Broadband: Newbie to broadband internet...
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by Mighty - 4/19/04 9:48 PM In reply to: Re:Newbie to broadband internet... by medicinemanI'm afraid turning off your machine when you're not using it won't help, much. People who have run tests have recorded that the average Windows machine gets probed within 15 minutes of being turned on.
Personally, for the last few years I've had a standalone Linux box that acts as a firewall. For my mom and a friend, I purchased D-Link or Lynksys firewall devices, since they're under $50 now. I just can't imagine putting a Windows machine directly onto the net regardless of which software "firewall" you have.
The "my virus scanner is better than yours" discussion so far has been entertaining. If you've paid any attention to reviews over the years you'll know that no virus scanner is perfect. Which is "best" varies depending on the tests thrown at it. All will miss some of the new viruses as they appear in the wild. Any of the popular ones are Good Enough and will catch most viruses, as long as they're kept up-to-date. I happen to use PC-Cillin on one machine, and Norton came with a Dell I just got. So I have two of the most popular running right now. I also use Spamcop to filter my spam, and it seems to catch most of the viruses before they ever get to my machine. I think PC-Cillin has only spotted one in the last year.
I also run Spybot and AdAware occasionally.
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by Xloggie - 4/18/04 10:44 PM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beeZone Alarm is not nearly enough. Neither is Z A Pro anymore. I would go with Sygate Per PRO Ver. And I would go to AnalogX and download their Portblocker on top of that. When your done with doing the above go to the Sygate Home Page and do one of their PC security checks. I would also go to: http://www.symantec.com/freesecuritycheck/ and do their security checks as well; can't hurt to get a 2nd opinion.
Joe B.
Louisville, KY
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by michael77 - 4/19/04 12:27 AM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beezone alarm is a very good program to start with
also i like the avast virus protection. the boot sector scan is a smart feature
i run a presario @ 512/128 configured to get about 94%
of my bandwidth utilized. i have no worries for protection, and no slow connection like with some of the other anti virus programs ive tried.
zone has many configurable features but it loads ready to protect your computer then as you go it will configure for your usage as you specify
and the support is great if you should run into problems though i never have
then theres the internet lock feature that will stop activity when your computer is idle very nice
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by michael77 - 4/19/04 12:35 AM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beezone is all youll need havent used avg antivirus but if it works for you then great
ill check but there should be no problem switching
from whatever connection you have now to broadband
but zone will recognize a new network and configure itself for it though you may want to reset alerts and logs so you will have an idea whats coming at you
i have my alerts shut off so i dont see whats coming in but you even get the isp from where any attack comes from pretty cool just hit more info on the alert and you can get all kinds of info
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by fo33ie - 4/19/04 12:37 AM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beeI use Zone Alarm configured so that my computer is hidden from the internet. It is also important to have an anti virus regularly updated. I also use Spybot to see what nasty cookie my web browsing has left behind. If you use SOCKS protocol beware that some hackers use this to hack your PC and you may not know they have been. I only found out because I use Proxy Plus as a server on my home network to share the connection and the logs told me of unauthorised access. This was even with Zone Alarm Pro installed, but the latest version appears to have stopped this.
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by jrg - 4/19/04 1:38 AM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beeEveryone has metioned most everything, except that I don't see a suggestion to use some of gibson research's free programs, such as decombobulator, unplug 'n pray, and shoot the messenger. www.grc.com is the site. Also, I don't see any mention about using less popularly hacked email programs, such as Eudora. I use the email program built into Mozilla's browser, which let's me delete emails without previewing them. I also use 'Netpeeker', but it's pretty technical. Then, I am convinced it's good to find a list of XP services that aren't usually needed, and see if you can operate with some of them turned off. Of course, the only safe way to surf, is to stay off of any networks, especially the internet, but that's not much fun.
On Cable, I use a hardware firewall, the zone alarm pro software firewall, AVG, and PestPatrol always, plus the three Gibson Research utilties above.
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by nigelr - 4/19/04 2:58 AM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beeIt is always a good idea to have a seperate firewall rather than working on the computer that you are using.
It is possible to buy a router but it is also possible to use an old computer (anything from an i486 and up).
I have one set up using nothing more than a floppy drive and two network cards -- one connected to the modem and the other to a hub, to which the other computers on our small home network are connected.
To make it all work I use Coyote Linux http://www.coyotelinux.com -- no need for a hard drive! and it's free 
Nigel
Re:Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by bill1017 - 4/20/04 3:08 AM In reply to: Re:Newbie to broadband internet... by nigelrI agree completly, one of the best things you can do is have some type of an external "firewall."
Even if you only have one computer connected to the your broadband connection you should get a broadband router. It makes your computer completly invisable to hackers. I have found that software firewall that run on your PC are a pain in the neck.
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by nigelr - 4/19/04 3:11 AM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beeJust another thought (without wanting to start any flame wars) but if you want to experiment a bit, why not give Linux a try? I've been using it for about 3 years now and don't have to worry about viruses, trojans, worms etc.
If you want to stick with XP then do as someone else suggested and use Eudora or Pegasus for your mail and switch browser, something like Firefox or even Opera; then there's less chance of someone taking advantage of security issues within IE or Outlook Express.
Nigel
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by LlewellynA - 4/19/04 3:40 AM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beeI have been a Broadband user for several years, during which time I have had some very nasty things happen several severe attacks from virus related stuff, which have shut down my entire system, at the time I believed I was protected by a certain virus protection system, and it turned out that the virus beat the updates.
I finally feel a lot more secure with what I installed a couple of months ago.
It is very powerful and auto updates 'virus signatures' very often.
This one product contains everything, real time e-mail, Firewall, anti-spyware,anti-dialer, and ability to filter out nasty web sites.
The only delima acording to cnet's provisions I cannot tell you what the product is, this could be seen as advertising.
Perhaps a small clue may be allowed.
Clue:- "a black and white endangered bamboo eating animal"
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by tfnewkirk - 4/19/04 7:33 AM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beezone alarm should do it really. but always (in xp anyway) have the installed firewall checked under network connections. . . just as a precaution.
tim in florida
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by johnnyg - 4/19/04 10:19 AM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beeI've been on Cable Broadband for a couple of years now...on and off i've used Mcaffe, Norton, Zonealarm, Sygate....its hard to know where to stop!!
Most recently I upgraded to Windows XP and dare I say it had been running it on Broadband for ages with just the in built firewall and AVG free(really stupid!!! do not do this!!). Now I still have AVG free(ok its a little limited, but if you know what your doing its Ok) but I also have OUTPOST free firewall which again is very good if you know what your doing(they do a pay version which I must assume is very very good) I also have recently started using Spybot search and destroy.....this is great....but watch out for links to other similar named products...basically if you are asked for money then you are the wrong place the real Spybot search and destroy if FREE!
Oh and by the way I do not think anyone has mentioned yet...its really boring basic computer stuff...but MAKE BACKUPS of your important STUFF!!! regularily and if using Windows XP always use the restore point feature before installing any suapect software if you dare!!
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by demon_knight21 - 4/19/04 11:15 AM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beehello there easy to sto ne1 gettin in jus run ipcop linux operating system can be downloaded for free user friendly and works on ip tables it also can be configured for all purposes as a normal net user or a small business i use a simple dell pentium 2 machine which cost £35 from a computer fair built it in an hour and fully configured within 2 hours also you can add cron jobs to do specific tasks like ping 2 websites if both sites do not reply the pc knows to reboot and re-establish a connection every half an hour so the system can be used when you use remote access like working from home in a small office enviroment anyone has questions feel free to contact me demon_knight21
Norton Internet Security!
by Balastrea - 4/19/04 3:41 PM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beeI would NEVER go Broadband with out it?
You get extra firewall protection plus Anti-Virus program.
Good luck
Balastrea
Re:Newbie to broadband internet...
by Magic Raven - 4/20/04 10:02 AM In reply to: Newbie to broadband internet... by beeI recently installed Trojan Guarder for a minimal cost - have had no problems since. Was getting many Trojans previously. Norton Anti-virus has captured all the "netsky"'s so far.
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