HELP- need to protect new laaptop and havent a clue!

babybakey

well i have my new laptop up and running and i really dont understand all the details on the security post.
What do i need and whats the best free ones to use? im really a novice still so could do with it being easy to use.

thanks

shelly xx

alanwjones

You cant really go wrong if you start with AVG free antivitus , -
http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition

and Zone alarm firewall ,-
http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/zonealarm_free_firewall.jsp?dc=56pus&ctry=GB&lang=en

Hth. Alan.

thomas01155

Firewalls
Online Armor
Comodo comes with Anti-virus but you can deselect that during the install.
PC Tools Firewall
I found ZoneAlarm to bit a bit of a hog when i used it

Anti-virus
Antivir
Avast
Comodo
AVG
ThreatFire Can be used along with another Anti-virus

Make sure to install all the latest windows updates and update your Java
Spybot has a immunize feature which helps prevent you from getting some spyware and also SpywareBlaster

[Deleted User]

alanwjones wrote: »

You caut really go wrong if you start with AVG free antivitus , -
http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition

You can go very wrong if you choose AVG! If you fancy slowing your PC down and having a poor anti-virus then sure, go for this. If, on the other hand you want a decent lightweight anti-virus then go for either Avira-AntiVir or Avast. I personally use Antivir as I don't mind not having email scanning however if you use Outlook or another email client and would like this functionality then go for Avast.

babybakey wrote: »

im really a novice

Given you're not too o'fait with security products I would disagree with the suggestions above of a firewall. A firewall is basically a barrier between your pc and the internet. If you go for one of the ones above you're going to have to allow / disallow each and every program access through it. The point being if something bad tries to communicate through the Internet then you can stop it and disallow it before it 'calls home' wherever that may be. In theory this is great. If on the other hand you get into a routine of allowing things through or you're simply not sure what to allow through and what not, then there's really no point in installing one of these products.

What I would suggest is that you make sure the inbuilt Windows firewall is switched on. Assuming you've got Windows Vista then you can read details of this firewall here:

The most important part of security though is an anti-virus product in my opinion. Other than this the rest is good practice e.g. use another browser other than Internet Explorer e.g. Firefox. Ensure Windows Update is turned on to Automatic. Don't open email attachments from people you don't know. All things like this, common sense really.

aliEnRIK

I vote AVIRA anti virus
http://www.download.com/Avira-AntiVir-Personal-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10322935.html
And PC tools firewall which for basic users will allow 'all known program' through as default. So will only ask you as and when it doesnt know itself.
http://www.download.com/PC-Tools-Firewall-Plus-Free-Edition/3000-10435_4-10625321.html

As extra protection I would also use ~
http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html
UPDATE and SCAN monthly

SUPERANTISPYWARE
http://www.download.com/SUPERAntiSpyware-Free-Edition/3000-8022_4-10523889.html
UPDATE and SCAN monthly

And SPYBOT
http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html
UPDATE, IMMUNISE and SCAN monthly

To be safe when browsing the net Id advise FIREFOX
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/firefox/
with the NOSCRIPT plugin
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/722
And whatever addons you need (flash etc)
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/browse/type:7

NOSCRIPT blocks all scripts (software on webpages) from running as default. So you would need to UNLOCK each site for it to work properly.
ALL (At least That I know of) known viruses through the internet are froms scripts (searching on dodgy sites etc)
Ive NEVER had a virus through the net whilst using noscript

babybakey

thanks guys i shall get firefox installed, i had it on my old PC but havent installed anything on here for the internet yet just using internet explorer as it started up itself. should i uninstall IE? or just leave it on.

im finding the vista layout really weird i brought a magazine today which i thought would show me the basics but it doesnt. last night i tried to turn off the laptop by going to the windows button and clicking on the power symbol but i think it just hibernated and didnt turn off.

whats the best way to learn about vista? does windows really have to have new updates everyday? surely they should just welly it all into one a week?

oh also has anyone ever usedone of those cooling stations for laptops? i shall be using this as an actual "lap-top" most of the time so dont want it over heating.

shelly xx

thomas01155

It shouldn't over heat unless its faulty or it states otherwise in the manual. Just don't cover the fans XD. What do you want to learn? they only release updates every now and then not every day. Here's a link to some basic vista stuff http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/winbasics.mspx
Turning off your computer

[Deleted User]

babybakey wrote: »

thanks guys i shall get firefox installed, i had it on my old PC but havent installed anything on here for the internet yet just using internet explorer as it started up itself. should i uninstall IE? or just leave it on.

You won't be able to uninstall it and you'll need it to manually update Windows i.e. by going to: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

babybakey wrote: »

im finding the vista layout really weird i brought a magazine today which i thought would show me the basics but it doesnt. last night i tried to turn off the laptop by going to the windows button and clicking on the power symbol but i think it just hibernated and didnt turn off. whats the best way to learn about vista?

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/default.aspx and http://www.vista4beginners.com/ look good.

babybakey wrote: »

does windows really have to have new updates everyday? surely they should just welly it all into one a week?

Correct. MS release patches the second Tuesday of each month. High security ones however do come out as and when but they're not every day.

babybakey wrote: »

oh also has anyone ever usedone of those cooling stations for laptops? i shall be using this as an actual "lap-top" most of the time so dont want it over heating.

shelly xx

Not a massive worry for most. As long as the fan isn't covered for hours and hours on end, numerous times, it'll be fine.

prowla

Who is your ISP?
Some of them give you a free anti-virus tool (I'm with Sky, and it offers McAffee, which seems fine).
Just have a nosey around their web site.

aliEnRIK

prowla wrote: »

Who is your ISP?
Some of them give you a free anti-virus tool (I'm with Sky, and it offers McAffee, which seems fine).
Just have a nosey around their web site.

Mcafee is absolutely awful. I wouldnt recommend that to anyone.

[Deleted User]

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Mcafee is absolutely awful. I wouldnt recommend that to anyone.

Agreed...........