5 replies to this topic

[AwesomeLife]

If I refresh or reset my x64 Win 8 laptop, I have 105 updates.

 

Naturally, some of these are security updates. And they take a while to download.

 

So...what's the best way to keep from being vulnerable to attacks on security flaws fixed in updates which have not yet been installed?

 

Would booting up in safe mode with networking work?

 

Thanks VERY much!

 

Cheers!

 

Ann

[nasdaq]

Welcome to SpywareInfoForum.

It's important to get all of the Important Updates.
If not your computer will be vulnerable to attacks.

The other which are recommended should also be download later when all the Important Updates are installed.

Why would you want to use the Safe Mode. Are you having problems with this computer?

[AwesomeLife]

Hi Nasdaq,

 

Thanks for responding...

 

Trouble doesn't even begin to describe it, LOL.  But to detail all the problems I've had would be like writing an encyclopedia of computer problems.  I've ended up refreshing or resetting this particular computer every 2 weeks (nearly like clockwork) for months now (and that's just my 2014 woes with this machine.  If this had been a car, it would have been returned via lemon laws.  And the owner is suffering from battle fatigue. ) )

 

On Monday, I reset the machine, last night I refreshed the machine...but things just haven't seemed to work righf (I'll just go into the issues with my protection, atm -- I don't even remember all the other issues.  I have, however, run chkdsk, which runs clean, as does sfc, and pc diagnostics which come with my machine have no complaints.   (One issue, however, was updates were difficult and incomplete...so I only have less than half installed...)

 

The reason I refreshed was primarily because, even though I've run updated scans with MalWareBytes and Avast every day with no problems of note, I went to look at my restore points ... and they were gone.  When I clicked on "System restore", in the "systems properties" dialog of restore, I think nothing happened.  It was only later, after I refreshed (and, after booting, discovered went thru the same thing, that I went to configure and discovered that there was 0 memory allocated to restore points.  Once I allocated memory to it, restore worked. So everything I ran, ran "clean", but still somehow my restore points vanished, until now, after allocating memory to them.)

 

At the moment, I have pretty much no anti-virus protection (I thought I had the "offline" installer for Avast, on the external hard drive; I uninstalled the Norton crap...did install MWB 2.0+ which was on the external...can see MWB running, can bring up options on "Windows Firewall" in control panel...

...but action center complains about

"Spyware and unwanted software protection" (Important)

Turn on virus protection (Important)

 

...but clicking on these links in the Action Center, or on the same links in Action Center in the Control Panel just pop up an explorer window showing the Windows\system32 directory...

 

At this point, the simplest, least painful way of resolving my problems would be a reset (resets are faster than refreshes, I've noticed...)...with as many of these recoveries I've done, I don't keep much of value on my internal hard drive any more.

 

(Oh yeah, I can't even run a MWB scan now, because it wants me to update it...but I feel rather uncertain as to the level of protection I have and don't really want to go online. Updated...actually, I did try going online, got "cannot reach update server"  :( )

 

I have no problem with doing a reset at this point. That would be fine and truly the simplest route thru my particular jungle of problems atm.

 

I would just like to have the peace of mind of how I can install those 105 updates safely and securely.

 

Thanks very much,

 

Ann

 

P.S. I also have a complete set of SysInternal tools available.

 

P.S.S. You a trader? :)

Edited by AwesomeLife, 11 April 2014 - 12:28 PM.

[AwesomeLife]

Also ... just to sum up ... I'm very interested in updating my computer...all the 105 important (or more) updates; no problem there.

 

It just seems like there's a catch-22 here.

 

In order to GET safe by installing the updates, I have to participate in an UNSAFE activity of going online.

 

Updated to add: restarted computer and it installed the remaining outstanding updates.  But I still have problems running MWB & and antivirus...

 

Uninstalled & re-installed MWB and now could get online, downloaded updates, am running scan.

still have problems with action center, running windows defender.

Edited by AwesomeLife, 11 April 2014 - 12:48 PM.

[nasdaq]

Hello, Welcome to BleepingComputer.
I'm nasdaq and will be helping you.

If you can please print this topic it will make it easier for you to follow the instructions and complete all of the necessary steps in the order listed.
===

Run these tools and post the logs. Will take it from there.

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode onto your Desktop.

• Close all open programs and internet browsers.
• Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
• Click the Scan button and wait for the process to complete.
• Click the Report button and the report will open in Notepad.

IMPORTANT

• If you click the Clean button all items listed in the report will be removed.

If you find some false positive items or programs that you wish to keep, Close the AdwCleaner windows.

• Close all open programs and internet browsers.
• Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
• Click the Scan button and wait for the process to complete.
• Check off the element(s) you wish to keep.
• Click on the Clean button follow the prompts.
• A log file will automatically open after the scan has finished.
• Please post the content of that log file with your next answer.
• You can find the log file at C:\AdwCleaner[Sn].txt (n is a number).

===

Download the correct version of this tool for your operating system.
Farbar Recovery Scan Tool (64 bit)
Farbar Recovery Scan Tool (32 bit)
and save it to a folder on your computer's Desktop.
Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
Press Scan button.
It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please copy and paste it to your reply.
The first time the tool is run, it makes also another log (Addition.txt). Please attach it to your reply.

===

Please paste the logs in your next reply DO NOT ATTACH THEM unless specified.

Let me know what problem persists.

[nasdaq]

Due to the lack of feedback this Topic is closed.

If you need this topic reopened, please tell the moderating team by replying here with the address of the thread. This applies only to the original topic starter. Everyone else please begin a New Topic.