How do infections get into my computer ?

[Mary]

I have Spyware Dr + antivirus and SD just completed a complete scan of my system and found the threat PWSTool.RAS!sd5. My question is if I have everything up to date how do these threats invade my system. Isnt SD supposed to be preventing these things from getting in to my computer :confused:

[jimboc007]

Hi Mary,

What version of Windows are you using? If it is Windows XP, do you have Service Pack 3 installed along with all Microsoft security updates from http://update.microsoft.com

If it is Windows Vista, do you have Service Pack 2 installed along with all Microsoft security updates by running Windows Update from the Start menu?

Having the above installed will reduce the chances of an infection occurring. Spyware Doctor with Anti virus will do its best but it can’t prevent every infection that uses a security vulnerability to infect your PC. Do you have a firewall installed? If not, consider installing one. Again, this will help to reduce the chance of infection.

Other programs to consider updating are (if you have any of the following installed):

Apple iTunes
Apple Quicktime
Adobe Flash Player
Adobe Reader (PDF)
Adobe Shockwave Player
Adobe AIR (included with Adobe Reader 9)
Real Player
Sun Microsystems’s Java Runtime Environment (JRE) (sometimes just called Java)
Microsoft Silverlight.
Your Internet browser e.g. Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari or Opera (please update these to the latest versions)

In addition, only update the above programs from the official websites, do not fall for free updates to the programs I have mentioned above.

Make sure that Spyware Doctor with Anti virus is updated every day and that a daily quick scan is performed. Perform a full system scan at least once a week. Make sure that all IntelliGuards of Spyware Doctor with Anti virus are turned on.

As I said before, everything in that list should be kept up to date for each of you web browsers (which can be a lot of work).

I also recommend scanning every file you download. For example, if you download an open source program, scan it using Spyware Doctor with Antivirus before you run it (double click) to ensure it has no infections. (I am NOT saying that open source software is bad, it was just an example to illustrate the kind of file that you download that you should scan before installing, the same is true of game updates, music, documents etc.)

In case you are wondering, I use PC Tools Spyware Doctor version 6.1.0.447 (without Antivirus). I also have Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 (this includes anti-virus, firewall, anti-spam, antispyware etc).

I use Windows Vista Ultimate x64 edition with Service Pack 2 (with all security updates and product updates installed). Like you I too have a zero tolerance approach to infections on my PC and I practice all of the advice I have given myself.


I hope the above is of assistance. I cannot offer help for the specific infection you mentioned, but the above should harden your PC from future infection.

I can provide official links to download all of the above software that you may have installed if you are not familiar with where to obtain security updates and/or the latest versions of the above programs.

[Raziel v. Nosgoth]

@Mary
as jimboc007 wrote, one anti-malware-program isn't enough.
Nowadays new threats appear hourly.
Think about additional solutions.
For example:
ThreatFire ( hunts for data with a suspicious behavior) will preserve
your PC against New/Unknown infections.
---
If you're using only the Windows-Firewall ...
try the PCTool Firewall Plus, you will see it's the better solution.
---
If you need any help, feel free to post back
Sincere
Raziel

[Mary]

Thanks for your input Jimboc and Raziel. I have only just formatted and reinstalled everything on my computer so it is all bright, shiny, new and up to date. Spyware Dr with AV does a daily intelliscan and a full scan each week and updates automatically. I do have a subscription to Super Anti Spyware so I will reinstall that too and see how things go. :)

[haapy]

Mary,

Superantispyware has an interactive component. You might want to make sure that it is not in your system tray as it may conflict.

If I recall you may have to either remove it from your start up options or make the service manual rather than automatic.

Just use it for a stand alone auxilary scanner.

[Mary]

Thanks Haapy I must say that I was concerned about possible conflict I have removed it from startup and will see how things progress :)