While computer security seams hard, it doesn’t have to be. I recently wrote a post with 7 tips to stay secure online. This post is a follow up with some additional tools that can be installed to help keep your PC secure.
These tools are not a replacement for your Antivirus. They are designed to run alongside your current AV to ensure you are getting the best protection. My recommendation for paid AV is ESET. If you are short on cash, I would stick to Microsoft Security Essentials.
OpenDNS – OpenDNS is free for home users and improves your Internet Services Providers DNS by adding web filtering/content blocking, identity theft protection, and the ability to monitor what is happening on your network. OpenDNS can be setup in your home router to protect your entire home network.
This is simple to set up; You create an account with OpenDNS, select the categories you wish to block, and then upgrade your routers DNS.
DNS (Domain Name System) is a service that translates domains names, i.e. google.com, into IP address, i.e. 216.58.199.78. Computers talk in IP addresses, which is hard for us Humans to remember, hence DNS. OpenDNS blocks these untrusted IPs so that your devices are unable to access them.
Cybereason RansomFree – Ransomfree is a tool to help protect against ransomware. It creates and monitors several groups of files on your machine. If these files are modified, Ransomfree will attempt to neutralise the attack.
Ransomware is a nasty kind of malware that encrypts the user’s data, requiring payment to have the files decrypted. If you are hit with ransomware, there is no guarantee that paying the ransom will result in the decryption of your files. My advice to recover from ransomware is to reinstall windows, and restore from a backup.
Ransomware is often delivered via email and installs on your device via macros or by taking advantage of vulnerabilities in software. My previous post outlines how to avoid these kinds of attacks.
Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool – A free tool from Microsoft that is downloaded and run each month as a part of Windows Updates. While this runs each month it only performs a quick scan.
I recommend running a full scan once a month. This can be performed by:
- Holding the Windows Key and Press R
- Type in ‘MRT’ (without quotes) and press Enter
- Confirm the UAC prompt to allow the software to run as administrator
- Click Next, Select Full Scan, and then click Next again
You should see the version (in form of Month Year) at the top of the Window. If this doesn’t have your current date and year you may have to run Windows Update to install the latest version. If ‘Patch Tuesday’ for the current calendar month has not yet happened, then of course you will still be running the previous month’s version.
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