Lappy Loaded with Malware-Type Stuff

Cliff S said:

Why not just nuke your disk(command prompt at boot and use diskpart clean all: Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command - Windows 7 Help Forums )

Then reimage your drive with an older(known malware free) image.

I would, Cliff, but she doesn't have anything like that. She's a pure novice, so, there are no backups, etc.

TairikuOkami said:

Next time, setup a safe DNS, preferably a family DNS (Norton/OpenDNS), it will block some of those webpages.
Use some extensions to block tracking/malware webpages as well, apply filters like malware domains/spyware.

You can allow only software with a valid certificate to prevent grandma from installing some of the junk.

Code:

reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v "ValidateAdminCodeSignatures" /t REG_DWORD /d "1" /f

Thanks, Tairiku. I'll do that, then document it for her.

Wynona said:

I would, Cliff, but she doesn't have anything like that. She's a pure novice, so, there are no backups, etc.

Bree said:

Wynona said:
Any way I can keep her from clicking on every promising CrapApp out there?


You can't, but you can turn on Defender's Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) protection.

Enable or Disable Windows Defender PUA Protection in Windows 10

Ooooohhh....
There is a way.....
First I use my HOSTS file, and then one of those browser extensions we are not allowed to talk about, and ONLY turn on the malware protection section in the filter list:
From Edge's:



From Chromes:

Thank you, Cliff!

Windows 10 is clean installed and I'm hunting down stuff to keep her safe now. :)

Which brings up another question:

I know about Unchecky and Ccleaner (not sure she could handle that one; may be dangerous) and a few others, but would appreciate suggestions for safety measures.

Thanks everyone; you're helping me a lot.

Setup CCleaner's shortcut to turn off a computer with.

Code:

"C:\Program Files\CCleaner\CCleaner64.exe" /auto /shutdown

Wynona said:

Thank you, Cliff!

Windows 10 is clean installed and I'm hunting down stuff to keep her safe now. :)

Which brings up another question:

I know about Unchecky and Ccleaner (not sure she could handle that one; may be dangerous) and a few others, but would appreciate suggestions for safety measures.

Thanks everyone; you're helping me a lot.

I sent you a file in Skype with the HOSTS file from MVPS