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Windows 2000 - Protect your computer from spyware, viruses, worms and the like

November 29, 2013
Updated: December 6, 2021
Quick overview:

Täglich erfahren tausende Windows-Besitzer am eigenen Leib, was ein ungeschütztes System bedeutet: Phänomene wie der Absturz der Explorer.exe, hoher CPU-Auslastung, unbekannten Pop-Ups, langsamer Aufbau von Internetseiten, seltsames Verhalten der internen Windows-Tools, Fehler beim Aufrufen von bestimmten Seiten oder unbekannte Dateioperationen sind nur eine kleine Aufzählung des gigantischen Repertoires an Fehlern, die in Foren oder an Supporthotlines täglich gestellt werden. Die Experten kennen ihre Windows-Systeme, prüfen jede mögliche Fehlerquelle ab und irgendwann, wenn nichts mehr hilft, wird dann die Frage gestellt: Kann es sein, dass da Spyware, ein Virus, ein Wurm oder ein Trojaner sein Unwesen treibt? Selbst Profis schlucken bei dieser Frage, denn diesen Themen stellt sich ein permanenter Internetbesucher viel zu selten - man selbst ist ja sowieso nicht betroffen. Solch einen Leichtsinn begegnen die Fachkundigen ständig und empfehlen immer das System zunächst abzuchecken.

Windows-Tweaks webmaster, Sandro Villinger, often receives such requests by e-mail and I don't know how many times I have helped people by recommending essential measures. Users suspect external sources of danger only recently, although this has become the number one source of errors in recent months. We will of course help you with our checklist (below). But first, we'd like to explain the dangers you face in your everyday PC life:

Computerviren
Viren sind meist ausführbare Programme, die, einmal auf den PC gelangt, annäherend die gesamte Kontrolle über diesen erlangen: Das Repertoire reicht vom Löschen/Verändern/Beschädigen von essentiellen Dateien über das Formatieren der Festplatte bis hin zu Veränderungen am grundlegenden Steuerungsprogramm des Computers (BIOS) - ein Virus kann einen Computer untauglich machen.
Trojaner
Diese werden ins System eingeschleust (z.B. per Chatprogramm, Mail, Download etc.) um die Kontrolle zu erlangen. Trojaner öffnen Hintertürchen nach Außen, damit Hacker ungehindert Zugriff erhalten - diese können dann sensible Daten wie z.B. Passwörter, PINs und persönliche Informationen nach Außen tragen.
Würmer
Kommen per Mail und deren Anhang herein und können sowohl zerstören (Virus) als auch spionieren (Trojaner). Ein optimaler Schutz des E-Mail Programms sollte Priorität haben. Es gibt zwar auch gutartige Würmer (z.B. ein Robot, der Inhalte von Webseiten für Suchmaschinen indiziert bzw. analysiert und filtert).
Spyware
Kleine Programme, die meist über Webseiten installiert werden, und Daten über das Surfverhalten an den Hersteller schicken. Leider ist solche Software oftmals nicht einwandfrei programmiert, so dass Fehler im Internet Explorer (oder sonstigen Windows-Bereichen) vorkommen können.
Dialer
Diese kleinen Programme verbinden sich über eine 0190er-Nummer mit einem Anbieter pornographischer und/oder illegaler Inhalte und zocken dem ahnungslosen Benutzer mehrere Euro pro Minute für das Surfvergnügen ab.

Und so schützen Sie sich...

Computer viruses: We generally recommend using at least two antivirus programs, so that deficiencies in detection rates in specific areas of one software are compensated for by the other. The following programs have proven themselves on the test computers:

1. Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2004: Diese benutzerfreundliche Programm findet die meisten Viren und entfernt diese zuverlässig. Sie können sich eine zeitlich beschränkte Version von NAV 2004 auf dieser Seite herunterladen. Es ist auch in der Lage viele Trojaner und Würmer vom PC zu bannen.

2. Free-AV AntiVir Personal Edition: This free antivirus tool has proven itself to many users in the past because it delivers good detection rates (detects 70,000 viruses) and high-quality features. You can download it here.

3. F-Prot: The manufacturer FRISK has developed an interesting anti-virus and anti-Trojan program that is able to find not only 50,000 viruses but also very unknown forms of these malware.

4. AVG AntiVirus system: Both in the freeware and in the version 7.0, AVG offers professional protection against viruses.

5. McAfee OnlineScan: This free analysis checks the PC online for viruses.

6. McAfee VirusScan: The professional package from one of the most experienced antivirus developers in PC history.

7. avast! Home Edition: Another free virus scanner with an extensive guard function for P2P programs, mail applications and messengers.
Trojans: In addition to Norton AntiVirus, you should always take the following program recommendation to heart.

TrojanHunter: On this page you will find a time-limited version of TrojanHunter, which detects and removes most Trojans. A convenient update function keeps it constantly up to date.
Worms: The following program helps against the most common worms...

McAffee Stinger: This tool reliably removes the most common worms (myDoom, Lovesan etc.). Visit this page to download the program and stay up to date.
Spyware: Two of the best-known SpyWare tools are presented here...

Ad-Aware 6: Detects the latest SpyWares thanks to its integrated update function and removes them cleanly from your computer. You can get it here as freeware - the paid version offers network administrators in particular some interesting features.

SpyBot S&D: Untersucht Windows ebenfalls sehr gründlich auf SpyWare und entfernt die betroffenen Teile des Systems. Wie bei Ad-Aware werden auch Spuren verwischt wie z.B. durch Entfernung von Cookies. Download!

BHO Demon: This monitors the settings of Internet Explorer and filters applications that use it to access the Internet. Download the BHO Demon here!
Dialer: To ensure that you, as a user of modem/ISDN devices, do not receive a heavy bill at the end of the month, we recommend the following applications. Note: It is also possible to have the 0190 number blocked by Telekom!

0190 Warner: This freeware warns of unauthorized use of the dial-up connection and saves the results in a log file. Users from Switzerland/Austria use the 0900-Warner (also available on this homepage), which works in the same way.

YAW (Yet Another Warner): Diese Software ist eine nützliches Dialer-Entfernungszentrale und sucht, dank Update der neuesten Signaturen, nach sämtlichen Dialern in der Internetwelt.

Das empfiehlt Windows-Tweaks zusätzlich...

Firewalls: So that you remain protected against many dangers (Trojans and hackers), it is not only the regular execution of the tools presented that helps, but also high-quality firewalls:

Symantec Norton Personal Firewall: Also on the Symantec download page you will find, in addition to NAV 2004, the trial version of the firewall, which is both easy to use and provides excellent protection against external attacks.
Kerio Personal Firewall: A free, very effective firewall, which also monitors traffic in front of and behind the firewall thanks to the intrusion system.

ZoneAlarm: One of the most frequently used firewalls for private workstations - has won countless awards in many PC magazines. Download here!

Outpost Firewall: More functions than ZoneAlarm, but more tailored to professional users: Outpost!

Sygate Personal Firewall: Very useful, very easy to use and very effective - both in the free version and in the Pro solution.

McAfee Personal Firewall Plus: The successful anti-virus software manufacturer is also launching a small, very positively rated firewall product.
Updates: In order for security gaps to be closed, you should do the following...

Update: Use the Microsoft Windows Update! An action that is strongly recommended by Windows-Tweaks.

Latest information on possible dangers: Microsoft often warns about current security patches and impending dangers on this page.

Program updates: Internet programs in particular (ICQ, file-sharing networks, etc.) are easy prey for hackers to gain access to the computer. The manufacturers are aware of the loopholes after some time, so you should generally check the manufacturer's website for updates and patches.

I hope that this page has helped you and I invite you to do another one: If you know of any very good security software (in any area) that you think is still missing from this page, please don't hesitate to write to me at: webmaster@windows-tweaks.info

NOTE FOR NEW PUBLICATION: This article was produced by Sandro Villinger and comes from the Windows Tweaks archive, which has been built up since the late 1990s.

Founded Windows Tweaks as a teenager in the 90s. His helpful PC tricks made it Germany's most visited Windows site (at the time Sandro looked like this). He then went on to write elsewhere, for example for PC-Praxis, Computer Bild and PCWorld in the USA. Microsoft also poached him from us. Now Sandro is back, finally sharing his tweaks here again. For a stress-free digital everyday life. You can reach Sandro via e-mail.

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