Has anyone used Virgin Media Security software, and is it worth having?

Sublime_2

I've had to open up a new account with Virgin Media (long story), and during Broadband activation I was prompted to download Virgin Media Hub software, which installs antivirus powered by Kaspersky, Firewall, Ad blocker, and Privacy Manager.

I didn't install it, I just downloaded it, as I already have security software, and firefox with security add-ons installed, and wasn't sure what this was like. I've done a web search, and couldn't find anything.

I wanted to know if anybody has used this software before, as I am tempted by the antivirus if its from Kaspersky. I would also like a better firewall, as I'm just using windows built-in one.

Is it any good? I've got win 7 64 bit os.

I'd much appreciate any help regarding this.

[Deleted User]

Personally I wouldn't bother. There is good free antivirus software available i.e. Avira, Microsoft Security Essentials etc., and the inbuilt Windows firewall is fine when coupled with a hardware firewall (inbuilt into nearly all routers nowadays).

Other than this I'd suggest using Firefox with Adblock Plus, scanning with Malwarebytes every so often and ensuring your PC is fully updated with latest security patches from Microsoft.

aliEnRIK

I wouldnt touch it personally.
And whilst its 'powered' by a Kaspersky engine, I very much doubt its database is

Sublime_2

Thanks for replying. I don't think I'm going to bother now, as I've not seen any favourable reviews. It was the free Kaspersky av that tempted me.

I currently use either sandboxie or firefox with adblock plus, noscript, and wot, etc, and mbam, sas free so not worth trying it. I am currently trying a 1 year license of adaware plus (it was free!), but may go back to avast or mse eventually. I was just curious, in case I was missing something. Obviously not!:rotfl:

Since posting, I've seen an article about Virgin and deep packet inspection, here, which has definitely put me off. :eek:

Richie-from-the-Boro

Never in a million years, not Virgin, or your [ Rapport ] bank AV software, not with a barge pole.

Search for the two words Virgin & Phorm, and then tell me why you want to put the Virgin cuckoo in your computers nest : http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=virgin+phorm&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK|countryGB

Everyone has a favourite, Microsoft Security Essentials has good ' cred ' works well on 64bit, is free, and maybe - just maybe, Microsoft know a bit about protecting their own operating system

Sublime_2

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Never in a million years, not Virgin, or your [ Rapport ] bank AV software, not with a barge pole.

Search for the two words Virgin & Phorm, and then tell me why you want to put the Virgin cuckoo in your computers nest : http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=virgin+phorm&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK|countryGB

Everyone has a favourite, Microsoft Security Essentials has good ' cred ' works well on 64bit, is free, and maybe - just maybe, Microsoft know a bit about protecting their own operating system

Thanks for replying. My gut instinct was not to. It was the FREE KASPERSKY that tempted me.

I'm glad that I didn't install after the replies I've had.

As for virgin & phorm, see my above post. I only just discovered that today, and its shocking.

Thoggie

I installed this automatically during installation of my new 50meg modem. The next morning I had a constant tapping sound. I tried unplugging everything from the computer, checking the mouse and every keyboard key and the speakers. No dice.

Eventually, I decided to press control/alt/delete and stop every system process I safely could. I got all the way down to V and the problem was virginmedia hub.

Technical staff at Virginmedia first said that there was no such software (it is mentioned on their website!) and then put me through to people in their (Indian?) technical support centre. After three people going through the same script and saying I needed another department I gave up and uninstalled the software.

Bliss ever since.

23n1th

My girlfriend had the virgin media security on her computer for over a year and never got any problems with it.

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

... and maybe - just maybe, Microsoft know a bit about protecting their own operating system

Really? To date they seem to be pretty poor at it. Maybe if they had security in mind when creating the OS's you wouldn't need the plethora of security layers you need to keep it safe.

Apparently they are now passing the buck onto to the users and ISPs: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11483008 apparently M$ want to ban computers with their infected operating system from the internet. Nothing like punishing your customers because you can't do a job right.

Richie-from-the-Boro

23n1th wrote: »

My girlfriend had the virgin media security on her computer for over a year and never got any problems with it.



Really? To date they seem to be pretty poor at it. Maybe if they had security in mind when creating the OS's you wouldn't need the plethora of security layers you need to keep it safe.

Apparently they are now passing the buck onto to the users and ISPs: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11483008 apparently M$ want to ban computers with their infected operating system from the internet. Nothing like punishing your customers because you can't do a job right.

Yours, is the point of view of a troglodyte, you can't turn the world back to the DOS internet. Microsoft with all of its faults and cost to the end user has enabled 99% of the world to access the interwibble.

Linux with its cost free solution is carp to the average end user and the world doesn't want it / use it. Get it through your head no one other than the odd small user group wants Linux. If people wanted its free service they would embrace it and the virii writers would switch their attention to the Linux user. As it stands at the moment .. .. and for the last 20 or more years no one [ % ] in the world uses Linux so why would and self respecting script kiddie write virii for it ?

- "" plethora of security layers "" I don't have a plethora of security layers
- a couple of months ago MSE [ free ] was up there with the [ paid for ] KIS, now its near the bottom
- next month MSE may be nearer the top again, its just the way it is

If Sainsburys and ASDA did not have price wars we would be paying 3 or 4 times the price for food.
If Microsoft [ and others ] did not have free AV products we would all be paying £300pa or more for Symantec etc.
If Microsoft Windows [ with its faults ] had not been invented we would not as we understand it have :

- computers
- internet
- games
- mp3 music
- online video content
- video calls
- etc

If Linux had not been invented no one [ % ] in the world would even have noticed.

John_Gray

Aren't Anger Management Courses effective! :rotfl:

GunJack

no, No and NO!!!! had to sort out a couple of pc's with this junk on them.....don't touch it with a bargepole, no, wait, don't touch it with someone ELSE'S bargepole :mad: