Designing and Coding
- HTML-Kit - My choice for free HTML/XML editing (though Dreamweaver if available)
- Color Palette - For design help providing color samples to compare
- The Ziggurat - Look at page complexity to gauge accessibility
- CoreFTP Lite - Simple, little, free FTP client
- GSite Crawler - Create many types of site maps
- Simple Viewer - Easy Flash picture gallery
- Browsershots - Examine design across many browsers and platforms
Cleaning
These instructions are intended as a useful process for cleaning computers infected with malware and protecting them from future problems. This process is in no way endorsed or guaranteed and I make no claims about its reliability. These steps are good for remediation, but there is no substitute for preparation and responsible computing practices.
The Short Version (Preparation)
- Turn on Windows Firewall to prevent intrusion
- Turn on Automatic Updates to block security holes
- Install/update/run anti-virus software regularly (should already be installed, see the long versions for suggestions)
- Install/update/run anti-adware and anti-spyware software, including the following (which each have a preventive element)
- Spyware Blaster (be sure to update and set protection)
- Spybot Search & Destroy (be sure to update and immunize)
- Windows Defender
- Install Microsoft Updates http://update.microsoft.com
The Long Version (Remediation)
- Turn on Windows Firewall to block unwanted network or Internet traffic
- Turn on Automatic Updates to patch security holes faster in the future
- Disable System Restore, as infestations may regenerate themselves from the restore points
- Uninstall known spyware or risky software. If a program is questionable, try a web search for reviews or check a rogue anti-malware guide for malicious or useless tools
- Install/update/run only one good anti-virus program, such as:
- Install/update/run anti-adware and anti-spyware software, including the following, in Safe Mode and then in a regular boot until both read clear
- Spyware Blaster
- Spybot Search & Destroy
- Ad-Aware
- AVG Anti-Spyware
- X-Cleaner Micro
- AIM Fix
- Windows Defender
- Trojan Hunter and definition updates
(extract to C:\ProgramFiles\TrojanHunter\RuleFiles) - A-Squared Anti-Malware
- McAfee Stinger
- Super Anti-Spyware
- Rootkit Revealer
- AVG Anti-Rootkit
- If applications do not install, run Web-based scanners, like
- TrendSecure HouseCall
- MS Live One Care (Requires IE/ActiveX)
- Symantec Security Check and Virus Scanner
- BitDefender Online Virus Scan (Requires IE/ActiveX)
- eTrust Antivirus Web Scanner (Requires IE/ActiveX)
- F-Secure Online Virus Scanner (Requires IE/ActiveX)
- Repeat any scans above that gave results, to assure removal.
- If the infection still remains, use the following to obtain detailed system status
- If there is a specific suspicious file to check (i.e. an expected but suspect email attachment), examine it at Virus Total
- Install Microsoft security updates
- If the infection still remains at this point, running scans from outside Windows may work better. To do this create a bootable environment with scanners like those in the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows (UBCD4Win) or Hiren's boot CD. Remember to check licenses to be sure that software used is legitimate.
- If the infection persists, back up critical data, completely erase the hard drive, and reinstall Windows. See the Short Version (Preparation) above to help prevent future infestations.
Network/hardware issues
- If the network is not working and all settings appear correct, run Winsock XP Fix
- To identify devices better than Device Manager, try
System optimization
- Remove unneeded programs(Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs)
- Run Disk Cleanup(Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup)
- Find and remove large unneeded files easily with Space Monger
- Run Disk Defragmenter(Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter)
- Remove unneeded startup entries(From System Tray or via Start > All Programs > Startup)
