My best mate has recently had his betfair and moneybookers account hacked and had 850 stolen. We believe that it was done either by a betfair employee (well documented on various forums) or some form of key logging virus. As I do a lot of internet betting (known as arbing) I need to keep my PC safe. I have done a fresh reboot, installed Avira, Spybot, Malware Bytes. I need advice on the following: how to encrypt my laptop? how to enter user info/passwords without typing? Just use copy and paste? Best way to store files like pictures and spreadsheets? Thanks
More than one spy ware thing won't hurt, I like 'spybot s&d' very effective over the years, ive used avira for donkeys years too, knocks spots off of the usual avg. You might want to consider a firewall too and some form of registry cleaner incase you have unwanteds launching on boot
CCleaner from Piriform is very good. http://www.piriform.com/ Go into safeboot and run your virus checker.
For the ultra paranoid - how about booting a linux OS from a DVDrom and using a USB stick for storage of essential data that you can then scan on another machine. oh, and keep off the p0rn sites edit: considered using a cloud service for file storage? I'm sure some (if not all) have some form of virus-scanning/protection
okay let's say I use a USB to store files. I still have to enter passwords and usernames etc. etc. Surely a key logger could intercept this??
True, but even if you got round that your data could still be exposed to a MIM attack. It's a game of probability. Booting from a secure format (such as a DVD-rom) will give you a totally clean OS each time you start up (unless you've managed to create a compromised boot disc), this will reduce the probability of being compromised, but not zero it. Personally I'd be more worried about what happens to your data at the other end- where it is totally out of your control. Is there a smiley with a tinfoil hat?
CCleaner is good, but Glary Utilities is far better for registry cleaning http://www.glaryutilities.com/ You can also defrag your registry too !
If you do not expose yourself to the threats it is highly unlikely to pick up any nasty stuff in a first place.Of course this means no more torrents, porn , any P2P software, clicking on any random links and so on.For any other content default free protection like windows firewall, timely updates and Microsoft Security Essentials would suffice. If you do need to expose yourself , then it is all about risk assessment.Get the proper paid for security product with full protection.Still paranoid?Get cheap second had laptop just for financial transactions.At the end of the day there is no 100% protection unless you keep your computer switched off. how to encrypt my laptop? Are you trying to protect it from spouse?FBI?hackers?Simple answer would be truecrypt but it all depends what is the purpose. how to enter user info/passwords without typing? Just use copy and paste? if you are infected ,it is too late for these kind of tricks. Best way to store files like pictures and spreadsheets? Are they sensitive?If not, safest way to keep them is online, with two different providers.If they are naked pictures of yourself or nuclear plants photos you probably want to keep them on two separate usb drives just to keep it safe
If you do not expose yourself to the threats it is highly unlikely to pick up any nasty stuff in a first place.Of course this means no more torrents, porn , any P2P software, clicking on any random links and so on.For any other content default free protection like windows firewall, timely updates and Microsoft Security Essentials would suffice. If you do need to expose yourself , then it is all about risk assessment.Get the proper paid for security product with full protection.Still paranoid?Get cheap second had laptop just for financial transactions.At the end of the day there is no 100% protection unless you keep your computer switched off. how to encrypt my laptop? Are you trying to protect it from spouse?FBI?hackers?Simple answer would be truecrypt but it all depends what is the purpose. how to enter user info/passwords without typing? Just use copy and paste? if you are infected ,it is too late for these kind of tricks. Best way to store files like pictures and spreadsheets? Are they sensitive?If not, safest way to keep them is online, with two different providers.If they are naked pictures of yourself or nuclear plants photos you probably want to keep them on two separate usb drives just to keep it safe
