# Securing your Microsoft Machine **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [February 2, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335 "2009-02-02T14:44:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BillysRevenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@BillysRevenge](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BillysRevenge)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 7:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/21 "2009-02-03T07:45:35Z")
Stay away from LimWire Watch out for RAR archives. Viruses/Malware is often put into new releases of music/movies/software. ---
**Author:** ![pirite](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pirite/32/5308_2.png) [@pirite](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/pirite)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 8:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/22 "2009-02-03T08:08:15Z")
> [@ILC"](#): > > Programs to stay away from… AOL INSTANT MESSENGER, Stop fucking using it. Use pidgeon or something. i use digsby. it lets you be logged onto all of your instant messaging clients at once in one list, and it has facebook, myspace, and email update at the bottom as well. i converted multiple friends over to digsby from pidgeon. edit: added a screen shot ---
**Author:** ![justa4door](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/justa4door/32/7259_2.png) [@justa4door](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/justa4door)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 8:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/23 "2009-02-03T08:14:16Z")
:tup: ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Danger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/matt_danger/32/4981_2.png) [@Matt\_Danger](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Matt_Danger)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 9:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/24 "2009-02-03T09:44:39Z")
> [@Just Karter](#): > > Why would it matter? windows auto updats to service pack 3. The idea is that you never connect an insecure machine to the network/Internet. There are a lot of bots the continuously scan networks and hosts looking for vulnerabilities to exploit. Routers, firewalls, and NAT devices help mitigate this problem but aren’t a guarantee. Example: Back when Sasser was big I was finishing an install of Server 2003 with SQL Server, etc. When I connected the machine to the network to pull down updates Sasser triggered a known vulnerability in SQL Server and it was done. ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Danger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/matt_danger/32/4981_2.png) [@Matt\_Danger](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Matt_Danger)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/25 "2009-02-03T09:47:13Z")
Also, I’ll add that sometimes anti-malware/virus scans are more effective in Windows safe mode when the malware/virus is not running. ---
**Author:** ![Rsnake91](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rsnake91/32/4996_2.png) [@Rsnake91](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Rsnake91)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/26 "2009-02-07T21:13:18Z")
VERY NICE ILC, huge :tup: to you sir. ---
**Author:** ![skylinez07](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/skylinez07/32/4993_2.png) [@skylinez07](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/skylinez07)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 5:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/27 "2009-02-08T05:10:35Z")
ok i have the finger scanner as a password, also a random 16 # and letter password to use if the finger scanner doesnot work. seeing as i use the scanner all the time i should be safe. note: the actual p/w is totally random. I use avira a/v windows f/w vista sp1 tune up utilites '09 for removing junk from my hd google chrome or ie for internet. anything i should change? ---
**Author:** ![skylinez07](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/skylinez07/32/4993_2.png) [@skylinez07](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/skylinez07)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 5:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/28 "2009-02-08T05:15:00Z")
> [@articzap](#): > > I use the free version of AVG anti virus and the free version of Sygate firewall. > > Both seem to be pretty good. > > For anti spy ware I use Windows Defender. Great program!! i used to use avg but then the updates stopped all together. otherwise it worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![chino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bcef8e/32.png) [@chino](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/chino)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/29 "2009-02-08T05:58:15Z")
i havent used spyware/adware programs in a while (because im not an idiot and don’t get spyware/adware), but isn’t spybot basically discontinued? I thought they stopped releasing definitions forever ago? ---
**Author:** ![BillysRevenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@BillysRevenge](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BillysRevenge)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 7:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/30 "2009-02-08T07:36:36Z")
> [@chino](#): > > i havent used spyware/adware programs in a while (because im not an idiot and don’t get spyware/adware), but isn’t spybot basically discontinued? I thought they stopped releasing definitions forever ago? Nope…I still get them. :shrug: ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 9:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/31 "2009-02-08T09:30:25Z")
> [@skylinez07](#): > > ok i have the finger scanner as a password, also a random 16 # and letter password to use if the finger scanner doesnot work. > > seeing as i use the scanner all the time i should be safe. > > note: the actual p/w is totally random. > > I use avira a/v > windows f/w > vista sp1 > tune up utilites '09 for removing junk from my hd > google chrome or ie for internet. > anything i should change? fingerprint scanners are not very safe actually. It has been proven that they are fairly easily hacked. ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 11:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/32 "2009-02-08T11:39:50Z")
> [@boardjnky4](#): > > fingerprint scanners are not very safe actually. It has been proven that they are fairly easily hacked. How do you hack a finger print scanner with out physical access? BTW if you have XP the most secure passwords have more then 15 characters…anything less and they are stored in LM hashes which are easy to crack via rainbow tables… ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 11:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/33 "2009-02-08T11:49:51Z")
> [@LZ](#): > > How do you hack a finger print scanner with out physical access? > > BTW if you have XP the most secure passwords have more then 15 characters…anything less and they are stored in LM hashes which are easy to crack via rainbow tables… laptops are lost/stolen all the time. Just go walk around UB and you can clean up house in the library. ---
**Author:** ![Karter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e480ec/32.png) [@Karter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Karter)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 11:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/34 "2009-02-08T11:53:43Z")
[quote=chino;1269250] (because im not an idiot and don’t get spyware/adware) you would be surprised how many places have cookies. 99% of where you go has cookies, even the acceptable sites by firefox have cookies 99% of the time. Get yourself a cookie scanner. ---
**Author:** ![Janus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@Janus](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Janus)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 12:49pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/35 "2009-04-26T12:49:58Z")
can this be updated with better vista information? ILC lists a majority or info for XP and mentions notable differences with Vista. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/36 "2009-04-26T13:20:37Z")
> [@Janus](#): > > can this be updated with better vista information? ILC lists a majority or info for XP and mentions notable differences with Vista. Thanks! I’ll +1 that, I have no idea how to do the ‘local users and groups’ step, not sure what settings to use for the firewall, I need to disable servies, and how do I get something other that sp1? :grouphug: ---
**Author:** ![buffalove](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/buffalove/32/7460_2.png) [@buffalove](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/buffalove)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/37 "2009-10-22T22:58:43Z")
Addon for firefox…makes it even more safe. [http://noscript.net/getit](http://noscript.net/getit) (click the getit button) (The site sucks in terms of layout and ease of navigation…) ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 8:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/38 "2009-12-23T08:31:06Z")
bump. I just re-installed windows and lost McAffe that was on there, it only had a month left so i am looking for something better. I started reading the OP and it said to get SP2, which I did last night through windows update. its in the update list as “Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2 Security Update for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 (KB974469)” but when I go to control panel\>system and it only says I have sp1, what gives? and lol at me being the second to last person to post in this thread. obviously I dont expect a response. haha ---
**Author:** ![TradersBASE](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tradersbase/32/5321_2.png) [@TradersBASE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TradersBASE)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 10:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/39 "2009-12-23T10:30:04Z")
> [@travisn](#): > > bump. I just re-installed windows and lost McAffe that was on there, it only had a month left so i am looking for something better. I started reading the OP and it said to get SP2, which I did last night through windows update. its in the update list as “Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2 Security Update for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 (KB974469)” but when I go to control panel\>system and it only says I have sp1, what gives? > > and lol at me being the second to last person to post in this thread. obviously I dont expect a response. haha DL all the updates. Your question was your answer. You have the service pack 2 for **.net framework,** not vista’s service pack 2. At UB we run Symantec endpoint which has a fairly low overhead and seems to work well. I hate Norton and mcafee products personally, and before UB I tended to suggest Computer associates AV package. So I’d look at CA or endpoint myself. Just my 2 cents Thanks again to OP for the pretty comprehensive list. I love the services section you supplied. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ProgRocker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/progrocker/32/5434_2.png) [@ProgRocker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ProgRocker)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 11:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335/40 "2009-12-23T11:10:51Z")
malwarebytes is a must have for anyone. Avira is a crappy A/V, if your not going to spring for a full Anti-Virus, then AVG free works pretty well. Anyone who has Verizon internet services, the Internet Security Suite is a joke. My GFs aunts computer was infected and this thing didn’t even budge. I scan with malwarebytes and within 30s it detected something. We use Trend Micro Corporate here at work, and malwarebytes picks up the stuff before Trend does. I also just wrote a script that I schedule to auto update Malwarebytes twice a day. [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/securing-your-microsoft-machine/62335.md?page=3)