| Well, if that would have been said to me by my father | | | | start the windows installation process.During installation, |
| when I was 2 years of age, I would have understood. | | | | make sure you properly name your PC as per your |
| But when today, my own computer tells me that when | | | | preferences and select your regions and Time zone. |
| I am 34, I wonder why I spent $1500 on my computer | | | | When finished, the computer will re-boot and during |
| hardware and software just to enjoy the (un-realized) | | | | next re-boot it may ask some drivers of your Sound |
| benefits of this great and revolutionary information | | | | Card, VGA, Network, or other devices attached. |
| technology?Today’s cyberspace is hazardous. | | | | Provide the requisite driver CDs and locate the paths |
| None of today’s PC users can claim that they | | | | of the appropriate drivers. If you are not sure, leave it |
| never had a computer virus issue or a PC security | | | | like that and press NEXT to ignore. When your |
| breach. Now, if you count today’s number of | | | | windows installation is complete, you can install |
| PC users worldwide, they will soon be 1 billion by 2010 | | | | Microsoft Office, setup internet connection and start |
| according to analysts. When I see all the computer | | | | using it as normally as you would. Please make sure |
| viruses, infections, trojans, and what not around me, | | | | you install all the security software such as anti-virus, |
| and compare it with the 1 billion innocent computer | | | | anti-spyware, adware, and other software as |
| users around the world, I simply feel sorry not only for | | | | mentioned in the next section.2. USE |
| those billion users but for myself too. But again, as a | | | | SOFTWAREInstalling Anti-Virus: Download free AVG |
| common user myself, I must admit it was not all | | | | Antivirus software and install it. Make sure you get its |
| doomsday for the whole industry since 1987 when I | | | | free key from their website by registering. This |
| started to use computers. So, as a responsible | | | | software is not auto-updated for critical viruses and |
| member of this great IT revolution, I must share some | | | | for an auto-update version, you will have to pay. If you |
| of the best tips and tricks that I learned to use to | | | | wish to pay, we would recommend world’s |
| make the minimum room for productivity on my | | | | most popular brands Symantec, McAfee and Trend |
| computer.Please note this is a tutorial for someone | | | | Micros instead. No matter what Anti-Virus software |
| who has basic know-how of computer usage. For | | | | you install, make sure you enable its Auto-Protect |
| those who are newbies, I would recommend asking a | | | | feature for automatic protection of your |
| local expert’s help before trying anything out | | | | computer’s resources and in-coming or |
| mentioned in this tutorial. In that case, make room for | | | | out-going emails from any virus attack. Some |
| payment from deep pocket. For your own | | | | software even allow you to setup silent detection and |
| convenience, print this tutorial for step-by-step | | | | destruction without any disturbance to your work. |
| instructions.Whenever my computer is infected, I act | | | | Further, they are auto-updated via internet at the |
| on any of the following options;1. FORMAT HARD | | | | regular interval that you setup. Hence, you can rest |
| DISK: I back up all of my data on a CD-Writer if it is still | | | | assured that whenever a security threat is spread all |
| accessible. And then format the whole hard disk drive | | | | over the world, your software will automatically |
| and re-install each and every application.2. USE | | | | download the requisite updated version and install its |
| SOFTWARE: I exhaust all anti-virus and other | | | | defense on your computer.BROWSER SECURITY: |
| software options. This is usually my first priority as | | | | To setup your browser (Internet Explorer on |
| compared to formatting the whole computer hard disk | | | | Windows) for maximum security against the usual |
| drives.Now, let me explain both options in | | | | threats, follow this procedure;i) Start up your browserii) |
| detail;PRE-REQUISITES: Make sure you have a | | | | Go to IE > Tools > Windows Update > Product |
| CD-Drive (Writer), empty writable CDs, Windows OS | | | | Updates, and selected Security Updates to be |
| CD (bootable) that contains files such as Format.exe, | | | | automatically updated. Microsoft releases patches and |
| Scandisk.exe, FDisk.exe, and Attrib.exe files. Microsoft | | | | security patches from time to time to make sure your |
| Office CD, Anti-Virus CD, GoldenHawk CD Writing | | | | system's security is up-to-date.iii) Now, go to Internet |
| Software in DOS (copy2cd.exe and cdtools.exe), | | | | Options/Security/Internet, press 'default level', then OK. |
| Serial Numbers of your License, Driver CDs of | | | | Now press "Custom Level." In the ActiveX section, set |
| Motherboard, VGA, Network, Sound and Modem | | | | the first two options ("Download signed and unsigned |
| devices. Optionally, download (using or these software | | | | ActiveX controls) to 'prompt', and 'Initialize and Script |
| from any Internet Café when your own | | | | ActiveX controls not marked as safe" to 'disable'. Now |
| computer is inaccessible and save it on a CD so that | | | | you will be asked whether you want ActiveX objects |
| you can use it anytime for security purposes;Golden | | | | to be executed and whether you want software to |
| Hawk DOS based CD Writing SoftwareHTech | | | | be installed. Sites that you know for sure are above |
| Fireman Windows based CD Writing SoftwareDriver | | | | suspicion can be moved to the Trusted Zone in |
| Genius ProPartition MagicAVG | | | | Internet Option/security.If you use another browser |
| AntiVirusSpywareBlaster & SpywareGuardSpybot | | | | such as Firefox or Netscape, see their documentation |
| Search & | | | | on how to securely set it up against any such internet |
| DestroyAd-AwareIE-SpyAdZoneAlarmHiJackThis & | | | | threats.Installing Anti-Spyware: Spyware, adware, |
| CWShredderI have intentionally avoided mention of | | | | browser hijackers, and dialers are some of the |
| many commercially good and more friendly | | | | fastest-growing threats on the Internet today. By |
| software’s mention here as I wanted | | | | simply browsing to a web page, your computer may |
| everything to do FREE without any additional costs | | | | become a victim. You can install SpywareBlaster and |
| apart from the usual OS licenses. For your own | | | | SpywareGuard to effectively guard your computer |
| convenience, you can research Google or Yahoo | | | | from such internet threats.It includes Fast Real-Time |
| search engines find further information about such | | | | Scanning engine for known spyware and heuristic |
| commercial software and their availability / pricing.1. | | | | generic detection capabilities to catch new / mutated |
| FORMAT HARD DISKI know it is painful and surgical | | | | spyware and Download Protection along with Browser |
| type of solution, but sometimes, it is the ONLY solution | | | | Hijacking Protection in real-time.Simply download the |
| left after exhausting all of our efforts to revive our | | | | software (free) from their website and install it on your |
| computer machine after a virus attack. Follow this | | | | system. Make sure you download its latest update too |
| procedure;Booting Up: Try booting your computer | | | | or enable its Auto-Update feature to be updated |
| normally first and see if you can login easily. If you | | | | automatically in the background. Now, when you are |
| can’t or your computer hangs up, try holding F8 | | | | ready, run the software to check the spyware on |
| key when starting Windows and you will get the Safe | | | | your computer. When spyware are found, it reports |
| Mode. Even if you don’t get the Safe Mode, | | | | accordingly. Press "select all", then press option "kill all |
| don’t worry.Power up your computer and | | | | checked". Although it won't protect you from 100% |
| press DEL key or F2 key to login your CMOS. In | | | | spyware, But it is a very important extra layer of |
| CMOS, go to Boot Preferences and make CD Drive | | | | protection.Next, install another software that is called |
| as boot drive as your first boot drive and change the | | | | Spybot Search & Destroy. It works exactly like |
| hard disk drive as the second boot drive. If you | | | | SpywareBlaster, but it never hurts to have a double |
| don’t see your CD Drive in the boot-up options, | | | | layer of spyware detection alongwith Spybot |
| your CD Drive is not properly installed. Check the | | | | R&D.Installing Anti-Adware: Adware is a common term |
| connectors or ask your CD Drive provider for | | | | used to describe potentially dangerous websites and |
| instructions to install the CD Drive. Now, when your CD | | | | scripts that do data-mining, aggressive advertising, |
| Drive is ready, insert your Windows OS CD in the CD | | | | Parasites, Scumware, selected traditional Trojans, |
| Drive and restart your computer machine. When | | | | Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking |
| prompted, select the option “Boot from CD | | | | components. There is a very good software called |
| with CD Option”. When you get the prompt, | | | | Ad-Aware available to scan and remove such |
| Notice the CD Drive letter that was allocated to your | | | | nuisances from your system.To start using it, simply |
| CD Drive when it installed the CD Driver. It is usually D: | | | | visit Lavasoft USA website and download its free |
| drive or the last drive letter depending on the number | | | | non-commercial version of Ad-Aware Personal Edition. |
| of your partitions. Note it down as it is the actual drive | | | | Run its setup program and install it. When prompted, |
| letter where you will have to type a DOS command | | | | ask it to scan your computer. If there are any adware |
| like d:You should now be able to run all software | | | | found, it is detected and removed automatically by |
| utilities such as Format, Scandisk, FDisk or Windows | | | | Ad-Aware. Run this software on a weekly or daily |
| Installation Setup.exe files. Right now, simply make sure | | | | basis, if possible to keep your system clean.In addition |
| they exist by typing a DOS command dir at the CD | | | | to the Ad-Aware, Internet Explorer comes with a very |
| drive letter. If you don’t find it with this simple | | | | handy tool that allows you to block specific sites that |
| directory command, use dir/s filename to search the | | | | may carry well-known advertisers, marketers, |
| file. For example, to search fdisk.exe file, type dir/s | | | | crapware pushers to the Restricted sites Zone. If you |
| fdisk.exe.BACKING UP YOUR DATA: Before | | | | had to input 50000+ of such sites manually yourself, it |
| formatting your hard disk drive, please make sure you | | | | would takes years. Luckily, there is a software that |
| have proper back up of your critical data files such as | | | | does it all automatically and it is called IE-SPYAD. |
| Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc files on a CD | | | | Once you merge this list of sites and domains into the |
| or any other media for backup that you have access | | | | Registry, the web sites for these companies will not be |
| to. In this tutorial, we assume you have a CD-Writer | | | | able to use cookies, ActiveX controls, Java applets, or |
| installed for taking backups on Writeable CDs. Their | | | | scripting to compromise your privacy or your PC while |
| capacity is usually 700MB or less. Here, you should | | | | you surf the Net. Nor will they be able to use your |
| seriously consider using Zipping software like WinZip or | | | | browser to push unwanted pop-ups, cookies, or |
| WinRAR.VIA WINDOWS: If you can luckily login to | | | | auto-installing programs on your PC. It is not an ad |
| your Windows OS, you should run the CD-Writer | | | | blocker. It will stop top unwanted crapware from being |
| software such as HTech Fireman to back up all of | | | | installed behind your back via "drive-by-downloads"; |
| your data on an empty CD. If you don’t know | | | | prevent the hijacking of your home page.This |
| how to do it, read their user manual for detailed | | | | Restricted sites list is based in part on info from: |
| instruction set. If you can’t access your | | | | discussions in the SpywareInfo Forums and other |
| Windows OS, read on.VIA DOS: Some of the files | | | | forums that specialize in crapware removal major |
| that you wish to make back-up, may be hidden. To | | | | crapware reference sites: doxdesk, cexx.org, |
| un-hide them, use attrib *.* +r +s +h.Now, use the | | | | Kephyr.com, PestPatrol and SpywareGuide.To start |
| software from Golden Hawk file named as | | | | using it, simply download it from their website and run |
| copy2cd.exe to backup your data files or directories | | | | its install.bat file. Make sure you run its update as well |
| on a writeable CD. Before using this command, make | | | | soon after its installation.INSTALLING FIREWALL: A |
| sure you are in an appropriate path on the computer | | | | firewall software acts as a defense shield against |
| such as E:/ where the actual file copy2cd.exe file | | | | hackers, intruders, and blocks access attempts to your |
| resides;Copy2cd c:data*.* f:Here we assumed that f: is | | | | computer. ZoneAlarm is a professional firewall |
| a CD Writer drive. Now, repeat the same for all of | | | | software that works in a stealth mode automatically |
| your files to back up. When finished, run cdtools.exe | | | | and makes your computer invisible to anyone on the |
| command i.e. cdtools f: to finish by selecting option | | | | Internet.Download it from ZoneLabs website and run |
| “Disc Finalization”.If you can’t | | | | its setup for installation. I recommend you use its |
| back up your data using the above-mentioned | | | | Express Settings which automatically configures your |
| procedure, either ask an outside expert’s help | | | | most commonly used software like browser, chat |
| personally or via internet. If all fails, forget your data | | | | messengers, ftp software to access internet, while |
| forever and carry on installing a new OS as mentioned | | | | blocks every other internet traffic in real-time. If any |
| in this tutorial.Backing up Your Drivers: An interesting | | | | software or service tries to upload or download any |
| tool to mentioned here is a software that automatically | | | | data, it pops up an alert whereby you can allow or |
| backs up all of your drivers of CD, modem, sound | | | | disallow such internet traffic.Computer Slow Down: It is |
| card, vga, usb, printer or just about anything that is | | | | very common to see many complaining about their |
| currently installed on your system. But this software | | | | computer slow-down. The fastest and easiest cure is |
| works only in an operational windows OS, and not in | | | | using Windows’ built-in Defragmenter utitlity that |
| DOS. It is a good and time-saving practice to keep a | | | | you can find in Startà Programs à Accessories |
| backup of all of your drivers on a CD by using such a | | | | à System Utitlities à Disk Defragmantor and run |
| software. Its name is Driver Genius Pro and it is | | | | thorough defragmantation. It will take a while before it |
| commercial software, not a freeware.USING FDISK: | | | | ends.If your system’s performance does not |
| You may skip this option and go straight to Formatting | | | | improve after running defragmantation utility, consider |
| Hard Disk option, if you wish to use other useful | | | | scanning your computer via a software utility called |
| partitions that may contain your data. Before going | | | | HiJackThis which you can download and install on your |
| ahead with this option, Make sure there is no useful | | | | system. Use this tool carefully as it is intended for |
| data left on your computer to be backed up. This | | | | advanced users only. HijackThis is a tool, that lists all |
| option will delete all of the computer partitions and | | | | installed browser add-on, buttons, startup items and |
| create new ones.i) Boot up your computer using | | | | allows you to inspect, and optionally remove selected |
| Windows OS CD.ii) Run this command | | | | items. The program can create a backup of your |
| fdiskiii) Press option 3 to delete all current partitions.iv) | | | | original settings and also ignore selected items. |
| To create a new partition, select option 1 and select Y | | | | Additional features include a simple list of all startup |
| to answer the maximum size question by the | | | | items, default start page, online updates and |
| program.v) Next, select option 2vi) Press Esc key to | | | | more.CWShredder is a utility for removing |
| quit and restart your computer toSee the URL for | | | | CoolWebSearch (aka CoolWwwSearch, YouFindAll, |
| detailed instructions alongwith screenshots. Now, that | | | | White-Pages.ws and a dozen other names). This tool |
| you have created the primary partition, you can | | | | will find and destroy all traces of the CoolWebSearch |
| continue to format the newly created partition. There is | | | | (CWS) hijacker on your system including redirections, |
| a very user-friendly but commercial software called | | | | IE slowdowns, start page changes, un-authorized |
| Partition Magic by PowerQuest to manage your | | | | addition of sites in IE Trusted Zone, and blocking |
| partitions easily after installation of | | | | access to IE options or setup.Download CWShredder |
| Windows.FORMATTING HARD DISK: Now that you | | | | from their official website only as there is a similar |
| have created new partitions, It is time to format them | | | | named virus/trojan on the loose at various websites |
| so that you can start installing Windows. This is how | | | | which you may accidently download and install, hence |
| you make your C: drive usable by your Windows OS | | | | become more infected than being cured instead. |
| for installation. Boot up your computer with Windows | | | | When it is installed successfully, run the software to |
| CD and type format c: command at the prompt. When | | | | scan your local machine. Select the fix button & it will |
| prompted for maximum size, press, YES. After | | | | get rid of everything related to CoolWebSearch. Close |
| complete processing you will be presented with the | | | | ALL other programs & windows, including IE, before |
| successful report about the formatting of the C: drive. | | | | running CWShredder. Reboot after doing this.I know |
| Select your new drive name and press ENTER to | | | | there is still a lot left, but as I wanted to keep this |
| finish.INSTALLING WINDOWS: Microsoft has made it | | | | tutorial as brief as possible, hence I covered only the |
| very easy for a newbie to install a completely new | | | | critical elements here. I am sure you will have fewer |
| OS on a newly formatted partition. It is all wizard | | | | breakdowns (if not ZERO0 and more productive hours |
| based and you simply have to click NEXT each time | | | | on your computer. I would recommend you to setup all |
| whenever asked a question. Boot up your computer | | | | the software’s auto update and auto-check |
| from the Windows CD and select Start with CD | | | | options to free your time for more productive things |
| Option. When on DOS prompt, change to the CD | | | | than just playing hide and seek with spywares, |
| Drive that it just created which is usually d: if you have | | | | adwares or viruses. Happy and safe computing! |
| only one partition C. Now type command setup.exe to | | | | |