Should I get a firewall/virus scan/ etc etc. There are so many different products to choose from!
2006-10-09 09:14:06 · 10 answers · asked by treacletopper 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
Here you are: http://www.webuser.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/219333/an/0/page/0#219333
All free, good and recommended security programs.
You only need one firewall and one anti virus program, and you must do them immediately because your computer is vulnerable to some nasty stuff if you don't have them, so please do it as soon as possible. Good luck!
2006-10-09 09:19:37 · answer #1 · answered by Carella 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-08-21 10:04:13 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should have a firewall. Windows XP has one built-in, and you can turn it on through the Control Panel or Security Center. If you have a router, it probably has a built-in firewall. If you turn on your router's firewall, you don't have to use the Windows XP firewall.
In my opinion, anti-virus software is not worth the expense and headache. It always causes problems, and it often doesn't catch viruses. If you must have it, Symantec works best. Install only the virus protection, not the whole suite.
The best defense against viruses is to limit your behavior on the Internet. Don't download software unless it's from a reputable source (a large company like Microsoft, Adobe, Intuit, etc). Don't open e-mail attachments unless you know the sender. If you follow these simple rules, you are much less likely to get spyware / virus software on your computer.
2006-10-09 09:20:48 · answer #3 · answered by Jerry 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need a firewall - stops hackers getting in while you're online, stops malware (malicious software) dialling out. There are much better ones than the Windows firewall.
an anti virus - Avast!
anti adware - ad-Aware SE Personal
anti spyware - Ewido. Spyware is another name for trojans.
Registry cleaner - Ccleaner.
The Windows firewall doesn't stop malware on your pc from dialling out. Either of these firewalls are free for personal use and stop unwanted incoming and outgoing traffic. You choose which programs are allowed to
access the internet. They are both fairly easy to use and updated regularly.
http://www.zonelabs.com Zone Alarm firewall
http://www.kerio.com Kerio firewall
Shields Up security site, check your firewall works
https://www.grc.com
http://www.mozilla.com/ Firefox web browser
http://www.opera.com/ Opera web browser
Instal both these web browsers, turn off javascript on one and use that browser for vising unknown websites. They don't support Active X so thats one less way for problems to get on your pc.
Winpatrol is a handy utility that tracks cookies on your pc and stops unwanted changes to your startup folder.
http://www.winpatrol.com
Spywareblaster works with Internet Explorer and Firefox. It won't uninstall spyware that is already on your pc, but it will prevent hijacks and other malicious changes to your browser.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com
http://www.siteadvisor.com -Site Advisor warns about malware on sites you are about to visit.http://www.avast.com - Avast Antivirus
http://www.ewido.net - Ewido anti trojan
Ad-Aware SE Personal anti adware
http://www.lavasoft.com
Spybot Search and Destroy anti spyware
http://www.safer-networking.org
http://spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - The Spyware Warrior site identifies fake anti spyware programs.
http://www.bitdefender.com -BitDefender can be used as a second, on demand anti virus.
http://www.ccleaner.com Cr*pcleaner Registry cleaner and privacy tool
You can also download Microsofts free Windows Defender from the official Microsoft site, and the Malicious Software Removal Tool.
Remember to update and run all of you anti malware programs at least once a week.
2006-10-09 09:25:21 · answer #4 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Firewalls and virus scans are 2 completeley different things, you need a combination of both... plus, depending on your personal level of paranoia, spy-ware scanners/cleaners, anonymisers, and a plethora of others.
A firewall permits/denies access to a resource (your pc in the case of in-coming requests, the internet/local network for out-bound) or in a nutshell, it stops unsolicited connections to your pc, and controls which programs on your pc can access the 'net.
If your connection to the internet is ADSL or cable, my advice would be to use a NAT enabled router---this masks your pc's IP address, so effectively acts as a basic firewall. the more feature rich, and correspondingly expensive, routers also have 'proper' firewall capabilities such as Stateful Packet Inspection, where incoming packets of data have to include in the header information about their destination---if it doesnt match a request from your pc, it's dropped.
Software firewalls such as Norton, Zone Alarm ( http://www.zonelabs.com )et al do a reasonable job of protecting you, you'll get a million answers as to which is best--they all have their devotees ( I'd recommend Zone Alarm, it's easy to use, isn't as paranoid and alarming over alerts as many...and its FREE!!!... and whilst I personally cant stand Norton many swear by it)
Just like our dear postal service, the internet has lots of packets zooming around looking for a destination, and often they end up in the wrong place.... thats the way it is, a firewall that alarms you to these mis-routed packets in a dramatic way gives you the impression that everybody and his dog is trying to 'hack' your pc---Mcafee is particularly prone to this.
The best firewall in the world wont stop you from contracting a virus though, as you're likely to receive these from 'trusted' sites/people rather than randomly. Just as with firewalls, there are many AV products, my personal favourite is Nod32, which is about 30 quid.....( http://www.eset.co.uk/index.php ) thats not to say the free alternatives arent any good, check out AVG for one.( http://www.grisoft.com )
Lastly..... lets look at what Windows itself has to offer.... if you have XP that is.....
The firewall in XP (SP") is much better than the original incarnation, but still not a patch on ANYTHING else thats available----best to turn it off, and use another solution.
XP has no AV, unless you count the One Care online stuff, and despite my earlier comment about Norton, the on-line virus/spyware scan they provide is very good.
One thing XP does offer you though, is User Accounts.... stupidly Microsoft thought everybody needed to run their pc's with Administrative rights 100% of the time, which caused much merriment in the Linux circles.... running as a 'Limited User' prevents 'nasties' running and installing themselves----well worth doing more research on this point. ( http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/windows_security_whynot_admin.mspx )
Hope that hasn't confused things too much..... ; )
2006-10-09 09:45:58 · answer #5 · answered by gp 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AVG Free for Anti Virus
Windows firewall is adequate but zone alarm provide a more intuitive version. Both down-loadable from
2006-10-09 09:21:23 · answer #6 · answered by Mark T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
should protect your pc
otherwise may not last longer
best internet security suit have alot of choices
which is better i'd go with norton
its suit also provides complete firewall and spyware protection.
it is the most trusted antivirus and online security in the world and considered by many immortal leader of online protection world
not so far away in ranking is Mcafee a always up-to-date security software which provides protection to latest threats but not as affective to viruses and threats as norton
talking about whether it slows down pc
i'd say norton slows down pc big time Mcafee does too but not as much as norton and norton takes alot of diskspace too slowing pc even more
for best antivirus i'd have to go with eTrust eZ antivirus
it runs smoothly and make pc runs even smoother. norton and Mcafee kindda make pc processes slower and takes alot of memory space but they are still safer to use.
eTrust would be best which is provided by CA.
2006-10-09 09:24:51 · answer #7 · answered by bz_co0l@rogers.com 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be really safe you need one or more of each of these,
Free Security Analyizer:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/mbsa2/default.mspx
Phishing Defense:
http://www.onguardonline.gov/phishing.html
Free Anti-virus:
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
http://www.free-av.com/
http://www.trendmicro.com/hc_intro/default.asp
http://www.superantispyware.com/
Other Anti-virus help:
http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/
http://www.cert.org/other_sources/viruses.html
Free Online Virus Checks:
http://onlinescan.avast.com/
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp
Single file Scanner:
http://www.kaspersky.com/scanforvirus.html
Free Anti-Adware/Malware/Spyware protection:
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1 I recommend ewido!!!
http://www.safer-networking.org/
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
http://www.superantispyware.com/
Free Online Spyware Scan:
http://www.spywareguide.com/onlinescan.php Very good for newbies!
Free Firewall:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/trial_zaFamily/trial_zaFamily.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=zaskulist_trial
http://www.comodogroup.com/products/personalfirewall.html
Window XP SP2 Firewall Builtin
Free Popup Blockers:
Internet Explorer in windows xp has one builtin. Tools->Internet Options->Privacy->Block Pop-ups!
Firefox has many Extentions. http://www.mozilla.com I like Adblock Plus
Free Registry Repair:
http://www.ccleaner.com/
http://www.download.com/Eusing-Free-Registry-Cleaner/3000-2094_4-10561828.html?tag=lst-0-9
Have fun but be safe!
2006-10-09 09:25:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best anti-virus/Ad-ware protection I have found is nod32 from eset.com and Spybot. What ever you decide to use I would recommend getting several different programs mainly because nothing out there catches everything.
I use nod32 and panda as well as spybot.
2006-10-09 09:23:18 · answer #9 · answered by omvg1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These are free and work good, but only choose one.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
http://avast.com
zonealarm.com has a ree firewall.
Here is a list of free spyware removal programs.
Here is a list of free scans.I would recommend running ewido first.
Spybots search and Destroy http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10122137.html?tag=pao
adaware se> http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10399602.html?tag=lst-0-1
http://www.webroot.com/land/freescan.php
a-squared Free> http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/
http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/start_frame.asp
http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/
X -Cleaner Micro Edition scan http://www.spywareguide.com/onlinescan.php
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Spywareguard too.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/
2006-10-09 09:20:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋