Real World Example: Windows Updates mean everything

In today's Real World Example, it seems that no matter what anti-virus and anti-spyware you have installed, if you forget to install all your Windows Updates, you can still get a pretty nasty infection.

Now, truth be told, I already knew this, and had told my client's such on many an occasion. Still, this was the first occasion where I think I can actually trace it as the cause for this particular problem. This machine was severely infected, and took a long time to clean out, even though everything looked up to date. Then I noticed that there were several, critical updates for Internet Explorer 7 that had not been installed. Once i got those installed, I was able to clean up the issues and get the machine working again.

I often describe this issue as having your door locked with 6 dead bolt locks, but leaving the window next to it wide open. Unpatched Windows flaws allow some exploits to "force feed" your computer spyware and viruses, even when you think you are protected.

So, let me climb up on the pulpit once more and deliver the 3 Commandments for Safe Computing in today's world...

1. Install all Windows Updates immediately
(or set your Windows Updates to Automatic)
2. Install and update your anti-virus program
(ClamWin (http://clamwin.org) is my current choice)
3. Install and update your anti-spyware program
(MS Defender (http://microsoft.com) is a good first line of defense)

Be well and keep your computer spyware free!

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Correcting a Microsoft Defender Error

by Douglas E. Welch, techiq@welchwrite.com
Reader/Listener Line @ 206-338-5832

If you are seeing an error message like this when you start your computer, don't panic. Both the cause and solution are simple.

"Windows Defender

Application failed to initialize: 0x800106ba. A problem has caused Windows Defender Service to stop. To start the service, restart your computer or search Help and Support on how to start a service manually."

It seems that an earlier, Beta, version of Microsoft Defender expired on December 31, 2006. Anyone who had that version installed will receive this message when they start up their computer. Of course, one would think that Microsoft could have found a more graceful way of telling people this in a user-friendly manner, instead of dumping a standard, and might i say, useless, error message like this.

Oh well, the answer to the problem is to simply download and install the latest version of Microsoft Defender.

Microsoft Defender Download Page
Let us hope the Microsoft develops a better way of informing us about software expiration in the future.

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