Computer Support/Software Troubleshooting/PC Security

This lesson covers troubleshooting PC security.

Objectives and Skills

Objectives and skills for the troubleshooting PC security portion of A+ certification include:^[1]

Given a scenario, troubleshoot common PC security issues with appropriate tools and best practices.

• Common symptoms
  • Pop-ups
  • Browser redirection
  • Security alerts
  • Slow performance
  • Internet connectivity issues
  • PC/OS lock up
  • Application crash
  • OS updates failures
  • Rogue antivirus
  • Spam
  • Renamed system files
  • Files disappearing
  • File permission changes
  • Hijacked email
    • Responses from users regarding email
    • Automated replies from unknown sent email
  • Access denied
  • Invalid certificate (trusted root CA)
• Tools
  • Antivirus software
  • Antimalware software
  • Recovery console
  • Terminal
  • System restore/Snapshot
  • Pre-installation environments
  • Event viewer
  • Refresh/restore
  • MSCONFIG/Safe boot
• Best practice procedure for malware removal
  1. Identify malware symptoms
  2. Quarantine infected system
  3. Disable system restore (in Windows)
  4. Remediate infected systems
     • Update antimalware software
     • Scan and removal techniques (safe mode, pre-installation environment)
  5. Schedule scans and run updates
  6. Enable system restore and create restore point (in Windows)
  7. Educate end user

Multimedia

1. Watch YouTube: Troubleshooting Common Security Issues - CompTIA A+ 220-902 - 4.2.
2. Watch YouTube: Tools for Security Troubleshooting - CompTIA A+ 220-902 - 4.2.
3. Watch YouTube: Best Practices for Malware Removal - CompTIA A+ 220-902 - 4.2.

References