Internet Security / Antivirus

Currently I use Norton Internet Security (NIS), Norton Anti-Virus (NAV), SpyBot, and Ad-Aware on the laptop.

On my desktop, it's AVG, SpyBot, and Ad-Aware.

It's NIS and NAV I'm looking to replace.


Ron

Quote:

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Originally Posted by p38arover

I've tried using my daughter's Mac - I can't drive it. Too flamin' complex. Much easier with Windows.

Ron

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LOL. You've just got to stop thinking everything is hard :)

If you lived nearby I could show you in two hours pretty much everything you'd need to know about them. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

LOL. You've just got to stop thinking everything is hard :)

If you lived nearby I could show you in two hours pretty much everything you'd need to know about them. :)

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I could show you the OFF switch in about 10 seconds ! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by p38arover

I'd move to Linux but I fear the learning curve may be too steep.

Ron

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Ah, just try low range 2, you'll get there:p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rovernaut

Ah, just try low range 2, you'll get there:p

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Nah. I'm too impatient.

Ron

Trend Micro pc-cillin as AV. I have won many a job proving the inconsistencies of McAfee and Norton. Especially with in an Exchange store.

There is generally no need to install Adaware etc if pc-cillin 2007 is used.

There are other things you need to do as well in order to protect your machine on the internet. Stop all unused services such as th server service and messenger. Also uncheck the client for MS Windows and NetBIOS in the IP settings of the machine.

The majority of the time the 'baddies' will run under the currently logged in credentials so if you dont need it, dont use a local admin account.

I could go on and on.

I can post a brief hardening guide if you need to know more.

First things is - get rid of Norton and watch how much faster your PC operates.

Cheers
Caine

Well I have replaced Nortons with Avast, put the windows firewall back on, and installed Ad-Aware too.
My machine runs heaps faster now, thanks eveyone for the tips.

Catch-22, how do you check the other points in your post.

"Also uncheck the client for MS Windows and NetBIOS in the IP settings of the machine"

Not very computer savy, so laymans terms would be a great help.

Thanks,
John

OK I will post up a little later on when I get home. Just watch Adaware does not remove anything you need. Cookies aren't always that bad....

I've yet to see any one Anti-mal/spyware application that is good enough to use on it's own, this is without exception.

Disabling such services as Messenger, unbinding NetBIOS etc is a good idea for dial-up users. But if like most home users they are on some form of broadband and use a consumer level modem/router/NAT device then the disabling of these services is redundant.

Again if the computer is connected to broadband and is behind a modem/router/NAT device then having the Windows firewall running will achieve very little in the way of security. The Windows firewall does have some limited ability to stop some outbound applications, so if you are concerned about outbound traffic then sure enable the Windows firewall.

Best regards
DarrenR

Alot of users do not know how to configure NAT/PAT and nor do they use it. Telstra and Optus provide 'bridges' only so all of the security rests on the machine. Disabling all services that are NOT being used is esential for a 'hardened' machine whether directly attactched to the internet or behind layers of firewalls/filters. Whether you do it or not is completely up to you and you are always at risk if you dont. Think of the amount of traffic you allow in to your machine - web browsing, email, streaming, MSN and Yahoo chat - they all pose risk. To mitigate is not hard.

Caine