Internet Security

Published on October 13, 2013 By BigDogBigFeet In Internet

Well I must admit I'm a bit surprised. I use 2 Browsers. My main browser is IE 10 in protected mode. I also have Firefox only because I cannot comment in the WC Galleries without it. IE 10 just wont work there!! I have also removed all Java from my system.

I seldom use FireFox at all. For security I have MSE and Malwarebytes Pro. I hadn't turned on protection mode in awhile for Malwarebyte Pro until today.

It found a hijack in my registry to turn on graphics file execution in Firefox!! I didn't even know there was such an exploit. How did it even get there?? A bad email? (I try to be careful. I delete without opening when suspicious). An inadvertent web page landing??

So I used Revo Pro to de-install Firefox. I used Regedit to remove Mozilla from the Registry then rebooted. Finally I reinstalled Firefox.

Fortunately, since I seldom use Firefox I've seen no system instability or evidence of virus. However, it seems there is no end of effort to install viruses on pc's these days. I'm sure Smart Phones will become heavily targeted as well.

I use just an ordinary Cell Phone no data or text so I'm secure there. I just want a phone to be a phone for me.

It takes constant review of my PC system to keep it clean and safe.

I've often gone to these Forums for improving my knowledge of PC security. So.. any thoughts ideas etc on improving PC security??

Comments (Page 3)

RedneckDude

on Oct 13, 2013

DaveRI

reply 29

FWIW, big fan of limited user logons here, been doing it pretty much since day 1, give or take the occasional screwdriver to make something work

If I had kids, or even an adult in the house, who used my machine and I didn't trust them to be safe, I'd have a limited user account set up for them, without admin priviledges.

But I don't. No one but me uses my PC. So I have no password on my account, don't need one. I have no need for limited accounts.

One of the things that pisses me off the most is having my PC tell me I don't have admin rights for something. Vista did that a lot, if memory serves.

DaveRI

on Oct 13, 2013

RedneckDude

reply 31

One of the things that pisses me off the most is having my PC tell me I don't have admin rights for something.

Ya I know what you mean. I would guess that's why so many people don't use them. From that perspective it's a pain in the neck. Once you get specific folder or file permissions set though for non-compliant programs (which is really a pain in the neck on XPHome) it's not so bad. I pretty much just log into admin to do installs or updates and shuffle files I want to keep a little more protected.

It's all a balancing act I suppose.

kona0197

on Oct 13, 2013

RedneckDude

reply 28

Anyone who spends any reasonable amount of time on the net is eventually gonna see a problem here and there.

Except me.

RedneckDude

reply 28

Internet Security is an oxymoron. If you're connected to the internet, you are not 100% secure, no matter who you are, or what you do.

Those Linux users and Mac users will disagree with you.

RedneckDude

on Oct 13, 2013

kona0197

reply 33

Except me

LOL. Kona, that was truly funny. Thanks, I needed that!

kona0197

on Oct 13, 2013

No laughing joke. I haven't had an issues with a virus in many, many years.

RedneckDude

on Oct 13, 2013

kona0197

reply 33

Those Linux users and Mac users will disagree with you.

Allow me to rephrase...... Anyone running a Windows PC who spends any reasonable amount of time on the net is eventually gonna see a problem here and there.

I have little experience with the others.

BigDogBigFeet

on Oct 14, 2013

Thanks once again everyone.

Overall, I agree with Monk about using a limited access user account to help thwart virus infection. When I said that doing so will not prevent viruses from landing on your computer, I wanted to emphasize that no one strategy is sufficient. It really does seem to take frequent scanning and monitoring system functionality for abnormalities.

I also tend to rely on Microsoft Fix-it to ensure my system settings aren't being reset by various software programs. Internet Explorer and Media Player are frequent targets as is Windows firewall.

I've also used Hijack This with a supporting website like Bleeping Computer (back in the last of my XP days) to solve stubborn problems.

Wincustomize has also been a great source of info for removing nuisance malware like Ask toolbar or MyWebSearch. Both of these were problematic on my wife's laptop.

And, yes RND, surf the web and you will have to deal with these sorts of problems from time to time.

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