Desperately need help! My firewall will not turn on.

[the.avon.lady1]

Should I go ahead and install Firefox and Avast?

[jholland1964]

Next thing you need to do is do all the Windows updates. This really should be done before installing anything else, especially the anti-virus program as it could interfere, not likely but why take the chance. Since this is Windows 7 do this via the normal Windows 7 update options in the Windows Action Center or via Control Panel, System Security, Action Center, Windows Updates, Check for Updates. You probably "know the drill" there. Because you've done a back to factory install you will have to get all the updates released since then. You can choose the ones you wish of course, but the main ones you need are those labeled Critical or Important. The Optional ones are just that, optional and you don't have to take them. This will take you awhile, some will require rebooting. After each install then click check for new updates again until finally you are told there are no more to get. Could take you several hours so be prepared.


Frankly the one I would not take at all are those for Windows Defender. You really should turn that off entirely. That is a virtually worthless security program and absolutely known to interfere the ones you had on there before...SUPERAntispyware, Malwarebytes' and honestly maybe even Avast, that I can't be sure about, but the Windows Defender is more trouble than it is worth. You can turn it off like this:

• Open Windows Defender by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Defender.
• Click Tools, and then click Options.
• Under Administrator options, clear the Use Windows Defender check box, and then click Save. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
  
  AFTER all of the Windows Updates are installed then install your Avast Free. You should be fine as far as security goes until then because the only place being accessed will be the Windows Updates and you don't even need a browser to do that with Windows 7.
  
  From this link:
  
  http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/
  
  Then there will be a few more I would recommend but finish the Windows Updates and the Avast install and then let me know, I will tell you what other security programs I would recommend.

[the.avon.lady1]

Okay, will do as instructed and report back when finished. THANKS!!

[jholland1964]

Once you get Avast installed here is a link for a zip file that includes print screens for correct settings. Just download and unzip it to see them. Windows 7 has a built in "unzipper" so you shouldn't have any problems opening the zipped file. I guarantee the file is 100% safe for download. It was created by a friend of mine on another forum. We work together on a lot of security threads. Just click the download button on the link below.

http://www.mediafire.com/?qfjnl0n4q46kot5

[jholland1964]

I also recommend the following programs, ALL are FREE versions and they work just fine, all the scanner programs should be updated and used to scan once a week:


http://majorgeeks.com/downloadget.ph...d909666f809b26 MALWAREBYTES Updates and scans are manual only in the free version.



http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html SUPERANTISPYWARE Updates and scans are manual only in free version.
Adjust settings so the program does not start with Windows(free version)>>>See SAS attachment print screen


http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html SPYBOT S&D Do not use Tea Timer function



http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadge...7615f4682b4cef SPYWAREBLASTER Silently blocks malware,etc. MUST HAVE PROGRAM...NOT a scanner, only a protection program. Manually check for updates once a week. It does not always have updates but when it does, download, install and then Enable All protection and close the program.

Here is correct page for Firefox.

http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/

I recommend the following Add-Ons for Firefox:

AdBlockPlus https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...k-plus/?src=ss

Web Of Trust (WOT) http://www.mywot.com/

Of course you need Java: http://java.com/en/download/index.jsp

Flash Player:
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
Be sure to REMOVE check mark from anything extra offered like Chrome Browser or McAfee Security Scan Plus, you only need the Flash Player, no extras.

[the.avon.lady1]

Good Morning;
I finally finished the updates and got Avast loaded late last night. I will start on the directions that you have prepared for me above and let you know when it is all finished. I do have a question. When I did the reinstall I got a message that my old windows information would be saved in a folder "windows.old" and it is there. Should I just delete this folder I really don't want to open it and take any chances that it might have something dangerous still lingering there. I may have not saved everything but I did save what I had to have. On a different note any word of when you might get to go home. I heard on Fox News this morning that it might be a week before some people hit the hardest might be able to get power back on. If this be the case sounds like time for a vacation, my door is always open and we are always home. We have two spare bedrooms except for when the grands are here.

[jholland1964]

You certainly can delete that C:\Windows.old folder, especially since you say you don't want to even open it up, I don't blame you, and have saved all you wanted to save. It also does take up a fair amount of space on the drive too, even though you have a large drive you might as well regain that space. You can get rid of it by using Disk Cleanup.
Do it this way:
Open the Start Menu, click on All Programs, Accessories folder, System Tools folder, and Disk Cleanup.
Click on the Clean up system files button.
If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.
Check the Previous Windows installations box, and click on OK
Click on Delete Files.
When Disk Cleanup finishes, the C:\Windows.old folder should be deleted.

As for our power outage, "supposedly", according to our power company, ours "should be" restored by midnight MONDAY! So we could be two more nights in a hotel. Funny thing is husband spoke to a neighbor yesterday who said she had a "guarantee" that our power would be back on no later than early this morning...well obviously her "guarantee" was worthless since it isn't on and the torn and shredded wires are still either flapping in the wind or on the ground and broken pole is still broken in half and that half block is still taped off and there are no power trucks in sight.
We will be heading out on vacation, real vacation not forced one, in two weeks, but thanks for the offer!

[the.avon.lady1]

Hey it is good you have a well deserved vacation coming up between me and the storm you have earned one!
Okay, back to business.
I have downloaded the Avast settings document and have followed it as best as I can. However, me not being very good at this and since the document was on an older version there are some things that I have questions on. I know you thought this was going to be easy but you have gotten to know me good enough to know when it comes to computers not much is easy with me. So here goes:
On the first couple of screen shots that delt with Gaming the choices were different so I was not sure what to check. These were my choices:
__ Silent/Gaming Mode
__ Silent if a full screen application is running
Then under Troubleshooting
__Do Not use Chrome as Avast default Browser( I think I should check this as I will be using Firefox as my default browser but was not sure)
__Limit program access for Guest Account
The screen shot showed settings for Behavior Shield but when I went there I found a note that said "This shield has no basic settings"
Under Expert Settings in Behivior Shield these were my choices:
__Monitor System for low level Rootkits
__Monitor system for Malware like behavior
__Monitor system for unauthjorized modifications
My instinct is to check all three listed above but I was not sure so wanted to check with you.
Not sure what the following were trying to show me:
#13 Clipboard
#14 Clipboard
pagefile.sys
Web Shields
and last of all I could not locate the SSL
I will go to the next step and wait for your response to finish this. Thanks and sorry to be causing you extra work!

[jholland1964]

Honestly have no clue about Avast because I haven't used it in at least 5 years. I will have to check with the guy who did the print screens and see if he has a newer version.

[the.avon.lady1]

I am glad I asked you about the file and you said to get rid of it. Right after installing Avast I got a message that I had a possible infection that was going to quarantine. Then the computer went into a scan and after the scan it said that I had a rootkit and listed that file. I immediately stopped what I was doing and followed your directions above for deleting this file. Man that is a persistent little devil and I am glad I had the fore-site not to open the file. I just hope it did not escape the file and all the work that I have done was for nothing.