General Computer Safety Tips

[Psittac]

Not sure if a thread like this exist's, but wanted to see what people can add to this thread about basic tips for computer and internet safety.

 

1. Use malwarebytes

2. Regularly update

3. hover over a link to see the true destination in lower left of browser.

4. google.badidea.com is from badidea not google because it comes before the .com

 

[iRileyx]

5. Don't be dumb and you won't have to worry. 

[Uncle Sam]

6. Doctors Don’t Hate Him.

[Psittac]

7. Every time you connect a storage device, go to file explorer (win+E) right click the device and scan with malwarebytes and anti-virus

    7a. Scan old data before moving it to your system (when ccleaner got hacked I still had the infected version on a thumb drive month's later)

8. Don't use the same password multiple times. Write them down. I use a basic password for non-sensitive sites and move up in complexity and uniqueness depending on how important the site is.

9. Update UEFI and OS since the spectre and meltdown incident.

[Sfekke]

1 hour ago, Psittac said:

1. Use malwarebytes

 

I would say just don't.

While it helps to run an antivirus, with a small amount of caution & common sense when 

1. Downloading files
2. Opening webpages
3. Install extensions
4. Torrenting

You can pretty much run without an antivirus.

What I tend to do is just reinstall Windows every 6 months.

Having a secondary harddrive helps with this, since you can keep your important files on there & unplug the SATA cable when reinstalling. (To prevent accidental formatting of the drive)

 

But if you think you dun goofed installing the MBAM Free edition and some other decent AV's trail edition Bullguard,Kaspersky,ESET NOD, you can rectify the issue.

[Mihle]

1 hour ago, Psittac said:

7. Every time you connect a storage device, go to file explorer (win+E) right click the device and scan with malwarebytes and anti-virus

If anyone tried to infect you on purpose, just connecting it to your computer would infect it.

1 hour ago, Psittac said:

8. Don't use the same password multiple times. Write them down. I use a basic password for non-sensitive sites and move up in complexity and uniqueness depending on how important the site is.

Having some parts of the password the same but other parts change is also an quite safe option, and makes it easier to remember. Those parts spesific to a site could also be something spesific to the site that isn't obvious, and split up the letters throughout the password, so even if someone sees one of your password they can't know.

 

Makes it easier to remember. I don't have my password written down anywhere, so even if a burglar broke in to my house they count find any password even if they tried. Neither could any friends or family members.

 

10. Don't pirate stuff. (Especially the OS)

11. Don't let the WiFi password be stock, and have a good one.

12. Don't let people you don't trust on your WiFi.

13. Put two-factor authentication on everything that have the option. (Especially important stuff like your email)

[Beef Boss]

14.Don't use the dishwasher to clean parts, the sink works a lot better. 

15. Don't download porn, I mean come on, you could get a virus or caught by parents so just leave it in the servers of the website. 

 

 

[Donut417]

[Psittac]

9 hours ago, Mihle said:

If anyone tried to infect you on purpose, just connecting it to your computer would infect it.

Having some parts of the password the same but other parts change is also an quite safe option, and makes it easier to remember. Those parts spesific to a site could also be something spesific to the site that isn't obvious, and split up the letters throughout the password, so even if someone sees one of your password they can't know.

 

Makes it easier to remember. I don't have my password written down anywhere, so even if a burglar broke in to my house they count find any password even if they tried. Neither could any friends or family members.

Agreed

 

As for writing down passwords I never write what site they are to and I don't write down account name

[aisle9]

Always wear a condom when running XP

[Crunchy Dragon]

10 hours ago, Psittac said:

7. Every time you connect a storage device, go to file explorer (win+E) right click the device and scan with malwarebytes and anti-virus

    7a. Scan old data before moving it to your system (when ccleaner got hacked I still had the infected version on a thumb drive month's later)

7b. Don't forget to sysprep drives before moving them into other PCs

[flibberdipper]

16. Don't drop a damn PC anywhere near your foot. It is the textbook definition of "dear fuck why me."

[Psittac]

1 hour ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

7b. Don't forget to sysprep drives before moving them into other PCs

Never used that, had to google it.  Very useful tool that I can see myself using! Should be it's own number!

[Crunchy Dragon]

3 hours ago, Psittac said:

Never used that, had to google it.  Very useful tool that I can see myself using! Should be it's own number!

It had to do with what you mentioned, I figured it would fit in 7b. I forgot to do it once, it was such a headache.