Preventive Maintenance on Operating Systems

Editor's Notes

• #2: Preventive Maintenance on Operating Systems. Performing preventive maintenance on the computer is very important for preventing hardware and software failures as well as the loss of data. Overall computer maintenance can be split between hardware and software maintenance. As a part of this presentation, we will focus on the software maintenance of Operating Systems. Windows is the most common operating system installed in computer systems across the world. That is why it is good practice to learn and keep certain habits in order to keep Win OS running without any common errors. The best practices to prevent any future problems are: --- Create a System Repair Disk Go to Start button, click Control Panel, click Backup and Restore, click Create a system repair disc and follow the wizard instructions to create System Repair Disc. In case of System failure, Repair Disk will help you get Windows Up and running. --- Create Automatic Backups Go to Start button, click Control Panel, click Backup and Restore, click Set up backup, and follow the wizard to create Automatic Backups of your system. Backup is a copy of the file, from which original file can be restored in case of disk or memory failure or damage. --- Monitor Computer Performance. Available tools for this task are (Task Manager, Performance Monitor and Reliability Monitor) Task Manager: Use for the current state of the system and running applications. Under the performance tab, general performance can be monitored via processor and memory modules statistics. Performance Monitor: Includes real time data displayed in a graph with customizable counters and statistics display. Reliability Monitor: This is the overall system stability index and shows software changes or failures. --- Hard Disk Maintenance. Keep the system clean and avoid downloading and installing un-necessary applications. Disk Cleanup: Safely remove temporary, old or unnecessary files and logs. Disk Defragmenter: Used for optimizing the performance of the hard disk by defragmenting files from the different locations on the hard disk and putting them into a single location Check Disk: Can mark and recognize bad sectors on the disk so that they are no longer in use. It also gathers lost clusters on the hard disk, connects cross-linked files and corrects their cluster associations. --- System Startup Maintenance. Prevent unnecessary applications from starting automatically Msconfig: Configure Startup preferences, system components, customize Windows setup components and enable or disable startup utilities and programs.
• #3: Software and Windows Updates Windows Updates is a service developed by Microsoft Corporation, which allow administrators of the computer to manage patches and hotfixes released for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems. Windows Update automatically downloads and installs updates if settings allow it to do so. Hotfix: Update released to fix very specific issues. Small patches designed to address specific issue. Every hotfix includes a number, which refers to the Microsoft Knowledge Base, where it is explained what the given hotfix is released to fix. Hotfix is applied automatically and applied immediately. Service Pack or SP: A more complex update, which includes all released patches, hotfixes and maintenance releases, until the date of the service pack release. This is available in a single installable package form. Installing the service pack is less error-prone than individually installing several patches or hotfixes. A service pack might include additional functionality to the OS. Every service pack is numbered with SP + the number of service pack (ex: SP1, SP2). Microsoft Update Don’t get confused with Microsoft Updates. The Microsoft Updates service is a different type of update service for additional Microsoft products, example: Microsoft Office. This service is disabled by default. Third Party Software Update and drivers Non-Microsoft applications must be update separately. Windows Update doesn’t include updates for this type of application or software. Keep your additional driver up to date. Windows updates only provide updates for driver files registered with Microsoft. Non-registered drivers must be updated manually from the website of the manufacturer. Firmware Update Firmware is the basic software embedded in a hardware device. Any update must be downloaded directly from the website of the manufacturer if available. While installing firmware update, administrator have to make sure that computer won’t be disconnected from the power supply. Aborted process of installation can cause serious harm to the hardware.
• #4: Malware Malware is a malicious software or code that is designed to damage a computer or data WITHOUT the user’s knowledge or approval. To protect the computer against malware, it is necessary to install anti-malware software. There is wide variety of software solutions offered. Packages can include: spyware protection, adware or even spam protection or “shields.” Protection Some basic steps on how to keep the computer clean and running are: - Keep anti-malware software up to date - Implement anti-malware protection on an individual host to scan files before they are downloaded on the end computer - Implement policies to restrict downloading or opening of suspicious files Keep yourself informed about newest security breaches and their causes Symptoms Common symptoms to look for if the computer contains malicious software are: - Slow computer - Turned off firewall, antivirus system - Corrupted or changed files or their names Firewall alerts, system errors System failure or blackout Any suspicious “behavior” of the system, different from standard Treatment If scans detect malware, recovery can take place. The corrupted and infected files or software can be repaired, deleted or put into quarantine. Some programs can’t be removed while running. In this case, the malware can be removed after a scan is performed and before the operating system loads. This scan must be processed and planned by the user in setting up the anti-malware software.
• #5: Security and System vulnerability Security Center in Windows Vista and 7 can check the current security status of the computer by checking the status of antivirus, firewall or if automatic updates are up and running. As a part of overall operation system protection, Microsoft Windows include Advance Security Utility, where The Windows Firewall can be configured. Windows Firewall can manage and filter traffic based on parameters. Source IP address, destination IP address, port number and ICMP protocol are the main features of Windows Firewall. Antivirus Software Antivirus Software is developed software to detect and remove computer viruses. Viruses are malicious codes designed to take over or damage a computer. Viruses need a trigger or some form of action by the user to keep spreading around the network and other computers. Antivirus software needs to be installed as an addition to any Windows operation system to ensure protection for the computer against viruses. Some extra functions of antivirus software vary by the manufacturer. The main functions of antivirus software are: Scanning The scanner included in the antivirus software will scan all files on the hard drive and the memory and search for unique code (virus). This unique code is compared with the database of known viruses and, if a match is found, the antivirus software switches an alarm and notifies the user about the issue. Integrity Checking Checks if the file was changed due to virus activity or corruption as the file will no longer match the recorded integrity information. Most integrity checkers can detect other damage or corrupted data and restore them. Heuristic Virus Checking The developer of the antivirus software will set the rules to recognize differences between virus and regular applications. This method is favored because it doesn’t require regular downloads of the virus database. However, it is not very efficient because different viruses can obey these rules and pass the anti-virus check. Interception This function detects virus-like behavior and warns the user about it. Antivirus software can be effective only if it is kept up to date and regular scans of the system are scheduled and completed.
• #6: Spyware and Adware Spyware is a technology that gathers information about a person or organization from the computer WITHOUT the users’ knowledge. Spyware doesn’t actually harm or take over the computer. It is simply collecting information and sending the data over to a preconfigured server or other data collecting device. Spybot is a spyware and adware removal software. The main function of Spybot is to search and destroy more specific types of malware like: keylogers, trojans, trackersware etc… The basic version of the program is freeware for personal users. The paid version is for commercial use. Adware are programs designed to display advertisements while the user is browsing internet. This functionality is mostly unwanted and very disturbing. Opposite of Spyware, Adware collects data WITH users consent. Lavasoft is a software development company that produces one of the most effective Anti-adware software named Ad-Aware. This set of tools will help to clean and prevent the computer from being infected by common Adware programs. Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ is under freeware license for personal users. The other three paid products of Lavasoft from the family of Ad-Aware software are for personal and commercial: Ad-Aware Personal Security, Ad-Aware Pro Security and Ad-Aware Total Security with added functions. It take some effort and knowledge to keep computer system up and running. This effort is necessary to prevent important data loss or damage. Marek Majtan December 11, 2014 For CIS111M Class Frederick Community College
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