Security Programs / Clean Up Software

My list so far

Some should only be use under direction or instruction.
This is not a complete list, just the tools I've collected.



Scanners
RKill
ADW Cleaner
Junkware Removal Tool
Malwarebyte's Anti-Rootkit
Mini Tool Box
Combo Fix
GMER Rootkit Cleaner
Hitman Pro 64bit
TDSS Killer

Temporary File Cleaners
Temp File Cleaner (TFC)
ATF Cleaner (ATF)

Anti-Virus & Anti-Malware
Microsoft Security Essentials (Windows 7) 32/64bit
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Super Anti-Spyware
Spybot Search and Destroy

System Information
Belarc Advisor
Speccy

Astronomy

Third order of business:

There is going to be a Solar Eclipse on Monday.  That is August 21.  For the Central Coast of CA, it will start shortly before 9AM and last to just before noon.

Disclaimer: Do Not Look Directly At The Sun With Unprotected Eyes.

There are a variety of glasses and filters you can get to protect your eyes from the Sun.  Please check carefully before purchasing, buy from a reputable retailer.

NASA has a few sites to get more info about the eclipse:

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/

Prepare for the eclipse:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/preparing-for-the-august-2017-total-solar-eclipse

Wikipedia article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_August_21,_2017

National Geographic:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/06/total-solar-eclipse-august-how-watch-science/

This eclipse is noteworthy because the path of totality (where the Moon fully covers the Sun) goes from the Pacific coast (near Salem, OR) to the Atlantic coast (near Charleston, NC).  The path of totality is about 70 miles wide, the larger, partial eclipse cover the entire North American continent and extend down to South America (from  and across to Greenland.

I will be using an old pair of binoculars that will project the image on a white three ring binder.  I've used this setup previously for an eclipse and the Venus transit (with a telescope) in 2012.

Enjoy the show that our Solar System puts on, and be safe.  As long as the fog rolls out, we should get to see about 60-70% eclipse.  I'd love it if all y'all took pictures and emailed me.

Also, look for Saturn (where the Cassini probe is ending a 20 year mission, final orbit in September), Jupiter (where the Juno probe is taking closeups of the Great Red Spot).

https://www.space.com/16149-night-sky.html

http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/

recovery media

Second order of business:

If you have not made the Recovery Media for your computer, please do so as soon as you can.  For Windows 7, type "recovery" in the search field under All Programs in the Start Menu.  For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10, you'll need to go to the Setting panel.  Windows 7 should make the recovery media on DVD, the others need a USB flash drive of at least 16GB, but I have needed one of 32GB capacity for one of my laptops.

Most off the shelf computers will have some kind of recovery or media creation software.  Look for a folder in your Start Menu with the name of the company, such as "Dell" or "HP" or "Lenovo."  Use that software to make the recovery media.

scams

First order of business:

Tell everyone you know:  Microsoft will NOT call you about viruses.  Your computer is not sending out viruses. (Well, maybe, but highly unlikely.) If someone calls you, hang up on them.  Do not entertain them for any longer than it takes to put the phone down.  These people are only out for two things:  access to your computer and access to your bank accounts.

If you get one of these calls (after you hang up!), run your anti-virus, then your anti-malware.  Usually, anti-virus (AV) is Windows Defender (also known as Microsoft Security Essentials, and is included with Windows 8, 8.1 and 10), Avast, Avira, Norton, McAfee, Trend, Kaspersky, or the like.  Run a Full Scan.  Then run your anti-malware (AMW); these include Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Spybot Search and Destroy, Super Anti-Spyware, 

Then check that remote access to your computer is disabled.  You can do this by (and this works in all versions of Windows): going to the Control Panel, click on System, then in the left column, click on Remote Settings. A new dialog box will appear.  If there is a check in the box that says "Allow Remote Assistance," uncheck it.  Then close the box and close the Control Panel.  (Speaking of, the laptop I'm using right has it checked..... Really.)