Newbie/Oldie list, info/free software/security Options

[mitch]

PROGRAMS and INFO for a NEWBIE or OLDIE V2.0

by mitch with the help of several friends on this forum

here is a list of some nice programs and some required programs and some good safe informative sites.

ok, if you are really new to computers I want you to look at this site and you can use it for reference. if you have had a computer for a while, still glance at it, might pick up a hint or two and have less trouble!

http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/


as with all software... be offline and disable your anti-virus before installing !

and from Microsoft, the same people that brought you windows, a site with info on security and privacy
http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/assess.asp
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FIREWALL-REQUIRED
here are two, and both are easy to use and install and have a support forum for the free version like ad-aware

the free firewall that comes with XP is a one way firewall, it blocks incoming but does nothing about outgoing transmission, for an unbiased eval of firewalls and some info go here
http://www.wilders.org/firewalls.htm

Zonealarm personal I think it is the easiest to use
http://download.com.com/3000-2092-10217783.html?tag=lst-0-1
and here is a site with instructions on how to setup with pictures (great info)
http://www.markusjansson.net/eza.html


Sygate another good one, not as easy to install, but with more features
http://download.com.com/3000-2092-10184369.html?tag=lst-0-1

ok, now that you have the firewall installed and set up, you need to make sure it is working right
so go to http://grc.com/ and run "shields up" click through the first page and on the next page scroll down to "shields up" on the left side. click it and run "full service port scan". when finished it will give you an option at the bottom for a summary. a pass=all stealth, no open ports, and no ping replies !
While you are at grc.com....download and run this small programs for security
DCOMbomulator... stops a flaw in windows and closes a few ports in windows YOU NEED THIS
http://grc.com/dcom/
Shoot the messenger.... small program to close/open up windows message service ( not any IC, this is a built in message service you do not use and spammers have found it will bypass pop up blockers
http://grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm
Unplug and Pray... closes up another windows vulnerability! ( port 5000)
http://grc.com/unpnp/unpnp.htm

IF you are having trouble with your firewall, here is a program that will show what ports windows wants to use in real time
ACTIVE PORTS
http://www.protect-me.com/freeware.html
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ANTI-VIRUS - REQUIRED
AVG
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

avast anti virus free
http://www.asw.cz/i_idt_1023.html

if you have a virus this might make it easier to remove
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp

or this from Norton
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcen...tools.list.html
or this
http://www.bitdefender.com/html/free_tools.php

a friend gave me this site, looks good with info on virus software/firewalls and some security products worth a look before you install an anti-virus or firewall
http://www.claymania.com/anti-virus.html
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HOW TO START YOUR COMPUTER IN SAFE MODE
you will need this info if you are cleaning out a virus, want to play with msconfig,mis adjust your monitor and several other reasons

how to start a computer in safe mode

http://www.consumer-forum.co.za/index.php?act=ST&f=23&t=66&
and here is another site in case the first is busy or you want a different format

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgen...001052409420406

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COOKIE MANAGER
cookie wall a simple program to control the many cookies that get on your system
http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/cookie.htm
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POPUP STOPPER
POW
http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/pow.htm

panicware popup stopper free
http://www.panicware.com/product_psfree.html

and for the Message service popup, this will enable/disable it so install it.disable message service,no worry
http://www.lavahelp.com/articles/v6/03/05/0302.html
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SAFE PtoP software ..... "clean " alternatives to your P2P
Shareaza (recommended)
http://www.shareaza.com/

Gnucleus
http://www.gnucleus.net/

WinMX
http://www.winmx.com/
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SPAMFILTER
this is a nice one, and on his page he has setup instructions
mailwasher
http://www.mailwasher.net/

K9 is an email filtering application that works in conjunction with your regular POP3 email program and automatically classifies incoming emails as spam (junk email) or non-spam without the need for maintaining dozens of rules or constant updates to be downloaded. It uses intelligent statistical analysis that can result in extremely high accuracy over time.works on pop3 only
http://www.keir.net/k9.html
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ONLINE VIRUS/TROJAN SCAN SITES
when you don't know if your anti-virus has been hacked or didn't catch a nasty thing

Symantec/Norton
try this and if not use next way
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default...id=ie&venid=sym
they changed the page it is now
http://www.sarc.com/ and scroll down the page about 1/2 way and on the right is a blue globe and click "check for security risk"

Panda ActiveScan http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/

Trend Micro HouseCall http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

computer associates is new to the online game, I haven't used it yet, but here is the info
The scanner will initially update its signatures, if necessary, then present a tree of drives which can be selected for scanning. The tree can be expanded to allow for individual directories to be selected and scanned. If an infection or suspicious file is found, you can decide if you want to submit to CA for evaluation. The file will be sent and responses returned via email.
http://www3.ca.com/virusinfo/virusscan.aspx

Is your system infected by Trojans?
http://www.trojanscan.com/

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SPYWARE TOOLS - REQUIRED

ADAWARE removes nasty things from your system like spyware,dialers,hijackers. and they have great support with the Xperts. This should be the first spyware tool you install!
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

IE-SPYAD IE-SPYAD is a Registry file (IE-ADS.REG) that adds a long list of known advertisers, marketers,pushers to the Restricted sites zone of Internet Explorer. Once IE-ADS.REG is "merged" into your Registry, most direct marketers and pushers will not be able to resort to their usual "tricks" (e.g., cookies, scripts, popups, et al) in order to monitor and track your behavior while you surf the Net.
http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm

this program SpywareBlaster doesn't clean and scan for spyware it-prevents it from ever being installed..
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

SpywareGuard provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method.
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareguard.html

MRU-BLASTER Protect your privacy - MRU-Blaster can detect and clean over 30,000 MRU lists and other stores of hidden information on your computer!
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/mrublaster.html

Spybot Search & Destroy is a great tool to complement any spyware killing toolkit.

It is freeware and updates are issued regularly. Another great freebie for keeping your pc protected.

Tutorials at http://TomCoyote.org/SPYBOT/
Download http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?...n&page=download

FAQ available at http://tomcoyote.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=590


hijack this
a great program I don't know how to use, but adaware Xperts might ask for it, this is his homepage with info about it
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155

this program will let you view/edit/set to default your HOST file
http://members.shaw.ca/techcd/VB_Projects/HostFileReader.jpg
and
http://members.shaw.ca/techcd/VB_Projects/...sFileReader.zip

SPYWARE INFO AND NAMES
this is a list of a lot of the spyware and how to and what they do
http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/


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PC INFO AND TEST

want a profile of the hardware/software and hotfixes and displays them in your web browser?
BeLarc advisor
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

run an online diagnostic on your system and see how it is working ( read the full page first)
PC PITSTOP
http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/default.asp

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START UP and RUNNING PROGRAMS INFO and HOW TO

your computer is running slow, takes a long time to boot up, you have programs in background that you don't need, well here is the tools to work on it

ok, for the newbie geeks out there.here is a list of known startup programs. it is long if you have a question about what that program does,is it needed you can find it here on his list! (would be used with MSCONFIG, a windows utility that will allow you to edit your startup program list)
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_all.php

if you have windows2000, you don't have MSCONFIG, but you can go here and get one
http://www2.whidbey.net/djdenham/Msconfig.htm

and here is info on MSCONFIG please don't just go crazy with this utility as it can cause your computer to not boot if you make a bobo
http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/

and a link to more detailed info on startup list,msconfig, and running processes GOOD INFO !
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?act=ST&f=29&t=2614

and another startup list it isn't as big as Pacman's one, but it does come in handy
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

and for the win2000/XP here is a nice site with good info on running services
http://www.blackviper.com/
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A Little Internet Explorer stuff

how to repair or reinstall Internet Explorer or Outlook Express in XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=318378

here is a free security/patch check for Internet Browser, you might have to add the site to the "trusted zone" ..in i.e. tools/internet options/security/click the green ball with the check/click "trusted sites" and enter in the url for them.and allow 3rd party cookies. ( but you have a cookie manager so you can remove them)
http://browsercheck.qualys.com/

now several of the problems people have with spyware is because of active X, cookie control, and security of I.E.
I like a MOZILLA based browser myself. it does not have active X, has a built in cookie manager,popup stopper, tabbed browsing, and is free. I still have Internet Explorer because some sites require it to view the page ( windows update,my bank). if you want information go here
http://mozilla.org/
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INFO/RESOURCES info sites

read this about security, not too heavy
10 laws of security
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/...ys/10imlaws.asp

a program that will put into English some of the Microsoft error numbers
http://www.gregorybraun.com/MSWinErr.html

this site has some great info and check out the "tools and resources" link towards the top of the main page!
http://webhelper.netfirms.com/

A great site with info and how to on windows XP
http://www.theeldergeek.com/index.htm

info about anything with computers
http://www.pcnineoneone.com/

another good site with several links dealing with internet security
http://home.villagephotos.com/2003-7/14838...tyFreeTools.htm

have an old computer and need an old program, try this
http://www.oldversion.com/

want info on what's inside your box about bios,memory or anything computer related?
http://hardwarehell.com/index.shtml


Karen has a few nice programs, I used her cookie viewer a while ago, she has some good info and several free programs you might like
http://www.karenware.com/

and if you have worked your way down this list, here is a nice program,that is open source (FREE)
If you're used to using other office suites - such as Microsoft Office - you'll be completely at home with OpenOffice.org 1.1. However, as you become used to OpenOffice.org 1.1, you'll start to appreciate the extras that make your life easier. You can of course continue to use your old Microsoft Office files without any problems - and if you need to exchange files with people still using Microsoft Office, that's no problem either.
http://www.openoffice.org/product/
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NOTE*
how to import/export the registry, with the appropriate caution. People who do a lot of downloads should consider backing up their registry before installing new software.

To backup registry:
1) Go To Start/Run/type regedit / Click ok
2) Select Registry/Export Registry File
3) Navigate to C: and name the backup. I name the reg backup reg and the date (reg2001Jul10)

To edit the registry:
1) Go To Start/Run/type regedit/ok
2) Select Edit/Find/type WhatYou'reSearchingFor, select delete when it comes up, use F3 to find the next.

To import registry:
1) Go To Start/Run/type regedit / Click ok
2) Select Registry/Import Registry File
3) Navigate to C: and select the backup.




*NOTE if you find this list useful, you can highlight this page,then cut (ctl C) and paste (ctl V) into a word or works document, then save that document to your "my Documents" . all the links will be clickable