What Security do you use?

pingu

Do we really need extra firewall in addition to windows XP?

Browntoa

I would say ANY firewall is better than XP's !!!

the built in one is VERY basic, bit like using a plaster when you really need stitches

purplepatch

Using the information from this thread, I downloaded AVG free. Upon restart, up came some error about a .dll not being found. I therefore downloaded Avast intending to use that instead. However, on restart, AVG free was working fine (apart from having to disable something to get the email scanner to work), as was Avast. I have been running the two together for about a week, without any errors so far.

Is this a problem, and if so, which one should I leave installed?

sra

purplepatch wrote:

Using the information from this thread, I downloaded AVG free. Upon restart, up came some error about a .dll not being found. I therefore downloaded Avast intending to use that instead. However, on restart, AVG free was working fine (apart from having to disable something to get the email scanner to work), as was Avast. I have been running the two together for about a week, without any errors so far.

Is this a problem, and if so, which one should I leave installed?

It think you are okay with those two. If I remember right, Avast detects AVG and disable any of it's functions that conflict. (or is it the other way round - can't remember)

I had both on my computer at the same time for a while but I can't remember what made me remove one

2005CLAIRE

I think I sorted out the problem I had earlier (apparantley a lot of people had been sent an email in German - there was a virus in it).

My Norton was playing up so I installed
Spybot s+d
Spyware blaster
Zone alarm
AVG


I got rid of Norton


Hope I did the right thing.

But,

When Zone Alarm shows it tells me that I have no anti virus protection. Does that mean the AVG hasn't worked or that Zone Alarm doesn't recognise it?


I have no clue about computers at all so any help would be gratefully received.

***Boardguide comment - I have copied the poster's words onto her original thread to keep this thread on track.***Please reply HERE - Thanks.

teeldee

Fran wrote:

I thought it would be interesting to know what security people use (and how successful or not!).

When I first went on to ADSL I was plagued with no end of spyware and adware. I always ran Norton AV 2003.

After rebuilding Winxp and upgrading to Norton internet security 2004, I was trouble free for a while, then all hell let loose, my PC slowed to a crawl and I had to rebuild again.

I tried NIS2004 again but this time it kept crashing my PC.

Long story short

I now use
WINxp SP2 Firewall
AVG Free Antivirus
Ad-Aware Free edition
Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird
StarOffice

Seem to be OK at the moment. still have occasional problems, but a lot more stable:j

teeldee

calibrax

I use a Linksys router, with WPA-PSK encryption for wireless. I also restrict access to the network by MAC address, so even if someone knew the password, (which is VERY long and VERY secure) they still couldn't log into my wireless network, unless they were using one of my PCs.

I use Firefox for my browser (I still have IE for those sites that don't work in anything else, like the National Lottery website), and I use Eudora for my mail (because I wouldn't touch Outlook with a bargepole!) I also run AVG Free antivirus, Spybot and Ad-aware. No need for software firewalls, my fully-stealthed router takes care of that job.

As to how well it works - I have NEVER had any virus infection on my PCs. Which considering the amount of time I spend online is pretty damn good!

Steve

teeldee

calibrax wrote:

I use a Linksys router

What model do you use? I have been looking at a Linksys WAG-54g wireless router, but I have heard that they can overheat.

Teeldee

perriless

Having rad this forum last week, I downloaded Spybot (free), and then today I got AVG (free). The trouble is that since I downloaded AVG my computer is on a total go-slow (snails go faster). As I'm a total pc virgin when it comes to techie stuff I don't know what to do to get back to the speed that broadbadn was giving me. I don't understand half of what I read, I just knew that I needed protection - particularly as I have had umpteen spoof e-mails purtporting to come from Lloyds Bank(I don't have an account), eBay and PayPal. HELP in speeding up, and what do I do with AVG now that I've got it?

perriless

Having rad this forum last week, I downloaded Spybot (free), and then today I got AVG (free). The trouble is that since I downloaded AVG my computer is on a total go-slow (snails go faster). As I'm a total pc virgin when it comes to techie stuff I don't know what to do to get back to the speed that broadbadn was giving me. I don't understand half of what I read, I just knew that I needed protection - particularly as I have had umpteen spoof e-mails purporting to come from Lloyds Bank(I don't have an account), eBay and PayPal. HELP in speeding up, and what do I do with AVG now that I've got it?