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11/10/2005: "The Patrish Way -- Safe Computing"

Okay... I'm hoping that if I share some of the stuff I included in my general "restore a computer to factory" procedure, some of yall will be able to help yourselves and save money; others can prepare their machines to be safe from spyware and most viruses, or repair their machines to at least a usable and maintainable level...... Click on the more link....

ADDENDUM 4-22-2007: Having used my Mac laptop since November, and my NEW Intel iMac for a month, I recommend the switch. Read my entry of this date for more, you'll be glad you did.



If you aren't having very many problems, or once you have restored your machine to factory settings, or even if you want to try to clean up a troublesome machine, these are the steps that can help you be safer with a smoother running machine. If you are already infected, you may be able to delay professional help while you save your important documents and pictures, or even for a long enough time until you are ready to purchase a new machine or fully restore your machine to factory settings and begin again.

ASSUMED: You can boot to Windows, and you have internet connection.

PLEASE NOTE: Some of the downloads may take DAYS on a dialup connection, depending on your computer's update status.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you have winXP, click on "My Computer" "Properties" to see if you have Service Pack 1 or 2. It will say so under the version of XP you have. If you DO have Service Pack 1 or 2, you are safe to do the other updates first. If you do NOT have at least Service Pack 1, you MUST do the Windows Update first. Some people have the service packs on a CDRom, which will save you a lot of time, so check around.

• My recommendation is to uninstall any Symantec, Norton, McAfee or any other anti-virus software you have (if it was going to work, it would have, right?). "Start" "Control Panel" "Add Remove Programs"
  
  
• Download, install, and update Free AVG. I have found this free anti-virus program to have fewer virus attacks on it, fewer false readings, and fewer software incompatibilities. If you like it really well, you may want to purchase the pro version, but it is not necessary. The program should update itself automatically when you are online. You want to run a manual scan once a week in case you received a virus prior to there being a fix for it. If you do not have a clean restore, run the scan, deleting all identified malware. Do it NOW! (If you just restored your system, you should be good to go to the next step.) DO NOT use any other anti-virus with this program. They may conflict.
  
  
• Navigate to www.download.com. Download both ADAWARE SE and SPYBOT SEARCH AND DESTROY. They are both excellent and free. They are usually linked on the front page. Make sure you get the ADAWARE SE program, not a look alike, because they don't act alike. ;-) It will be linked as Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition. Download them to your desktop so you'll be able to find them. Install and update both programs. They need to be run weekly and all malware removed. DO NOT use any other anti-spyware programs, as some are spyware themselves, and others may cause conflicts.
  
  
• If your system is a fresh restore, at this point all you have to do is Immunize with Spybot Search and Destroy. This prevents thousands of spywares from ever getting on your system. This is good! If your system is troublesome or just getting cleaned, run the check (or scan) for spyware now with both Adaware SE AND Spybot Search and Destroy. Select and remove any malware found. Continue to run this program weekly.
  
  
• Update Windows regardless of which version you have. Get all of the critical updates, but none of the driver updates. If you have not updated recently (or ever) or if you have an older install, this process could take days on a dialup, hours on broadband, but it is a very necessary step to keep your computer safe particularly from hackers.
  
  
• From here you are good to go to add other software and peripherals as needed.
  

Good luck, and God bless!

Email me if you have any questions.