What is the Best Security for your Computer?

Question

What all type of Security do you need?

Firewall
Anti Virus
Anti Spy ware

Does that cover it all or do you need more?

Answer 1

You got it, those are the 3 areas of computer security...

After extensively researching all anti-virus products I can say the best anti-virus is Kaspersky, though NOD32 is better for computer experts. Kaspersky is the best all-round anti-virus program. NOD32 runs faster and has less software conflicts but as a consequence the user interface is difficult to use.

The most popular free anti-virus programs (AVG and Avast) have poor detection rates (82.82%, 87.46% respectively). Norton is notoriously bloated and takes forever to perform full systems scans.

It has been proven ESET NOD32 and Kaspersky are better than the best sellers Norton and McAfee (see the consumersearch source for reviews of the top anti-virus products). NOD32 is the "Best anti-virus product of 2006" -Av Compartives.

Trend Micro Antivirus is a viable alternative if you're having a lot of trouble with software conflicts. Trend Micro rounds out the top three.

No single program can detect and eradicate all spyware which is why I recommend using Ad-aware and Spybot (they are free and the best). Other great free anti-spyware programs would be AVG Anti-spyware (formally Ewido) and Super Anti-spyware.

Webroot Spy Sweeper is the best, but it's not free (see the Consumer Search source for reviews of the best anti-spyware programs).

Answer 2

It all depends on how secure you want to be and how much money you have in your budget. For highly sensitive data like bank account numbers, credit card numbers, etc...You should store all the data on a computer that is not and will never be connected to the internet.Also, make sure file and print sharing are turned off and remote desktop or other remote capabilities are off. The computer should be recently formatted. All updates should come directly from the manufacturer web site and downloaded onto a CD with an internet connected machine. You should have a second computer for internet surfing that has a firewall installed, antivirus, and a single anti-spyware program installed. Ideally, you should install Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 and buy another license for your operating system. Then use the virtual machine to do all your internet surfing. Also, enable the option to optionally commit changes to your hard drive so you can choose to never save any changes that were made while you were surfing the net. I'd recommend surfing the net with the highest security settings you can handle and be functional for your purposes. Never forget the importance of physical security as well. This is not a fully comprehensive solution, but for practical purposes should do for most people.

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

The best security setup can be foiled by poor user habits. There are a few things you need to know in order to protect yourself and your computer. This is not an exhaustive list but I'll try to make it as comprehensive as possible.

1.) Downloads can be dangerous. If you click yes!!! to download. Know what you are downloading. Nothing is free and that free screen saver you downloaded probably has spyware. That game, its running wild tangent (which can be insidious). Sharezaa, kazaa, bear share, limewire. Weatherbug, All these sites will get you loaded with spyware and virus's. Stay away from "free" programs if possible. If you don't you will more than likely get something.

2.) Don't trust strange emails. That attachment can be tempting to open, that email looks interesting. If you don't know the sender don't open it. Google it if its that important. maybe there's some info on it on the web. Even by opening an email (not the attachment) you could be sending a silent response back to the sender that its a valid email address and unwittingly be opening the floodgates for more spam and spyware, and who knows what else.

3.) Get a good Anti-virus software and keep it update all the time. Norton has a good Antivirus software.

4.) With that same software scan everything that comes in contact with your computer. That, or set the software to auto scan your system constantly. A side note [If you buy an Anti-virus add RAM to your system. Norton can chew up to 64MB's or more at a time. If you don't you may notice a drop in performance and response time]

5.) A firewall can protect you if your concerned about hacker attacks. So long as you don't let them into the open ports on your firewall via that email you opened, or that free program you clicked yes to, at that point your vulnerable and little can reverse it until something's damaged or infected. You can load port watchers on your system but that does little good unless you know what your doing. Back to firewalls, There are two versions. The software kind that watches ports on your OS and the hardware kind like a $3000.00 sonic firewall or a $15,000.00 Cisco PIX firewall. With your average user I suggest two methods. For hardware believe it or not your Linksys or D-link router is a make-shift firewall, it acts as a bodyguard for your PC. All a hacker can see is the Default gateway, not your PC behind it. Note [Anyone can get in if they really want to, no matter how safe it seems. keep in mind were just trying to deter the common teenage hacker that just wants to look around your PC] So a router is fine for the average user with little to protect. On the software side I would stick with Windows firewall or Kerio. I like those best personally. With Kerio you can have as much or as little control as you want. You can lock down your network with a right click in the resource bar. It will tell you the history of any previous attempts to hack your network. Tons of nice features for a reasonable price. Norton Internet Security is bogus. Don't bother with it, it will bottle neck your performance and inundate you with questions that you don't feel like answering.

6.) This I can not stress enough. It should be first on the list
(forgive me powers that be). Keep windows updated constantly. I repeat keep windows updated.

7.) Spyware, it happens to the best of us. Its reported that the spyware/ adware industry costs the average user hundreds over a few years. Windows defender for XP SP2 and Vista is good. Stinger & Spybot & Adaware, in that order when updated fully and ran, usually can get almost everything. They use to be better. Xoftspy was a great tool, I believe they have changed since I last looked.

8.) Switch to Opera or Firefox. They were immune to alot of spyware and popups and things like that. That may have changed. Its still better than Internet Exploder....I mean Explorer.

9.) And avoid unsavory sites. Its like looking for dinner in a dumpster and hoping not to get sick. Your computer is the same way. Sooner or later it will get something that will slow it down or worse. So stay off the garbage sites.

If you follows these steps you should have a relatively safe computer. Again I provide no guarantee, however this is what close to 8 years in the IT field has taught me. Hope it helps

Answer 5

In my spare time I beta test antivirus/antispyware programs.

Firewall I use the free version for home personal use.
for ten plus years and not rogue packet has ever been able to get pass my firewall. Plus I test and it is 100% leak proof.

http://www.zonealarm.com (Look under home for the free version on their webpage).

Antivirus, I use what the Govt. Of China uses. You pay a one time fee for life of $29.99 and you will get auto. updates daily and a background scanner that works 100% to kill any embedded trojan or virus the second you open a webpage, or attempt to download any kind of file, zips etc. etc.

http://www.filseclab.com (You can test the full version for thierty days with a free key. Then you must make the one tiem purchase). Excellent support from the engineers.

If you don't want to pay, you can download Avast free for home personal use. You will get auto. updates on the houur, with a good background scanner.

http://www.avast.com

You can only use one antivirus or you will have conflict with your system. You can use three or four antispyware if you have the resources as one will always find what the other ones miss.

Supeantispyware is well known to find what all other miss. Plus you will get auto. updates daily. Download the free version. http://www.superantispyware.com

Out of Austria, is an excellent antispyware that will protect you from rogue dialers, keyloggers, trace spyware. adware, malware, etc. etc. Download their free version.

http://www.emsisoft.com

Clean your pc for junk files and registry. Excellent free program that is well known and 100% clean. We call it the "Crap Cleaner". You will get auto. updates on all new versions if not blocked by your firewall. Or you can check the web site from time to time for new versions.

http://www.ccleaner.com

Mindddoctor, France

Minddoctor, France

Answer 6

Make sure that you have a good anti virus and anti spy ware program installed on your computer. check out http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-sAFtLsc8erIoh.ENhksr2KyG for more details.

Answer 7

1. Firewall running Linux
2. Your computer running Linux

That's all you need unless you're running Microsoft Windows.