Anti Spyware Review|10 Tips for Securing Your PC Part 2

10 Tips for Securing Your PC Part 2

4 Reset Internet Explorer Settings

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, something happens that causes Internet Explorer to become unstable. Fortunately, Internet Explorer 7 offers an easy-to-use feature that deletes all temporary files, disables add-ons, and resets changed settings back to their defaults. Here's how to reset Internet Explorer v7 settings.

From the Internet Explorer menu, click Tools | Internet Options.
Click the Advanced tab.
Click Reset.
On the Reset Internet Explorer Settings window, select Reset.
Click OK to exit the Internet Options menu
Close Internet Explorer and restart it for changes to take effect.

5 Disable Autorun

The autorun feature enables CDs to play automatically when inserted in the drive. This is the same feature that enabled the now infamous Sony rootkit to install. Removable and thumb drives use the same autorun feature to load files when the drives are plugged into the USB port. Malware relies on this autorun feature to spread from thumb drive to PC. Disable the autorun feature to prevent malware from spreading. And who knows, it may just stop the next rootkit-enabled CD.

Here's How:

If you use XP Pro, follow steps 1 through 8 only. XP Home users begin at step 9.
Click Start and then click Run
Type gpedit.msc and click OK
The Group Policy window will open. In the left pane, double-click Administrative Templates
In the right pane, double-click System
Scroll down the list and double-click Turn Off Autoplay
In the Turn Off Autoplay Properties window, select Enabled. From the dropdown next to Turn Off Autoplay on, select All drives and then click OK
Exit Group Policy by selecting File, then choosing Exit from the menu.
XP Home users will need to make the changes by editing the registry directly. To begin, click Start and then click Run
Type regedit and click OK. The Registry Editor window will open.
In the left pane, navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Software
Microsoft
Windows
CurrentVersion
Policies
Explorer.
(Note: For help navigating the registry, see the Windows Basics System Registry tutorial).
With Explorer highlighted, in the right-pane right click the value NoDriveTypeAutoRun and select Modify from the drop down menu. The base value will be set to Hexadecimal. If not, select Hexadecimal.
Type 95 and click OK.
Note that this will stop Autorun on removable/USB drives, but still allow it on CD ROM drives. If you want to disable autorun on both, substitute b5 for the 95. (Thanks to Ian L. of Manitoba for the tip).
Exit Registry Editor by selecting File, then choosing Exit from the menu.
You will now need to reboot your computer for the changes to take effect

6 Disable Add-Ons in Internet Explorer

When it comes to IE, it seems everyone wants a piece of it. While legitimate toolbars and other browser helper objects (BHOs) are fine, some aren't so legit or - at least - their presence is questionable. Here's how to disable unwanted add-ons in Internet Explorer versions 6 and 7.

1 From the Internet Explorer menu, click Tools | Internet Options.

2 Cick the Programs tab.

3 Click Manage add-ons.

4 Click the Add-on you wish to disable, then click the Disable radio button. Note that this option will only be available when an Add-on is selected.

5 IE7 users also have the ability to detele the ActiveX control. Follow the steps outlined above to select the ActiveX control, then click the Delete button found under Delete ActiveX. Note that this option will only be available when an ActiveX control is selected.

6 Not all Add-ons in the list are active. To see which Add-ons are actively loaded with Internet Explorer, toggle the Show dropdown to view Add-ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer.

7 Click OK to exit the Manage Add-ons menu

8 Click OK to exit the Internet Options menu

9 If a necessary add-on has been mistakenly disabled, repeat steps 1-3 above, highlight the disabled add-on, then click the Enable radio button.

10 Close Internet Explorer and restart it for changes to take effect.