What Security do you use?

Edinburghlass_2

After recommendations from MSE I have just downloaded the Microsoft Anti Spyware and was surprised to find it is the old Giant. I had trialed the Giant some time ago and had really liked the programme so hopefully this will remain a freebie

Using it along with Adaware, Spyblaster, Search and Destroy, Zone Alarm and Firefox.

Toxteth_OGrady

My first line of defence is my ISP providing virus scanning of e-mail on their server and also blocking of NetBios ports 135 - 139.

My primary home line of defence is my hardware firewall. Along with NAT/port forwarding, I have it set up with Stateful Packet Inspection and blocking against all of ICMP ping flooding, IP spoofing, zero length IPs, Land Attacks, UDP Port Loopbacks, Snork Attacks, Smurf Attacks, Pings of Death, TCP Xmas Scans, TCP Null Scans, Win Nuke Attacks, TCP Syn Flooding, Ascend Kills, IMAP SYN/FIN Scans, Net Bus Scans and Back Orifice Scans. I also have it set up to block certain URLs and URL Keywords.

Additionally I use my firewall to DMZ a dummy LAN IP to provide full port stealthing.

For the wireless part of my network I have a unique SSID and SSID broadcast disabled, full MAC filtering and WPA-PSK encryption with a randomly generated 29-character hex key that I change weekly.

I use Network Stumbler and LAN Net Scan weekly to check my network integrity.

On the software side I use Eset's NOD32 virus scanner with internet, e-mail, office documents and system advanced heuristic scanning all enabled as a background task. I run a full scheduled system scan weekly.

For trojan protection I have Ewido Guard and PrevX running as background tasks, and run a full scheduled system scan with Ewido weekly.

To protect against spyware I have SpywareBlaster running in background (plus the overlapping protection provided by PrevX/Ewido). I use AdAware, Spybot S&D and HJT to scan weekly.

I have XP SP2 with Critical Updates enabled and my browser is Opera. For each website logon that I use (currently in excess of 200) I have unique randomly generated passwords easily managed using the excellent Opera 'Wand' feature and the freeware Password Safe. I change my financial passwords monthly.

I run an external security audit about once a month which costs me $10 US a year here.

Finally, I always follow the first three rules of computing:

Rule 1: Back up.

Rule 2: Back up.

Rule 3: Back up.

I achieve this using scheduled incremental images of all my disks with Acronis True Image 8. Oustanding application that uses a Linux live CD for its rescue disk.

Is all the above worth it? Yes, I never get problems with viruses and spyware.

Does it take up too much time? No, once it's all set up and running most of the tasks are automated and hands-off.

:cool:

TOG

andy88_2

I forgot to mention Bugnosis which flags up web bugs or beacons (usually single pixel) on pages, that send info back that enable web stats or usage info to be compiled; some of this is a bit akin to spyware and some is harmless. I switch it off sometimes - 18866 site, etc.

Reluctant_spender

For what it's worth I run the following;

Firewall at Router, Comodo firewall, NOD32 anti virus, sypbot, adaware, microsoft Defender spyware, AVG Anti spyware, CCleaner, Clean Up, ATF Cleaner, Spyware Blaster and Spywareguard. Oh and of Course FireFox

I run these after ever update - paranoid but safe (fingerscrossed).

zacspeed_2

Zone Alarm Pro
NOD32 Anti-virus
Spybot S&D
Adaware 6.0
CCleaner


Oh & I NEVER use Internet Explorer. Opera for me!!

jma_4

Hardware Firewall (i.e. router), eTrust anti-virus. Oh, and a lot of common* sense.

* you'd have thought...

jaffa

Sorry if this is a dumb question - but after running spyware etc is is safe to delete all the files it's finds or could I be getting rid of something I shouldn't.

I'm a bit of a dummy where computers are concerned

Toxteth_OGrady

If you're not sure, create a backup first e.g. a manual System Restore point.

Some anti-spyware apps will do this for you anyway.

Having done a backup you can then delete away to your hearts content.

:cool:

TOG

td

This has been really useful - I get adware and spyware all the time - Norton picks them up but can't delete without me going into safe mode so Adaware does it.

Why don't you use Internet Explorer?

td

eels_2

I use Zone Alarm (free version) & an excellent version of Norman (not Norton) virurs scontrol that used to be free from Opistat but unfortunately no longer. The only time I have got into serious trouble is when I went onto a code cracker site (trying to get something for nthing). I ended up with my desktop replaced & all sorts of stuff going on. I had made sure all security was running before I went on the site. Had to do a system restore to undo damge but it worked & I've learnt my lesson!