Anti virus, Trojan's and Spyware.

[phil]

Just reading a security guide in a magazine and it explains how you need an anti virus program, ideally a dedicated anti trojan tool plus some spyware software removal tool etc.

Is all this needed? I mean, thats like 3 programs there with their recomendations.

Your comments, thanks.

 

[Solaris17]

well i was always under the impression that one program could catch what the other misses i myself have a antivirus, spyware ,firewall(not the xp one) and a regestry cleaner program and it all keeps my comp running smooth.

 

[Polaris573]

You need at the very least an antivirus program. I would recommend having an antivirus, firewall, and spyware program. Spybot is great and 100% free. AVG and zonealarm both have free versions of their products.

 

[DR.Death]

i use norton av 2006 and addware and spybot to scan mine

 

[phil]

Cheers peeps, are there any products that do all of the above in one package?

 

[trog100]

bitdefender pro seems to do it all.. seems a nice piece of kit..

i run kerio as a firewall.. use bitdefender just for its antivirus but i dont run it all the time.. not sure if they make kerio any more thow..

i think the best protection is not to run windows browser and email software.. use firefox and thunderbird instead.. and be carefull where u go.. he he he

also check on a regular basis what new thing get set to fire up when windows starts.. if something new appears find out what it is..

trog

 

[Deleted member 3]

Personalyl I think it highly depends on your computer usage. I'd recommend using a viruskiller, my personal choice is F-secure.
As for ant spyware, a simple tool like ad-aware could clean up your computer once in a while. If you know how to use your computer and don't visit weird sites or open spam I'd say you don't need an active defender. A popup killer might be nice though.
Since a trojan horse is just a type of virus I'd say let the viruskiller take care of it.

If you want a complete package that sniffs your computer for junk I heard hitman pro is nice. Can't really tell you from experience though.

 

[Deleted member 3]

Ah, forgot the firewall. I don't use one, I'm using NAT.

If you really want a piece of software for it use zonealarm or something, many ppl seem to use it, I don't like it. Or you could of course install a dedicated ISA server

 

[G.T]

I Wouldn't really trust just one piece of software to "do it all" and do it all well and keep my rig clean. It's just too much to ask.

AV + Firewall = essential
Spybot + Ad-Aware = Also essential (Also install the vx2cleaner plug-in for Ad-Aware) + also download and run cwshredder.exe (Both can be found via Google or by visiting the hijackthis forum/web page)

Good web habits and some general computer housekeeping should also help keep you in good shape.

Knowing your system and what is on it is also a really good idea, so when those files that you didn't put there turn up you know when it's time to do some fast investigation as to where it came from and how it got there before you nuke it off of your system.

 

[Thermopylae_480]

I use AVG, Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware SE, configure Firefox to block many spyware and tracking cookies so they most often don't even make it to my computer unless its something new, and Sygate as my firewall. If anything survives on my computer its one super tough program.

 

[giorgos th.]

no antivirus,Sybot S&D,Zonealarm,Adaware SE and working clean for ages...

 

[Polaris573]

no antivirus,Sybot S&D,Zonealarm,Adaware SE and working clean for ages...

You wouldn't know if you did have something if you never scan it. Unless you spend a lot of time sifting through the registry. Even then.......

If you're extremely carefull you may be safe for quite a while, but accidents happen. Sometimes you just get infected.

 

[Keiki]

Hmm I've got a question, if u have a router and ur behind NAT, but u open ports. Can people hack ur comp through those opened ports?

 

[mex]

I use Norton Internet security and use Nortons firewall. I also use Microsoft Antispyware and i think it works very well.

Dont forget Service Pack 2 that improves IIS and also prevents popups.

With all that i never have a problem and i barely notice it running.

 

[giorgos th.]

You wouldn't know if you did have something if you never scan it. Unless you spend a lot of time sifting through the registry. Even then.......

If you're extremely carefull you may be safe for quite a while, but accidents happen. Sometimes you just get infected.

i`m not using an antivirus for about 1+ year.i scan tactically and since then i didnt have the smallest problem.all the scans are made in safe mode.

 

[bruins004]

I use Nortons and Ad-Aware PE. No problems yet.

 

[OOTay]

Hmmm, I use AVG Email Server Antivirus, Zonealarm Pro, and many many spyware programs... The best one being BPS Anti-Spyware. Ad-aware SE is just garbage now, but if you want spyware protection with out nothing running i suggest using Spyware Blaster. Heres a list of great programs that i use and i think are some are the best. Pest Patrol, Spyware Doctor, Spybot, Bazooka, Spyware Blaster, and BPS Anti-Spyware. Those are really great anti-spyware programs. Oh and the new Zonealarm Pro I dont like at all becuase it alerts you about everything even if you turn alerts off so i use version 6.0.667.000 which is one of the best newer ones.

 

[giorgos th.]

i would add spy sweeper also.very effective.

 

[Deleted member 3]

Hmm I've got a question, if u have a router and ur behind NAT, but u open ports. Can people hack ur comp through those opened ports?

Sure, then again people capable of doing it won't bother hacking you, you have nothing of value to them.

Unless of course you forward ports and have servers listening which could of course be hacked. Don't forward anything you don't need, don't run servers and you should be fine. Just make sure you're patched and don't open junk.