Who should use virus scan program?
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This! This! This!Abi79 said:
Kaspersky, Zone Alarm and NOD32 are all superb security suites and will pretty much do an equal job. Norton appears to be universally regarded as a piece of shit and I haven't heard anything good about McAfee. If your computer is lightweight you might want to get NOD32 simply because it has the lowest footprint but otherwise there's no real advantage to one over the other save for different interfaces. I prefer Kaspersky but that's just my personal taste.
Sadly there's really no way around the fact that ultimately you'll spend money on a security suite of some description if you want peace of mind. It's rarely expensive, usually costing $50 per year or thereabouts (and most companies give you a discount if you buy several years at a time) - the price of a game or two. People might hate Vista or use nothing but Linux but no one who knows about computers will ever disagree that you can't be too careful.
It's also worth remembering that even if you are careful about this, as long as your computer shares a network with someone who isn't then you're vulnerable. I've recently discovered my sister is using Limewire. I told her she was a security risk, she said she didn't care. Guess what happened to the ports Limewire typically uses when I logged into the router half an hour later?
Everyone should be using protection. And the worst things get, the more protection people need which is why it's slowing our lives down so much. There was a time when all you had to do was a check-up once a week but now you need total protection all the time. So sad...
Personally I use Norton 360 or McAfee TP on my computers. I know they're both extreme resource hogs, but they're also both really good at thier jobs. Better safe than sorry.
Personally I use Norton 360 or McAfee TP on my computers. I know they're both extreme resource hogs, but they're also both really good at thier jobs. Better safe than sorry.
I use Norton, but the best one I know of is Sophos. That one is actually used by ICT specialists and various companies.
If I'm right, Firefox doesn't have the right compatibility for most viruses, as they are mainly designed for IE because that's the most commonly used one.olicon said:
It depends because nowadays there are more risks than just viruses over the internet. Whilst actual virus scanning may not be that good, they also consist of identity protection, backup etc. so they can be useful in other ways if not for virus protection.
While I'll agree with you that linux is less likely to get viruses than a windows PC, it is not because it has some magic software that makes it immune to viruses, nothing is. The only reason it appears to not get any viruses is because there aint any written for it, same thing with MACs, most people use windows, so that's what all the virus programmers write them for. To think your OS is immune to viruses because it is X os is extremely tunnel vision-ed, if you're not stupid and use a decent anti-virus then yeah you'll have less viruses.demoman_chaos said:
I wouldn't assume I was safe from most viruses, even if I made a habit of avoiding shady websites and downloads. It just doesn't seem wise to put all my eggs in one basket when it comes to a piece of machinery I've paid thousands of dollars for. Better safe than sorry, right?
For the record, I use Avast! Home Edition. Hasn't failed me yet.
For the record, I use Avast! Home Edition. Hasn't failed me yet.
I can only sign this. I use Kaspersky Internet Security, and I have never had any trouble with it. Works great.Abi79 said:
A few weeks ago I switched from AVG free to Avriva to speed up my boot times. Avira has turned up about 3 detections and that was when I was running a scan with malware bytes. I use Av protection mainly to stop Windows bitching at me and as a "just in case", which is why i switched to the much lighter Avira.
To really clean up my computer I use a combination of Malware bytes and Spybot Search and Destroy. Both free programms but wipe the floor with any paid for anti-virus program.
To really clean up my computer I use a combination of Malware bytes and Spybot Search and Destroy. Both free programms but wipe the floor with any paid for anti-virus program.
Everyone needs some sort of virus protection, because it doesn't matter which OS you're running none of them are completely immune, not even the Linux OS's such as Ubuntu. I will say though that with Ubuntu as long as you keep it up to date you shouldn't have any trouble because its own virus protection is pretty good, I've been using it for a couple of years now and have only had one incident.
For windows, just use a combination of AVG and Adaware (made by Lavasoft), both come in free editions which are very effective. Avoid Norton because it integrates its-self into windows and will cripple the machines performance, especially on older comps.
For windows, just use a combination of AVG and Adaware (made by Lavasoft), both come in free editions which are very effective. Avoid Norton because it integrates its-self into windows and will cripple the machines performance, especially on older comps.
The best free Anti-Virus out there and just as good as any other paid software.Zeeky_Santos said:
AVG all the way.
Everyone needs a good firewall and anti-virus program.
Personally I use the F-secure Client Security. Sure, it costs a little (free for me via our university), but it's great. 2 minute install, no additional configuration needed for basic surfing and online gaming. Highly customizable for those who know what they do, includes both A-V and firewall and uses automatic internet updates (which are daily) to keep the databases up to speed. I've yet to have any virus sneak in when I had the program up and running properly. And it's been like that for over 5 years. Zero problems. For five years.
Only one minus: No registry protection beyond the basics. AdAware's AdWatch does that better. But the combination of the two rocks
Personally I use the F-secure Client Security. Sure, it costs a little (free for me via our university), but it's great. 2 minute install, no additional configuration needed for basic surfing and online gaming. Highly customizable for those who know what they do, includes both A-V and firewall and uses automatic internet updates (which are daily) to keep the databases up to speed. I've yet to have any virus sneak in when I had the program up and running properly. And it's been like that for over 5 years. Zero problems. For five years.
Only one minus: No registry protection beyond the basics. AdAware's AdWatch does that better. But the combination of the two rocks
Mmm.. maybe Ubuntu is the key. I'm not too worried about tech support because I personally know at least 3 or 4 tech engineers (one of them actually works for Ubuntu). I've always wanted to try dual boot. But I'm too scared to partition my drive because it comes with the quick format option (its backup copy of Windows is stored on the HD). I'm afraid that if I repartition the drive, I might lose my copy of XP (which I need for word processing and compatibility with others). Has anyone ever have an experience with this?
That and how it is structured.elvor0 said:
In a 3-day contest between OS's to see which one was hardest to hack (long time ago, probably about a year), all lastest hte first day. Mac was the first to break on the second day with Windows being cracked later on day 2. For the last day, it was a no-holds-barred assault on the Ubuntu machine from everyone but the 2 groups that hacked the Mac and WIndows PC's. Despite the onslaught, Ubuntu was never cracked.
I don't remember where I saw this, I'll try to find it for you.
I go with Avast! for virus scanning and Malwarebytes for my adware sweep. I don't get viruses in Vista as often as I did when I was using my old old XP machine. Either Microsoft did something right, or I'm totally fucked. Though I don't surf on unfamiliar sites too often.
That was featured on Hackaday, wasn't it? Right after the macbook air was released? It was probably at Defcon.demoman_chaos said:
I use AVG Free, and Ad-Aware on my systems. 95% of the virus problems I would've encountered have been thwarted by my router... I didn't value it until I stopped using it (it causes my internet to run like shit sometimes, so I stopped)... It took 2 weeks without a router, even with Anti-Virus software running, using only firefox with NoScript on both systems, to get a terminal virus infection on my main computer. Prior to turning off the router, it was a year and a half since my last terminal system crash...
So as long as you have a router, that should cut 95% of the garbage.
So as long as you have a router, that should cut 95% of the garbage.
Don't get virus programs. They are just programs made to suck away your money.
Instead, be smart, don't download anything suspicious, backup your HD weekly, and reformat your HD monthly.
With this, you will get no more problems. Well, unless you bash your motherboard or something.
Instead, be smart, don't download anything suspicious, backup your HD weekly, and reformat your HD monthly.
With this, you will get no more problems. Well, unless you bash your motherboard or something.