According to this chart on Wikipedia, the majority of computer users are still using the Windows operating system. This is also the reason why many programmers create viruses and spywares for Windows. If you want to create something, why not create it for the masses. So how do you protect yourself from V.I.S.T.A. - viruses, intrusions, spywares, trojans, and adwares?
If you currently have a computer, perform the following the steps :
1) Get all the necessary software :
Download the free version of Zone alarm firewall - Think of a firewall like having a strong fence around your home. Save the installation file onto a USB stick.
Download the free version of AVG virus protection - Think of virus protection as animal traps around your home. Save the installation file onto a USB stick.
Download the free version of Spybot - Think of spyware protection as an electronics sweeper that checks if you have any spying devices in your home. Save the installation file onto a USB stick.
Purchase Norton Ghost - Think of this software as a snapshot of your home (computer) at its perfect state. Anytime you have a problem with your home (computer), you can restore it back to the perfect state with your furnishings (software and drivers) already installed. You can purchase a used software copy for about $30.
If you are setting up a new computer, jump to step 4.
2) Backup all your data
This includes and personal documents, photos and internet bookmarks. If you are using an email software such as Outlook, backup the e-mail rules and locally saved e-mails.
3) Restore your computer back to factory default image.
If you lost the CDs or image to restore it back to the factory default, most manufacturers have a copy on their website.
4) Storing the image and data on a separate drive
If you have two hard drives, proceed to the next step. If you only have one hard drive, we must split up the hard drive into two hard drives. One drive for all your software (C drive) and one drive for all your data and the image file. The image file stores all the information about your computer at the perfect state.
To split up your computer into two virtual drives, perform the following steps on your computer.
Click on START - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Computer Management - Storage - Disk Management
Select C drive.
Right click on the the drive and shrink it as much as possible. Note : Leave about 4 gigs of free space to allow for disk caching.
Right click on the newly created empty space and select "Create new partition"
Right click on the new partition and select "Assign a drive letter"
Select "D" drive
Right click on the new drive and select "Format using NTFS"
5) Protect your computer before going onto the internet
Once the computer is restored to the factory image, start up the computer.
Plug in the USB stick containing Zone Alarm firewall, AVG virus protection and Spybot.
Install all three of these software before going onto the Internet. Think of this like putting up a fence before building the home.
6) Customize personal settings
Once those three software are installed, you can now set it up to go onto the Internet.
Begin to setup your computer.
Install only necessary software and drivers that you know are safe.
Customize the background, wallpaper, power settings, start up menus, task bar icons.
Customize all software to save your files to D drive.
7) Scan and defragment
Once all the software and drivers are installed and setup, update your AVG virus scanner and Spybot to the latest pattern file.
Startup your computer and press F8 to go into safe mode. This will prevent any viruses from running during the start up process.
Launch AVG user interface and perform a virus scan of the "Whole computer".
At the same time, launch Spybot scan your entire computer for spywares.
Restart your computer to get out of Safe Mode.
Defragment your hard drive so that it's running in tip top condition.
8) Create an image
Install Norton Ghost and create an image of the computer. This software will create a snapshot of the computer at its perfect state.
Anytime if there is a problem, we will restore it back to this current state -- this includes all necessary software, drivers, updates, and personal customization.
Make sure the computer image is stored on D drive. In the event we need to restore the computer back to this state, we will need to grab the image from the D drive and restore the C drive where all the software is installed. All your personal data will be protected because it's stored on D drive.
9) Norton startup CD
Launch the Norton software and create a start up CD.
If there are ever any problems with Windows, you will need to boot your computer from the Norton start up CD.
To test the CD, place it in the CD drive and reboot your computer.
A messasge will appear, "Press any key to boot of the CD drive"
Press any key at that moment.
It will take a few minutes to boot Norton Ghost off the CD.
Select Restore Image
Select the image file from D drive.
Check "Reboot when finished"
The re-imaging process usually takes about 2 hours to complete.
Voila, from now on you can install any software without being afraid of viruses or spywares. Every few months I would a number of software software. Some may include adwares, spywares, or even viruses. If it runs perfectly after installing a certain software, make a note to include it in the next image.
10) Tweaking your computer
Now that you have an image to fall back on in case anything happens to your computer, you can start tweaking it. If anything goes wrong, estore the computer back to its original image.
Before you start tweaking, document all the steps you plan on doing.
Removing Unnecessary Programs
Click on Start - Control Panel - Programs and Features
Go through the software list and remove any software you feel you don't need
Be careful not to remove any video or audio drivers. If you're not sure, go online and search "Can I remove #software name#"
Removing Unnecessary Start up Programs
Click on Start - Run
Type in "regedit" to edit your registry
Click "Yes" for "Do you want this software to make changes to the registry?"
On the left window, click on "HKEY_Current_User - Software - Microsoft - Windows - Current Version - Run"
On the right panel is a list of software that automatically starts up when Windows start
Go through each item and delete any software you feel aren't necessary.
Again, if you're not sure, go online and search "Can I remove #file name# from start up"
Go back to the left window and click on "HKEY_Local_Machine - Software - Microsoft - Windows - Current Version - Run"
11) Creating a new image
To create an new image, determine what software you would like to include in the new image.
Restore your computer to the original image.
Install all the new software and updates that you are confident that have no issues.
Create a new image with all new software and updates.
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