[How Did I Get Infected in the First Place?] -


How Did I Get Infected in the First Place?

Discuss How Did I Get Infected in the First Place?


Posted by: DMo224

[i][b]This advice is reposted from the advice given by Tony Klein, the acknowledged spyware & malware expert who supports many forums on the net.[/b][/i]

[u]Southernlady[/u] has added a few minor updates to it.


[b]You usually get infected because your security settings are too low.[/b] Here are a number of recommendations that will help tighten them, and which will contribute to making you a less likely victim:

[b]1) Watch what you download![/b]
Many freeware programs, and P2P programs like Grokster, Imesh, Kazaa and others are amongst the most notorious, come with an enormous amount of bundled spyware that will eat system resources, slow down your system, clash with other installed software, or just plain crash your browser or even Windows itself.

[b]2) Go to IE > Tools > Windows Update > Product Updates, and install ALL Security Updates listed.[/b]
It's important to always keep current with the latest security fixes
from Microsoft. Install those patches for Internet Explorer, and make sure your installation of Java VM is up-to-date. There are some well known security bugs with Microsoft Java VM which are exploited regularly by browser hijackers.

[b]3) Go to Internet Options/Security/Internet, press 'default level', then OK.[/b]
Now press "Custom Level." In the ActiveX section, set the first two options ("Download signed and unsigned ActiveX controls) to 'prompt', and 'Initialize and Script ActiveX controls not marked as safe" to 'disable'.

Now you will be asked whether you want ActiveX objects to be executed and whether you want software to be installed. Sites that you know for sure are above suspicion can be moved to the
Trusted Zone in Internet Option/security.

[b]So why is activex so dangerous that you have to increase the security for it?[/b]
When your browser runs an activex control, it is running an executable program. It's no different from doubleclicking an exe file on your hard drive. Would you run just any random file downloaded off a web site without knowing what it is and what it does?

[i]And some more advice:[/i]

[b]4) Install Javacool's SpywareBlaster![/b]
[url=http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2859.html]Download it here.[/url] It will protect you from all spy/foistware in it's database by blocking installation of their ActiveX objects. Download and install, download the latest updates, and you'll see a list of all spyware programs covered by the program [i](NOTE: this is NOT spyware found on your computer).[/i] Press "select all", then "kill all checked", and you're done. The spyware that you told Spywareblaster to set the "kill bit" for won't be a hazard to you any longer. Although it won't protect you from every form of spyware known to man, it is a very potent extra layer of protection. Don't forget to check for updates every week or so.

[b]Let's also not forget that SpyBot Search and Destroy![/b]
[url=http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2471.html]Download it here.[/url] SpyBot S&D has the Immunize feature which works roughly the same way. It can't hurt to use both.

[b]5) Another brilliant program by Javacool we recommend is SpywareGuard.[/b]
[url=http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3045.html]Download it here.[/url] It provides a degree of real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method.

An anti-virus program scans files before you open them and prevents execution if a virus is detected - SpywareGuard does the same thing, but for spyware! And you can easily have an anti-virus program running alongside SpywareGuard. It now also features Download Protection and Browser Hijacking Protection!

[b]6) IE-SPYAD[/b]
[url=www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/resource.htm]Download it here.[/url] This puts over 5000 sites in your restricted zone, so you'll be protected when you visit innocent-looking sites that aren't actually innocent at all.

[b]7) The IE hosts[/b]
[url=http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm]Download it here.[/url] This program file blocks ads, banners, cookies, web bugs, and even most hijackers. This is accomplished by blocking the Server that supplies these little gems. [i]Example - the following entry 127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net blocks all files supplied by the DoubleClick Server to the web page you are viewing.[/i] This also prevents the server from tracking your movements. It now includes most major parasites, hijackers and unwanted Search
Engines! In many cases this can speed the loading of web pages by not having to wait for these ads, banners, hit counters, etc. to load.

This also helps to protect your Privacy by blocking servers that track your viewing habits, known as "click-thru tracking".

[b]However as time has progressed the focus of this project has changed from blocking ads/banners to protecting the user from the many parasites that now exist on the Internet. It doesn't serve much purpose if you block the ad banner from displaying, but get hijacked by a parasite from an evil script or download contained on the web site. The object is to surf faster while preserving your Safety, Security and Privacy.[/b]

Finally, after following up on all these recommendations, try running [url=http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/]Jason Levine's Browser Security Tests[/url]. They will provide you with an insight on how vulnerable you might still be to a number of common exploits.

If you are using XP or windows 2000 or 2003 then this application will also help a lot to prevent hijacking. [url=http://www.prevx.com/default.asp]Check out Prevx.com.[/url]

[b]And make sure your Antivirus and firewall is switched on and kept updated.[/b]

Dave :D


Posted by: TheMajor

Great tips/suggestions for IE fans :p

You could add an option: Use different programs for browser, mail client and P2P. This way you won't get infected either and you don't need to run all the resource hoggin Spykillers in the background. Don't forget to use an antivirus program to scan your downloads and incoming mails.


Posted by: southernlady

Okay, here is the requested information for the rest of use who don't like to use IE and Outlook :)

This is a list of both freeware and shareware browser alternatives to IE. Majorgeeks gives a short run down of each one at the download site.

[b][url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?id=5&sort=0[/url][/b]

1X Net Browser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1184.html[/url]

27 Tools In 1 Wichio Browser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3641.html[/url]

32bit Web Browser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download964.html[/url]

4c vision [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2266.html[/url]

Avant Browser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2346.html[/url]

Beonex Communicator [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2067.html[/url]

Bluto Home [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1452.html[/url]

Browse3D [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download876.html[/url]

Browsure [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1634.html[/url]

Crazy Browser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download549.html[/url]

Fast Browser Pro [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download553.html[/url]

FastStone 4in1 Browser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4406.html[/url]

GreenBrowser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3910.html[/url]

K-Meleon [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download555.html[/url]

Leech [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download608.html[/url]

mascBrowser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1069.html[/url]

Maxthon Combo Version (Formerly MyIE2) [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1244.html[/url]

Maxthon Lite (Formerly MyIE2) [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1167.html[/url]

Mozilla [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download556.html[/url] or [url]http://www.mozilla.org/products/mozilla1.x/[/url]

Mozilla Firefox [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2248.html[/url] or [url]http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/[/url]

NetCaptor [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download930.html[/url]

NetDIVE Oxygen [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download969.html[/url]

NetMyth [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1088.html[/url]

Netscape [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1143.html[/url] or [url]http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/default.jsp[/url]

Networker [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2388.html[/url]

Nubonyx Browser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1810.html[/url]

OEMBrowser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download557.html[/url]

Opera Without Java [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download559.html[/url]

PhaseOut [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3922.html[/url]

PQBrowser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download883.html[/url]

Scope [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2848.html[/url]

Slim Browser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download1404.html[/url]

Slim Browser Lite Edition [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4079.html[/url]

Smart Explorer [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download875.html[/url]

SupremeBrowser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2842.html[/url]

UltraBrowser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2063.html[/url]

Voyager 2004 [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download630.html[/url]

Web SurfACE [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download992.html[/url]

Y2KSA Browser [url]http://www.majorgeeks.com/download970.html[/url]

The majorgeeks list also includes popup stoppers and utilities to help the browsers run better.

[b][url]To get the plugins for Mozilla and Firefox, go here[/url][/b]

[url]http://plugindoc.mozdev.org/[/url]

And here is what is needed to make everything run right:

Java Plugin
Macromedia Flash Player
Macromedia Shockwave Player
QuickTime 6
Windows Media Player

For themes and extensions, the choice is really up to you, go browse the list and then ask others what they use.
Here is the link to the list: [url]http://update.mozilla.org/?application=firefox[/url] or [url]https://update.mozilla.org/extensions/?application=mozilla[/url] or
[url]https://update.mozilla.org/extensions/?application=thunderbird[/url] for the email client


Posted by: Trotter

[Updated 8/27/06.]

***Special thanks to [b]Jam3s-Zer0[/b] for all the help.***