Transcript File

How to maintain your computer
Prevention
 One of the best ways to maintain your computer
is to prevent problems from occurring.
 Best prevention strategies
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Install anti-virus software
Install anti-spyware software
Install a firewall
Keep your operating system updated
Keep your applications updated
Remove unwanted or unused software
Education (knowledge updation)
Prevention:
1. Anti-virus software
• What is anti-virus software?
– Definition: "anti-virus" is protective software designed to defend your
computer against malicious software. Malicious software, or "malware"
includes: viruses, Trojans, key loggers, hijackers, dialers, root kits, and other
code that vandalizes or steals your computer contents.
• How does it work?
– Most anti-virus software companies uses signatures to match specific patterns
of data within files on your computer.
– Heuristics method (guessing)
– Sandbox method (program execution with the resource)
Prevention:
1. Anti-virus software
• Popular anti-virus software
– Symantec (Norton)
– McAfee
– AVG (Free)
– Avast (Free)
– Kaspersky
– Trend Micro (PC Cillin)
• You can download these free software
packages from www.download.com
Prevention:
1. Anti-virus software
 I don’t have anti-virus software.
 Get it as soon as possible. recommendations…
 Free version: Avast (don’t forget to register)
 Paid version: Trend Micro
 I have anti-virus installed on my computer. Now what?
 Keep your anti-virus software updated
 Signature updates
 Program updates
 Setup a weekly full system scan(important)
 If a virus has been detected, deal with it immediately.
Update the software, then perform another full system scan.
Prevention:
2. Anti-spyware software
• What is anti-spyware software?
– Spyware is the name given to a variety of harmful programs that secretly
install themselves on a computer without the user's consent. Once installed,
this spyware software gathers information about the user, everything from
personal data to Internet browsing habits.
• How does it work?
– Anti-spyware software works very similar to how anti-virus software works.
Anti-spyware software looks for patterns through out your computer and
matches those patterns to a database of known threats. If a threat is found,
the software notifies the user to take action.
• NOTE:
Anti-spyware software is not a replacement for anti-virus software. They are
to be used in conjunction with each other.
Prevention:
2. Anti-spyware software
 Popular anti-spyware software
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Symantec (Norton)
McAfee
Ad-Aware (Free)
Spybot – Search and Destroy (Free)
SuperAntiSpyware (Free)
Spyware Doctor
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Most popular free version)
Windows Defender (Free)
 You can download these free software packages from
www.download.com
Prevention:
2. Anti-spyware software
 I don’t have anti-spyware software. What do I do?
 Get it. recommendations…
 Free version: Malwarebytes Anti -Malware
 Paid version: Malwarebytes Anti -Malware
 I have anti-spyware software installed on my computer.
Now what?
 Keep your anti-spyware software updated
 Signature (database) updates
 Program updates
 Setup a weekly full system scan
 If a threat has been detected, deal with it immediately.
Update the software, then perform another full system scan.
Prevention:
2. Anti-spyware software
• Other
– Most free anti-spyware programs require user
interaction to keep it updated.
– Most free anti-spyware programs do not have a
real-time scanning engine however.
– Do not use the same software vendor for both
anti-virus and anti-spyware. Use different
software vendors to provide a type of layered
protection.
Prevention:
3. Firewall
• What is a firewall?
– Definition: A "firewall" is an term to describe a specialized defense system for
a computer network. The term comes from construction, where specialized
fire-prevention systems involve fire-resistant walls being placed strategically in
buildings and cars to slow the spread of a fire. In the case of computers, the
term describes hardware or software that prevents unauthorized electronic
access to a network computer systems.
• How does it work?
– A firewall works by detecting inbound and outbound network traffic and
prevents or allows that traffic depending on user settings
• Hardware
Prevention:
3. Firewall
– Usually deliveries protection to the most
vulnerable position in your network. Most new
routers have firewalls built-in.
Prevention:
3. Firewall
• Software
– Needed if directly connected to the Internet.
– Needed on mobile devices.
– Recommended for best security practice.
Prevention:
3. Firewall
 Popular software firewalls
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Symantec (Norton Personal Firewall)
McAfee Personal Firewall
ZoneAlarm (Free)*
Sygate (Free)
AVG Anti-virus plus firewall
Trend Micro Internet Security
Built in Windows OS
 You can download these free software packages from
www.download.com
 * Most popular free version
Prevention:
3. Firewall
• Is my Windows Firewall turned on (Windows 7)?
– Start  Control Panel  System & Security 
Windows Firewall
• Link
– http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/security/wi
nfirewall.mspx
Prevention:
3. Firewall
• Other
– Firewalls prevent networked devices from
unauthorized threats, however, it also prevents
legitimate devices from communicating as well.
• Sharing files
• Sharing printers
• Playing games
Prevention:
4. Operating system updates
• What is an operating system?
– In simple terms, an operating system is software that controls the allocation and usage
of hardware resources such as memory, CPU time, disk space, and input and output
devices. The operating system (OS) bridges the gap between the computer hardware
and the user.
– Windows (7, Vista, XP)
– Mac OS
– Unix
– Linux
• Why do I want to update my operating
system?
– Computer vulnerabilities are discovered daily and it is necessary for software companies
to “patch” their software when these vulnerabilities are discovered. Failure to do so
could result in problems down the road.
– Example: Infected icon vulnerability
– Bug fixes and improvements
Prevention:
4. Operating system updates
 How do I update my operating system?
 Most Windows users have automatic updates
enabled. This means that when Microsoft releases
new updates for your computer, your computer will
automatically download and install them. Usually
you will then be asked to reboot your computer.
 Manually install updates by going to the Windows
Update website
– Window Updates often can update your hardware
drivers
Prevention:
5. Application updates
 Why do I want to update my application?
 You need to update your applications for the same reasons why you update your operating
system.
 Example: Infection Adobe PDF vulnerability
 Bug fixes and improvements
 At a minimum keep your Internet facing applications
updated. Most times, these types of software will
download updates automatically and ask you to install
them.
 Adobe Flash
 Adobe PDF
 Java
Prevention:
6. Remove unwanted or unused software
 If you are not using or planning to use a piece of
software on your computer, then remove it.
Causes:
 Reduced performance
 Another possible security vulnerability
 Additional problems
 How do I remove programs (Windows)?
 Start  Control Panel  Programs  Program and
features
 Select the program and Remove
Prevention:
7. Education (update yourself)
• Education yourself
– Be aware of P2P (peer-2-peer) file sharing
applications. A lot of these services have files that
are infected with malware. Few example
Limewire, Frostwire, Bearshare, Kaaza
– Be mindful of pop-up messages that say your
computer is infected with hundreds of viruses.
Unless this message came from your security
software, you are possibility staring at an
infection.
Maintain Performance
• Maintain the performance of your computer
by following these guide lines.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Remove unwanted or unused software
Delete Internet Cache
Check Disk
Disk Cleanup
Use 3rd party software tools
Maintain Performance
• Remove unwanted or unused software
– For maximum performance, keep your computer
running lean
– Example: Friend who evaluates software
• How do I remove programs (Windows XP)?
– Start  Control Panel  Add or Remove
Programs
– Select the program and Remove
Maintain Performance
 Delete Internet Cache
 If your Internet browsing experience does not perform
like it used to, or if you are experiencing odd behavior
from previously viewed websites, then it maybe time
for you to delete your Internet cache.
 How do I delete my Internet cache (Windows XP)?
 Start  Control Panel  Network and Internet
Connections  Internet Options
 From the General tab, click “Delete…”
Maintain Performance
 Check Disk
 Sometimes problems with your hard drive can affect
performance of your computer. When trying to
maintain or restore the performance of your computer,
it is good idea to run a check disk.
 Do not run a check disk daily
 Example: Replaced hard drive due to slow performance
 How do I delete my Internet cache (Windows XP)?
 Start  Control Panel  Network and Internet
Connections  Internet Options
 From the General tab, click “Delete…”
Maintain Performance
 Disk Cleanup
 The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk by
searching your disk for files that you can safely delete. You can choose to
delete some or all of the files. Use Disk Cleanup to perform any of the
following tasks to free up space on your hard disk:
 Remove temporary Internet files.
 Remove downloaded program files. For example, ActiveX controls and Java
applets that are downloaded from the Internet.
 Empty the Recycle Bin.
 Remove Windows temporary files.
 Remove optional Windows components that you are not using.
 Remove installed programs that you no longer use.
 Start  Run  Type “cleanmgr”
Maintain Performance
– Use 3rd party software tools
• CCleaner (Free)
• Advanced SystemCare (Free)