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windows security

Discussion in 'Questions and Answers' started by anlgp, Jan 31, 2010.

  1. anlgp

    anlgp ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

    what do you guys use? i generally don't run security even on my windows machine.. but i think i need to start. i've got stuff backed up in enough places, but i don't want this machine or OS wrecked.

    dammit i hate windows.. all this defragging, virus protection, registry cleaning.. god.
     
  2. Desides

    Desides Well-Known Member

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    I run OS X. :up:

    Okay, for real, Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Defender make a pretty good one-two punch against viruses and malware. They're probably the best free applications of their kind, and they perform their tasks well.

    On the firewall side, your DSL/cable modem and/or router should already have a good firewall built in, and that's all you really need. Windows Firewall is more of an annoyance than a necessity, but you can always flip it on if you really want to.
     
  3. anlgp

    anlgp ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

    :lol: the woman I live with insists on not having a password for our router because it seems friendly.

    seriously.

    thanks for the other tips.
     
  4. Muck

    Muck Throwback Uniform Crusader Retired Administrator

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    Windows 7 + AVG 9

    I've never defraged my system because Windows 7 does it for me by default. 0% fragmentation.
     
  5. Desides

    Desides Well-Known Member

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    Time to put on your man-pants and get some security going there. :up:
     
  6. anlgp

    anlgp ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

    Heeeey, I have windows 7 I wonder if this means it is doing it for me as a default as well?

    She's 30 some years my senior and I'm not in a relationship with her :lol:
     
  7. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    Avast! Free & Spybot
     
  8. sking29

    sking29 What it takes to be cool

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    Well due to recent virus attacks on my computer I now run besides McAfee Security Suiite with antivirus, antspyware, firewall, etc.; avast!, superantispyware, and the best antimalware I've ever used malewarebytes.

    To tell you the truth just go to download.com and search for the best user rated items for whatever you want. There are a bunch of all in one security suites there and I recommend just using that.

    Oh and I can't believe you don't run anything and have never had a virus...lucky you. :D
     
    anlgp likes this.
  9. anlgp

    anlgp ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

    Thanks.

    The ratio of viruses to non-viruses I've had since I've been able to stream porn is fantastic :shifty:

    Thank you, broadband.
     
  10. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    some prefer to stay virus free
    and free of an over abundance of over bloated security apps
    it is possible :up:
     
  11. Clipse

    Clipse mediocrity sucks

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    Avast is the best free Anti-Virus out there. Though AVG and Avira aren't too far behind. AVG also has a good Anti Spyware to go with it.

    Ad-Aware, Spybot Search and Destroy, Malwarebytes, and Super Anti Spyware are the the best free Anti Spyware programs.

    I personally use Avast and Ad-Aware.
     
  12. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    AVG is horrible now that they've been bought out, the free version is almost not like having an antivirus installed at all. Avast! or Avira are probably the top free applications out now and both work automatically in the background.

    For everything else, try Advanced System Care...it's an all in one wonder. Oh, and don't sweat the firewall too much...Avast! scans as you go so firewalls are redundant.
     
  13. sking29

    sking29 What it takes to be cool

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    I believed that way until about a week ago. I've been using a computer for basically 14 years and either had Norton Security Suite or McAfee Security Suite and never once had a virus. Then a week ago I encountered a site with popups from hell and my ideas changed fast. It is overkill I suppose but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

    If you did, however, want to keep things simple and fight the viruses as they come and not catch them beforehand I would just install the McAfee Security Suite or use avast! with malwarebytes.
     
  14. Muck

    Muck Throwback Uniform Crusader Retired Administrator

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    Ironically I'm finding AVG catches more browser-based attacks that MS Essentials and some others. But everyone's mileage will vary. I tend to rotate what I use for work purposes.

    Comodo has probably the best free security suite out there IMO. It's quite robust and free for business too. No registrations or annoyances like Avast or Avira. Though there's something to be said about the balance of features and simplicity in some situations.
     
    anlgp likes this.
  15. Wicked Vex

    Wicked Vex Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    This.

    I use Avast as my AV.

    Ad-Aware, Spybot, and Malwarebytes for all the other junk.

    CCleaner to clean out my registry and such.

    Auslogics Disk Defrag for my hard drive.
     
  16. GridIronKing34

    GridIronKing34 Silently Judging You

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    I use Symantec but that's simply because it's free from the University. You should look into something like that, most colleges offer free virus protection to keep them off of their network.

    I just set weekly scans on everything and go from there, haven't had any problems so far... Seems to me the majority of people who get viruses do so from those "virus protection" ads and downloading music and porn... I think if you just run scans and be wary of what you're doing, you'll be fine.
     
  17. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    This is a new wave of viruses that can be imbedded directly into any website, bypassing all protections serverside. They are normally located and disabled quickly by the host, but until then you are wide open to attack and trying to close the popups actually installs the virus on your system.

    Most security suites (including McAfee and Norton) bog down your system by agressively taking resources from other applications...which ironically is the same thing many viruses do. Likewise, I can track down and uninstall five viruses in the same amount of time I could uninstall McAfee from your system...it roots itself everywhere. You do not need a whole suite of protection...as you said yourself the attack stilll made it to your slow computer and all that extra security was useless.

    Get Avast or Avira, keep them (and Windows) updated, and use a free spyware program. This is about as safe as you're going to get...anyone who tells you they are 100% secure has absolutely no idea what they are talking about in this day and age.
     
    anlgp likes this.
  18. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    I use ESET NOD32. Never had any issues...
     
    DaFish likes this.
  19. DaFish

    DaFish Well-Known Member

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    ding ding ding ding! We have a winner! Not only have I never had any issues but Nod is so easy on your system resources. This is with Nod32 running:

    [​IMG]
    Not bad memory usage for a Windows 7 machine.

    Antivirus: Nod32
    Antispyware: Malwarebytes and Superantispyware


    If you are behind a router then you shouldn't need a software firewall as long as you keep everything clean. Use Firefox and I have found it useful to install a copy of Linux in Virtualbox just browsing the web.
     
    anlgp likes this.
  20. anlgp

    anlgp ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A

    Is this NOD32 free?
     
  21. Desides

    Desides Well-Known Member

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    NOD32, and its big brother suite Eset Smart Security, is payware. But well worth it, the only AV software I'd actually shell out money for.

    If MSE wasn't already good enough, that is.
     
    DaFish likes this.
  22. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Lol, you guys are not making any sense. Why tell someone to buy something if there's just as good out there for free?

    Tonight I missed Lost (forgot it was the season premire) so I went hunting for it on the internet and couldn't find it. Two of the sites were one of the new popup viruses, Avast went, "whoo whoo whoo...virus detected," each time. I healed one, deleted the other, and that was that.

    People already talked about having McAfee suite and other paid scanners that did not stop these new viruses, and even though it was probably their own fault for not staying updated (Avast updates automatically at startup and in real time) what exactly did they pay for? I probably fix 10 computers a month that had some $200-$400 fancy super scanner on it that was filled with viruses. I download avast, update, let it remove everything, then delete their fancy scanner.
     
  23. DaFish

    DaFish Well-Known Member

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    Agreed that Mcafee, Norton, and the like are crap. Those things chew up resources like candy.
     
  24. Desides

    Desides Well-Known Member

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    Because the free stuff is only good up to a point. The rule of thumb is that free AV scanners will catch about 85% of all viruses on average; paid stuff will catch about 95%.

    And even then, it depends on the specific scanner. MSE has an unusually high detection rate for a free scanner, while Norton is more like a virus than an anti-virus.

    For my money, Eset Smart Security is the ultimate buy.(Actually, the ultimate buy is a Mac, but that's another thread.) But if I were a cheapa**, I'd stick with MSE and my router/modem's hardware firewall.
     
  25. DaFish

    DaFish Well-Known Member

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    I would use the free stuff over Norton. Eset is the only one I would actually pay for.
     
  26. maynard

    maynard Who, whom?

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    everyone here is right, but the best advice, imo, is if you are really concerned, get something and monitor it all the time: update it, run it and repeat as much as you can remember
     
  27. GatorDrew84

    GatorDrew84 New Member

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    I agree with maynard, everyone here has a favorite... it's up to you to make the final decision. Here is my opinion though (this is what I install on client workstations... I own FourLeaf IT)

    • For virus protection, I've come to like Avira Antivirus. On the free version there's a popup that comes up every now and then, to remove this popup follow these instructions. Other virus programs that I've used an implemented is Panda Cloud Antivirus, Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), and AVG. I have two computers... one uses Panda and the other uses MSE. I personally like Panda on my work laptop because it uses a very, very small amount of memory. I haven't implemented it on client workstations simply because I'm not 100% sure how good it is (I'm personally testing it, but my habits are much safer than the typical user).
    • For registry cleanup, security review, defrag, and a generally GREAT all-in-one tool I highly recommend Advanced System Care. This program has worked wonders on many workstations. It removes junk files, cleans the registry, etc. What I also like is that it makes it so that your computer won't even DOWNLOAD or ACCESS certain sites that are 100% sure to give you viruses, spyware, etc. It's a fantastic tool and I use it ALL THE TIME. It's really easy to use. After install, click on the top center icon, "Maintain Windows", and click "Scan" afterwards click "Repair." Now, go to "Diagnose System" (right icon) and click "Scan" and then click "Repair." Once in a while, like once a month or so, click the "Utilities" icon (bottom center) and click Internet Booster. There's also IOrbit Registry Defrag, etc.
    • Make sure you have Malwarebytes Anti-Malware installed as this is a great program and has worked plenty of times.
    • If you download torrent files, or do anything you're not supposed to do online, I highly recommend you download PeerBlock. At the most basic level, this blocks sites that try to track you and your online activities.

    OK... I think that does it for the thread. If you want to read more of my advice check out these blog posts that I've written:


    If this thread/blog posts don't answer your concerns, please let me know!
     
  28. DaFish

    DaFish Well-Known Member

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    Peerblock improved in many areas where Peer Guardian was buggy and sometimes proved to be useless. The only issue I have is that after running PB for a couple of days, it starts disappearing from my system tray. I have checked all the settings. The only thing that fixes the issue is a reinstall.
     
  29. GatorDrew84

    GatorDrew84 New Member

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    I actually experience the exact same problem. What OS do you have? I have that issue on Windows Vista x64 and Windows 7 x64.
     
  30. DaFish

    DaFish Well-Known Member

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    I am having the issue on two machines. One is running Windows 7 x64 and the other Windows 7 x32. I have no issues with it on my XP box.
     

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