Hi there fellow forumers...
 

Hey everyone, I just wanted to make a quick post to introduce myself to you on this message board.


My name is Andy Moquin from Buffalo, New York. Glad to be a new member of this awesome forum site. I think I'll enjoy my stay here.


In the meantime, I will be stopping by once or twice a day to make a few posts and hopefully become a part of what seems like a great community of webmasters working together and I look forward of getting to know you all.


Hope to build a great working relationship with as many of you as possible over the coming weeks, months and years...

So, what anti virus protection do you use?
 

Let me know what anti virus protection software you use? I need some ideas so i can get the best avaiable for my new laptop.

Thanks in advance...

I use no Antivirus but recommend Comodo. I do use their firewall though. Free and very good.

Firewall and AntiVirus Free Software Download from Comodo

AntiVitrus & other protections
 

Hi Andrew

The first thing I would like to point out is that you should not put your real name in an open world-wide forum simply because they are a lot of creeps and crooks out there. This forum, over the years, has had more than it's share of creepy crawlies.

Secondly, "best available" PC/laptop protection tends to be down to user experience, personal preference and facilities on offer.

That said, I use Norton Internet Security 2009, which consist of AntiVirus and Personal Firewall as it's major components. I also use SpywareBlaster, Spybot and Adaware plus I am toying with the idea of using Prevx again, which I have used in the recent past.

However, you should be aware that no protection, no matter what is advertised or said, can protect you against a targeted attack or using the Internet recklessly, e.g. downloading and running apps from unreliable sources, visiting dodgy or hacked websites, etc.

These warnings are not meant to frighten you off, they're just to let you know about the potential dangers.

Nevertheless, have fun using Limewire.


UK Bob

But dont you find it very annoying? I used it for a few days but got so fed up with them little things popping up, asking if it wants my anti-virus to connect to the internet <lol>
Zonealarm on Vista is a no-go. ESPECIALLY if you are using Firefox, i found that when using Firefox for more than 30 mins (and uTorrent), the program would crash and just hang on to processes, having to do a hard reboot.

I use Avira, which is better than AVG in my eyes, less memory usage, and easier interface. I also recommend a Firewall called PC Tools Firewall Plus, little annoyance and free online protection.

The "annoyance" as you call it, is what a firewall is supposed to do. If you trust something allow it always and it never pops up again, unless it has changed. BTW Comodo is much more than a firewall, because it monitors every change on your PC.

Oh please, it IS an annoyance, everytime you try and open a program, comodo pops up about 10 times for the same thing, and you do know you can actually CHANGE that, changing security level.
You say that it moniters everything on your PC, do you have an antivirus? sorry you've said that, no.

Dunno what your problem is, but you seem to be quite obtuse towards me in every post.

Install it on a clean computer. Choose safe mode. Works like a charm. Last time it popped up was when I installed a new program like 3 weeks ago. Of course if you just install it it will ask lots of things.

The choice for security level is there for a reason.

Last time I scanned my computer (online scan) there were 12 files popped up. Not one of them was a virus. OR anything malicious.

The reason I may sound obtuse towards you is because you say things that I find unrepresented. Should I just agree with you, when I know you are wrong?

Edit: And the reason I don't use an AntiVirus is because in my case I don't feel I need one. I use only trusted sources to download from. I don't visit websites I know can be insecure. They keep deleting files I don't want deleted, ignoring exceptions (Well Comodo AntiVirus at least asks you first). I am the only user of my laptop. I keep my PC running great by reinstalling XP once in a while. I don't recommend running without one unless you know exactly why you are running without one. Like I said in first post. I don't use one, but I recommend others to use one.

I'm a Mac OSX user, however run Windows XP (x2) & 2000 with assistance of Parallels which runs them as a virtual OS in a separate window. I keep settings secure between both, only allowing myself to drag & drop files between.

For security for Windows XP, I use: Kapersky firewall & Anti-Virus which comes with Parallels. Anti-virus auto-updates definitions at least once a week sometimes more often, scans the system each time I log-on at least. It tells me of anything suspicious before taking action.

I also use: Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster, Ad-Aware, SuperAntiSpyware, Malicious Software Removal Tool. I also use CCleaner regularly to cleanup internet, system & windows explorer temporary files. I only Spybot for spyware on a 2nd Windows XP.

I have used Malwarebytes a lot to clean up other peoples PC's. It's pretty nice that it can run side by side with their (usually paid for subscription) security suite, which can't very effective or they wouldn't need me to clean up their sh!t.

CCleaner I use, but mostly to clean up left behind stuff in the registry or for properly uninstalling programs.

avast! - Download antivirus software for spyware and virus protection Good free antivirus for both Windoze and Linux

Here is a link that I'm posting that has some very good Free Programs including recommendations for security. I think you'll find some great programs listed for all kinds of different applications. I think most are open source and as i said above FREE. Enjoy :)

I use several of these Apps. and Programs that are recommended here, and am Happy with them all.

The Editors' Choice List: Our Selection of the Best PC Freeware

Last updated yesterday 06/10/09. :)

You know Guys

I've been out of the loop so long that I have not heard of "Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware" but since you guys swear by it I just have to give it a try.


UK Bob

Unprecedented? Oh right, you mean EXPRESSIVE. very different words, them.
I'm not asking you to agree with me am i, just having a little debate.
Yes your right, security levels are there for a reason, why is there a security level for no security whatsoever?
You want to know what i think is ridiculous?
When i scan the registry with a certain registry cleaner, it will clear them, then say all errors have been removed. Cool.
Then when i scan with another, it picks up files that the other one did'nt, leaving me confused, and thinking "Why did i download two registry cleaners?"
This is why i only have ONE cleaner on my computer, Easycleaner, basically the same as CCleaner, but with an easier interface.
Maybe multiple cleaners collide with eachother? Maybe every cleaner lies about what it does? i have no idea...

Yes and Unprecedented and unrepresented are very different words as well ;)

Oh ok, now you want to be the funny one. Didnt work.
Firefox was correct a spelling mistake and it done it wrong, so how d'you like them apples?

I laughed. Anything else you want to know?

Errm...No not really, thank you for asking though.
As someone who doesn't sleep and has a lot to say, you really aren't that interesting.

I'm not supposed to be interesting. I have a lot to say? like what? I don't need to say anything really as long as I watch the boards.

Not like you, you little sparkle of life. We would be doomed here without you. Just try to back up what you say instead of just blurting out things that obviously aren't true. That way you are almost completely rid of me, since I tend to stay in the background.

Well then we agree, you really aren't.
Thanks, thats what my girlfriend calls me, a little sparkle of life, makes me feel so special :)
Really? i "blurt" things out? which arent true? Please quote what i said which is untrue, so you have "backed up" what you have just said.

Oh, poor you. Is she also the type that says she wants to wait until you're married?

haha, to give you credit, that was funny one, but unlike your wife, no she's not.
sorry about that, but do you actually want to know what it's like?
"like warm apple pie"

Don't believe everything you hear in the movies.

oh your right there, you are.
I also don't believe everything i hear in internet forums either.

Well good for you

I use avast at work, they have it installed on all our systems

I am using Norton 360 V3.0. For the last 3 years, not a single virus, and the firewall blocks everything. It is much lighter than the previous versions of Norton and really slows my start-up time by ± 20 seconds

i use vista business and use nod 32 it just runs in the background updating about twice a day

Something very interesting for the security conscious people. These are results of a massive amount of security software firewalls. Results, tests and responses are thoroughly explained. Where does your security rank?

Results and comments - www.matousec.com

note: these are running tests, so some are newer than others. Version number of firewall/security suite is listed on all tests.

interesting results...I see that free products were #3 and #4...and I guess it hammers home my decision to not use norton security products any longer....

I haven't taken the time to upgrade to v8.x of Kaspersky yet, but I know I find a few things about v7 highly annoying...one of them being that I have found no way to stop it from scanning files all the time...this is very annoying when it is scanning a file that is being transferred to a new location because it thinks its a new file...when I do transfers to an external drive I have to go offline, turn off security, and do the transfers because if I don't I get repeated delayed write transaction errors...

I use version 7 of Kaspersky security .. comes as a part of Parallels. Have you checked the options of scanning frequency & exclusions. Bearstart is one of the things that drives it crazy with the time change because it upsets the antivirus subscription for Kaspersky.

yep it does...I'll check out those options you describe...I have been through the program and haven't found an option as of yet that seemed to do the trick...

I know with Norton's once a file was scanned it was remembered as being scanned and even when it was moved to a new location it kept its status as having been previously scanned and wasn't considered a new file and scanned under the constant protection rule...

looks like I have everything set as it should be set...including the scan new files only...I guess Kaspersky's thinks that when a file is moved it becomes new....sheesh..

Avast 'Pro'
Comodo
Malwarebytes

This combined package affords excellent 'protection'.
Only proviso is that if you try to use the 'Pro' (proactive blocking as opposed to reactive removal) version of Malwarebytes in conjunction with Comodo you may have problems.

If one does not run 'protective' software than one is an enemy of other users as you cannot avoid retransmitting bad stuff to all others with whom you may connect or who may subsequently download your infected material.
Irresponsible and impolite to run naked, eh?
And, I don't mean wang dangle naked!

Does this thread merit an award for off-topicness?

The Lounge is the off-topic discussion area....:w00t:

Elsewhere one may find contradictions to this statement.
Some resident fools here suggest that there are never any serious problems running Bearstart.

My experience is that 'Bearstart' is big bad garbage for most BIOS and OS installs.

'Upsetting subscriptions' is no small matter.

Greetings, PP !

I knew that nick sounded familiar....

BearStart can cause issues, and if they do, then it shouldn't be used...

I'm running an ASUS P4C800xxx series MoBo and using XP MCE and the only thing I've noticed is the issue with the Kaspersky subscription...

My BIOS is up to date, and so is the OS...I can see where newer products might have some issues as they weren't around when the hack was developed....I wouldn't know, as this machine is the most current I've worked on and its pretty damned old as technology goes...works for me though...

am completely satisfied with Kaspersky security 7

Malwarebytes and McAfee.