Have you ever, when installing something on your computer, run into a screen asking you whether you want to do the “express install (recommended)” or the “custom install (for advanced users only)”? You aren’t an advanced user right? WRONG! When you click “express” you may not know it but you have just given the software installer the permission to install whatever it wants. It will use this permission to install malware, bloatware, and other things you may not want.
What you need to do is ALWAYS choose “custom install”. It may seem intimidating when you see words like “for advanced users”, and it is meant to! It is standard practice now for software providers to bundle customer care programs, sponsored software, and promotional software in with their installation packages (three really pretty terms for “malware”). None of which you need or want. You need to be in control of what gets put on your computer, and really it isn’t as scary as it seems.
When you click “custom install” during software installation (this includes hardware drivers as well) you will be prompted for which software you wish to install. Read the list carefully. In the case of things like hardware drivers there will be a mandatory package which you must install (you won’t be permitted to not install it). You need to take a careful look at the options you are given. Right off the bat you do not need anything that says “updates” or anything referencing customer care programs. These programs will routinely communicate across your network without your permission. Updates can always be done manually, and should be.
Next look to see if there is any software that you didn’t ask for or want (generally from another manufacturer). Don’t install it! Also keep vigilant as you continue the installation process for the software trying to trick you into installing promotional software. These normally come in the form of “toolbars”, “default browsers”, “trial software”. They are normally disguised behind complex language and check boxes. WATCH FOR CHECKBOXES AND READ THEM CAREFULLY!
Next, depending on the software, you may need to set “file associations”. What this means is that you are setting the installed program as the program that the selected file types will open with. For example; when installing a media player you would set MP3 as a file association so that when you click on an MP3 file it automatically opens in the installed program. Examine the file associations carefully. Make sure the file types selected are in fact the file types you want associated with the new software.
You are more than likely done at this point. You may need to reboot your machine (follow the instructions), but you have done it! You are an advanced user now. On top of that you aren’t stuck with a bunch of useless malware installed on your machine impeding performance. Had you selected “express install” the software you were installing would have been given the control to install itself in the interest of the company that produced it instead of the interest of you the user.
See You Out There!
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