how to secure a recently acquired W7 computer

[calledoutone]

Looking for advice in securing our new W7 computer. It's a used computer with a new hard drive installed by our son, who has a business dealing with computers and networking. He's an "IT specialist". He suggested, when I asked, that "an antivirus program isn't going to protect your computer". I do know that being behind a router helps a lot, but still, I thought we should have something to protect us from "the unknown",,

On the old drive, (the one that failed), I used to have 1)Malwarebytes antimalware , 2)Spybot Search and Destroy, and 3)Panda, which was giving us too many scare ads to push us to buy something of an upgrade from the free version.

Plus, I usually install CCleaner.

What is your advice on what kind of antivirus protection to have?

My wife uses Pinterest and Facebook, Youtube, and just general browsing mostly concerning dietary things, recipes, etc.

Mostly, I just want to know that I've done the right thing by this computer to protect it from viruses, etc.. Plus, I want a program to scan for viruses periodically, when there's some suspicion of infection.

I've used Avast (until it got too busy with the ads), Panda, Trend Micro (when it was a free online scan), and I forget what else. MSE was once suggested to me.

Any advice?

 

[USAFRet]

Looking for advice in securing our new W7 computer.

Is this "new out of the sealed box from the store", or "used and new to you" ?

 

[calledoutone]

"Used and new to us"

It's a used computer from one of his clients. New hard drive, freshly installed with W7.

 

[USAFRet]

"Used and new to us"

It's a used computer from one of his clients. New hard drive, freshly installed with W7.

No matter what the previous owner did, I would personally do a full wipe and reinstall of the OS.

Yeah, yeah...trustworthy client, etc, etc.
Full wipe and reinstall. Then you know.

This also verifies the provenance of the OS licensing. Valid license key or not.

After that, standard security rules come into play:
Antivirus. BitDefender for example.
A malware scanner. Malwarebytes.
AdBlock for your browser(s).
OS and application updates.
Don't install random junk.


After that, this: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-3098406/home-cybersecurity-recommendations.html
And this: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/242300-49-free-common-sense-internet-security-2011

The best security is that which lives between your ears.

 

[calledoutone]

yes, actually the present hard drive was just installed by our son, and then he himself installed W7 freshly.

Thanks for your advice, and the links. I'll check them out.

 

[_Cosmin_]

New hard drive, freshly installed with W7

No matter what the previous owner did, I would personally do a full wipe and reinstall of the OS.

He specify correctly: used computer with new hdd in it...
New drive had no previous owner. Also he just said he had a fresh install of windows - why does he need to do it again?

@calledoutone: Get rid of that CCleaner - just use top antiviruses like Eset, Kaspersky, Bitdefender in combination with Malwarebytes + Ghostery and you`ll be fine.

 

[USAFRet]

New hard drive, freshly installed with W7

No matter what the previous owner did, I would personally do a full wipe and reinstall of the OS.

He specify correctly: used computer with new hdd in it...
New drive had no previous owner. Also he just said he had a fresh install of windows - why does he need to do it again?

When I asked the question, it had not been specified exactly when the OS was installed:
" "Used and new to us"
It's a used computer from one of his clients. New hard drive, freshly installed with W7. "