Security Suggestions Needed...

[viracocha711]

YES, I have had many of a problem with my network and ZoneAlarm...So, you say it is safe to ditch ZoneAlarm as long as I am behind my router and have Windows Firewall turned on?

I like this idea if it is safe.

YIKES!
I will change the Windows AUTO updates to "Critical" Only...I know Windows has already installed about 40-50 dif updates, I hope those do not cause me any problems.

I have an ABS Labs TAGAN BZ series 800w power supply...I hope it is good I paid good money for it! LOL!

[law99]

I agree with Shadowpr's thoughts.

I use Firefox & secure it even more with extentions.
I use IE only when necessary, such as Window's updates.
Any updates are available on the second Tuesday of each month.

[viracocha711]

OK, so I need to go with all 5 spyware programs, correct?

ANTI-SPYWARE
1.Windows Defender(I already have w/VISTA)
2. AVG anti spyware
3. SpywareBlaster
4. SpywareGuard
5. Spybot Search and Destroy

FIREWALL
Turn On Windows Firewall and ditch ZoneAlarm.

ANTI-VIRUS
Keep AVG (Free) Anti-Virus

BROWSER
Decide whether I want to keep IE-7 and download/install "IE-SPYAD"
...Or ditch IE-7 and go with Firefox.
Another quetion...I have GOOGLE Toolbar on my other computers and I love it, however, is there any security reason why I should not use it? I have not installed it on my new build but was planning to do so if there is no security risk. I know toolbars can be very bad and I do not install any toolbars other than Google's.

...And set Win Updates to CRITICAL ONLY.

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by viracocha711 I have an ABS Labs TAGAN BZ series 800w power supply...I hope it is good I paid good money for it! LOL!

That power supply is in the power supply good list so you should be OK with it.

Originally Posted by law99 Any updates are available on the second Tuesday of each month.

That depends on where you live.
Down here in the Caribbean we had our Windies updates today, the three machines I have switched on normally all did their updates this morning.

[viracocha711]

I just downloaded AVG anti-virus...I was not aware that it is a trial, I thought it was free? It says the trial will expire in 30 days?

I am now going to install:
3. SpywareBlaster
4. SpywareGuard
5. Spybot Search and Destroy

[shadowpr]

http://www.grisoft.com/ww.product-av...s-free-edition

[viracocha711]

Originally Posted by shadowpr http://www.grisoft.com/ww.product-av...s-free-edition

Thanks shadow...I already have AVG Anti-virus (FREE)...The AVG anti-spyware is the program I was talking about. It says that after 30 days features like AUTO Updates and Resident Shield will be disabled...I guess having the scanner is what is important, huh? Resident Shield is really the only security feature that would be disabled, I can handle the manual updates.

Does any of the other 4 spyware programs that Cyber suggested have active shields? Are they free? I guess I will find out shortly?
2. Windows Defender
3. SpywareBlaster
4. SpywareGuard
5. Spybot Search and Destroy

[shadowpr]

They are all free, and with the avg antispyware, you will lose those features, but you will still be able to do manual scans, and manual updates. You will lose the Resident shield.

[viracocha711]

Thanks!

I am now downloading the rest of the spyware programs...Any special settings I need to take care of or just go with the default settings on these programs as well?

SpywareBlaster
SpywareGuard
Spybot Search and Destroy

[shadowpr]

I believe the defaults will work just fine.

You may want to just look at everything anyway, and change what you want.

[viracocha711]

Thanks for your help shadow!

..."SpywareGuard" will not download from CNET/Download.com. Plus, is this program buggy? It appears some folks are not real happy with it?

Other than that one program, I have the rest of the spyware programs downloaded and installed.

Now to decide whether or not to go with the Firefox browser or Keep using IE-7?

[shadowpr]

You can get it from here: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html

[viracocha711]

Should I leave Spybot Search and Destroy in the "Default Mode" or is there some things that need to be changed in "Advanced Mode"?

[viracocha711]

Thanks...Did you know that SpywareGuard most recent definitions are 5 years old? Is this program worth having?

[shadowpr]

Check the posts in this thread (20-22) I bought that up earlier and it was explained.

[law99]

About SpywareGuard being old-see posts #21 & #22.

2. Windows Defender
3. SpywareBlaster
4. SpywareGuard
5. Spybot Search and Destroy (has Immunize)
They give active protection.

[rjfvillarosa]

I honestly don't think you need half that stuff to protect yourself. The best form of protection is safe browsing habits. All I have installed on my machines is AVG antivirus and CCleaner which I use to clean up the registry and temporary files, I do have SpyBot installed on this machine only and it is never used. I probably haven't run it for about a month or so.
Safe Browsing is the way to go, if you are going to visit adult sites and warez sites then you are going to come unstuck and nothing will protect you from that garbage.

[viracocha711]

Thanks everyone! N

No adult sites for me...What are "warez" sites?

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by viracocha711 What are "warez" sites?

Illegal download sites where you get information on program hacks n cracks, and other naughty stuff.

[viracocha711]

Oh Yeah, I will not have to worry about those sites either...Thanks

[CyberSorcerer]

Ok this is a hard topic for people to understand and don't feel bad because it's for everyone. I get potential clients (large companies) that don't understand all the features of firewalls and what there used for.

Firewalls come in two forms and it depends on where its going to be used on what form you get. You have your perimeter firewall and your host firewall "which is the one on your computer." Your perimeter firewalls come either hardware based or software based and have advanced features, such as setting up a DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) along with other features that can not be setup on host based firewalls.

Your perimeter firewall will not block, or catch, traffic coming from within your LAN. This is the reason why every computer on your LAN must have its own firewall installed and turned on. There are other differences between the two types of firewalls but it takes learning more about security to really understand why you need one, or both.

To make this easy, just install an anti-virus, anti-spyware program make sure your host based firewall is turned on and working. One more thing, don't surf to questionable sites such as porn, warez, clicking links in email (remember this would be traffic from your computer headed for the internet so a perimeter firewall cant check it). Basically safe surfing, I know its hard for some of users

Also Windows Vista firewall is much better than the version that came with XP SP2, but more complicated to setup and get working correctly. Maybe I will write an article on Vista's firewall if enough people here are running Vista.

[bd1886]

Use only free stuff myself. But as a "pay for" Spy Sweeper is worth the money.Nice tools and support.

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by CyberSorcerer Also Windows Vista firewall is much better than the version that came with XP SP2, but more complicated to setup and get working correctly. Maybe I will write an article on Vista's firewall if enough people here are running Vista.

I would appreciate an article like that. Even if there aren't that many people here now that use Vista, as time progresses there will be more, so that article could be a good reference for them.

[viracocha711]

Thanks Cyber! No porn or warez surfing for me, I have a firewall for porn called MY WIFE! LOL!...YES! I would love to read the VISTA Firewall article...Like shadow said VISTA users will be growing with time and the article would be a good guide.

[law99]

"Also Windows Vista firewall is much better than the version that came with XP SP2, but more complicated to setup and get working correctly."

Your article might deserve a sticky to keep it handy for new Vista users. I have XP & will try waiting for the OS after Vista.

[viracocha711]

There is a ton of info and tutorials here : http://www.vistax64.com/

[viracocha711]

Cyber...Would love to here your suggestions on config of Windows security? There are so many "experts" out there all saying completely dif things when it comes to proper security that works with VISTA Ult. 64??
...One begins to wonder if there really is a "correct" way in which to go about security. I do not want to put 5 dif security programs on my machine only to have them cause problems...I put all the above suggested security programs on my brand new laptop which has XP (the so-called better of the two Windows's OS)...And now I am getting error messages. I erased all of them except AVG AV and AVG anti spy and the error messages have stopped...

Waiting patiently, I know you are busy but when you can help I would be very happy!

BTW-October 2007 issue of PC World did a test on antispyware and they were very critical about Spybot Search & Destroy. PC World gave it a "VERY POOR" rating saying "Despite strong real time protection, this free old favorite can't recognize and clean up many of today's threats!" It only recognized single digit %'s in most threat categories.

1. PC Tools Spyware DR $30 yr. (Superior 95)
2. AVG Anti-Spy $30yr. w/ $20 renewal (Very Good 81)
3. Webroot Spy Sweeper $30yr. (Good 76)
4. MS Windows Defender Free (Good 72)
5. Sptbot S&D Free (Poor 59)

...So, would it be TRUE to say, "The best security in terms of protection and ease of use, along with least number of dif security programs that must be loaded on a machine to obtain satisfactory protection...Is PAID security NOT FREE security? Or, are these ratings "PAID FOR" and can not be trusted?

The testing was done by AV-TEST.org...A German research company.





Thanks!

[shadowpr]

What errors were you getting?

What did you have installed?

[viracocha711]

3. SpywareBlaster
4. SpywareGuard
5. Spybot Search and Destroy

I am sorry to say I did not understand what the error message said...And since I have not had one since uninstalling the above programs I can't repeat the message.

[viracocha711]

What are security r u running? Are u using VISTA Ult. 64?