What Security do you use?

uk13

we use avg internet security 2012 and we also have a health checking service on our computer supplied by cartcom. They send us weekly reports about our computer. Great service.

Yoingco

When I was working in an internet cafe years ago we used to install AVG Free Edition on all the computers simply because we found Norton and other security suites to be expensive and bloatware.

However, since buying myself a new computer in 2007 I have noticed Norton becoming lighter and lighter (for newer computers) over the years and have therefore stuck with using Norton Internet Security for its ease of use and "don't bother me with the technicals" approach.

According to web user magazine 2012 they have BitDefender as better than Norton, but with the top three suites catching more or less the same number of viruses and so on, sometimes ease of use, features and simple interface win the day for me; after I have looked at their abilities of actual malware removal via magazines such as web user magazine.

As someone who goes around the houses fixing computers for a living, and more to the point cleaning up Porno, I have noticed that Norton tends to be better than AVG for example at stopping porno related material and pop-ups. Kaspersky is also good but I do not really recommend it to the clients I visit simply because experience tells me they will find it a little too technical to use, especially when they need to remove stubborn porno without my help. So I always recommend Avast free or AVG free if they do not want to pay for security and just want simple to use; or norton, kaspersky or bitdefender if they do want to pay and base my recommendations on their budget, requirements and ability to use such software.

Tim_Walken

I agree with the above, Microsoft security essentials ticks all the boxes for me.

lemonade_lifestyle

Have recently had a computer breakdown, family member has rebuilt computer for us. He mentioned that he did a scan of computer and found quite a number of virus' on it. However when ever I did scans on it using the free downloads I ran they never detected anything.
I run windows vista, have D-Link wireless router and used the following programmes (after advice taken from here)
CCleaner
Malwarebytes
Windows Security Essentials
AdAware
Also use file hippo.
Since getting computer back he advised me to use Kaspersky.
Bought Internet Security 2012 and ever since my computer has slowed down considerably and often wont load pages.
I bank online, shop and use social network sites.
Can anyone advise what I can do or do I just stick with kaspresky?

waddler_8

As you've gone with kaspersky, uninstall these:

Microsoft Security Essentials
Ad-Aware

Both have antivirus protection - more than one AV is a no no.

If you agreed to the pro trial when you installed Malwarebytes, right click the system tray icon, uncheck enable realtime protection + start with windows, then reboot. You'll be able to tell if it's running as you'll have mbamservice.exe & mbamgui.exe running in TaskManager.

See what it's like after doing that.

lemonade_lifestyle

Sorry should have said that the only security I am running now is Kaspersky. Have nothing else installed on here.
Can I rely on these free downloads or do I need the kaspersky?
Also when other folks speak about firewalls in router, what do they mean?
Thanks

pumpspond

Thank you very much for suggesting this.

henrie

hi fran
i recommend norton, use it on this pc, and was recommended by someone who fixed my desktop
never any problems

vigman

As a now retired IT Manager for a university, I hope I can be of help in techie areas.

Norton is a highly functioned set of software tools including an anti-virus. It is for people who know what they are doing and has to be 'driven' properly. It does not like sitting alongside any other AV or anti-malware product. Used properly it will keep your PC safe and running at a good speed.

Having evaluated all the leading AV anti-mail products professionally, for a paid product you would do well with Sophos.

For a free AV only, go for AVG free. (Get the free version not the 30 day trial free version). This will also run alongside Malwarebytes.

Hope this helps

Vigman

PS You MUST use Norton's own uninstall package to completely remove the program. You cannot do this via Windows Control Panel/Add or remove programs!!!

PPS The free program "CCleaner" (previously Crap Cleaner!) is a great program for doing what it says on the tin!

glob_al

I must say.....flicking through a few pages of this I am astonished not to see two much better security techniques employed:

**NB: I am involved in a number of 'friendly' security projects and these are my views formed within my service as a systems administrator (not my actual title - that's Internet technology specialist - but a rose by any other name eh?).

1. BROWSING HABBITS! I routinely run my own virtual machines without certain protections as I know that:
a. There is nothing sensitive on those machines bar a few thousand lines of code that may be public one day anyway.
b. These machines are transient in thier nature which means I'm not going to spend that 5 minutes to protect nothing.
c. I *tend* not to click through random links in emails, download random files or visit websites outside a certain catchment (but not just facebook and google!)
d. Look at the GNU philosophy on word attachments as basically an intro to best practice - best practice goes a long way with computers!
e. common sense - No I dont need 'enlargement pills' and no I will not like to be $50 in an 'online casino' etc.

2. I use secure software to begin with and strong passwords (not dictated by some obscure notion involving capitol letters or numbers!)
a. I use an Operating system based on the Linux Kernel, This is used in everything from cars, smart tv's to Nuclear control systems and deep sea rigs, its runs the internet and most servers in any self respecting organisation - but has less (read "no viable") Virii (lol) to be concerned with (which many postulate is 'security through obscurity' but the fact is - most servers housing data alot more valuable than your holiday snaps run linux based systems).
b. I did see this in an earlier post but - firefox, chrome, Opera at a push - steer clear of safari band IE - trust me....they are terrible!