Windows Lockdown! : Your XP and Vista Guide Against Hacks, Attacks and Other Internet Mayhem

by Walker, Andy Edward

• ISBN13: 9780789736727
• ISBN10: 0789736721
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-07-28
• Publisher: Que Pub

Summary

Today, if you own a Windows computer you need to understand the risks and the potential damage security threats pose. The mere act of turning on an Internet-connected computer can put you, your family, and even your personal finances at risk! This book defines all the threats an average household might face and provides strategies to turn novice and basic users into adept home security experts, making you safer and more secure from cyber criminals. We start off with plain English definitions for security mumbo jumbo, and then we dig in with step-by-step instructions to help you cut your exposure in less than 10 minutes! Finally, we provide steps for more involved security measures that you can do in a weekend. We also take an in-depth look at the security measures Microsoft put in Windows Vista. We also look at how Vista responds to the key threats. It teaches you how to tweak the system and make Microsoftrs"s new security featureslike the User Access Controlless annoying and helps you adjust the system to be usable. It shows you how to set up Vista to protect your system from your kidsthe biggest security hazard to your computer. bull; More than 5 million spam emails flood the Internet dailymany with your name on themwe show you how to make yourself invisible to detestable spammers! bull; Did you know that hackers are snooping around your IP address right now, while you read this? They might already have breached what security you have and could be running amok with your personal data. Stop them dead in their tracks with a few simple steps! bull; Identity theft is the most popular form of consumer fraud today, and last year thieves stole more than $100 million from people just like you. Put a stop to the madness with the steps provided in this book! bull; Spywarenasty little programs that you might not even know you have installed on your PCcould be causing your PC to crash. We show you how to root it out of your system and prevent further infection. Andy Walker is one of North Americars"s top technology journalists and is the author of Quers"s Absolute Beginnerrs"s Guide to Security, Spam, Spyware & Viruses and Microsoft Windows Vista Help Desk. Since 1995, he has written about personal computer technology for dozens of newspapers, magazines, and websites. Today, his columns (and hundreds more technology how-to articles) are published at Cyberwalker.com where more than 5 million unique visitors read the advice annually. Andy co-hosted the internationally syndicated TV show Call for Help with Leo Laporte. Alongside his ongoing TV guest appearances, he also hosts the popular tech video podcast Lab Rats at LabRats.tv. Category Microsoft Operating System Covers Windows Vista and XP Security User Level BeginnerIntermediate informit.com/que cyberwalker.com

Author Biography

Andy Walker is one of North America’s top technology journalists and is the author of three books published by Que including Microsoft Windows Vista Help Desk. Since 1995, he has written about personal technology for dozens of newspapers, magazines, and websites. His personal technology advice column was syndicated across Canada and today the body of work is published at Cyberwalker.com where more than 5 million unique visitors read the advice annually. Andy has appeared as a tech expert on hundreds of TV and radio broadcasts and he also co-hosted the internationally syndicated TV show “Call for Help” with Leo Laporte.

 

Andy hosts and produces the acclaimed Internet video show “Lab Rats” at www.labrats.tv and appears weekly on the TV show “HomePage” on the Canadian news channel CP24. He also stars in his own technology teaching DVD called “Getting Started with Windows Vista.” You can get more info at www.gettingstartedvideo.com.

Andy was born in the United Kingdom, educated and raised in Canada, and now lives in Toronto with two cats and a really secure personal computer.

 

Table of Contents

Security Basics: Some Very Real Threats	p. 1
Viruses: Attack of the Malicious Programs	p. 3
What Is a Computer Virus?	p. 4
What Is It?	p. 5
Who Triggers a Computer Virus?	p. 5
How Does It Spread?	p. 6
What Damage Can It Do?	p. 7
Viruses: As Many Kinds As Sniffles in Kindergarten	p. 9
Macro Viruses	p. 10
Memory-Resident Viruses	p. 12
File Infector Viruses	p. 13
Boot Viruses	p. 13
Multi-Partite Viruses	p. 13
Worms: Network-Savvy Viruses	p. 14
Trojan Horses: Hey Helen, the Achaeans Left Us a Present!	p. 16
Virus Hoaxes: Fake Viruses That Scare the Heck Out of You	p. 18
Who Creates Computer Viruses?	p. 20
What Not to Do!	p. 22
When Viruses Attack!	p. 23
Disconnect As Soon As Possible	p. 25
Virus Infection Found! How to Clean Your System	p. 26
My Antivirus Program Wonrsquo;t Update!	p. 27
Now That I Have Your Attentionhellip;	p. 29
Antivirus Defense: Tactics for XP and Vista	p. 31
Install Windows Security Updates and Service Packs	p. 31
Update Your Virus Signatures	p. 32
Install or Upgrade an Antivirus Program	p. 34
Scan Your Computer for Viruses	p. 38 <P st
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Introduction: Ignore This Book at Your Own Peril Introduction: Ignore This Book at Your Own Peril!As I started to write this introduction, a disturbing statistic arrived in my inbox. Security software maker F-Secure reported that the total number of viruses and Trojans will hit one million by 2009.One million viruses! That's astounding. Now for the good news: The reason so many are being written is that it's become more difficult for these infections to succeed in infecting systems. That's because security practices have been improved. Computer owners are more educated. Security software is increasingly effective. We are simply more savvy about computer security. And that's great!In response, the bad guys are shifting their strategies and using new tools to make their malware more effective against us. So while much has changed since I wrote the first edition of this book, much is still the same. The hacks, attacks, and scams keep coming.So sitting back smugly is not the thing to do now. It's clear to me that we have to always be one step ahead in this game. And that's why I wrote this book.The first version of this book was first released in 2005 as theAbsolute Beginner's Guide to Security, Spam, Spyware, and Viruses. Back then it had become clear that malware had shifted from being an ego trip for its authors to a source of revenue. Viruses and spyware and other electronic trickery, like phishing and spam, made money for their authors.This book builds on the original book, expanding on what has changed since 2005--like the arrival of Windows Vista--and adding lots more useful information.In this book, I'll show you how to cleanse your computer, halt further infections, sidestep scams, do major damage control, plan for the future, and lock down Windows XP and Vista nice and tight.To that end, I've updated and added new content to every chapter and written two new ones, including Chapter 3 on rootkits, and Chapter 8 on how to remove infections.By the time you get through the whole book, you'll not only be able to protect yourself and your family from the threats out there on the Internet, but you'll be well equipped to help your grandma, your friends, your co-workers, and anyone who owns a computer and is not properly protected.So congratulations on picking up this book, because it shows a commitment to the malware writer that you will not be defeated. There may be one million malware programs out there, but they'll have to write even more to keep up with us.I say bring on the next million! How This Book Is Organized Chapter 1--Viruses: Attack of the Malicious ProgramsIn this first and vividly exciting chapter, I tell you what viruses are, why they are a problem, and how to get rid of them. Plus, you will learn secrets, such as the real reason people write viruses in the first place. Chapter 2--Spyware: Overrun by Advertisers, Hijackers, and OpportunistsSpyware is a modern-day computer pandemic. Your computer is probably rife with this malware. Bad companies are making money with it learning what you do on your computer. At the same time, spyware is also slowing your computer down. Most people experience a 30%-50% performance boost when they get rid of spyware for the first time. How's that for an upsell? Chapter 3--Rootkits: Sneaky, Stealthy ToolboxesRoot kits were made famous by Sony's blundering move to sneak them onto computers using their music CDs. But the problem is much bigger than that. Learn why rootkits, when used by malware writers, make it difficult to remove infections. Chapter 4--Hackers: There's a Man in My MachineWho are the hack