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Protecting the HOSTS file |
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Getting a virus on your system is frustrating to say the least, and can be hazardous to the health of your computer. Indeed, today's malicious software can even steal your identity and wreck your hard-earned credit rating. To help fight back, here's a list of free tools, tips, and tricks to get rid of viruses and keep them from getting back on your system. |
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Windows ME and Windows XP both come with a feature known as System Restore that enables users to revert to specific restore points without impacting data files. When new drivers or software are installed, the operating system automatically creates a restore point. If the installation causes problems, the system restore point can be used to rollback the changes. If no driver or software installations occur, System Restore will automatically create a restore point daily. |
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The Windows Messenger Service can be exploited by spammers and used to dish up unwelcome advertising on unsuspecting users. The service is also victim to a critical exploit that could allow malicious attackers to remotely run code on vulnerable systems. Disabling the service will prevent both the pop-ups and the exploit. |
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Securing your mail client is just one of the steps necessary to help prevent email worms and viruses. If you have not already done so, visit the Email Help Center for tips on spotting malicious attachments and the do's and don'ts of email security. Also see Why Plain is Better to understand the risks of HTML-rendered email. The steps below apply to Outlook versions 2002, 2003, and 2007, and Outlook Express v6.0 and above. If you use an older version, you may need to update your mail client in order to take advantage of these important security features. |
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What is a boot sector? All disks and hard drives are divided into small sectors. The first sector is called the boot sector and contains the Master Boot Record (MBR). The MBR contains the information concerning the location of partitions on the drive and reading of the bootable operating system partition. During the bootup sequence on a DOS-based PC, the BIOS searches for certain system files, IO.SYS and MS-DOS.SYS. When those files have been located, the BIOS then searches for the first sector on that disk or drive and loads the needed Master Boot Record information into memory. The BIOS passes control to a program in the MBR which in turn loads IO.SYS. This latter file is responsible for loading the remainder of the operating system. |
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Antivirus software is simply not enough. An email worm can spread worldwide in just minutes, but it takes hours for antivirus vendors to analyze, create, and deploy signature updates. Fortunately, there are five easy steps you can take to help close that window of vulnerability and help keep email worms off your system. |
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Each of the listed security zones (Internet, Local intranet, Trusted sites, and Restricted sites) can be configured to either a Custom Level or Default Level. All sites not listed elsewhere will default to the Internet Zone. |
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Enable file extension viewing
The invisible extension - what you can't see, can hurt you. By default, Windows does not have file extension viewing enabled. This allows virus writers to distribute executable files disguised as something non-executable. For example, an .EXE file might appear to be an innocuous text file. |
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Before you report abuse to someone's ISP or domain admin, it's important to remember that no matter how frustrating the situation is, chances are that person is also a victim. Email worms frequently spoof the sender's name so make sure you've checked the headers to ferret out the real sender. Even that's not foolproof - headers can sometimes also be forged. |
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