Question for cricket

[maddad ®]

Hi ,

Im just about to go and start getting my stuff for my build , I read on anotner post about what order to instale drivers .

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=150563 .

I have been wondering about this myself so that post helped .

The question i wanted to ask was .. After i instale all that stuff and i first need to update windows via the net .... Do i need any anti virus software instaled first ?

Im still not very sure about the whole Security thing ... Will i be protected with my firewall or do i need some other protection befor i access the net ?

I have never done any of this befor so its all like a big black hole to me

Thanks in advance

Maddad

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by maddad ® The question i wanted to ask was .. After i instale all that stuff and i first need to update windows via the net .... Do i need any anti virus software instaled first ?

If possible, yes...install your anti-virus and all other security software before you go on-line. Download them to the computer you're using now and burn them to a CD or put them on a USB flash drive. Install Windows followed by the chipset drivers, video drivers, sound, ethernet and any other device drivers you need. Then install your anti-virus, spyware blocker, software firewall and other the other security software you plan to use. Then the first place you want to go once you go on-line is the Windows Update site and get all the critical updates for Windows.

Cricket

[maddad ®]

Thanks cricket

I don't hold much faith in internet protection as i belive if somone want's in thay will get in . but with this new build i feel i need some kind of protection .

I don't want to spend a lot of cash but i would like somthing that can cover it all , Can you recomend somthing ?

It says on the AOL site >>>


Please note that there are currently compatibility problems with AOL Broadband and the latest versions of the following firewall products:

ZoneAlarm
ZoneAlarm Pro
Norton Internet Security 2002
Norton Personal Firewall



My AOL package includes some mcafee protection , McAfee® Personal Firewall Plus

Would you recomend that ?


Thanks again

maddad

[Louds3]

i'm not cricket buy maybe i can help!

do you have a cable modem for broadband like through a TimeWarner or a Comcast or Cablevision or do you use the broadband provided by aol? I've been able to completely keep aol off my computer by installing AIM (don't get Triton it's terrible) and using aol.com to check my mail, but at that point your are paying for aol to have an email account and I just went with gmail for this. AVG free is a good anti-virus program that is...free... nod32 is also recommended but is a little pricey ($39), i have bitdefender that I like very much (23 on the newegg). Trend-Micro makes a nice internet suite that has a firewall, anti-virus and spyware blocker all in one and it's get's nice ratings (i think it's about $50 for the suite). If you want a good firewall, ZoneAlarm is free and pretty much as good as anyhting you will buy.

steve

[maddad ®]

Hi Louds3 and thanks for your help .

I use broadband provided by aol tru a modem so i don't think i can remove it .

I think i will go with Zone alarm for firewall as its free and i would like to know more about " AVG " ... do you have a link to a site ?

Thanks you again

Maddad

[Cricket]

AVG Free by Grisoft.

And here's another free anti-virus: Free Avast! Home Edition.

Cricket

[Staren]

Do you have just the modem, or do you have a router between the modem and your system? If you have a router, you do not really need a software firewall. The router blocks incoming traffic, and you should be running an anti-virus, anti spyware programs, and watching what e-mail you open, ect, that will keep anything from getting on your system and sending outgoing traffic you don't want.

If you have a 'good' broadband set-up, the only thing a software firewall is doing is keeping a box that is already infected from infecting other computers on the same network.

That said, idealy, you should have your anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall if needed, installed before a computer goes on-line for the first time. Also, there is no one program, or set of programs that do everything, and those that say they can do everything *cough*Norton*cough* are also so boated that they can and will slow your system down by a good bit.

[glc]

AOL's protection suite is actually darn good, but HUGELY bloated.

[Louds3]

Originally Posted by glc AOL's protection suite is actually darn good, but HUGELY bloated.

that's exactly my experience. it's what my mom uses, and I wanted to change things around a little bit, but she's not had a single problem with it and she's not crazy about fine tuning her computer like most of us are so I figured might as well stick with it.