WADSNET Recommendations

 Disclaimer: WADSNET does not endorse these products or sites.  These products or sites are recommendations or for references only.

Antivirus:

  • We strongly recommend an antivirus on all computers.
  • Although we do check all emails for viruses, not all viruses spread through email
  • We also recommend that you update your virus definitions or databases weekly 
  • The following are recommended antivirus software:
    Product Hits: Misses
    GRISOFT AVG Free version, protects emails, small Free version lacks advanced options
    Norton Antivirus Updates simple, checks nearly all new viruses Have to pay yearly subscriptions; probelms with Outlook Express and passwords; Uses a lot of memory.
    McAfee VirusScanner Auto-update feature, fastest search and scan Have to pay yearly subscriptions;

Routers:

  • If you have a multiple PCs, we strongly recommend a router to block network intrusions to your local area network
  • For a complete list of DSL/CABLE MODEM routers, go to http://www.google.com and search for "DSL Cable modem routers"
  • If you have a router and would like to set it up, click here.

Firewall:

  • If you have only 1 PC and your PC is fairly new, we strongly recommend install a personal firewall.  
  • For more information about firewalls, visit http://grc.com/su-firewalls.htm 

Spam

  • Spam is unsolicited commercial emails 
  • To stop SPAM do the following:
    - Never send e-cards
    - Never unsubscribe to email list you never joined
    - Never post your email address anywhere on the Internet
    - Never signing up for free getaways online
    - Never forward emails that promise money, ask for help or chain emails
  • If you get SPAM, you can filter it out using your email client.  WADSNET adds to most SPAM emails the subject of "{SPAM?}".  You can create filters on your email client to delete or remove all emails.

Pop-up blockers

  • To stop annoying POP-UP ads on websites, choose and install one of the following:
    Product Hits Misses
    Pop-up Blocker Free, simple, has sound effects, easy installation Very few options, must upgrade to professional edition to get more options and features. No history of blocked sites.
    StopZilla Easy installation and setup, has personal blacklist, spyware blocker, cookie blocker, adware blocker, history blocker. Trial version only for 15 days.  Must buy full version.
    Proxomitron Free, tons of options Very complex to install
    PopUp Killer Easy setup, has blocked list, logs. Trial version only for 15 days. Must buy full version.

 

Port blocking

  • For security reasons, WADSNET blocks the following known abusive ports
    UDP 135,137,138,139,593 Microsoft Windows file and printing sharing.  To prevent most Windows scripts and hacks.
    TCP 135,137,138,139 Microsoft Windows file and printing sharing.  To prevent most Windows scripts and hacks.
    UDP/TCP 445,593 Microsoft SMB Port; Windows file and printing sharing on Windows 2000 and XP
    TCP 27374 SubSeven 2.1 Windows Remote Control Trojan uses this port

Email attachment blocking

  • To prevent email viruses and denial of service attacks on our email servers, we block the following email attachments
    partial  emails Some email clients break large attachments into smaller emails.  Partial emails will be deleted to prevent possible viruses. To prevent this, in your email client, turn this feature off.
    Hiding real extension Attachments like THIS.EXR.DOC
    *.SCR Screen Saver attachments
    *.LNK, *.PIF Link or shortcut files.  Instead of sending a LNK file, just email the person a URL
    *.BAT, *.CMD Possible viruses windows scripting worms
    reg , chm, cnf, hta, ins,jse, ma[dfgmqrstvw], scf, sct, shb, shs, vb[es], ws[cfh], cpl, mhtml These extensions are possible worm scripts.  All are blocked. 
(c) 2003 Wadsworth Internet Service, the City of Wadsworth. 
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