I just wanted to ask anyone's thoughts on the best software or checks to use
to ensure that nothing untoward is running on my Vista computer. I have
Norton and Windows Defender, of course - what else would you recommend
(preferably free)?
AVG is totally free, gets updates by itself and installs them.
Products like Norton you have to buy and then constantly renew, for a
fee of course. Thanks, but no thanks. Kicked the Norton habit years
ago. Peter's made a ton of money already.
You are aware it is impossible to ever be fully protected. NO product
ever has or even claims to offer total protection. No such thing.
Hackers are constantly writing some new virus, worm, trojan or
something. Common sense is your best friend.
1. don't open email from people you don't know
2. don't open attachments unless from a trusted source
3. don't run .exe files from untrusted sources
If you download binaries check the file type carefully before clicking
on them.
Suggestion:
1. Go to Windows Explorer, folder where your downloads are
2. On Tool Bar click Organize, Folder and Search Options
3. Select View tab and scroll down and UNCHECK hide extensions
for known file types.
4. Click apply and ok.
Why?
Because a malicious person may have posted a file that pretends to be
something it is not. With the default file extenions hid option
enabled, and why it is you'll have to ask Microsoft, a file called
my-pet-rock.jpg that looks like a image file may be something nasty
that actually is a executable file that's planning on doing mischief
and just waiting for you to click on it.
By unchecking 'hide known file types' Windows should reveal the full
file name which in this example may be something like:
my-pet-rock.jpg.exe
Now you know the file isn't a .jpg at all, but actually a dangerous
file that may cause your computer a lot of harm.
Kind of funny that Microsoft prtends UAC is such a big "security"
feature when by design they disable one of their build-in security
features that reveals the actual file extensions.
