Re: Startup programs
From: johnf (john_f_at_bigREMOVEpond.net.au)
Date: 07/27/04
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Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 20:32:56 +1000
For Pete's sake, Shanon, stop pasting all this irrelevent garbage to posts
that just require a simple reply!
I'd prefer to tolerate the occasional accidental multi-post rather than
pages of unrelated 'advice'
-- johnf > Jay wrote: >> Newbie here so everyone exscuse me for any dumb questions. How do I >> remove programs that startup when I first log on to windowsxp? I >> appreciate your time...also got this OEM version of Winxp with my new >> PC. would I be able to buy an OEM version of Winxp Pro and install >> it? or do I hafta have a non OEM version to use an upgrade...I guess >> Im sorta thinking it would be upgrading an upgrade, but I would like >> to be able to find something where my wife can use Excel (that is >> what she uses at work) Anyway I appreciate your time > > First - learn to CROSSPOST instead of MULTIPOSTING. Many of us read > each newsgroup separately - and with your Multiposting, it looks like a > new post to us and if we want to respond to you, we have to do it > several times - not fun. With Cross-Posting, when we respond once, it > responds in all groups and shows up for everyone and marks it as read > for us in each of those groups. Much nicer. > > Next - an OEM copy - again - can only be used to perform a CLEAN > installation of the Operating System. > > If you don't wish to follow all of the advice immediately, just want to > get rid of your current dilemma, then you are welcome to scroll down to > the section titled > "DISABLE (Set to Manual) UNUSED SERVICE/STARTUP APPS", > where your problem as > stated should be resolved by the applications and suggestions found in > that section. If this helps solve your problem then I again HIGHLY > suggest you follow the rest of the advice below (matter of fact, I > suggest it either way.) > > Suggestions on what you can do to secure/clean your PC. I'm going to > try and be general, I will assume a "Windows" operating system is what > is > being secured here. > > > UPDATES and PATCHES > ------------------- > > This one is the most obvious. There is no perfect product and any > company worth their salt will try to meet/exceed the needs of their > customers and fix any problems they find along the way. I am not going > to say Microsoft is the best company in the world about this but they > do have an option available for you to use to keep your machine updated > and patched from > the problems and vulnerabilities (as well as product improvements in > some cases) - and it's free to you. > > Windows Update > http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ > > Go there and scan your machine for updates. Always get the critical > ones as you see them. Write down the KB###### or Q###### you see when > selecting the updates and if you have trouble over the next few days, > go into your control panel (Add/Remove Programs), match up the latest > numbers you downloaded recently (since you started noticing an issue) > and uninstall them. If there was more than one (usually is), install > them back one by one - with a few hours of use in between, to see if > the problem returns. Yes - the process is not perfect (updating) and > can cause trouble like I mentioned - but as you can see, the solution > isn't that bad - and is MUCH better than the alternatives. > (SASSER/BLASTER were SO preventable with just this step!) > > Windows is not the only product you likely have on your PC. The > manufacturers of the other products usually have updates as well. New > versions of almost everything come out all the time - some are free, > some are pay - some you can only download if you are registered - but > it is best to check. Just go to their web pages and look under their > support and download sections. > > You also have hardware on your machine that requires drivers to > interface with the operating system. You have a video card that allows > you to see on your screen, a sound card that allows you to hear your > PCs sound output and so on. Visit those manufacturer web sites for the > latest downloadable drivers for your hardware/operating system. Always > (IMO) get the manufacturers hardware driver over any Microsoft offers. > On the Windows Update site I mentioned earlier, I suggest NOT getting > their hardware drivers - no matter how tempting. > > Have I mentioned that Microsoft has some stuff to help secure your > computer available to the end-user for free? This seems as good of a > time as any. They have a CD you can order (it's free) that contain all > of the Windows patches through October 2003 and some trial products as > well that they released in February 2004. Yeah - it's a little behind > now, but it's better than nothing (and used in coordination with the > information in this post, well worth the purchase price..) > > Order the Windows Security Update CD > http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/cd/order.asp > > They also have a bunch of suggestions, some similar to these, on how to > better protect your Windows system: > > Protect your PC > http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/ > > > FIREWALL > -------- > > Let's say you are up-to-date on the OS (operating system) and you have > Windows XP.. You should at least turn on the built in firewall. That > will do a lot to "hide" you from the random bad things flying around the > Internet. Things like Sasser/Blaster enjoy just sitting out there in > Cyberspace looking for an unprotected Windows Operating System and > jumping on it, doing great damage in the process and then using that > Unprotected OS to continue its dirty work of infecting others. If you > have the Windows XP ICF turned on - default configuration - then they > cannot see you! Think of it as Internet Stealth Mode at this point. > It has other advantages, like actually locking the doors you didn't > even (likely) know you had. Doing this is simple, the instructions you > need to use your built in Windows XP firewall can be found here: > > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=320855 > > If you read through that and look through the pages that are linked > from it at the bottom of that page - I think you should have a firm > grasp on the basics of the Windows XP Firewall as it is today. One > thing to note RIGHT NOW - if you have AOL, you cannot use this nice > firewall that came with your system. Thank AOL, not Microsoft. You > HAVE to configure another one.. So we continue with our session on > Firewalls... > > But let's say you DON'T have Windows XP - you have some other OS like > Windows 95, 98, 98SE, ME, NT, 2000. Well, you don't have the nifty > built in firewall. My suggestion - upgrade. My next suggestion - look > through your options. There are lots of free and pay firewalls out > there for home users. Yes - you will have to decide on your own which > to get. Yes, you will have to learn (oh no!) to use these firewalls > and configure them so they don't interfere with what you want to do > while continuing to provide the security you desire. It's just like > anything else you want to protect - you have to do something to protect > it. Here are some suggested applications. A lot of people tout > "ZoneAlarm" as being the best alternative to just using the Windows XP > ICF, but truthfully - any of these alternatives are much better than > the Windows XP ICF at what they do - because that is ALL they do. > > ZoneAlarm (Free and up) > http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp > > Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) (Free and up) > http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html > > Outpost Firewall from Agnitum (Free and up) > http://www.agnitum.com/download/ > > Sygate Personal Firewall (Free and up) > http://smb.sygate.com/buy/download_buy.htm > > Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall (~$25 and up) > http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/ > > BlackICE PC Protection ($39.95 and up) > http://blackice.iss.net/ > > Tiny Personal Firewall (~$49.00 and up) > http://www.tinysoftware.com/ > > That list is not complete, but they are good firewall options, every > one of them. Visit the web pages, read up, ask around if you like - > make a decision and go with some firewall, any firewall. Also, > maintain it. Sometimes new holes are discovered in even the best of > these products and patches are released from the company to remedy this > problem. However, if you don't get the patches (check the manufacturer > web page on occasion), then you may never know you have the problem > and/or are being used through this weakness. Also, don't stack these > things. Running more than one firewall will not make you safer - it > would likely (in fact) negate some protection you gleamed from one or > the other firewalls you ran together. > > > ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE > ------------------ > > That's not all. That's one facet of a secure PC, but firewalls don't do > everything. I saw one person posting on a newsgroup that "they had > never had a virus and they never run any anti-virus software." Yep - I > used to believe that way too - viruses were something everyone else > seemed to get, were they just stupid? And for the average joe-user who > is careful, uses their one-three family computers carefully, never > opening unknown attachments, always visiting the same family safe web > sites, never installing anything that did not come with their computer > - maybe, just maybe they will never witness a virus. I, however, am a > Network Systems Administrator. I see that AntiVirus software is an > absolute necessity given how most people see their computer as a > toy/tool and not something > they should have to maintain and upkeep. After all, they were invented > to make life easier, right - not add another task to your day. You > can be as careful as you want - will the next person be as careful? > Will someone send you unknowingly the email that erases all the > pictures of your child/childhood? Possibly - why take the chance? > ALWAYS RUN ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE and KEEP IT UP TO DATE! Antivirus > software comes in so many flavors, it's like walking into a Jelly Belly > store - which one tastes like what?! Well, here are a few choices for > you. Some of these are free (isn't that nice?) and some are not. Is > one better than the other - MAYBE. > > Symantec (Norton) AntiVirus (~$11 and up) > http://www.symantec.com/ > > Kaspersky Anti-Virus (~$49.95 and up) > http://www.kaspersky.com/products.html > > Panda Antivirus Titanium (~$39.95 and up) > http://www.pandasoftware.com/ > (Free Online Scanner: http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/) > > AVG 6.0 Anti-Virus System (Free and up) > http://www.grisoft.com/ > > McAfee VirusScan (~$11 and up) > http://www.mcafee.com/ > > AntiVir (Free and up) > http://www.free-av.com/ > > avast! 4 (Free and up) > http://www.avast.com/ > > Trend Micro (~$49.95 and up) > http://www.trendmicro.com/ > (Free Online Scanner: > http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp) > > RAV AntiVirus Online Virus Scan (Free!) > http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/ > > Did I mention you have to not only install this software, but also keep > it updated? You do. Some of them (most) have automatic services to > help you do this - I mean, it's not your job to keep up with the > half-dozen or more new threats that come out daily, is it? Be sure to > keep whichever one you choose up to date! > > > SPYWARE/ADWARE/POPUPS > --------------------- > > So you must be thinking that the above two things got your back now - > you are covered, safe and secure in your little fox hole. Wrong! > There are more bad guys out there. There are annoyances out there you > can get without trying. Your normal web surfing, maybe a wrong click > on a web page, maybe just a momentary lack of judgment by installing > some software packages without doing the research.. And all of a > sudden your screen starts filling up with advertisements or your > Internet seems much slower or your home page won't stay what you set it > and goes someplace unfamiliar to you. This is spyware. There are a > whole SLEW of software packages out there to get rid of this crud and > help prevent reinfection. Some of the products already mentioned might > even have branched out into this arena. However, there are a few > applications that seem to be the best at what they do, which is > eradicating and immunizing your system from this crap. Strangely, the > best products I have found in this category ARE generally free. That > is a trend I like. I make donations to some of them, they deserve it! > > Two side-notes: Never think one of these can do the whole job. > Try the first 5 before coming back and saying "That did not work!" > Also, you can always visit: > http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm > For more updated information. > > Spybot Search and Destroy (Free!) > http://www.safer-networking.net/ > > Lavasoft AdAware (Free and up) > http://www.lavasoft.de > > CWSShredder (Free!) > http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html > > Hijack This! (Free) > http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/ > ( Tutorial: http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/htlogtutorial.html ) > > SpywareBlaster (Free!) > http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/ > > IE-SPYAD (Free!) > http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm > > ToolbarCop (Free!) > http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/toolbarcop.htm > > Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner (Free!) > http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/index.html > > Browser Security Tests > http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/ > > The Cleaner (49.95 and up) > http://www.moosoft.com/ > > That will clean up your machine of the spyware, given that you download > and install several of them, update them regularly and scan with them > when you update. Some (like SpywareBlaster and SpyBot Search and > Destroy) have immunization features that will help you prevent your PC > from being infected. Use these features! > > Unfortunately, although that will lessen your popups on the > Internet/while you are online, it won't eliminate them. I have looked > at a lot of options, seen a lot of them used in production with people > who seem to attract popups like a plague, and I only have one > suggestion that end up serving double duty (search engine and popup > stopper in one): > > The Google Toolbar (Free!) > http://toolbar.google.com/ > > Yeah - it adds a bar to your Internet Explorer - but its a useful one. > You can search from there anytime with one of the best search engines > on the planet (IMO.) And the fact it stops most popups - wow - BONUS! > If you don't like that suggestion, then I am just going to say you go to > www.google.com and search for other options. > > One more suggestion, although I will suggest this in a way later, is to > disable your Windows Messenger service. This service is not used > frequently (if at all) by the normal home user and in cooperation with > a good firewall, is generally unnecessary. Microsoft has instructions > on how to do this for Windows XP here: > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp > > > SPAM EMAIL/JUNK MAIL > -------------------- > > This one can get annoying, just like the rest. You get 50 emails in one > sitting and 2 of them you wanted. NICE! (Not.) What can you do? Well, > although there are services out there to help you, some email > servers/services that actually do lower your spam with features built > into their servers - I still like the methods that let you be the > end-decision maker on what is spam and what isn't. If these things > worked perfectly, we wouldn't need people and then there would be no > spam anyway - vicious circle, eh? Anyway - I have two products to > suggest to you, look at them and see if either of them suite your > needs. Again, if they don't, Google is free and available for your > perusal. > > SpamBayes (Free!) > http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/ > > Spamihilator (Free!) > http://www.spamihilator.com/ > > As I said, those are not your only options, but are reliable ones I have > seen function for hundreds+ people. > > > DISABLE (Set to Manual) UNUSED SERVICE/STARTUP APPS > --------------------------------------------------- > > I might get arguments on putting this one here, but it's my spill. > There are lots of services on your PC that are probably turned on by > default you don't use. Why have them on? Check out these web pages to > see what all of the services you might find on your computer are and > set them according to your personal needs. Be CAREFUL what you set to > manual, and take heed and write down as you change things! Also, don't > expect a large performance increase or anything - especially on todays > 2+ GHz machines, however - I look at each service you set to manual as > one less service you have to worry about someone exploiting. A year > ago, I would have thought the Windows Messenger service to be pretty > safe, now I recommend (with addition of a firewall) that most home > users disable it! Yeah - this is another one you have to work for, but > your computer may speed up and/or be more secure because you took the > time. And if you document what you do as you do it, next time, it goes > MUCH faster! (or if you have to go back and re-enable things..) > > Task List Programs > http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm > > Black Viper's Service List and Opinions (XP) > http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm > > Processes in Windows NT/2000/XP > http://www.reger24.de/prozesse/ > > There are also applications that AREN'T services that startup when you > start up the computer/logon. One of the better description on how to > handle these I have found here: > > Startups > http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php > > > That's it. A small booklet on how to keep your computer secure, clean > of scum and more user friendly. I am SURE I missed something, almost > as I am sure you won't read all of it (anyone for that matter.) > However, I also know that someone who followed all of the advice above > would also have less problems with their PC, less problems with > viruses, less problems with spam, fewer problems with spyware and > better performance than someone who didn't. > > Hope it helps. > > -- > <- Shenan -> > -- > The information is provided "as is", with no guarantees of > completeness, accuracy or timeliness, and without warranties of any > kind, express or implied. In other words, read up before you take any > advice - you are the one ultimately responsible for your actions.
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