Start with the basics. Set ClamWin to update signatures hourly. Use the latest versions of ClamWin and Clam Sentinel. Run a daily ClamWin scan on memory, system 32 folder, and users/documents folder. Use these Clam Sentinel settings: run on startup, detect and monitor new drives, quarantine infected files, and set System Monitor to detect suspicious files only. You do not need warnings of all system changes. Set your computer for automatic Windows patches/updates. For malware exploit protection, install File Hippo's little File Checker program, and run it once a week to see if you need to update any programs.
Keep your firewall turned on. The Microsoft firewall that comes with XP/Vista/Windows 7 protects against unauthorized contacts inbound from the web. It is difficult to configure for outbound protection, but if you can keep malware off your computer, it is good enough. It is simple, free, and “quiet.” There are other free software firewalls for Windows XP and later computers from Zone Alarm, Agnitum, and Tall Emu. Zone Alarm version 6.1.744.001 works on Windows 98.
Configure your web browser to use any filtering it has--such as pop up blocking, tracking protection, phishing filter, smart download protection, and malicious website protection. Keeping your browser updated is more important than what browser you use. Some free browser toolbars and add-ins provide additional web protection, but stick to toolbars from well-known companies like Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, or one of the antivirus companies. Stay away from web sites offering porn, illegal/cracked software, and torrent downloads. Do not give out personal information on social networking sites.
Install Spyware Blaster from Javacool Software. It does not scan any files or use active memory, so it can be used with any Windows operating system. You can manually update it about twice each month instead of getting the paid version. It is easy to configure, sets kill bits for some exploits, blocks some malicious web sites, backs up your hosts file, has a basic system snapshot restore function, and it can be used to disable the Flash player when there are unpatched Flash exploits in circulation.
Sentinel can detect a majority of new malware downloaded to your computer, but fast-acting malware can do damage before it is quarantined. For extra protection, you can use ClamWin/Sentinel with another real-time AV, but whitelist the other AV's program, data, quarantine, and signature folders as paths not scanned by Sentinel. Also whitelist the ClamWin and Sentinel program folders, ClamWin's data folder from the other AV's scans. I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows XP through Windows 7 computers. Instead of another real-time AV, you can do a daily scan with Malwarebytes free antimalware and/or Kaspersky's free TDSSKiller anti-rootkit program. If your computer is older than Windows XP, you can do a daily scan with ClamWin in Windows Safe Mode. Everyone should also get a free rescue CD or USB for emergency use that boots up with its own operating system. You can get free rescue CDs/USBs from some of the AV companies (such as F-Secure, eScan, or Kaspersky). I recommend Microsoft's free Windows Defender Offline program that lets you make a Windows rescue CD or USB (get the USB). You must run rescue CD/USBs from a wired DSL connection to properly update the malware signatures. You can also buy commercial rescue CD/USBs.
Finally, keep in mind that safe surfing and common sense provide the best extra protection.
Please contact Andrea Russo, the Clam Sentinel developer, via the
Clam Sentinel web site if you have any comments about this article or
suggestions for improving Clam Sentinel. Delphi programmers can help
contribute to the Clam Sentinel project.
by Robert
Scroggins