Security Essentials for Windows 7 64 Bit systems

So I have an Windows 7, for two months and would like to talk about some security thoughts that I would recommend to anyone who has a 64 bit system.

Now it is true that 64 bit systems are a little more secure or I would call less exploited because of how many people actually are using 32 bit systems and not 64 bit system. So the virus and exploit writers are focusing on the 32 bit system but sooner or later 64 bit system will become main stay. I am sure it will happen in the coming years, just not sure when.

So I want to talk about just what you should have installed and why you should have some type of security with your 64 Bit systems. I am sure I can hear people asking me about the 64 bit drivers for these programs. I am here to tell you about my experiences with Windows 7. To be truthful, the drivers for programs have been very easy to find and not anywhere hard to use for Windows 7. I have SuperAntiSpyware, AVG 9.0, ZoneAlarm Pro, and Malwarebytes running on this system at any given time.

AVG 8.5 Free Version Best on my system

Pcworld has a released there top free Antivirus software picks.     Now let’s be clear on this, I am an a average user, and have tested these products out on my own laptop plus others and here is what I find.

According to Pcworld, Avira Antivir Personal is the top pick and claims to block 98.9 percent of samples:

Such less-than-friendly default behaviors make Avira AntiVir Personal a better choice for tech-savvy users who know how to muck about in the settings. If you’re willing to put up with a somewhat clumsy interface and the recurring pop-up ads, in return you’ll enjoy top-notch, free protection against malware. It’s not a bad trade-off by any means.

[Via Pcworld : Avira Antivir Personal Antivirus]

Now with Pcworld saying it isn’t a bad trade-off to have the Pop-ups and the default behaviors of this program, it doesn’t make me want to use this program since I am a gamer and the pop-ups would interfere with playing online games, not to mention if your not that tech savy person you’d have a lot of head scratching to  figure out this program.

SUPERAntiSpyware My Review

Ok I have been using SUPERAntiSpyware for quite some time, I used the free version for about a year now.  Ever since I found a link on Computer America website.   Now let’s face it, in Anti-Virus software there are many different ones.   I talked about Malwarebytes a few days ago now I want to talk about why you Should Buy SUPERAntiSpyware Pro.

Now let’s be fair about this, I was given a free lifetime version of the Pro version from Mike Duncan begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting the Director of Business Development.  So I might be a little Biased but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t suggest to anyone who isn’t looking for a cheap alternative to buy a Anti-virus Software.

So with that said now we can talk about it a little more.  The Free Version is great don’t get me wrong but there are some key differences from the Free to the Pro Version.  Some of the things that I think are the most crucial points  for buying SUPERAntivirus Pro are:

• System Diagnostics — Lets face it there are more and more virus, Trojans, and Malware being created each day and being used.  This is a great way to explore your system in even more details and find those really hidden viruses.

Why you can’t run Antivirus or Taskmanager!

As you know there has been more and more virus writers and scammers who don’t want you to interfere with the ultimate plan.   You see the two major plans these people have are:

1. To use your computer as a Botnet –  This is most common because the Command and Control server is where they tell these other computers what to do weather send spam or do a denial of Service attack on a website.  Although this is the most common it isn’t however the easiest to get rid of rid.   Far be it from being easy these virus writers want to keep a foot hold on your system.   This is like the SG-1 the “Foothold” Situation, they try to look like there is nothing wrong.
2. Fake Antivirus software — This is the other common reason why you can’t load up Taskmanager or SUPERantispyware/Malwarebytes.   It could even prevent AVG,  Norton Antivirus, and Other Antivirus software from being loaded at boot up.  Because most Antivirus software can detect this type of scareware.   The scammers want to make as much money as they can so they don’t want the End user to be able to stop the program from scaring you into buying the fake product.  It could also have a Scareware Adviser trying to get you to buy the fake product!

Nikki Catsouras being used to spread Malware

I was doing my usual perusing the internet and I came accross this site about Nikki Catsouras Accident Photos, I won’t go into gruesome details but looks like the Malware Authors are at it again with trying to have you install Fake codecs into your system.

These are some of the nicer picturs on the site

I must warn you if you go to the site there are some very gruesome and disturbing pictures of the accident, but that not what is computer related.  On the site they also have a Video that isn’t really a Video.  Clicking that video link pops up this in my AVG warning window:

This is the Free Version of AVG

As you can see, the Malware authors are using the accident video to get people to install the Fake Codec to install some Trojan, worm, or even a Virus onto your system.  I’ve talked about this from time to time but if  you need to install a codec from a site you don’t trust.  I don’t recommend this to anyone.   I would keep with the known Codecs and keep away from any site that says you will need to install a codec or tries to install a codec.   I also recommend some Free Anti-virus and Free Firewall software to better protect you.  As you can see the free AVG software that I was using did detect this and prevented me from going any further.  So the Free software Anti-virus providers are keeping even the most common users safe.

MikeTechSHow Listener Roundtable Jan 24, 2009

We had a great discussion on Windows 7 Beta and I wanted to post this so people can download it and check it out themselves.    You have an idea for the next round table, just leave a comment and I’ll let Mike know.   I enjoyed this one so much and can’t wait for the next one!!

Miketechshow Listener Roundtable

[If your at my post, Hover over link to listen to it]

• Mike Smith – Host of The Miketechshow Podcast
• Paul – Tech-LinkBlog
• Daniel – Podcast Reviews Podcast
• Norbert – Totally Cool Tech Podcast
• Winston Wolf

Show Links -

• Windows 7 Beta
• VMware
• Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
• AVG Free AV for Windows 7 Beta
• Windows PowerShell

Please feel free and visit the Miketechshow website, and if you like his site please come back.  Don’t forget to visit the Miketechshow Forums and check it out.  Who knows you might be able to help someone out from time to time.

Tools for Virus Removal : The ones I like to use!

In this post I want to talk about virus removal tools that I like to use when I need to remove a virus.   Some thing to consider when using these tools are:

• Is it a Rootkit?
• Is it Spyware?
• Is it a Virus?
• Is it a Trojan?
• Is it a Worm?

Each of these have to be dealt with differently because each requires something different.  Like rootkits if you have one installed and know that it is a rootkit you only options are to download some rootkit removers like:

• Sopho’s Anti-rootkit remover –  This is good for those more known viruses and can remove several types of rootkits.   This isn’t the only one I use, but it is a part of group that does the rootkit removing for me.
• Microsoft Rootkit Revealer –  This is good for proving there is a rootkit.  I’ve not seen it not detect a rootkit.  Most of the time when I find a rootkit from the other rootkit revealers this one actually dos better with information.
• Panda Anti-Rootkit Remover — This one is another one I use when the other ones can’t remove it.  Each one does remove certain rootkit differently and works better than the other.

Spying on Spyware.ISpynow!!

This is another Virus that is going around and thought I’d tell you about it:

Spyware.ISpyNow monitors files, network traffic, and keystrokes. This Spyware gives the person who installed it a Web-based interface with summaries of logged information on the host computer.

[Via Symantec]

Now this one isn’t to hard to figure out what happened.  You have to manually install it on your system to get infected.  Symantec has a great way on uninstalling this annoyance.  I also suggest checking out my other program list just in case you don’t want to buy Symantec Anti-Virus programs.  Some other things to check out is:

• Avg detected Trojan Horse Generic 12.htc? – This has a great article on how to use HiJackthis program and how to make sure you no longer have the virus.
  
• Some Important programs to prevent yourself from having viruses and Malware!! — This article gives you some other programs to use other than Symantec.   You have a wide variety of choices on Anti-virus programs and Firewall Choices.  You also have some choices on Spyware removal programs.

You have an undelivered UPS/FEDEX Package. (Virus)

From what I’ve seen so far. There seems to be a new rash of email going around with the heading that makes it look and feel like either UPS or Fedex. Saying that you have an undelivered package from them and to either print the order confirmation or to click a link. I will say this once, if you get this delete it. Fedex and UPS will never hide the link and tell you have an package waiting in the email. They will leave a note your door. You must ask yourself how Fedex/UPS found out your email address to tell you have a package waiting? They don’t and they won’t, just a fact.

UPS/FedEx Delivery Failure : Snopes

TROJ_DLOADR.GG and TSPY_ZBOT.NM Trojan, which will Monitor and try to steal your data. The other one is a ZBot and will try to steal you data also. If you need help removing this virus, I’d suggest checking out my other virus article Avg detected Trojan Horse Generic 12.htc?. There are a lot of ways to remove this virus but the first step is never click on any links in your emails. I also wrote about Some Important programs to prevent yourself from having viruses and Malware!! This will help prevent and fix the common virus problems you might have.

Avg detected Trojan Horse Generic 12.htc?

Just got a warning from AVG about, trojan horse generic 12.HTC, haven’t heard of it, anyone out there hear if this one? apparently it infects explore.exe, and after months of explore.exe crashing I’d say it’s a legit virus.

[Via Answer Bag]

Some tricks and tips to remove this little virus is quite simple. It is embedded in your system so how do you remove this threat? Easy follow these steps and you will have a better chance of getting rid of the virus:

1. Find out all you can on the virus – Finding out the extent of where the virus lays is really a good idea.  Just because you found one place doesn’t mean it isn’t also hiding some other place.  Some good ways to figure out where it might be is to download Hijackthis and Then onces you download it and install.  Run it, and when you get the LOG file you will want to go to HijackThis Log Analysis Site 1 and HijackThis Log Analysis Site 2, and see what it says.

AVG detected trojan ; Generic11.BEOG

I had a Friend tell me his system detected  this Trojan GENERIC11.BEOG.  I did my research and right now.  It looking like Adobe added something to there recent updates *see updates below*.   I’ll  Have to check with some other sources but it looking like AVG over did it again and found something that might just be an AVG issue.  (correction)

I usually wait before updating something like adobe.  It is sure to be some minor change to adobe but if your are worried here’s the link to watch and see what people are asking or talking about this false positive:

Malwarebytes Security Forums

It seems that AVG is calling this possible virus but yet it looks like it is a false positive.  So don’t you worry.  If it was a true virus you’d probably would never know!!

*UPDATE*

I installed Adobe 9.0 and updated the virus scan database for AVG.  It hasn’t found any thing yet but I am still scanning my system.  I’ll let you know if it finds this false positive on my Vista machine!!  I’m doing this to test it out!!!  Come back later to find out the results of the test.  (if you like this website by all means google this website so it too can be on google trends.   I want to see it be up on google trends for a day or two.)