Checco Services: Safe Consumer Computing: Clean Your PC

HOW TO keep you computer clean and running smoothly

(updated 10/13/2009)

By this point you should have an idea of how many "holes" are in your computer system, how prevalent the problem is, how persistent hackers are to get your information and how to stay aware of your surroundings online....

So you are ready to take the next step: cleaning up your PC. You do not need to be technically savvy to do some of the basic steps (like service packs and fixes), but never hesitate to ask for help from a professional -- because it is not worth losing your identity over.

This is a checklist of safety tools everyone should have on their PC. The specific brands mentioned here are from firsthand experience -- there are many brands out there, and I would like to hear any comments about other products.

Service Packs and Fixes: seal any cracks in the foundation
Recommendation: Install All Fixes and Service Packs, Check Regularly.
Windows Service Packs
- Always recommended as a first step towards a clean house.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: varies + usually at least one reboot
Secunai PSI (Personal Software Inspector)
- Determines insecure and outdated software installed on your machine.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.secunia.com/
- Technical Level: Intermediate to Advanced
- Installation Time: ~5 minutes to scan
FileHippo Update Checker
- Quickly determines latest updates available for your freeware/shareware.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: varies + usually at least one reboot
Backup Utilities: your contingency plan
Recommendation: Install One, Run Regularly.
Acronis TrueImage
- Always recommended as a wholesale backup of your system.
- Cost: $$$
- Available From: http://www.acronis.com
- Technical Level: Intermediate
- Installation Time: varies + usually at least one reboot
O&O DiskImage Express
- Recommended as a wholesale backup of your system.
- Cost: FREE ($$$ for Pro version)
- Available From: http://www.oo-software.com/home/en/products/oodiskimageexpress/
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 10 minutes + reboot.
Drive Snapshot
- Recommended as a wholesale backup of your system.
- Cost: $$$
- Available From: http://www.drivesnapshot.de/en/
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
FilesAnywhere.com
- Always recommended as an offsite backup of your IMPORTANT data.
- Cost: $$$ (annual subscription)
- Available From: http://www.filesanywhere.com
- Technical Level: Intermediate
- Installation Time: none (online service)
Synchronize It!
- Recommended to quickly copy IMPORTANT data to a thumb drive or file share.
- Cost: $$$ (cheap)
- Available From: http://www.grigsoft.com/winsin.htm
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
"All-in-one" Security Centers: because you do not want to be bothered installing/maintaining many different programs
Recommendation: A good alternative to maintaining multiple security software, but usually has some shortcomings.
AVG
- Cost: Annual Subscription
- Available From: http://www.grisoft.com
- Technical Level: Intermediate
- Installation Time: 10 minutes + one reboot
AOL Security Center
- Use this to control and/or monitor your family's online activity.
- Cost: Free for AOL Customers
- Available From: http://www.aol.com
- Technical Level: Novice to Intermediate
- Installation Time: 15 minutes + one reboot
Norton Internet Security
- Combination of all Symantec security products.
- Cost: Annual Subscription
- Available From: http://www.symantec.com
- Technical Level: Intermediate
- Installation Time: 15 minutes + one reboot
Parental Controls: because you can't trust who talks to your kids
Recommendation: A must for any family.
Ultra-VNC
- Normally used for remote control, I use it to read the family PC screen while they are online. When installing it on the kids' computers, make sure you set it up: as a windows startup service, no tray icon, a strong connection password, and no connection confirmation screen.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.uvnc.com
- Technical Level: Intermediate
- Installation Time: 15 minutes + one reboot on each PC being monitored.
PC Tattletale
- Recommended by our local D.A.R.E officers. A really comprehensive monitoring program, which tracks online activity as well as programs. There are 3 downsides: you need to get on the kids' computer to see all the activity, you'll get tons of email about their emails/chats, and there is sometimes TOO much information to sort through. I use it randomly (one day per month) to check on the kids activity.
- Cost: $50
- Available From: http://www.pctattletale.com
- Technical Level: Intermediate
- Installation Time: 15 minutes + one reboot on each PC being monitored.
System Configuration: ensure everything is setup and working within safe measures
Recommendation: Check Regularly.
Crap Cleaner
- Free cleaner package
- Removes all temporary files (where many malware programs hide)
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.ccleaner.com
- Technical Level: Novice to Intermediate
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
AssociateThis from Spearit Software
- Notifies user about any changes to file "associations" (programs that automatically run when the user double-clicks on a file).
- Takes some time to get comfortable with the interface.
- Cost: $$$
- Available From: http://www.spearit.com
- Technical Level: Novice to Intermediate
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
PivX PreEmpt (formerly Qwik-Fix)
- Although most of these configuration changes can be done manually, this utility will always ensure the proper and latest configuration recommendations are always applied.
- Cost: $$$
- Available From: http://www.pivx.com
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 5 minutes + usually one reboot
Safety Tools from Gibson Research
- Good to run to close any serious vulnerabilities which Microsoft considers "features".
- No integrated user interface
- Suggested to run: SocketLock, ShootTheMessenger, and UnPNP.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.grc.com
- Technical Level: Novice to Intermediate
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
Online Virus Scanners: get a quick estimate of the problem
The Upside: These new breeds of scanning engines have some great potential.
- They always have the latest exploit definitions.
- They are excellent to provide a quick evaluation of your problem.
- If a stealth exploit tries to defeat them, the manufacturer can quickly work around it.
- This may be the new method of delivery for these companies; so they are quick to try to impress consumers with features -- which bodes well for us consumers (for the time being).
The Downside: Most require ActiveX; hence Internet Explorer (which is known to have problems).
Recommendation: Worth a try....
Symantec Automated Support Assistant
- Does a quick check of memory viruses.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/activedata/virus_check.jsp
- Technical Level: Novice
Symantec Security Check Website
- In-depth virus scanning and/or security scanning (two separate tabs).
- Only identifies issues; does not repair or clean threats.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://security.symantec.com/default.asp?productid=symhome&langid=ie&venid=sym
- Technical Level: Novice
Trend Micro Housecall
- A bit flaky... I found it to stop sometimes at the first virus/trojan/worm, so it needed to be run several times.
- Cleans/Fixes any threats found.
- Cost: FREE (it is a preview of an upcoming product)
- Available From: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp
- Technical Level: Novice
Rootkit Detectors: who is controlling my computer
Rootkits are the trap door that hackers use to control your computer. You become the patsy for their crimes.
Recommendation: Install One.... a must
AVG Anti-Rootkit
- Free (and commercial) rootkit detection package
- Solid performer for the price
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://free.grisoft.com
- Technical Level: Novice to Intermediate
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
Rootkit Detective
- Commercial rootkit detection package
- Although very thorough, running it slows your computer to a crawl
- Cost: FREE ???
- Available From: http://www.mcafee.com
- Technical Level: Intermediate to Expert
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
Rootkit Revealer
- Free (and commercial) rootkit detection package
- Although very thorough, running it slows your computer to a crawl
- Cost: FREE ???
- Available From: http://www.microsoft.com
- Technical Level: Novice to Intermediate
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
Virus Scanning Software: call the exterminator
Antivirus does viruses and trojans very well, but some things are not considered viruses or trojans, like spyware. These programs will not prevent you from getting to "other" less scrupulous websites.
Recommendation: Install One.... a must
AVG AntiVirus
- Free (and commercial) antivirus package
- Solid performer for the price
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://free.grisoft.com
- Technical Level: Novice to Intermediate
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
McAfee AntiVirus
Norton AntiVirus
CA EZ-Antivirus
IBM AntiVirus
Trend Micro AntiVirus
- Top-rated antivirus products
- No need for the bundled protection suites, as there are better individual packages below.
- Cost: Annual Subscription
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 15 minutes + one reboot
ClamAV AntiVirus
- Free antivirus package
- Missing some nice interfaces and integration into windows, but good choice for servers
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.clamav.net
- Technical Level: Intermediate to Expert
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
Personal Firewalls: put a lock on that door
Recommendation: Install Only One.
GreenBorder Desktop DMZ
- This innovative program allows the internet limited access to your computer, so malicious websites cannot grab local information store on your hard drive or auto-install malware on your computer.
- I would use this in conjunction with another personal firewall below.
- Cost: -TBA-.
- Available From: http://www.greenborder.com/
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 5 minutes + 1 reboot
ZoneAlarm
- This software will account for 2 major leaks:
  
  It will ask for permission to allow applications on your computer to access the Internet.
  It will prevent inbound access from the Internet.
- Cost: FREE (no need to get 'PRO' version)
- Available From: http://www.zonelabs.com
- Technical Level: Intermediate
- Installation Time: 10 minutes + one reboot
Windows ICS / Firewall
- Although this is a good first effort by Microsoft to control unmonitored access, it falls short of being considered a "good" solution, and actually may cause a false sense of security -- much like buying a padlock, but never taking it out of the package.
- Cost: FREE (installed as part of Windows XP Service Pack 2)
- Available From: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 40-60 minutes + one reboot
Spyware Scanners: pull the shades down on your windows
Recommendation: Install One, Check Regularly.
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
- Provides a great layer of identification of spyware and other malware
- Run manually (not at Windows startup), because it seemed to slow down my computer. Also takes a long time to run, but it is very thorough...
- Cost: $$$
- Available From: http://www.malwarebytes.org
- Technical Level: Novice to Intermediate
- Installation Time: 5 minutes + usually one reboot
Windows Defender (formerly Windows Anti-Spyware)
- Provides a good layer of protection against spyware and system changes
- Not as many options or as customizable as other similar products.
- Cost: (beta)
- Available From: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 5 minutes + usually one reboot
SpyBot Search & Destroy
- Be sure to set 2 resident settings (Teatimer and S&D)
- Run these weekly to remove/prevent spyware:
  
  "Search for Updates",
  "Immunize", and
  "Check For Problems"
- "SpyBot S&D" catches different spyware than the others
- S&D Resident will ask for permission to allow programs to change the registry (computer settings).
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
- Technical Level: Intermediate
- Installation Time: 10 minutes
SpyBlaster
- Run manual updates weekly to keep your web browser from downloading spyware.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 10 minutes
Browser Safety: see who's knocking at your door
Recommendation:Install and use as needed.
NetCraft Toolbar
- available for Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla FireFox browsers.
- This is one of the best tools I have seen for web surfing. It displays information about every website you visit, giving its origination date and country of origin. This is useful to thwart phishing attacks where you are directed to a "look-alike" site and prompted for your userid and password. Hint: If you go to what you think is your banking site, and it gives a country other than US or has an origination date of 1 month ago; chances are, it is not your bank.
- Cost: FREE.
- Available From: http://toolbar.netcraft.com/
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
Mozilla FireFox Web Browser
- This is an alternative web browser. Inherently safer than IE because it does not support Microsoft OBJECTs or ActiveX controls -- which also means it cannot display sites which use these methods.
- I use this browser by default. It has many add-on features (a.k.a. plugins) for security as well as usability. Some of my favorite plugins are:
  
  LinkPreview: Allows me to preview a page (thumbnail) before clicking on the link.
  SpoofStick: Similar to Netcraft, it shows the real domain name for the website being loaded, to prevent phishing.
  Wayback: Shows prior versions of a specific website page -- also helps in spotting phishers.
  ForecastFox: A simple toolbar that gives me the 5-day weather forecast
  View Cookies: Does what it says.
- Cost: FREE.
- Available From: http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
Windows Internet Explorer Popup Blocking Feature
- Good utility, but only available for Internet Explorer on Windows XP.
- Cost: FREE (installed as part of Windows XP Service Pack 2)
- Available From: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 40-60 minutes + one reboot
Web Of Trust -- Mozilla Firefox AddOn
- Good utility, but only available for Mozilla Firefox.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://addons.mozilla.com
- Technical Level: Novice
- Installation Time: 1 minute and restart Firefox
Spam/Phishing Blockers: don't talk to strangers
Recommendation: Install at least One.
SpamAssassin
- Good for mail server installations -- removes spam before the user can open it.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.spamassassin.org
- Technical Level: Expert
- Installation Time: 30 minutes
SpamKiller
- Good basic spam stopper... requires some complex configuration to make it run well.
- Cost: $$$
- Available From: http://www.mcafee.com
- Technical Level: Novice to Intermediate
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
SpamWasher
- Cost: It pays to get the basic version
- Available From: http://www.panicware.com/product_downloads.html
- Technical Level: Novice to Intermediate
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
For the Techies: whiz-bang stuff
Recommendation: Totally Optional.
CVE/Oval Vulnerability Tests
- Good to run daily to find any new vulnerabilities.
- Clunky User Interface, no automatic update utility.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://cve.mitre.org
- Technical Level: Expert
- Installation Time: 10 minutes
Magic Mail Monitor
- Use this to monitor multiple POP3 Mail accounts. Allows you to view the message in its raw format (via notepad), so you do not mistakenly open a bad email in Outlook. One of the most useful tools I have.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://mmm3.sourceforge.net
- Technical Level: Intermediate
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
Startup Control Center
- Use this to find out what programs are starting automatically when you logon.
- Cost: $$$
- Available From: http://www.sureshotsoftware.com
- Technical Level: Intermediate to Expert
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
PGP Personal / Desktop
- Use this to encrypt/safeguard sensitive email or entire disks with the highest level of asymmetric encryption.
- Cost: $$$
- Available From: http://www.pgp.com
- Technical Level: Intermediate
- Installation Time: 15 minutes + one reboot
TrueCrypt
- Use this to encrypt/safeguard sensitive files/folders with the highest level of symmetric encryption.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.truecrypt.org
- Technical Level: Novice to Intermediate
- Installation Time: 5 minutes + one reboot
AxCrypt
- Use this to encrypt/safeguard sensitive files with the highest level of symmetric encryption.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://axcrypt.sourceforge.net
- Technical Level: Novice to Intermediate
- Installation Time: 5 minutes + one reboot
Tripwire
- Use this to find out what files have changes on your computer systems (on a daily basis).
- Cost: Annual Subscription
- Available From: http://www.tripwire.com
- Technical Level: Expert
- Installation Time: 20 minutes
Email Tracker
- Use this to find out the origin of some "fishy" emails you have gotten.
- Cost: $$$
- Available From: http://www.visualroute.com
- Technical Level: Intermediate to Expert
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
Safety Tools from Safer-Networking
- More technical details into what processes are running and who has access to what.
- No integrated user interface
- Suggested to run: Runalyzer, FileAlyzer and Regalyzer.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.safer-networking.org
- Technical Level: Expert
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
Safety Tools from Winternals
- Good to run to find out what changes when software is installed or running.
- No integrated user interface
- Suggested to run: AutoRuns, File Monitor and Registry Monitor.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.winternals.com
- Technical Level: Expert
- Installation Time: 5 minutes
LSP-Fix
- Run when you suspect there is a network virus or hijacker... cleans out TCP/IP stack.
- Cost: FREE
- Available From: http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
- Technical Level: Expert
- Installation Time: 5 minutes