Two simple steps to help prevent Viruses, Cryptolockers and other Malware that almost no one does.
Two easy things you can do to help you prevent infection on your home computer. (This assumes you already have some antivirus on there).
I don't need to go into details why this is important and why you need to keep yourself safe. If you don't know ask me and I'll write it in another post.
1. DISABLE AUTO PLAY! - Here is why this is SO important! This is how malware gets INSTALLED on your computer. You could download an email with an attached file, you move your mouse over the file, and hidden in the information that would display for that file is a script that would auto run that malware and install it on your system. You might not even see any visible sign it installed, but suddenly your computer is sending spam, or mining bitcoins which you are getting a share of. (Wow that's just mean.) The scripts leverage the auto play functionality built into windows. If that ability is turned off, you have just eliminated that threat.
I once worked somewhere that did not have this disabled by default when they were hit by a cryptolocker. This was during my first week on the job when I hadn't even had a chance to review the group policies for the environment. It took 16 days to restore all the affected files from backups. 16 1(12-14) hour days of which I will never get that time back. All that time wasted because the previous security/system admins didn't disable auto play. SO GO TURN IT OFF NOW!
Links on how to disable autoplay for windows 10 and 7 are below.
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/set-autoplay-defaults-windows-10
https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/216706-autoplay-enable-disable.html
2. Install the MVPS Hosts file. - Huh, what the hell is this guy talking about?
In the old days of the internet (and I mean back in the 70's) each computer would have a list of "hosts" which they would communicate with. This file is what allows a computer to translate the "hostname" ex. bobs computer into an "IP" address like 20.20.33.34. Today that is handled by domains and domain name services however all computers still have this hosts file so you can setup local networks with names without memorizing ip addresses. Your computer will still check the Hosts file when it searches for a site first. The MVPShosts file includes most spam and ad servers and known malware distributors. The list is constantly changing (Every month at least). But even just doing this once can black a lot of ad's and junk from ever even displaying on your computer.
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm
How you install this on your windows computer.
C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc
Using notepad or notepad++ (Run as ADMINISTRATOR)
Open your hosts file and copy and paste the contents of the MVPShosts text file into your host file.
Save the file.
Re open the hosts file to make sure the changes
So here it is two simple tips to help you stay safe! Happy Searching.
If you like this blog please follow or subscribe. Visit my Family site at http://chewygraonlafamily.com and subscribe to my YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3iZiwhSYBjbo6ThzseiDxg
If we get enough of a following I may make a tech channel spin off from the family channel.
I don't need to go into details why this is important and why you need to keep yourself safe. If you don't know ask me and I'll write it in another post.
1. DISABLE AUTO PLAY! - Here is why this is SO important! This is how malware gets INSTALLED on your computer. You could download an email with an attached file, you move your mouse over the file, and hidden in the information that would display for that file is a script that would auto run that malware and install it on your system. You might not even see any visible sign it installed, but suddenly your computer is sending spam, or mining bitcoins which you are getting a share of. (Wow that's just mean.) The scripts leverage the auto play functionality built into windows. If that ability is turned off, you have just eliminated that threat.
I once worked somewhere that did not have this disabled by default when they were hit by a cryptolocker. This was during my first week on the job when I hadn't even had a chance to review the group policies for the environment. It took 16 days to restore all the affected files from backups. 16 1(12-14) hour days of which I will never get that time back. All that time wasted because the previous security/system admins didn't disable auto play. SO GO TURN IT OFF NOW!
Links on how to disable autoplay for windows 10 and 7 are below.
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/set-autoplay-defaults-windows-10
https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/216706-autoplay-enable-disable.html
2. Install the MVPS Hosts file. - Huh, what the hell is this guy talking about?
In the old days of the internet (and I mean back in the 70's) each computer would have a list of "hosts" which they would communicate with. This file is what allows a computer to translate the "hostname" ex. bobs computer into an "IP" address like 20.20.33.34. Today that is handled by domains and domain name services however all computers still have this hosts file so you can setup local networks with names without memorizing ip addresses. Your computer will still check the Hosts file when it searches for a site first. The MVPShosts file includes most spam and ad servers and known malware distributors. The list is constantly changing (Every month at least). But even just doing this once can black a lot of ad's and junk from ever even displaying on your computer.
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm
How you install this on your windows computer.
C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc
Using notepad or notepad++ (Run as ADMINISTRATOR)
Open your hosts file and copy and paste the contents of the MVPShosts text file into your host file.
Save the file.
Re open the hosts file to make sure the changes
So here it is two simple tips to help you stay safe! Happy Searching.
If you like this blog please follow or subscribe. Visit my Family site at http://chewygraonlafamily.com and subscribe to my YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3iZiwhSYBjbo6ThzseiDxg
If we get enough of a following I may make a tech channel spin off from the family channel.
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