The ABCs of trouble-free Windows computing!

By ydsatgwregeryesry
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ydsatgwregeryesry

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Posted (edited)

The ABCs of trouble-free windows computing!

a) Get a free antivirus program like "Avast!".

b) Get Firefox, and USE IT.

c) Use Gaim for all your instant messaging, it's far more secure and functional at the price of certain

capabilities, like voice/video.

d) Don't use IRC unless you have read a primer first.

e) Get spybot search and destroy. It's an amazing program. Install it, run it in the tray all the time. Run

checks on your system with it, get to know it.

f) DO NOT click on any program to run it, before scanning it with your antivirus program.

g) NEVER click on a .vbs file or a .reg file for any reason

h) UPDATE WINDOWS. I REPEAT. UPDATE IT. If you're using a pirated version, then I can't help you. ;)

You need to go legit, and use windows update. Microsoft fixes security flaws every day, and you need

to make sure you're updating to fix them.

i) Don't go to ThemeXP.org for any reason. The themes include lots of spyware.

j) Run PeerGuardian. You should NEVER pirate, but it doesn't matter! If government, educational, and

commercial institutions want to probe your computer, that's a violation of your privacy, and it's your

right to block them from doing so. It's a good step towards REAL privacy. Despite the fact that this

program is designed for P2P users, it's good for everyone.

k) Use WEP or WPA for your wireless network. Please.

l) You might want a firewall. I don't use one, because I don't need one. I'm a desktop user, and i'm not

dumb enough to invite anyone into my machine. Don't visit shady places on the internet, and follow this

guide, and you won't either!

m) For chrissake, don't give your email address out to anyone. Or anything. I gave mine to Neowin.

That's fine, neowin is safe. Some other places are, too. If you don't know what it is, don't give it out.

Also, don't give out any personal information on a website, that can identify you, unless it's necessary.

Make sure if you do this that it's reputable.

n) SPAM is a big problem. To avoid it, never post your e-mail address anywhere. Keep an e-mail

account separate if you need to use it to access a site. Only give your main account out to people you

actually know and trust. This is good for all OSes!

o) Make sure to never click on ad banners. Or on anything you didn't actually choose to pop up.

p) Defragment with Diskeeper. The default windows defragmenter is mostly useless. Please don't use it!

q) Try downloading/running Crap Cleaner. (silly name, GREAT program.)

r) DON'T PIRATE ANYTHING! Most security problems for regular users occur when they're pirating

software, or are involved in related activities.

s) Don't ever install "Toolbars".

t) Use a stable hardware platform. This means, get a GIGABYTE, MSI, Intel, nforce type of motherboard. Get a good

CPU. I recommend either AMD64 or ANY Intel CPU. Pre-AMD64 AMD platforms can have more trouble than it's worth.

DO NOT buy Biostar. They use cheap hardware. Get a good CPU fan. Manufacturer's stock fan is the best. DO NOT

buy a low-priced pre-fab desktop. Like eMachines. They're terrible! Make sure to have WAY more power supply than

you need, you won't increase power usage with it, but you'll increase stability. Use SATA or SCSI when possible.

IDE is horribly designed. It's not right for today's high-speed machines.

Use an nVidia or ATi video card, and please don't get the bleeding edge.

Use as little "integrated" Motherboard hardware as possible! Especially don't use AC '97 sound! It's terrible.

u) DO NOT use any "beta" drivers or software. It's more trouble than it's worth.

v) DO NOT use music sharing programs. Except soulseek. Soulseek is the only one that's spyware-free!

w) If using BitTorrent, use a good client like Azureus or BitTornado.

x) Ideally, you'll avoid using Java at all costs. But sometimes it's necessary, so please don't use it with IE! (see b) for

a good browser. Opera is also fantastic.

y) Don't mess with system settings, it's the way it is for a reason!

z) Most importantly, make sure to do these things and then HAVE FUN!

Anyone want to add more? I probably forgot a lot of things, or was inaccurate somewhere - If anyone has anything to add, please do! I want this to be as accurate as possible. Secondly, it's just my opinion, so please don't flame me if yours is different, just post your own opinion!

Edited by Mr. Pwnage
Enthusiast

spetz

Posted
Posted

Som ereally random wierd stuff in there that you could still do. BUt my major questions is why never run java? I program in java right now at school and there is nothing wrong with java and you recomened azereus which is programed in java so amke up your mind please. Beta software can be fine just not for very important stuff do you use gmail? its beta. System settings are settings so they can be changed to fix stuff so taht it works properly. Vbs and reg files have there purposes and the average users doesnt need them but you may.

Mentor

Agnes Leroy

Posted
Posted
e) Get spybot search and destroy. It's an amazing program. Install it, run it in the tray all the time. Run

checks on your system with it, get to know it.

The fact is that Spybot is not really food these days I recommends to use Windows Diffender

x) Ideally, you'll avoid using Java at all costs. But sometimes it's necessary, so please don't use it with IE! (see b) for

a good browser. Opera is also fantastic.

Absolutely correct

Grand Master

NienorGT

Posted
Posted
t) Use a stable hardware platform. This means, get a GIGABYTE, MSI, Intel, nforce type of motherboard.

Funny... but MSI do very cheap and not so good mobo, ASUS and Gigabyte are today's leaders (And they will join together)

Rookie

ydsatgwregeryesry

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Recommendation for Azureus withdrawn. I've never used it, it just looked like a nice GUI client ;) should have done my homework. I used to use ABC, but now use BitTornado.

As for my recommendations for MSI, I realize that a lot of their modern boards use cheap components, but I always had great success with them back in the day. I'll have to take your word for it though, as i've bought Gigabyte recently, and it's a fantastic board.

This isn't necessarily what will work for you, but it works for me :) Just advice for a random noob.

Edited by Mr. Pwnage
Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted (edited)
g) NEVER click on a .vbs file or a .reg file for any reason

Really, what if I want to put something into my registry and I know what i'm doing. What if I look at the reg file to make sure its contents are safe first? :D

I don't use one, because I don't need one. I'm a desktop user, and i'm not

dumb enough to invite anyone into my machine. Don't visit shady places on the internet, and follow this

guide, and you won't either!

I hope your using a router then. Also isn't one of the points of a firewall to block incoming and outgoing connections you aren't expecting?

Edited by warwagon
Rookie

ydsatgwregeryesry

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Again, people fail to note that this is directed at people who don't know what you're doing: For those of you who do, I apologize for posting a how-to on a public board.

[edit:]

Main Entry: opin?ion

Pronunciation: &-'pin-y&n

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin opinion-, opinio, from opinari

1 a : a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter

Ideally, one understands the definition of opinion, and then understands that this is merely an opinionated post directed as a how-to for people who don't know what they're doing, and doesn't claim to be 100% complete. Ah, people get so worked up over small things.

Grand Master

Trong

Posted
Posted

So you want them to get Firefox why? They can use it if they want but just tell them not to install any ActiveX stuff and it's pretty much the same as IE, no? If they don't know why they're using it, they'll think they're safe and go download all bad stuff and think that their computer is fine.

You can tell them to get extensions but then they could screw up and download faulty extensions that are spyware. (Who knows, people are stupid)

Free antiviruses don't do anywhere near as much as people think. AVG detects like half the stuff and avast! does about 80%. It was on some chart a while back.

To be a safe somputer using person, you should just completly remove the internet. Almost no way you can get screwed.

Community Regular

jake1eye

Posted
Posted

p) Defragment with Diskeeper. The default windows defragmenter is mostly useless. Please don't use it!

You did know that the built in defragger is made by the same company that makes Diskeeper.

Windows Disk Defragmenter

Copyright © 2001 Microsoft Corp. and Executive Software International, Inc.

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

So you want them to get Firefox why? They can use it if they want but just tell them not to install any ActiveX stuff and it's pretty much the same as IE, no? If they don't know why they're using it, they'll think they're safe and go download all bad stuff and think that their computer is fine.

I sort of see where you are going with that post, on the other hand that latest VML secuirty thread where basicly you would be bleeding out the ass just by visiting a sight that used that security hole.

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