Security help for a novice.

[Richardhb]

Hello All.

I'm an older surfer (retired) and need some help and advice regarding the internet, and keeping safe.

Recently I had an attack on my home laptop that cost me dearly. Whilst on Youtube my laptop took a hit and a page came up I could not remove. It told me I had to pay a fine to release it. Regardless what I did I could not move pass this page.

I had to take my machine to the shop and have them run scans, and save my data. I know this was a scam and it was not nice.

I run a free Avast security recommended by my local shop. I also have a free Malware software now!!

Is there any more I can do? When I visit a site or watch videoa is it possible to have something in the background running to warm me of a virus or scam. Should Avast be doing this for me?

Can I buy a disc that will run and clear infections if I get 'locked out' again?

Please note, I'm not up on all this so please imagine your speaking to a child about this when offering a reply?

Thanks all.

 

[~Darkseeker~]

Avast is one of the best free security softwares available in my opinion. Just make sure the real-time shields are active and you should, broadly speaking, be fine. If you don't already have it, download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and run it a few times a month at intervals. Make sure your router's firewall is online if it has one, and make sure Windows firewall is active on your PC too.

What they probably did at the store you took it to was to log it into Safe mode and run a Malwarebytes' scan from there. This is what we used to do in the workshop. It takes time to complete so they'll charge a pretty penny for it.

 

[Richardhb]

Thanks.

How do I check my firewalls?

 

[~Darkseeker~]

you can usually check your router settings by typing your local IP range followed by the lowest address you can
into the address bar of your web browser.

Class A would be 10.0.0.1
Class B would be 172.16.0.1
Class C would be 192.168.0.1

Depends what your IP setup is, most probably Class C. The router is known in terms of addressing as the 'default gateway'

Settings for Windows firewall are in control panel, just under 'Windows firewall' - I think it's the same in all recent Windows versions. Just out of interest, what version of Windows are you running?

 

[Richardhb]

The first part I'm lost sorry?

It's Windows 7. I don't know how to get into Windows to look at the settings, would it be under My computor? When I open it it goes to Google, and my e-mail page.

 

[~Darkseeker~]

When you open your web browser, you should be able to access router settings by entering the router's local IP address into the address bar at the top (Im guessing your router's IP will be 192.168.0.1, it's the normal configuration from british internet companies)

Firewall settings should be in there somewhere.

When you open up the start menu in Windows 7, 'Control Panel' should be down the right hand side near 'My Computer' and 'Devices and Printers'.

 

[Richardhb]

Big Thanks found it, and it's all on and working. I also found a Windows scan for my computer and again all is fine.

I've just found on a Microsoft blog that they know about this ''asking for money scam'' apparently it's all over Europe. Some say you have downloaded child porn and demand a fine, other that you have abused your e-mail and again demand money. It seems you can solve it, but it's really an experts job to resolve.

One quick question, does the Avast and Malware work in the background when your on a site? Or do you have to do something else, it says the real time shields are on?

Best Wishes.

 

[~Darkseeker~]

Real-time shields basically scan any incoming data for malicious stuff. For instance if you clicked on a dodgy link, Avast! would automatically block it from loading the page. you'll get an information box like this:

Malwarebytes' only works if you run it, I recommend running it on all hard drives you have to look for anything that might have slipped past Avast!


Avast also has a whole bunch of other shields. Glancing at the Avast UI on my pc I can see

File system shield - monitors all files and folders on your PC
Mail shield - scans incoming and outgoing emails
Web shield - scans any webpage before it lets the PC accept any files from it
P2P shield - monitors any P2P programs (uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze) you might be using for malicious traffic
IM Shield - monitors file transfers from instant message programs (Windows Live Messenger, Skype, and so on)
Network shield - prevents any virus that might be present on your home network from getting into your PC
script shield - intercepts and prevents any malicious or damaging scripts being run locally or remotely
behavior shield - monitors system background processes and the like to watch for unusual behavior.