What Security do you use?

espresso

phil1_2_1 wrote: »

I had problems with the Norton Package that came with My BT internet. It slowed down my PC and let a trojen in. Think we have got it sorted now:j

I hope that you have fully removed Norton, using their removal tool.

spud17

Has anyone tried the following Firewall

http://www.tallemu.com/online_armor_free.html

After problems with Comodo3, I looked around and found the above mentioned on
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm#5

I've been using it for a couple of weeks, and it seems fine. It doesn't have Comodos need to have to re-grant (?) permissions for everyday things such as Firefox.
Permission is granted once and that's it.
It shows good results here

http://www.matousec.com/projects/windows-personal-firewall-analysis/leak-tests-results.php

Note where the XP firewall comes in the list.

On performance it is level with Comodo but seems to use less resources and is less obtrusive, also when installing it checks the startup menu for any problem programs.

Any comment/observations appreciated, because at the moment I'm considering keeping it.

Mehdi

I won't have any Norton products on my PC as they eat up resources and IMO are useless. I know a tech who detests Norton products. I use :

Acronis True Image - to back up HDs
Ad Adware 2007 - free version
Auslogics Disk Defrag - free version, to defrag HDs much quicker than the windows defrager
Malware Sweeper - free version
Registry Mechanic - to clean the registry
Speedfan - free, to monitor CPU temps
Your Uninstaller - to CLEAN uninstall software
Zonealarm Security Suite

And msconfig (windows) to remove qttask, google toolbar notifier and other garbage eating resources on startup.

I run a full av and spyware scan on Zonealarm once a week and have Malware sweeper running in the background. I run Malware sweeper and Ad-Adware 2007 if either my internet connection speed drops (this is usually NOT a problem with your ISP!) or CPU temperatures rise above the normal levels. I run registry mechanic once every 2 months to keep everything ticking over and disk defrag once a month if HD access slows down.

Mehdi

mikeD wrote: »

Ad-aware won't update. I get an "Error retrieving update" message. Any thoughts on this as the updates are 17 days old.

Which ISP are you with?

miketaylor

Use Linux then you dont have all these security issues!
I am using Fedora 8 which I really like...

charlieheard

spud17 wrote: »

Has anyone tried the following Firewall

http://www.tallemu.com/online_armor_free.html

After problems with Comodo3, I looked around and found the above mentioned on
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm#5

I've been using it for a couple of weeks, and it seems fine. It doesn't have Comodos need to have to re-grant (?) permissions for everyday things such as Firefox.
Permission is granted once and that's it.

Funnily enough, I replaced Comodo 2.7 with this a couple of days ago based on the same recommendation, as CPF seemed to be hogging the CPU too often. This is more than a firewall, as it also checks whether you want programs to run, which caused me a few problems. I run backups, defrags, etc overnight, and these stalled as I wasn't there to grant Online Armor permission to run them. It crashed a couple of times and caused me to press the reboot button a couple of others :mad: . Now I've worked out what needs permission, it seems to be running fine. I could have just turned off the program monitoring, but I like the added security.

I'll keep it for now, but I'll know for sure in a week or so.

spud17

Thanks for the reply, your experiences are much the same as mine.

Once permissions have been granted that seems to be that, unlike Comodo, at least on my PC.

Mine appears to be running fine and I'm sticking with it for the time being.

It certainly seems to be a hidden gem.

mikeD

Mehdi wrote: »

Which ISP are you with?

Tiscali: Browser - Firefox. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Ms_Chocaholic

Hi

I wonder if one of the "techies" can give me some advice re free anti-virus/firewall etc etc software. I'm okay when my PC is working but the minute it stops working or there's a problem, I go into panic mode (but I'm not at that stage yet!!)

Currently have McAfee installed but due to expire and really want to try out some free software. Read through this thread but most of it I don't understand (vista, what's a vista???). Currently I have virus and firewall through McAfee and when that expires, I will need everything.

I'm hoping to uninstall it before it expires though so I'm not exposing PC to any viruses but how do I go about uninstalling McAfee and installing free stuff, what happens in the intervening period?

I hope someone can help but please make advice simple sounding if you can and please be gentle with me!

Thanks

Ms Choc xxx

Art_2

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Hi

I wonder if one of the "techies" can give me some advice re free anti-virus/firewall etc etc software. I'm okay when my PC is working but the minute it stops working or there's a problem, I go into panic mode (but I'm not at that stage yet!!)

Currently have McAfee installed but due to expire and really want to try out some free software. Read through this thread but most of it I don't understand (vista, what's a vista???). Currently I have virus and firewall through McAfee and when that expires, I will need everything.

I'm hoping to uninstall it before it expires though so I'm not exposing PC to any viruses but how do I go about uninstalling McAfee and installing free stuff, what happens in the intervening period?

I hope someone can help but please make advice simple sounding if you can and please be gentle with me!

Thanks

Ms Choc xxx

You won't do better than AVG for a free anti-virus program. It's best to uninstall any other anti-virus before you try and install AVG. Find it at:

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/downloads-products/us/frt/0?prd=aff

As I use a free firewall supplied by my ISP I can't advise on this.

Regards,
Art.