Security Recommendations

[Squid_uk]

Hey all me again, new topic this time, as some of you may know i have recently lost my computer due to faulty hard disk as well as probly a hundred other things,

i have just bought myself a brand new Demonite PC and would like to ask you guys if you could recommend what security (anti virus, firewall, adware etc) i should use on the system to protect it from as many of the nasty things that are out there

[dphirschler]

Holy cow! You shitcanned the whole computer because of a bad harddrive? Surely something was salvageable.

You can get good, free, and auto-updateable antivirus from free.grisoft.com.

As for spyware, get Adaware, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Hijack This as a minimum. Learn how to use Hijack This. Learn about your hosts file too.

Connecting through a router helps too, but I am no expert there. Ask someone else for an explanation.


Darryl

[MJA]

install a 2ed hard drive(slave) for backup.invest in a Battery Backup .how did u kill your harddrive btw?

[ROF]

Since your running Win XP, I'd recommend upgrading to service pack 2 and activating all security options. I'd also recommend investing in a router with an included hardware firewall. Even if you are only using one computer a router will protect your solitary machine.

BTW, which demonite did you purchase? Did you configure it?

[e404pnf]

I'm loving ewido at the moment.
The realtime protection REALLY slowed me down (so just running the free scanner once a week) but on a newer PC shouldn't be a problem.

[Squid_uk]

I didnt buy new one cause the old one was broke the idea was my parent were gonna have the old system when i got the demointe so gonna buy a new HD to go in old system, i dont know what happened to the old drive it just stopped working, the demonite i got was the over x64 4000N and yes i did configure it!

What about spyware protection etc and recommendations on those?

[bevills1]

Adding a router even if not needed will eliminate many vulnerabilities, even though you may not need one, since you're behind a hardware firewall when using a router. Go to http://www.bensbargains.net/ to find some really good deals on wireless routers for $20 or less after rebates, i.e. if you're not already using a router. Avast is a very good free anti-virus that I switched to from AVG after disappointment with AVG thoroughness. Zonealarm is a good software firewall if you don't want to get a router. Microsoft anti-spyware is also free and may help block some spyware.

[isogonic]

router wont help at all from the LAN side. visit windows update for patches, keep av updated, tweak IE, OE. get a software firewall for outbound. careful what you download, (do you trust the source) use/update SBSD and ad aware occasionally.

[Bjs]

For those who are limited by fund's , I recommend :

Avg free antivirus .. beat's norton's everytime
Adaware se ... keep's thing's out of the registry where they shouldn't be .

Go into ie , tool's , internet option's , programs , managed addon's .

Disable all activex's listed .

Use xpantispy , remove msn from system .

Install mozilla browser as an alternative to ie ... has download manager and other feature's ie dose not have .

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That's it ... and I never have a problem .

Dont forget to use scandisk and defrag once in a while ... to keep system flowing .

[JerryB]

Hey all me again, new topic this time, as some of you may know i have recently lost my computer due to faulty hard disk as well as probly a hundred other things,

i have just bought myself a brand new Demonite PC and would like to ask you guys if you could recommend what security (anti virus, firewall, adware etc) i should use on the system to protect it from as many of the nasty things that are out there

hi,
my 2 cents wroth....
1. antispyware... for shelfware get spysweeper, for freeware get adaware/spybot...... oh and use least 2 antispyware programs regardless which you get!! no single antispyware program is good enough!!
2. use a special host file..... they do a lot...... and it just a file and not aprogrm..... for info about it and what it does for you.... and download.... go here.... it one of the best.. they act as a blocker!!
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
3. antivirus.. several good ones.... mcafee, norton, f-prot, ... avg,avast there free avail and good
4. with winxp make sure you get sp2 and all latest patches.....
5. firewall.... M$ comes with a firewall..... zonealarm is probably more robust!! and there a free version...
6. now programs will incorporate a spyware blocker.. but if none of the ones you choose has one... then get spyblaster.. it pretty good for a standalone blocker...
7. and i would change some setting in my browser....!! I would disable a few java codes.... and active x ....!! these two items... various maleware will use that to install themselves...!!
well those are my thought good luck.. and happy safe comuting...