Security Suggestions Needed...

[viracocha711]

Hello,
I just finished loading Vista Ult. and I noticed it has some security features (windows defender)...I downloaded AVG Free as well...I want to know what other security I should have besides what came with Vista Ultimate and AVG Free? My computer is behing a netgear router on a home network.

Do I still need to get a Firewall program like Zone Alarm Free? I have noticed Vista ask for approval like firewalls do but I am not sure if this is actually a built in firewall or what?

Spyware...I do not have any spyware programs loaded, does Windows Defender help prevent spyware?

I have always used Webroot's SpySweeper, would it be a good idea to buy it for my new computer with VISTA?

I want my computer to be secure, very secure...For the least money as possible. PLUS, I do not want to have conflicts with dif security programs.

I am open to suggestions...

[Dave21]

You could look into spybot search and destroy, super-antispyware, and also ccleaner to keep your computer clean.

Windows should have a firewall that you can enable.

[shadowpr]

Along with what Dave recommended, I'll add spyware blaster.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by viracocha711 I just finished loading Vista Ult. and I noticed it has some security features (windows defender)...I downloaded AVG Free as well...I want to know what other security I should have besides what came with Vista Ultimate and AVG Free? My computer is behing a netgear router on a home network.

Get SpywareBlaster, it's an effective spyware blocker.

Originally Posted by viracocha711 Do I still need to get a Firewall program like Zone Alarm Free? I have noticed Vista ask for approval like firewalls do but I am not sure if this is actually a built in firewall or what?

Vista has a built-in firewall that is fine to use since you're already behind a router.

Originally Posted by viracocha711 Spyware...I do not have any spyware programs loaded, does Windows Defender help prevent spyware?

Windows Defender is a anti-spyware program although I'm not sure how good it is now. AVG has a free anti-spyware program that is pretty good. I would also use Spybot S&D, SuperAntiSpyware and Spyware Terminator.

Originally Posted by viracocha711 I have always used Webroot's SpySweeper, would it be a good idea to buy it for my new computer with VISTA?

SpySweeper is a very good anti-spyware program...I would keep using it.

Originally Posted by viracocha711 I want my computer to be secure, very secure...For the least money as possible. PLUS, I do not want to have conflicts with dif security programs.

As long as you don't use two active background scanning antivirus programs at the same time you shouldn't have to worry about conflicts between security programs. Most free antispyware programs are the manual scan type where you scan your computer when you want to...not much chance of conflicts with these.

Cricket

[law99]

I have this for XP, didn't check if Vista ready.

free real-time spyware protection Defender,ThreatFire & Spyware Terminator-use only one

I have these, no issues, all free
AVG
Zonealarm
Windows Defender
Spyware Blaster
Spyware Guard
WinPatrol free
Spybot Immunize
Firefox with addons

One more I would ad is PC Tools ThreatFire, www.threatfire.com, free also.

[viracocha711]

thanks everyone!

[CyberSorcerer]

Hello

Well there's plenty of information to get to regarding this post mainly because of some confusion regarding the differences between anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. I will be going over this subject a lot more on the forum here but for the moment lets answer your questions and what you should do regarding protecting your computer.

Remember that having spyware scanners and anti-virus scanners running will slow down the performance of your system. So you can install more than one spyware scanner or virus scanner, which is recommended, but take into consideration what level of protection your looking for and your trade off in CPU performance.

1. Install an Anti-Spyware scanner: - Now you mentioned that you downloaded AVG, which is a Anti-Spyware scanner. But Windows Defender is also a spyware scanner too so you can install both of those and pretty much have spyware covered. Depending on your surfing habits that is...
   
   If you have a Mac you can get MacScan, also a good idea to install Spybot Search & Destroy
   
   Now I will include install also a Anti-Virus scanner such as F-Secure, Norton, NOD32, ZoneAlarm etc.
2. Install Anti-Malware Protection: - Just stopping spyware and adware isn't enough to keep you protected, you should also have another level of security.
   
   This would include installing both SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard. The reason behind this is because SpywareBlaster "inoculates" your Internet Explorer against unwanted spyware and adware from the internet. SpywareGuard actively monitors your PC and prevents spyware infestations. Remember just having one program can't cover every malware out there because each program uses different methods to detect malware. So having at least two will cover a broad area, but still not everything needless to say.
3. Lock Down Your Browser: - The way I do myself is to install IE-SPYAD which will add Restricted sites zone. You will see the red X where some banners go because this stops a lot of popular add networks. But something that I install on all my clients computers so I do recommend it, which brings me to the next related item.
4. Use an alternative browser: - This is pretty straight forward. Change from IE to Mozilla, Firefox or Opera.
5. Keep your system secure & safe with Windows Updates: - This is very important and you shouldn't have any questions regarding this. Just something you should put into your schedule, especially on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. That is why Microsoft releases new patches.

There are a few more items to cover but I will go over all that in time. I will give a formal introduction later.

Talk with you all later and feel free to ask you security questions.

CyberSorcerer

[law99]

Your first post,huh.

"Remember that having spyware scanners and anti-virus scanners running will slow down the performance of your system."

Not having them when on the internet will really slow down your system, even kill it & maybe your finances.

"slow down the performance of your system. So you can install more than one spyware scanner or virus scanner"

More than one active of each can cause problems, like slow down. You can have as many manual only scanners as you want.

"AVG, which is a Anti-Spyware scanner"

Unless it was AVG Antivirus

"Now I will include install also a Anti-Virus scanner such as F-Secure, Norton, NOD32, ZoneAlarm etc."

I thought ZoneAlarm was only a firewall, thanks for the new info. As mentioned only have one active AV.

[glc]

I'd like to see a differentiation between AVG Antispyware and AVG Antivirus. They are 2 separate products. When "AVG Free" or just "AVG" is mentioned here, this usually refers to the Antivirus. It's been around for several years, the Antispyware is a comparatively new product, they bought out Ewido.

My opinion of both is quite good. The Antispyware has full background protection (as does Windows Defender) and auto updating if you pay for it, the free version is just a manual scanner which must be updated manually. The only real difference between the free and pay Antivirus is customizable scans and the availability of tech support.

Law99, CyberSorcerer is experienced in this field and has been invited to help us. Let's give him a better welcome than that. I'd like you to review the forum rules, please.

Zone Alarm does in fact have a full security suite that includes an antivirus.

[law99]

I am sorry, welcome to pcmech. I just thought there were many good concepts stated that could be wrongly understood. (I thought I was making them a little more clear)

[CyberSorcerer]

No bad intent taken law99, all you knew was this was my first post without even and introduction to the forum. Actually I was chatting with Drisley yesterday on his live broadcast and that is where we meet.

So let me give a small intro for all the others here. I'm a malware researcher, meaning I reverse-engineer malware to find out how they work, how to detect them and send all my information to Anti-Virus companies to include the signatures in their next update.

I'm on the HijackThis team at www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/ as a reverse-engineer. There are many forums that help people clean their computers with the help of HijackThis on the Internet. When one of them comes across an unknown exe, dll, zip etc there is a submission program they can download from bleepingcomputer that will submit the file for analysis to a private forum where people like me further analysis it to find out what it does and if its bad.

Another forum where I'm a member, which is a private anti-virus & anti-spyware forum, is http://malware-research.co.uk/. This forum has well know malware fighters that directly help with the AV companies to get solutions to new malware versions and malware found in the wild.

Now I have two computers that I use on a regular basis one is XP without any protection at all and the other is a Vista Home Premium with only the unregistered McAfee version that came with the machine, which means it doesn't have an up-to-date signature file (at least until it gets registered it wont). I use these machines to collect my won infections to preform analysis on.

I will talk about anti-virus, anti-spyware, malware, HijackThis and security subjects here and hope to help others out as much as I can.

CyberSorcerer

Welcome to PCMech CyberSorcerer! It's nice to have a SME (subject matter expert) on malware here to assist the forum. Thanks for the help and support.

[Cricket]

Welcome to PC Mech, CyberSorcerer. Your knowledge of malware and the help you offer is greatly appreciated.

Cricket

[amigo]

I only use free AVG and deepfreeze.

[Chesapeake Dan]

The only thing I can add is Spyware Terminator and Spywareblaster ONE WORD. The other that was mentioned " Spyware Blaster" is a rogue program.

[law99]

Good catch.
One of the guilty as charged, sorry, don't know how to edit.

[shadowpr]

I split the words too. I need to watch out for that.

[bd1886]

Kinda scary when you realize just how much "stuff" out there preys on our mis-spellings and the like. Welcome CyberSorcerer! Your experience will be appreciated around here. (White hats are always good to see in a crowd.)

[shadowpr]

I just checked out that spyware guard. It's from the same people that make spywareblaster (I got it right this time). I installed it, then updated, and was a bit surprised to see the latest update had a date of january 2004. After seeing that, I decided to just uninstall it. Guess they just stopped supporting it.

Just wanted to share that in case anyone was thinking of trying it.

[CyberSorcerer]

Hello shadowpr

The reason for less frequent updates with SpywareGuard is that is doesn't need to update as frequently. Much of its detection abilities are heuristics in nature. They work for many of the newer versions of spyware installers even without adding "signatures" for them. An update is made when there are new items coming out that are not detected that way.

SpywareBlaster's protections are all specfic - target for target with no heuistics. It must be updated to stay on top of any new spyware items.

CyberSorcerer

[law99]

I was too slow, had to find the spelling of heuristic. Never too much protection when lite on resources (& free), I have it, can't hurt.

from download.com
SpywareGuard provides a real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method. SpywareGuard now also features Download Protection and Browser Hijacking Protection. Features Listing: Fast Real-Time Scanning engine - catch and block spyware before it is executed (EXE and CAB files supported) with signature-based scanning for known spyware and heuristic/generic detection capabilities to catch new/mutated spyware.

[shadowpr]

Ah. Good to know. I might have to still check it out then.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by law99 don't know how to edit.

Click on the Edit button in the lower right corner of your post. You can only edit within a certain amount of time though (sorry, I'm not sure how much time they give you to edit your posts).

Cricket

[viracocha711]

WOW! Thanks CyberSorcerer! I have a brand new build, my first build and I am using VISTA Ultimate 64, I have AVG anti-virus(free) and the windows defender security...So, I was planning on buying Webroots SpySweeper as I have used it for years and like it. However, if there is better protection out there and it is free I must go that route...

My computer is on a home network behind a netgear router Do I need a third party firewall? (i.e., ZoneAlarm)

So, if you had a brand new build with VISTA Ult. 64 (Asus P5k-e MB, Intel Q6600, 2x 1gb ram DDR2, 500 GB SATA HD, BFG 8800gt-oc2, VISTA Ult. 64bit) what would be the security you would use?

. I know you gave some suggestions in your post but I have read so many bad things about VISTA not being compatible with certain software I really do not know where to start. Having said that I have had no problems with VISTA as of yet. KNOCK ON WOOD!

I currently have Windows Defender; AVG (free) Anti-virus...What next?

And thanks to everyone for the help, I love this forum!

[shadowpr]

I have Vista 64, and everything I talked about, and I believe everything mentioned works with it. So you should be good with any of the options listed in this thread.

Of course, you can always check the websites to make sure before you download.

[viracocha711]

Thanks Shadow,

This is my list of things to get...

ANTI-VIRUS
I already have AVG(free) Anti-virus, is this good? Set to do a scan every day.
...or should I go with one of these: F-Secure, Norton, NOD32, ZoneAlarm as Cyber suggested?

ANTI-SPYWARE
I already have Windows Defender, so I should add all 3 of these on top of Windows Defender?
1. AVG anti spyware
2. SpywareBlaster
3. SpywareGuard

BROWSER PROTECTION
Should I download and install IE-SPYAD or simply ditch IE-7 for Firefox?

WINDOWS UPDATES
Windows Updates are set to Auto download and install...This is correct, right? Or is there some Windows Updates I should avoid?

Another Question...Is it OK to leave my computer on 24/7?

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by viracocha711 My computer is on a home network behind a netgear router Do I need a third party firewall? (i.e., ZoneAlarm) . I know you gave some suggestions in your post but I have read so many bad things about VISTA not being compatible with certain software I really do not know where to start.

Windows firewall regardless of what version (XP or Vista) does not play nice with third party firewalls and a third party firewall can really screw up your home network.
If you are using the Windows built in firewall and you are behind a router you should be relatively safe.
I know you say you are using AVG for antivirus but on a side note, from what I have read, Vista + Norton + a home network = a nightmare.

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by viracocha711 WINDOWS UPDATES Windows Updates are set to Auto download and install...This is correct, right? Or is there some Windows Updates I should avoid? Another Question...Is it OK to leave my computer on 24/7?

Try and configure Windows updates to download critical updates only, avoid any Windows driver/hardware updates like the plague.
Running your machine 24/7 will not harm it in any way as long as you use a good quality power supply, cheap power supplies can go bad real fast.

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by viracocha711 ANTI-VIRUS I already have AVG(free) Anti-virus, is this good? Set to do a scan every day. ...or should I go with one of these: F-Secure, Norton, NOD32, ZoneAlarm as Cyber suggested?

I would keep AVG Anti-virus instead of paying for something else. But that's just me.

ANTI-SPYWARE I already have Windows Defender, so I should add all 3 of these on top of Windows Defender? 1. AVG anti spyware 2. SpywareBlaster 3. SpywareGuard

I would get those, and also Spybot Search and Destroy.

BROWSER PROTECTION Should I download and install IE-SPYAD or simply ditch IE-7 for Firefox?

That's a personal preference.

WINDOWS UPDATES Windows Updates are set to Auto download and install...This is correct, right? Or is there some Windows Updates I should avoid?

I don't let mine install updates automatically. I like to know what's being installed. Some updates I don't think I would need, so I don't take the chance. I also never let windows update any of my drivers. That can cause problems.

Another Question...Is it OK to leave my computer on 24/7?

It's perfectly fine. I have mine on 24/7 with no problems.


And Vista Firewall is pretty good if you already have a router. I wouldn't get another one.