First 20 mins

peter_the_piper

Now that they say new computers are infected in the first 20 minutes, the best piece of advice I've copied from The Register
* Set Windows Update to automatically update the computer, without asking questions.
* Install a personal firewall that blocks almost everything by default.
* Buy a 2- or 3-year subscription to an anti-virus program and set it up to automatically download all updates.
* Buy an anti-spyware tool and set it up to automatically update, scan, and remove spyware.
* Replace Internet Explorer with Mozilla or Mozilla Firefox, and then hide that blue E so it's not on the desktop.
* Replace Outlook Express with Mozilla Thunderbird.
All computer resellers should do this for all new computer owners, before they pick up the box and go home.

robnye

Now that they say new computers are infected in the first 20 minutes, the best piece of advice I've copied from The Register
* Set Windows Update to automatically update the computer, without asking questions.
* Install a personal firewall that blocks almost everything by default.
* Buy a 2- or 3-year subscription to an anti-virus program and set it up to automatically download all updates.
* Buy an anti-spyware tool and set it up to automatically update, scan, and remove spyware.
* Replace Internet Explorer with Mozilla or Mozilla Firefox, and then hide that blue E so it's not on the desktop.
* Replace Outlook Express with Mozilla Thunderbird.
All computer resellers should do this for all new computer owners, before they pick up the box and go home. .

i would disagree with the first point, all others are good advice.

just a word of warning

the problem with automatically downloading new updates from microsoft, is that it is too common, for the fixes to either not fix the problem completely or cause other problems with other programs.

i personally do it manually, and then check what it finds and decide what i want updated. internet explorer 6 sp1 caused all sorts of havoc when run automatically.....

just a word of warning

LincsLad_3

Agree with RobNYE about MS auto-updates. I tend to install critical security updates without too much hesitation, but make a judgement on whether or not I need the others.

I would also take [slight] issue over paying for a 2-3 year subscription to an AV product. I prefer to use a free one like Grisoft AVG - there are others.

Otherwise, good advice.

StrikeEagle

I dont believe in firewalls or antivirus software. I think 99% of spyware + virii occur because users are inexperienced and install them by mistake. I prefer backing up important data.

I've had a server sitting on the net for 2 years with auto-ms updates, no firewall, no antivirus software and it's completely clean - No abnormal activity or processes running.

However I agree with not using IE and Outlook Express.

Ultimately, if you are this concerned about protecting your pc, install windows on a seperate partition, so if it did get totally owned by spyware, you can format and reinstall. Also backup, backup, backup.

P.S. BACKUP.

alexj2002

Windows XP computers will be hit by the blaster worm without a firewall almost as soon as they go on the net. That is not people installing programs they shouldn't or not knowing what they are doing. That is a fault in the programming.

Running on XP without a Firewall is like running through a field full of bulls dressed in a santa costume - you'll bring the attention of the blaster worm and help spread it. An inexperienced user will not install a Firewall an experienced one will.

peter_the_piper

So far today I have had 35 attempts to invade my computer with trojans. My original post was for the NEW computer users who only think a virus is something you go to the doctors with. Later on, when they are more knowledgible then they can choose to disable or delete the programs they want. Most computer newbies dont know their partitions from their windows.