Tutorial [Windows] How To Protect Your Computer From Malware/Viruses/Adware

[Greenman1]

How To Protect Your Computer From Malware/Viruses/Adware
By: Greenman1

Have you ever heard that a Mac (and a PC running Linux) can't get a virus? There are some viruses for Mac but most viruses are for Windows. Why? Because majority of computer users have Windows installed and a lot of people who are new to computers start with Windows. This is why you want to protect your Windows PC from viruses. This guide will help you protect your PC from bad software.

Protecting Chrome
Do you still use Internet Explorer? Don't use it! It is a very outdated browser and you want to use a modern browser. I recommend Chrome or Firefox over Microsoft Edge because of the extensions. This is going to be showing you how to protect Chrome.

When you open a new tab is the search engine a trusted search engine (this includes Google,Bing,Yahoo,DuckDuckGo etc.)? Even if the page looks like a trusted search engine check the URL! Look up the real link for the search engine and see if it matches. If it doesn't you need to remove it! To remove a fake or bad search engine:

1. Click the ... in the top right corner to open the Chrome menu
2. Choose Settings (if a virus redirects you type in the address bar chrome://settings)
3. Search for Search Engine and click Manage Search Engines
4. Delete any fake search engines from the default
5. Go back and search for On startup
6. If the Open a specific page or set of pages is on delete all the bad pages
7. Go back and search for Protect
8. Find the Protect you and your device from dangerous sites and Send a "Do Not Track" request with your browsing traffic switches and make sure they're on

Now try restarting Chrome and it should be fixed (if not it's a virus on your PC). Another thing you want is an AdBlocker. This will block ads but some blockers also prevent adware on hacked sites.
I recommend any of these Chrome extenstions:

• uBlock Origin (by Raymond Hill)
• Adguard AdBlocker (by adguard.com)
• Poper Blocker (by poperblocker.com)

I also recommend HTTPS Anywhere (by eff.org). This extenstion will use the https:// (secure) version of a site automatically if it supports it.

Uninstall Programs
Some "viruses" are just programs that come pre-installed when you get your PC. This is called bloatware. Some viruses can act like bloatware and be easily removed. If you used an installer to get the program then here's how to remove unwanted programs.

1. Press Windows Key+R and in the Run box type Control Panel
2. Click on Uninstall a program under Programs in Control Panel
3. Click on a piece of software to select it and click Uninstall to uninstall it

Free Anti-Malware/Anti-Virus
A good final step is to install an anti-virus and anti-malware program. The difference between the two is that anti-virus protects you against past viruses while anti-malware protects you against current viruses. Some good free anti-virus software is:

• Avast
• Bitdefender (Free Edition)
• Avira

Windows Defender is an okay anti-virus but I would recommend one on the list. Malwarebytes (Free Edition) is also good and it's not on this list because it's anti-malware software. Malwarebytes won't protect you in real time but if you think you have malware already on your pc, run a scan, and it detects malware, it will do a good job of cleaning out the malware. If you get the Premium edition of Malwarebytes you will get web and real time protection.

False Positives
A false positive is when a program that isn't malware or a virus is detected as one. This usually happens to hacking/cheating tools like Cheat Engine. Luckily you can add exclusions in your anti-virus and anti-malware software so you can run these programs while still being protected.

Conclusion
Even with all of this protection one of the best things you can do is use common sense! If you see an ad like that says "Play Cuphead for free!" you know that Cuphead isn't a free game so you shouldn't click it. If you are unsure about a download I would put the download link through VirusTotal.

 

[KeoniAzugon]

hmm Nice Tips. I would definately agree with this guideline and could easily be modifed to fit other browsers as well that are modern. Like the VirusTotal tip as I've never heard of them before. Another thing I do, only if your a bit more advanced and know how to keep your drivers updated, is a reformat of the entire system with it already up to date. This or clean the registry along with deleting any temp files plus keep all non-system critical files in a seperate partition/backed up to an external hard drive to prevent data lost.

 

[Deleted User]

Avast + Adblocker does nicely.If something suspicious happens,avast automatically blocks it or adds it to a virus chest to be deleted.

 

[Bubsy Bobcat]

I honestly wouldn't say AVG is a good free antivirus, definitely stick with either Avast or Avira. I would also strongly recommend using uBlock Origin over AdBlock Plus as it doesn't eat up as much memory as ABP and it also warns if you're entering a crapware site or being redirected to a scam site.

 

[D34DL1N3R]

Huh. I never would have thought to use an antivirus to prevent malware or viruses. I understand you're trying to be helpful, but if people don't know the most basics of day one PC 101... they probably shouldn't be using a PC. And an ad-blocker to block ads? Who would have thought???

 

[wicksand420]

The best way to prevent viruses is to watch what you are clicking on, don't look at porn on your computer, use your phone for that. and stay off seedy websites like torrents and such.

 

[DeadlyFoez]

Nothing replaces a good ol' host file

 

[deSSy2724]

Also for some testings and for testing/using suspicious programs...... use Sandboxie.

 

[noctis90210]

i also use deep freeze... on system files...
the only partition that is not frozen is the user files like the document, picture, video, etc...

 

[SomeGamer]

i also use deep freeze... on system files...

How do you get Windows Updates then?

 

[noctis90210]

How do you get Windows Updates then?

i disbale my update, manual update it when i unfroze the system partition...

 

[JiveTheTurkey]

I've clicked on the free cuphead thing a while back. I know- I'm a dumbass. Yes, but it led me to a Chrome Extension which I didn't click. Did I still potentially screw myself into vulnerability?

 

[Gizametalman]

But, but, my porn!

That means that I can not longer meet horny wifes at 5km from home?
And how the fuck am I going to claim my free money from the Uganda King and from Steve Jobs?
Will I no longer be able to download my free iPhone?
::

 

[ken28]

no noscript?

 

[Gizametalman]

On a second note, I would like to share a tip that I use sometimes.
Hope OP adds this:

Sometimes removing software will leave garbage on your system.
Sometimes, fake sites will leave a remaining in your system, so even if you remove the site it will still appear on your browser. This means that you can't get rid of it. Or can you? YES YOU CAN!

To successfully uninstall bloatware or unwanted software, you MUST delete manually all Registered Keys on your system.
To find out where are your registration keys, you have to press Windows Key + R. Then type "regedit" without the quotes. Press enter.

You'll see lots of folders there. I can't remember exactly the path to finding the current installed software but it is something like this:
HKEY_LOCALMACHINE -> WINDOWS -> SOFTWARE
And you'll see even more folders with the names of actual software.
For instance, you could have folders of old software you uninstalled long time ago, or you could find registration keys of your Web Browser.

Deleting each folder manually is the key to completely remove bloatware.
Even worms or viruses gets located in those folders, so it might be worth checking out those if everything else fails.
PRO TIP: Artemis, the virus, gets in one of those folders. So if you have this virus, you know where to find it.
PRO TIP 2: Most antiviruses tells you the exact location of viruses. This locations can sometimes be only found by Regedit.

 

[ScarletDreamz]

Adblock + MalwareBytes + CCleaner do the job for me.

 

[Captain_N]

Simple. Run linux in a virtual machine. Lock it down with no networking sharing or folder sharing and your good. Make a copy of the virtual Hdd file encase it messes up and your good.

 

[JiveTheTurkey]

Adblock + MalwareBytes + CCleaner do the job for me.

I agree. CCleaner saved me once against an ad virus that popped up every time I booted up the computer. I followed the program address which I couldn't find anywhere else in Windows 10 and erased the folder, it turns out the ad pop up was stored in my system registry. CCleaner for the win! I always install that program in every fresh OS Install.

 

[console]

That is very good security list.

Everyone are not protect by different kind of ransoms. I suggest everyone to install anti-ransom program on your computer. If what you download any files everywhere on internet and open it. If what happen if you open file like .exe, .bat, .pdf, etc if program had ransom inside to lurk everyone don't know and hit their computers and destroy or lock all files on hard drives.

I strong recommend everyone to install Kaspersky Anti-Ransomware Tool for Business on all computers to get full protect against many kinds of ransoms.

Official homepage and download

https://go.kaspersky.com/Anti-ransomware-tool.html

My screenshot here to show you.

Kaspersky Anti-Ransomware Tool provides 100% protection from ransomware



Kaspersky Anti-Ransomware vs.10 Savage Ransomware | Prevention Test

Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware vs. 10 Dangerous Ransomware

Check it out. Other many anti-ransom programs don't protect you from all kind of ransoms and they are failure.

You will know. :-)

 

[D34DL1N3R]

Nothing replaces a good ol' host file

Nonsense.