Practice Safe Hex - simple steps for secure browsing

1 Safe Browsing

For a safe browsing environment for things like on-line banking, here's my current recommendation.

1.1 Initial downloads

• Download VMware player (www.vmware.com)
• Download the latest version of Ubuntu (32 bit) as an ISO file

1.2 Install Ubuntu

• Install VMware player
• Start VMware player and create a new virtual machine
• Specify the Ubuntu ISO you downloaded earlier as the installation
• Answer the other VMware questions
• Allow VMware to install it's add on for Ubuntu
  • On Windows 7 you need to approve admin rights for the VMware add on, so wait for it to pop up. If it times out, the add on won't install
• Wait for the install to finish

1.3 Finalize Browser

• Log onto Ubuntu
• Start Firefox
• Install NoScript for Firefox (noscript.net)
  • Read the instructions on NoScript. It is intrusive and annoying, but it's far safer with NoScript.
• Install Web of Trust for Firefox (www.mywot.com)
• Install Perspectives for Firefox (perspectives-project.org)

1.4 Other Notes

• All software is free
• You need a reasonably powerful machine
• The Firefox plugins are recommended for all browsing environments.
• Using a netbook as an Ubuntu machine for secure browsing is an option, but I had issues with getting Ubuntu drivers for my netbook.

2 Removing Viruses

Some notes on cleaning infected PCs

• Do not connect to network unless cleaned
• MalwareBytes
  • Download latest copy on a clean PC - http://www.malwarebytes.org/
  • Install onto clean PC
  • Run on clean PC and download latest definitions
  • Copy the installation file and the rules file from the clean PC to the infected machine
    • For Windows XP and 2000 "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\rules.ref"
    • For Windows Vista and Windows 7 "C:\ProgramData\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\rules.ref"
  • Install on the clean PC and then manually update the rules definition
  • Run MalwareBytes scanner
• Other scanners to try (download on clean PC and copy over)
  • Check for fake antivirus software with http://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/how-to-use-stinger.aspx
  • SUPERAntiSpyware http://www.superantispyware.com/ (available as a portable application)
  • Vipre Rescue http://live.sunbeltsoftware.com/
• If desperate (download on clean PC and copy over)
  • Try HijackThis, which won't detect infestations, but will tell you all the possible problems. http://sourceforge.net/projects/hjt/
  • ComboFix, which will clean some problems, but is intended to produce a report that can be posted on a forum to get help. http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix
• After cleanup, install Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
  • to update without connecting to the network, download the updates from
    • 32 Bit - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=87342
    • 64 Bit - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=87341
  • On Vista/Windows 7 you may have to 'run as administrator'

3 See Also

• Software Used