Do yourself a favor - don't browse in sysadmin mode - Mkay?

by gubberningbody 4 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  gubberningbody

  I'm going to give a little advice here on safe browsing. (I'm assuming you're a windows user)

  1. The default login you should use should not have sysadmin privileges.

  You need to create a user with minimal rights and absolutely NO RIGHTS to install software.

  You NEVER, NEVER, EVER browse with an account which has sysadmin privileges.

  If you do this ONE thing, you will wipe out 99.9% of your problems.

  2. Switch your browser to Firefox and add the plugin NOSCRIPT. Javascripting is a big security hole.

  3. Turn off flash, except for specific sites. Flash is another source.

  4. Get a pdf reader without scripting. Adobe added that nasty capability and this is why I don't use it.

  5. Get a used router and place your pc behind that (if you're on cable, this is easy). You can easily configure your router to not respond to probes.

  6. Never click on links in emails, or on web sites. You should google that link and at least see what google thinks of the site.

  7. Don't click on a close box for a popup. Instead, go to your task manager and kill your browser. People will fake close boxes which don't close, but instead attempt to install.

  8. Don't take files from strangers. Stop any peer-to-peer sharing, like bit-torrent and the like.

  Antivirus? I never use it. It's almost useless. If you do these things you'll be great.

  If you want better, then go to vmware's site and download the vmware player and an appliance image and use it to browse. Ever if that player gets infected, it won't matter, because it's sandboxed. Or you could use a bootable linux disk and just like the vmware player/appliance combo, you're golden.
• 

  Simon

  Good advice
• 

  notverylikely

  Especially on the VMware. Since, uh, my company owns it and I happen to be a specialist in it :)
• 

  WTWizard

  This is why I have stopped using peer to peer programs. Last year, they had that worm that was going around using these programs (along with other things like e-mails). It would hook you up to the Botnet, causing your computer to become a spam generator--all for one lousy song. This is why I recommend using peer to peer programs with great caution, if at all (besides, if you are stealing songs that the artists are trying to make a living off of, you are helping to kill off the music business).
• 

  CrimsonAshes

  ...Or you could just install Malwarebytes, Adware SE, Spybot, and Combo Fix, learn computer skills, and keep your self safe with browsing as a system admin. Really.... no virus is unstoppable. With those three things, added with, Hijack This (Registry Cleaner,) they can all be wipped out. Even rootkits. I've cleaned 1000 trojans off my sisters comp in one time before.

  But only use HJT...if you know what you're doing. It's only the illiterate that suffer computer damange. Also, P2P is safe. Torrents forever!