1. Stop using Internet Explorer and switch to Firefox (Instead of Opera how says joydeep1), Firefox has been proven to be the most secure and fastest browser of the internet thanks to it's plugins and constant updates.
2. Install COMODO Defense+ and Firewall. It's the best firewall and protection availible. Once something tries to modify your protected files or to access your network, it gives you an option of "what to do". Inside the "What to do" you can: Create Restore Point, Supply the file to analysis, Block, Allow, Define Application as: or Sandbox. It also installs their own, secure DNS. If a website is dangerous, it blocks it from accessing.
3. Sandbox: Sandboxing is very important. I recommend to run any application you don't know in it. To run in sandbox means to run an application inside another, which creates a space in your harddrive to store the other applications file. Let's suppose if another application wants to add 1000 txt files to your desktop, instead, it adds them to C:/Sandbox/Desktop, and it won't work. After you exit that program you can just delete the files and C:/Sandbox/Desktop will no longer exist. Sandbox reduces the chances to get infected to a 98%. There are 2 famous sandboxes: Comodo Sandbox and Sandboxie.
4. Install Avast! even if you have an antivirus. Avast has a javascript blocking tool that reduces your chances to get infected by another exploit.
5. On your firefox, install WOT and McAfee Siteadvisor plugins. They show you whether a site is safe or not. You can also see the reasons why the site is safe or isn't, so it comes very handy.
6. NEVER save passwords to Firefox, Internet Explorer, Firezilla and by possibility use Steam and MSN clients that don't store your passwords. Because the stored passwords are the first thing hackers are looking for.
By a stealer program with only opening it all your passwords get sent to a FTP server or an email.
7. Always use Immune protection like Spybot Search and Destroy or Malwarebytes anti malware premium. It's better to prevent than to heal.
8. Always check for strange processes running in your task manager. Most skiddies forget to hide their virus or just don't know how.
9. Download a connection checking software (Or use COMODO) and check for incomming and outcomming connections. Most incomming connections are dangerous so if you have one don't skip it. Outcomming ones are dangerous, too!
10. Don't forget about services and ports! Close any sharing, Telnet or NetBIOS services and ports!
11. Do a restore point every day. You won't regret it
12. If you're getting slow network connection without a reason, you may be DDoSed or Remotely Controlled. Immidiately plug out your Ethernet cable or Wifi Card and see what's going out.
13. Don't open any files you don't trust. Simply don't do it. Or if you want open them in Sandbox.
14. You may use VirusTotal to scan a suspicous file in many antiviruses. But you must know that if a virus isn't detected it doesn't mean it's not a virus. You can make a Fully Undetected Trojan, too!
15. Use Keyscrambler Software to protect yourself from Keyloggers, and on screen keyboard when logging in important sites such as PayPal. (The best way at the moment.)
16. Always make software and windows updates. There are always exploits. The most easy way to infect from an exploit is throught Java, Flash, ActiveX, Javascript or PDF.
2. Install COMODO Defense+ and Firewall. It's the best firewall and protection availible. Once something tries to modify your protected files or to access your network, it gives you an option of "what to do". Inside the "What to do" you can: Create Restore Point, Supply the file to analysis, Block, Allow, Define Application as: or Sandbox. It also installs their own, secure DNS. If a website is dangerous, it blocks it from accessing.
3. Sandbox: Sandboxing is very important. I recommend to run any application you don't know in it. To run in sandbox means to run an application inside another, which creates a space in your harddrive to store the other applications file. Let's suppose if another application wants to add 1000 txt files to your desktop, instead, it adds them to C:/Sandbox/Desktop, and it won't work. After you exit that program you can just delete the files and C:/Sandbox/Desktop will no longer exist. Sandbox reduces the chances to get infected to a 98%. There are 2 famous sandboxes: Comodo Sandbox and Sandboxie.
4. Install Avast! even if you have an antivirus. Avast has a javascript blocking tool that reduces your chances to get infected by another exploit.
5. On your firefox, install WOT and McAfee Siteadvisor plugins. They show you whether a site is safe or not. You can also see the reasons why the site is safe or isn't, so it comes very handy.
6. NEVER save passwords to Firefox, Internet Explorer, Firezilla and by possibility use Steam and MSN clients that don't store your passwords. Because the stored passwords are the first thing hackers are looking for.
By a stealer program with only opening it all your passwords get sent to a FTP server or an email.
7. Always use Immune protection like Spybot Search and Destroy or Malwarebytes anti malware premium. It's better to prevent than to heal.
8. Always check for strange processes running in your task manager. Most skiddies forget to hide their virus or just don't know how.
9. Download a connection checking software (Or use COMODO) and check for incomming and outcomming connections. Most incomming connections are dangerous so if you have one don't skip it. Outcomming ones are dangerous, too!
10. Don't forget about services and ports! Close any sharing, Telnet or NetBIOS services and ports!
11. Do a restore point every day. You won't regret it
12. If you're getting slow network connection without a reason, you may be DDoSed or Remotely Controlled. Immidiately plug out your Ethernet cable or Wifi Card and see what's going out.
13. Don't open any files you don't trust. Simply don't do it. Or if you want open them in Sandbox.
14. You may use VirusTotal to scan a suspicous file in many antiviruses. But you must know that if a virus isn't detected it doesn't mean it's not a virus. You can make a Fully Undetected Trojan, too!
15. Use Keyscrambler Software to protect yourself from Keyloggers, and on screen keyboard when logging in important sites such as PayPal. (The best way at the moment.)
16. Always make software and windows updates. There are always exploits. The most easy way to infect from an exploit is throught Java, Flash, ActiveX, Javascript or PDF.
