PC Newbie - looking for security advice

steve888

hello


I have just bought a fujistu scaleo PC and was looking for guidance on security having read the aricle

In summary I have Norton Anti virus amd windows XP suplied

I read that windows XP has a firwewall

I was going to get the Microsoft’s anti-spyware

Pop-up blocker. Google OR MSN

anything else I should have so I am protected.??

After the first year I will be going onto the free antivirus programme

Is the Vista system going to have anything to contribute to security ( I will have a free upagrde to Vista with my PC)

thnaksvery much for you help
Steve

Browntoa

replace the windows firewall with Kerio Free

http://www.download.com/Kerio-Personal-Firewall/3000-10435_4-10487067.html

the windows built in one is as much use as a chocolate teapot

xp has a built in pop up blocker in XP and if it has Internet Explorer 7 then it also has built in anti-phishing (sites pretending to be the real sites , like ebay for example )

I would wait as long as you can before doing the Vista upgrade

cmc_entertainment

vista upgrade - dont bother. - its the lowest home edition you can get and it aint worth it.

All i use is my wireless router hardware firewall, AVG Free, ZoneAlarm Free software firewall, and AdAware Personal.

Dont bother with anti pop up software - use Firefox or Opera - IMHO not worth it.

Personally i wouldnt touch norton with a barge pole - every time its a hassle and hogs system resources.

Windows firewall = useless

M$ spyware wouldnt touch with a pole.

cmc_entertainment

just scan everyday/few days with anti virus and adaware - and you shall be fine.

wolfman

Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall is a good suggestion. A light, and powerful firewall. Definitely worth installing.

As mentioned I'd steer clear of Internet Explorer, and install Firefox. Have a look for a bunch of Firefox extensions such as NoScript, AdBlock Plus, FlashBlock, and Tab Mix Plus.

With regards to anti-spyware, the Microsoft one is very good. Based upon an older engine of Sunbelt CounterSpy I believe. CounterSpy itself is worth considering. A very competent anti-spyware app, £10 for one year. It's quite reasonable.

And then either use AVG Free, or if you want the best have a look at Nod32 and Kaspersky.

BillScarab

Well it depends on what version of XP he has got as to whether it is an upgrade to Vista Home Basic or not.

Vista has better security built into from the outset than XP, also unlike XP which sets up users as administrators by default it sets up users with more restrictions . It also It also has a feature in Internet Explorer called Protected Mode, basically IE runs with lower privileges than other applications so any browser based attacks will find it far harder to install anything on your machine.

It's worth getting Windows Defender (the anti spyware software), it provides real time protection and it's free. You can always back it up with spybot and ad-aware if you want but these are not real time unless you pay for them.

Agree about not bothering with anti popup software, all the major browsers including IE7 have popup blockers.

BillScarab

Don't know about counterspy but defender was originally called Giant Antispyware, until Microsoft bought them.

-TangleFoot-

wolfman wrote:

Have a look for a bunch of Firefox extensions such as NoScript, AdBlock Plus, FlashBlock, and Tab Mix Plus.

Don't forget SiteAdvisor and WOT!

skiddy2k

cmc_entertainment wrote:

just scan everyday/few days with anti virus and adaware - and you shall be fine.

Little paranoyd arent you?... all you need to do is get an Antivirus and AntiSpyware/Adware program, do a PC scan once you've installed it and you should be fine (as long as its running constantly)... maybe a scan once-a-month is adequate, i never scan ... keeping Antivirus software constantly running normaly detects any new malicious file you download.[SIZE=-1] [/SIZE]

Mercenary

Have a look at the free SandboxIE programme at https://www.sandboxie.com , which I am trying out at this very moment while browsing here.:D The security expert Steve Gibson of Gibson Research ( grc.com) speaks well of it.

Go to the link above and it will tell you about it all in detail.

steve888

Wow

Thanks for all the advice Guys and Gals

Really appreciate the support.
BTW the windows XP version I have is Windows XP home ( which is Vista Capable)

thanks Again

Steve