Re: Internet Explorer Registry setings

From: Sandi - Microsoft MVP (sandi_hardmeier_at_mvps.org)
Date: 06/05/04 

Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2004 20:26:19 +0800

Shenan Stanley wrote:

Wow Shenan, there's a lot of great information there, but if I may make a
very polite suggestion. Experience (5 years of it) has taught me that
people are easily overwhelmed. Even my own malware faq is teetering on the
edge of too much information, and I have received complaints about same.

Perhaps it would be a good idea if you tailored your answers to make the
most pertinent information in your spiel appear at the TOP of each answer,
and the extra stuff following eg: for virus questions put the virus section
at the top, malware - put the malware at the top. 

-- 
Hyperlinks are used to ensure advice remains current
_______________________________________
Sandi - Microsoft MVP since 1999 (IE/OE)
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/
> 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 "SPYWARE/ADWARE/POPUPS", 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 idiot 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.  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.  I personally love Symantec AV.
>
> 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)
>
> 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!
>
> 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://kephyr.sureshot.xaviermedia.net/spywarescanner/
>
> 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, less problems with
> spyware and better performance than someone who didn't.
>
> Hope it helps.
>
> --
> <- Shenan ->

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