Defenses: Best Practices

Keeping safe with "Safe Mode".

Safe Mode is an available boot option in Microsoft Windows operating systems. When you choose Safe Mode, a smaller set of files is used to start and run the computer. While this limits some functionality, it allows you to trouble shoot problems. Because there are fewer files loaded into memory, running anti-virus and anti-spyware scans in Safe Mode makes them both faster and more effective. One of the big advantages of running in Safe Mode is that because fewer files are loaded to bring up the system, less malware is loaded as well. Some malware is very difficult to remove after it has loaded. Since most malware is designed to load at boot, Safe Mode offers a start up option that allows you to get the jump on malicious files and applications, preventing them from running and giving you a chance to eradicate them with your anti-virus and anti-spyware tools. How to get into Safe Mode: Reboot your computer, and press the F8 key until you see a white text menu. (Note: you need to begin pressing the F8 key as soon as your screen goes black. If you hear beeping when you press F8, then you don't need to press it anymore. However, if you see the "Windows" screen, then you didn't press it soon enough.) Select Safe Mode from the top of the list. (Note: you don't need Safe Mode with networking, nor do you want to choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt). Additional Information: Description of Safe Mode Boot Option for Windows XP