Expert: Brian Benosky - 3/7/2011

Question
Hi Brian,
  I downloaded CCleaner and Update checker and ran the programs and did the recommended. That was early yesterday morning and I don't recall any real problems. I ran all of the following a few hours ago and these are the results:

SAS quick scan:
Memory items detected 0
Files detected 23
Registry items 0
Total threats 24
Quarantined & Removed items

Sea Tools for Windows:
S.M.A.R.T. pass
Short DST pass
Short generic pass

MBAB quick scan:
0 detected

Advira:
updated
scanned
0 detection
(question- is there a quick scan option? If so how do I get there?)

Update Checker:
Had 3. All had to do with Windows Live. I just left them. Under options I have both show updates only and show beta versions checked. I really don't know what beta is, so other than you telling me, I'm not sure what I need to update and what I should just ignore.

CCleaner:
Analyzed cleaner: 88.3 MB to be removed (removed)
Checked registry; scanned saved, fixed

Defraggler:
quick defrag
66 fragments
did recommended

So, what should we do next? I'll be looking forward to your reply.
Thanks, Brian!
Jax

Answer
Hi Jax

Beta software is basically new versions which may not have all the bugs worked out yet.  As I said, no need to download them, so otherwise, everything is good.  The final piece to add to your new suite of programs is a more secure browsing experience.  I have found browsers to be the weakest link in the chain.  We use them to do nearly everything on the web, so if the browser is not secure, you are not protected from malicious codes, no matter how many other security programs you have.  You are running Internet Explorer 8.  It is the most secure IE to date, although IE9 is due to be released very soon.  I have been playing around with the release candidate for IE9, and I find it to be faster and more user-friendly than IE8.  I have not yet had the chance to test it's security features, so I cannot say if it is better or worse than IE8.  But if it's a Microsoft product, someone will come along and shoot holes in it.
There are alternatives that you may wish to try.  Google Chrome is fast and can be made secure using extensions which offer things like ad-blocking and cookie management.  I like its minimalistic look and cloud-based add-ons.  Check it out here:
http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/more/index.html
And if you install it, use it with the following extensions:
http://www.technoriztic.com/2011/03/top-5-must-have-google-chrome-security-plugi...
To my mind, the most secure browser is Firefox:
http://en-us.www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
It is my default browser due to it's customizing ability.  I can make it look different:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/themes/
And I can add whatever tools I need for work or play:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/
Above all, it's security add-ons are the most extensive.  I recommend using the ones from this collection:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/collections/theparadox/paranoia/
I hope I covered it all.  Just give a holler if you have any other questions or concerns.  Cheers!

Brian