Registry Keys

[excathedra]

what are they ? why do i have bad ones ? and why can't the spystuff get rid of them all the time ?

and i forget how to spot a bad one on my own, you know run REGEDIT

does everyone who owns a computer need to know all this stuff now in order to be safe from rude websites or ads ?

[Zixar]

The Windows system Registry is a database of program information that your computer consults whenever it's unsure about which programs depend on which system libraries and whatnot. A registry key is simply an entry in that database.

Ordinarily, unless you really know what you are doing, you should not touch the registry with RegEdit. You can completely kill your computer if you delete or change the wrong key.

Fortunately, there are several programs available to keep the registry safely swept up, from Microsoft's RegClean to AdAware. If the program gives you an option to back up the registry before you run it--DO IT. You don't want to have to reinstall all your software in case of a glitch.

[excathedra]

thank you zix

i have only gone to regedit while being guided, once by steve! and once by bluzeman and they know what they're doing.

i guess i shouldn't go on my own because i probably would mess the computer up. i did think about it because i was trying to do what they did.

I still keep getting weird things even after running AdAware and Search & Destroy and Norton.

One of them (not Norton) tells me they can't get rid of something and i believe it's a registry key. that blue bubble box looking thing.

[igotout]

Try running Ad Aware in Safe Mode. Just restart and press F8 a few times when you are just starting up to get to safe mode. Once you have booted up into safe mode, then run Ad Aware. Maybe do a virus scan too while in safe mode.

[Steve!]

Recently I had to create a startup disk in order to get rid of some spyware on 2 of the PC's that we have.

Some of this stuff is really getting nasty!

[excathedra]

ok i gotta try that, thank you

some of this stuff is getting NASTY, especially when you don't know much about programming or whatever. what is the point ? is it advertising or what ?

anyone who pops up on my computer can forget it

what is spyware excactly ?

[WordWolf]

I don't have a short answer for that.

Call up google or your favourite search engine and type in "what is spyware"

in quotes. You'll get a bunch of links to sites explaining it.

[WordWolf]

BTW, I'd recommend the following:

A) go to Microsoft's Update site and download all the critical updates

B) update your AdAware and Spybot: Search and Destroy.

Your firewall and antivirus, while you're at it, also.

(Each one should have an option to do so right on it, so long as your internet

connection is open.)

THEN run everything again.

Your security will seem upgraded.

Once you've done all that, let me know if you need more advice.

Remember, I'm not that technical, so if I can do it, you can do it. :)-->

[excathedra]

thank you WW. i don't think i have a firewall.

igotout, do i ? should i ?

[WordWolf]

Should you?

YES.

The more security-conscious here have a firewall and an external router

with ITS firewall.

The firewall is like installing a lock on your front door.

Without it, passers-by can just stroll in.

Mind you, some people just do random scans on the internet looking for

computers without security, "like jiggling the doorknob."

*checks*

According to my firewall, I had 29 of those attempts within the past

HOUR. Figure you've had about the same.

So, if someone's been helping you, you probably DO have a firewall.

(If not, you can get one FREE online.)

[Bluzeman]

Hi Exc!

I think you said you are running XP, so you DO have a firewall. Go to contral panel, network connections, double click local area connection, and click properties. Under the advanced tab, enable Internet Connection Firewall.

I use a hardware firewall, and Norton's Network Security on my network, so I'm not sure how good the built in firewall that comes with XP is, but anthing is better than nothing. :)-->

Rick

[WordWolf]

The built-in firewall is ca-ca.

I switched mine on and proceeded to download a REAL firewall right

after that. It's better than NOT having it on, but it's a toy.

[excathedra]

thanks you guys

LMAO i thought the name of the firewall was ca-ca and i was thinking how odd !!!!

right bluze, i have XP (i'm not on it right now though)

okay, WW, is the one you're using free ? that's my favorite price

i am so happy to know geeks i feel like writing a song or a poem or something.... but i'll spare ya ;)-->

[Bluzeman]

Thanks for the info wordwolf. I've never used it as I said, so it's good to know so I can tell other's it's ca-ca. :)-->

Rick

[Bluzeman]

Excathedra...I'm told that Zone Alarm is a good one, and it's free. Just be careful if you ever try to uninstall it...make sure you go to msconfig and disable it and the true vector stuff, then restart your computer BEFORE you uninstall it. Otherwise, it won't get rid of the winsock it installs and you'll be in a mess!

You can get it at www.zonelabs.com

Rick

[excathedra]

thank you rick. if i install it and then decide to uninstall it, i'll check with you first

any disadvantages to fire wall ?

[WordWolf]

Ok, ZoneAlarm...

I use ZoneAlarm. It's got the best reputation of all the free firewalls I know.

Its advantages: it is extremely user-friendly, and self-guiding.

Ok, firewalls, the basics....

A firewall controls traffic going in and out of your computer.

Think of a good firewall as a 300-lb doorman at the velvet rope of your pc.

He keeps out the undesirables, and lets in the beautiful people.

I hear it slows things down a fraction, but I've never noticed.

Besides, it IS a necessity.

A firewall must OK programs that want access.

Some programs want to access your computer.

Sometimes that's good-you want to download something.

Sometimes that's bad-someone wants to take over your computer or drop a virus.

Some programs in your pc want to access the net.

Sometimes that's good-for example, ZoneAlarm will check on its own, and tell you when

an update is available for it, offering better security.

Sometimes that's bad-a virus made it onto your pc and now wants to e-mail someone all

your personal info.

The firewall will give you the option of blocking each.

With programs you really trust, you can tell it

"yes, I approve of this program always, remember that answer next time."

With programs you DON'T trust, you can tell it

"always block its attempts to call out."

(RealOne Media Player keeps trying to reach its server, but on my pc it will NOT succeed

until I WANT it to.)

I recommend taking a few weeks with it, and learning which programs connect to what.

That way, you know which ones you can "always approve", and which to make it ask for

permission for. Then, when you see a completely new program you've never heard of

suddently ask to access the net, you'll know it wasn't YOU who put it there....

ZoneAlarm has options that allow you to see every attempt to probe your pc at the time

it is attempted, or it can just count them and only speak up for permission for access.

(That's the "jiggling the doorknob" thing, those probes.)

I'd leave that on for 1/2 an hour just to see how often you get probed. Once you get

the idea, then you can just let it give you "system alerts".

So, if I were you, I'd switch on the built-in firewall,

then download ZoneAlarm.

Play with that for an hour or so...

Then I'd go to http://www.trendmicro.com and have it do an antivirus scan and remove

everything that got thru before the firewall was installed.

That will take an hour.

Then I'd update AdAware and Spybot and run them.

Then I'd consider installing a free antivirus program.

They generally include 2 things:

the scanner (you can scan anytime)

the shield (it acts similar to the firewall. When it spots an incoming virus it

recognizes, it isolates it and bags it for trash removal.

BTW, did you update your Windows program with all the critical updates?

There were a few this month alone....

[Goey]

Do you need a Firewall and Antivirus?

Consider this. I did a clean install of XP Pro onto an empty volume and then conected to the Internet to download Critical Updates.

Within 11 minutes of being on the Internet with no Firewall and no Antivius installed, the system became infected with the Welchia Worm. The system hung with that annoying RPC error and could not complete the updates. It cost me 15 minutes manually removing the Worm. Of cousre I should have installed the Firewall and AV before I ever got online. I knew better.

The Internet is epidemically infected with thousands of nasty bugs constantly trying to infect your system. XP and 2000 are particulary vunerable. With No Firewall and no Antivirus installed, you will definitley get infected, probably within a few hours, if not minutes of being on the Internet -- That's how bad it is out here in Cyberworld.

BTW, I use Sygate Personal Firewall (Free) and Avast Antivirus (Free) and they have worked flawlessly for me for over 6 months. The Avast AV automatically updates its virus database daily if not more often (Unlike Norton) and Program Updates are also automatic and free. This company, Awill Software, is out of Chechloslvakia and they are very serious about their product. It is Excellent IMO. Free License and updates for 2 years.

Sygate Firewall has a nice feature where you can back trace the source of port scans and hack attacks and then can do "WhoIs" search for you giving you a source IP, Provider Name and abuse contacts. It will also automatically notify you by email of hack attempts if you want.

And yes, Microsoft's built in Firewall is a joke. I am not sure it does much of anything really. Install a Real Firewall like Sygate or Zone Alarm and then be sure to turn it off.

Also if you want to test your system to see how secure it is the link below... It should pass all the tests.

http://scan.sygate.com/

Goey

[excathedra]

thanks sooooooooo much you guys

quote:

---

Install a Real Firewall like Sygate or Zone Alarm and then be sure to turn it off.

---

what do you mean "turn it off" ? and how do i do that, goey ? thank you

[Bluzeman]

I may be wrong Ex, but I think he meant turn off the microsoft firewall after you install a real one.

Rick

[excathedra]

i don't know how to do that.

i installed the ZoneAlarm; in fact, i am giving ZoneAlarm Pro or Plus a 15-day trial. i don't have to buy it but i wanted to try it because it offered some good stuff imo.

--

again, bluzie, wordwolf, steve!, igotout, zixar and goey.... THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!

[WordWolf]

Don't worry about leaving the built-in firewall on.

I do and it probably makes NO difference.

Remember, it's a Microsoft product. "Microsoft security"

is a lot like "honest politician" or "friendly fire."

If you haven't downloaded all the critical updates,

the exact page for XP users is

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

There's a corner box: "Protect your PC."

Read it and follow the directions. It has nothing to do with

the updates, tho. :)-->

"Scan for updates". When it's 100% complete scanning,

download ALL the "critical updates" it displays.

If this has been a while, this could take hours. Each one

plugs a different security "hole" that MS should have fixed

before releasing XP. However, they don't care much about

security, so they didn't.

Once you've done that, run the antivirus scan I mentioned

before. It will take an hour.

A better link for the same scan is

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

THEN let me know you're ready for more stuff. :)-->

[excathedra]

okey dokey ww ! :)-->

i do get messages when to update updates. does that count ?

[Goey]

It is probably not a good idea to have two active firewalls. There could be conflict problems. Here is how to disable XP's silly firewall...

Left Click .. Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network Connections

Highlight .. Local Area Connection or which ever connection gets you on the Internet and Right Click it.

Left Click ... Properties

This is the screen you should now have displayed

Click the Advanced Tab at the top and now you should have this.

Click on "Protect My Computer and Network.." to remove the check mark. Then click on OK untill all the screens are closed.

Task Accomplished !

Good Luck !

[WordWolf]

If it counted as 2 firewalls, I'd be concerned.

One is a toy that doesn't seem to do much, and NEVER affects

OUTGOING traffic. Supposedly, the MOST it does is make your PC

a little harder to "read".

That having been said, I have no reason to turn it off.

Then again, feel free to do so once you have ZoneAlarm running-

would be no BIG loss anyway....