping viruses, spyware and other crap off the network is my #1 priority.
To do that, I use a simple but proven method which work just as well on a home PC or laptop.
Don't give them Administrative Privileges!
To do this, create a username you will use on your day to day basis. Also create an Admin login. I suggest using something like PCAdmin, LaptopAdmin or similar. Once you create the Admin login, give it full rights. Then disable the Administrator login. Don't delete it, just disable it. Give it a Strong password prior to this and give the same password to the Admin login. Once you have that all setup, install all your programs you want and then remove the Administrative rights to the day to day user, just make it a limited user.
What these virus writer do is try and break into your PC by using a combination of usernames and passwords. Many people don't set their Administrator password so they get right in. They try all possible combinations of administrator/admin/user and password lists like 1234, 12345, 123456, admin, password, Password, abcd, abcde etc. So setting up a strong password is a VERY important part.
Try taking a familiar place, childs or spouses name and capitalize the first letter and add some numbers to the end, like Susan1217 or even use symbols like $u$@n1217. Easy to rmember and strong!
What this does is deny the bugs administrative rights to the windows folder and therefore stops them dead in their tracks. Use the Admin login only for adding/removing/modifying apps that REQUIRE administrative rights. If you find an app that won't run without them while you are logged in as the day to day user, go to the program files folder, find the folder to the app and right click and give ONLY that folder administrative rights. You may have to turn off simple file sharing in folder properties, but this will stop 99.9% of all the bugs that drive us nuts.
Another great site for info is
www.sophos.com. Sign up for their free newsletter and you are good to go.
I know this is an old thread, but these are current issues and I know someone can use them!
I am happy to help anyone who has a computer issue, just post here or send me a PM.
Ex-Nuke
