BC firm's materials in space
$10K discrimination ruling
Quesnel pulp mill sold
Inquiry into B.C. port strike
Is decaf coffee bad for you?
Ex-cop tries to quash charge
PM pledges deportations
Trump trial arguments begin
Ghost guns to high court
Nude Beverages sells line
Wealth gap widening
Canadian Honda EV plant 
Leafs even series
Cristall gets pro look
Warriors even series in OT
Swift breaks Spotify record
Cudi Coachella set cut short
Bon Jovi 'hasn't been a saint'
As I clean out malicious software from my customers’ computers, the question most often asked is, “How did that get there?”
I can usually make an educated guess, but the more important question is, “How can I keep this from happening again?”
What the heck is malware and why should I care?
Malware is malicious or unwanted programs that either piggyback on the installation of legitimate programs or flat-out trick us into installing them. They are there to take your money, steal your banking information or your passwords. Why do people make these programs? Because, as Willie Sutton probably never said, “That’s where the money is.”
How do I protect my computer?
Take control of your downloads
The first line of defence against malware is YOU. Check whether a file is harmful before you install it. Even better, check before you even download it.
VirusTotal is a great website where you can check a file against 40 or so antivirus resources to see if it’s likely to be dangerous. It’s dead easy.
A fuller explanation of the site is here. This site explains how to submit a file for analysis, too. If you do a lot of downloading, you might be interested in the advanced tools, here.
Once you’ve downloaded a file, you can (and should) check it before you install it. So given a choice to Save, Run, or Save and Run, the best choice on a file you’re not sure about is Save. When the download finishes, navigate to your download folder and right-click on the file. You will see options to scan the file with your antivirus and anti-malware program. That scan takes just seconds. Do it.
Customize your installs
Even great safe programs will try to foist stuff on you. Sometimes it’s Google Chrome or McAfee Security Suite. Sometimes it’s the dreaded DriverUpdate crap-ware.
Always choose Custom Install over Typical or Express. Custom Install allows you to decline unwanted programs, toolbars, and search hijacks. Clear the check boxes for the stuff you don’t want. Typical or Express installs mean that you accept whatever is offered, sight unseen.
Layer your protection
Even when you’re aware and careful, bad things can slip through the cracks. And no antivirus product can protect from everything. You need something to catch what sneaks past.
I’m pretty good at this stuff, and still somehow Chrome manages to sneak in during an Avast! Free update. In addition to a good all-round antivirus program that provides real-time protection, you should install and run Malwarebytes (either the free or paid version) or SuperAntiSpyware (free or paid).
Malware tries to make sure it starts up with Windows and runs all the time. WinPatrol is another great program that monitors key elements of your Windows installation and alerts you to - or protects you from - programs that try to make changes to those elements, including what starts up with Windows. The free version is excellent, and the paid version offers additional features. Take a look at the program here.
Holy smokes, that’s a lot. Is there anything else?
Yes. Keep your protection up to date!
And - it’s good to have a proper backup. Look for more information on backing up your critical information in a future column.
Do you need help with your computer? I'm here to help you and your home or business computer get along!
Links
VirusTotal Advanced Features and Tools
Getting Along With Your Computer Column Archives
This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
