janniiie
join:2008-09-29
|  Computer Virus Free
Is it possible to have a computer that is completely virus free?
If not, where can I find that documented?
Hi, I am a student in college, I have to write a process essay and my topic is "how to keep your computer virus free". I am asking for help from experts, like the ones found here on this website, to point me in the right direction of finding research articles. I have tried searching but I haven't really found anything. I think I have come up with a pretty good thesis statement- Anti-virus software is must-have protection. But though anti-virus software is critical, alone it's not enough to keep you protected. Install a firewall, be careful what you download, keep your operating system updated, create strong user passwords, and get a anti-spy-ware program.
Please give me your advice on writing my essay and anything else that would help me. Thanks so much. |
|
Nimbus
@verizon.net | Here is a good place to start: »Security »How to Secure (and Keep Secure) My (New) Computer(s): A Layered Approach: |
|
Traxless
Premium
join:2005-02-16
USA
 ·AT&T Southwest
 ·Cbeyond
edit:
September 29th, @04:53PM
| reply to janniiie
I would suggest that you take a deep breath, sit down and start to read the many threads in this forum. If you work backwards (in time), you will quickly find the pearls of wisdom you are seeking. Now, it might take you many hours of reading, but then that's research.
Good luck on your project.
Edit: spelling |
|
KodiacZiller
join:2008-09-04
73368
edit:
September 29th, @05:08PM
| reply to janniiie
It would help if you specified which OS you plan to write about. If it is Windows (and I assume it is), then the answers are largely what you have already stated. As you said, you will have to keep anti-spyware, anti-virus, and preferably a software firewall running at all times, in addition to keeping up diligently with M$ updates. One thing I would add is that one needs to set-up a user account with limited privileges(and this seems to be easier on Vista than previous incarnations of Windows). Or one could look into sandboxing.
That's on the software side of the equation. On the "human" side, the user will have to avoid downloading and installing malicious software in the first place. This is not as easy as it seems due to the inherent design of Windows, as it by default allows executables to execute without much user interaction (for example, clicking a pop-up can execute code).
One direction you could go with this is to examine the efficacy of AV software. Some studies have shown that AV scans are really not all that effective due to the fact that the criminals and malware authors are usually one step ahead of the AV companies and their definitions. Further, AV software doesn't do much good when an attacker writes his own code and uses it in limited situations where the AV companies are unlikely to get wind of it. There is an exploding black market out there for malicious code to be used in specific attacks. In short, AV software cannot guarantee anything -- far from it.
Finding any objective studies about the efficacy of AV software is difficult because so many corporate interests are involved and often these "studies" are done by one AV company in an attempt to prove why "their product" is better than company X. Obviously this leads to a lot of FUD. It's the same story with a lot of "security" bloggers and authors -- often if you dig into their background, you will see they are employees of company X or Y. When I see an article written by an employee of an AV company I tend to scoff at it.
Here is a good article that seems to be written without any corporate bias. It suggests that AV software is only 35% effective and is on average 7 weeks behind the curve.
»www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20···2434.htm
More importantly than AV software is to look at the OS design itself. After all, AV software is akin to just putting a band-aid on the real problem. Microsoft's security design is simply inferior to the alternatives. While it's true that XP was leaps and bounds ahead of 98 and ME and that Vista is better than XP, M$ still has a long way to go in the security arena. The most obvious flaw is the fact that the filesystem will execute files without explicitly asking permission to do so (let's leave UAC out of this as it is an incomplete solution and most people turn it off anyway). Contrast this with Unix, where the user must go to a file, perform a chmod +x on it and then go through the motions of executing it. And if the file is malicious, the user will have to go even further -- he/she will have to enter the root password in order for the file to do any damage to the system. Executing the file as a limited user will have little effect on the system as a whole.
Another part of the problem with the M$ model is the lack of a package management system. With the Unixes, the user really has no need to install anything that is not provided by the distribution itself. This keeps the users from "being tempted" to try such in such shiny "antivirus package" that is really a scam or installing needless knick knacks like "search toolbars." When everything is provided through official package management solutions, this need to go around aimlessly installing junk downloaded online diminishes dramatically.
Here is a must read article for a good introduction of the differences in M$ and *nix security models:
»www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/22···s_linux/
Good luck with your paper.  |
|
brydry
the power of 64bit compels you
join:2004-12-05
Safety Harbor, FL | reply to janniiie
Linux...
Free and virus free. But, I digress, I guess...
--
Go Pats! |
|
JohnInSJ
Premium
join:2003-09-22
San Jose, CA
·SONIC.NET
| reply to janniiie
Sure it is.
Any PC that is never turned on is virus free.
Those that are never connected to the internet, nor have any way to load media in (floppy, cd, or card reader) will also be as virus free as the day they left the factory in China.
Any PC not running a mainstream OS (that is doublespeak for "Not running Microsoft Windows" is likely virus free, and likely to remain so even with use.
Any PC being operated by a human with a brain who doesn't open every email with attachments, click on every banner add, visit crack/porn/download sites, etc can be virus free, even if it runs Windows.
I can't write your essay right now, however, as I am busy.
--
My place : »www.schettino.us |
|
Everready
join:2005-02-27
Lakewood, CA
| reply to janniiie
I am a believer in locking a pc down while it is new. Before it is connected to the internet, I install all my programs and then lock the pc down with a whitelisting application-- Anti-executable from Faronics. After I am sure everything is working to specs, I update all the programs I have installed. Now I am using Faronics' program "Deep Freeze" and I only surf the net and open emails in the frozen mode.
That's my perscription for a virus free pc. My biggest concern is can I be sure no one can read my files from the internet. |
|
SecurityExpert
@hathway.com
| reply to janniiie
I have found a very interesting tutorial on Home Computer Security. Checkout the link »www.geeksjunction.com/tutorial/h···ity.html and i hope this tutorial will help in your project. |
|
X309410932
@uu.net | reply to janniiie
Re: Computer Virus Free
There is a good article by Kaspersky you can find by Googling "staying_safe_online_home_guide".
DeepFreeze and similar products can almost guarantee a virus free computer. |
|
slajoh01
join:2005-04-23
edit:
September 30th, @01:07AM
| I agree with KodiacZiller.
Its you....is the first line of defense. AV software is just a second line of defense. And then most importantly, Patches and updates (not just for Windows)..but ANY OS like UNIX, VMS and so forth, needs to be patched and updated.
Also a hardwaere firewall.
Disabling vulnerable services would help alot and dont run as Admin or ROOT to browse the web. Thats all there is to it.
Windows CAN be secured and locked down just as much as UNIX or VMS OSs but of course, takes much effort and knowledge to do so.
I would just go and download the NSA OS Security Guides here
»www.nsa.gov/SNAC/
Thats your best bet to learn the learning curves on how to securly lock down any OS..... |
|
janniiie
join:2008-09-29 | reply to Nimbus
Thank you so much for your help, its appreciated! |
|
janniiie
join:2008-09-29 | reply to Traxless
Research! huh? Just kidding, thank you for the advice. |
|
janniiie
join:2008-09-29 | reply to KodiacZiller
Thanks and yes, its windows OS, I really appreciate your advice and time. |
|
janniiie
join:2008-09-29 | reply to JohnInSJ
Thank you, I appreciate the response. |
|
janniiie
join:2008-09-29 | reply to SecurityExpert
Thanks! |
|
janniiie
join:2008-09-29 | reply to slajoh01
Thanks for the advice, I appreciate your response, Thank you. |
|
janniiie
join:2008-09-29 | reply to X309410932
Thank you! |
|
The Snowman
Premium
join:2007-05-20
·Verizon Online DSL
edit:
October 2nd, @12:05AM
| reply to janniiie
Greetings janniiie,
Windows Os huh...LoL...ok......right about now I am suppose to ask which one of the Window's OS's.....but I wont. Certainly it does matter.
The chance of the average computer User securing the Windows Os is slim to none due to their lack of knowledge and lack of interest. Perhaps those two go hand-in-hand.
Certainly it is possible to secure a Windows Os. My very rough "guess" is that "one-in-one hundred thousand" are anywhere near being secure. If the infected computers out there are any judge of how many computers are actually secure then that number would jump to "one-in-one million"....of course this is just "guessing".
Hardening the Windows System is not nearly as difficult as some would think or others would lead a person to believe. Mis-information being presented to the public is definitely a major fault of why computers never get secured. Its amasing how many people will listen to "wannbe security experts" that could not find a toilet if they had the "runs" much less secure a computer. But those "wannabe's" are here to stay and many of them actually believe they are security experts.....Mark Twain once said " "that which a crazy man does to him its not crazy".
So far you have had some very good advice presented to you here in this Thread. Certainly don't expect to comprehend everything said when the "security guru's" begin posting. But if you can gain some knowledge then you will walk away a much better computer user for it.
Virtual Systems has been mentioned......an for the average User this may be "the-way-to-go" because it does not require a great deal of knowledge....but make no mistake about it...a Virtual System CAN be hacked....but rarely by the run-of-the-mill hacker....so it's not fool-proof. Mainly it's a great help in preventing infections....which is a big plus in it's useage. Microsoft also makes and gives away "Solid State" which is used in many schools and public places....in case you want to give it a try.
janniiie you have a long computer experience ahead of you long after you leave school. May I respectfully suggest the you learn now whatever you can because someday you defintely will need to use the knowledge you gain.
Being "old-school" I was forced to learn the hard way. There was no one around back then to teach. Twenty years later and hundreds of computers behind me I still am learning. Only once was I ever hacked...my very first computer.....by a young lady in England......we became the very best of friends over the years and remain friends to this day. She was my first teacher......and her first lesson was: "the only way to beat a hacker is to be better than a hacker". So I began my journey. Long before this website existed.
What began as an adventure became a hobby. Today I have little to no interest in computer security other than protecting my own computers. Rarely do I even visit this website. However, may I encourage you to "go-the-course". The rewards will be worthwhile. But oh yes....there will be "those" you meet along the way that will be dis-couraging...forget them.....and do this for yourself.
SeeYa Around
Warm Regards,
Snowman |
|
Littlem129
Premium
join:2007-05-13
White Pine, TN
·America Online
edit:
October 2nd, @01:40AM
| reply to janniiie
As others have said, the first line of defense is yourself. Don't go looking for trouble, if you do you will find it.
As you said janniiie, pay attention to what you download and don't forget safe surfing. Keep your system and all programs updated. Good security programs are a must.
In other words just use common sense, if in doubt, back out. |
|
