Spyware, viruses, & security : Security apps for begginer - Whats you opinion
Security apps for begginer - Whats you opinion
by Jman787 - 11/8/08 5:03 PMI have a friend who is getting a new HP laptop running windows vista. She connects wirelessly to the internet via her friends wireless router (I'm not sure if they have the hardware firewall on - or even the new firmware installed)
So anyway- in you opinion, is this a good set up:
AVG Free (8.0)
Spybot S&D
Ad-aware 2008
Zone alarm Firewall (7.0)
CCleaner
Also, if you think there are any better ones to use instead - let me know
Thanks for any help!
And user habits.....
by Jman787 - 11/8/08 5:07 PM In reply to: Security apps for begginer - Whats you opinion by Jman787Sorry i forgot to mention - My friend is very NOT computer savy -so we need something not too hard to use (and so any manual scans i would run whenever i see her, which is usually not more that once a month)
Thanks
The biggest problem
by Tarq57 - 11/9/08 12:29 AM In reply to: And user habits..... by Jman787is going to be the wireless connection. If her friends don't have a secure and encrypted connection, that's a big hole straight away. Until that's fixed, the rest is academic.
Personally, I prefer Avast to AVG, which is user bias based on 2 years of good, trouble free protection, and really good forum help when needed. Avira is another highly regarded AV, but, to be fair, AVG is popular, and there are obviously lots of users who are happy with it. It does have (from what I've read) a problem with Spybot, if the Teatimer is activated. And the linkscanner can give problems, too, with slow browsing, due to a large amount of "extra" info downloaded.
AdAware is dog tucker, IMO. Better demand scanners are MBAM and Superantispyware. Both are extremely good.
I know nothing of the ZA firewall, but have heard it's OK.
I'd include a hosts file. MVPS provide a regularly updated one. I use Hostsman to manage it. It's pretty much set and forget - a bit like SpywareBlaster - and you update it every week or two. Prevents connection to known bad sites.
Beginner Security
by Zouch - 11/14/08 6:09 PM In reply to: Security apps for begginer - Whats you opinion by Jman787That's a pretty good selection and they are all free!
For beginners, I've found a complete security suite is sometimes easier to manage. The downside is that they aren't free. For the past few years, I've recommended ZoneAlarm Security Suite, which at V7 includes the firewall you mention, the Kaspersky Anti-virus engine (which auto-updates virus signatures every hour) and a decent anti-spyware application. V8 has just been released but I've not had time to evaluate it yet.
On initial installation, it will enter "learning mode" where it watches your activity and sets appropriate protection levels. Subsequently, it switches to stealth mode and your machine becomes invisible to the internet. The only time it will nag you is when it enounters a risky action and for most, it has recommendations.
For the lightly more advanced user, I'd recommend the full Kaspersky Internet Security Suite, though you will get rather more alerts from it.
For a beginner, what you are looking for is automation. Your selection meets that need.
Free Anti-malware Arsenal
by btljooz - 11/15/08 1:07 PM In reply to: Security apps for begginer - Whats you opinion by Jman787Avast is much superior to AVG because it gives protection in many different ways in more targeted areas, can be configured to update as close as ever hour if wanted, I have mine set to check every 4 hours. AVG just killed THOUSANDS of computers due to an update that considered a particular file in System32 as a virus and deleted that file killing the operating system! Avira gives absolutely NO real-time protection and no e-mail scanning. Avira also plants a tracking cookie with it's startup screen that takes a registry edit to stop.
Spybot Search & Destroy is a very good choice as is AdAware. AdAware gets MRUs where SuperAntispyware does NOT. AdAware is also much easier on resources and much easier to use. I've never heard of MBAM. I'd research it extensively before even trying it to see if I want to keep it or not.
Something to consider when using [especially] AVs is that it is impossible for just one company to keep up with all the daily additions to the mal-ware spectrum floating around out on the net. Therfore, backing up any on-board anti-malware arsenal with one or more on-line scans such as Panda Active-scan, F-Secure, and ESET is recommeneded. (*All require IE: see below.) That way, one is not depending on only *one* database _AND_ in case something REALLY nasty happens to disable the on-board arsenal one can still have a chance to clean it up or, at least, find the problem to tell a tech about so they will better know where to begin to fix it.
I found CC to be rather clunky to use, but if you're used to using it then go for it! I, personally, like TweakNow RegCleaner Std if I feel a registry clean is in called for. TNRC is sooooo simple to use, but as with all registry cleaners one MUST be careful as to what is allowed to be deleted, etc.
I prefer Comodo Firewall over Zone Alarm for several reasons including the fact that Comodo is more user friendly and it does NOT "phone home" all the time like ZA does.
I've found that not only are security suites expen$ive, but they can sometimes cause more problems than they are worth. A couple of years ago I bought Kaspersky's 15 in 1 Security Suite only to find out that it employs Rootkit technology. I bought it to replace the "free" Zone Alarm suite that my ISP provides because of the ZA phoning home thing. I wasted $35 because once I discovered Kaspersky's rootkit residing on my computer I immediately uninstalled that suite and found and cleaned out all files it very messily left behind. In addition, $uite$ need to be paid for each year for update$.
*While your list seems to be fairly complete, I think you forgot the most popular avenue that all that nasty stuff you are trying to prevent and/or clean up uses to get there to begin with: Internet Explorer (IE). I would suggest that you install the latest version of Firefox on that 'puter making it the default browser. Install an add-on called NoScript to prevent a newer nasty on this internat called "clickjacking". Firefox has "zillions" of add-ons that do myriads of things including plenty of security as well as the mundane like "ColorfulTabs" which adds colors to the Tabs and changes them up with each use and Flagfox which puts a flag in the address bar showing where a particular site is located, just to name two. Also you can find toolbars and other widgets. Firefox just got done releasing their latest version. So it may or may not take some of the venders of the Add-ons a little time to update them to work on the latest version of Firefox 3 so you may want to find the latest version of Firefox 2 for now. Adding Firefox to your cocktail of anti-malware programs should go a long way towards prevention in the first place. Then what little may actually get past it can be cleaned up with the rest of the arsenal.
Then disable MS automatic updates and manually install them yourself by switching over to IE to do it and then back to Firefox as the default browser.
Since your friend is not all that computer savvy, you could/should possibly teach this person the dos and don'ts of e-mail safety and etiquette which go a looong way towards protecting a computer in the first place. Other computing "best practices" could/should be included such as being careful as to where one goes on the internet and what one downloads and how one downloads it. You also could/should teach *how* to use all that armor-ware since you won't always be around to bail this person out of a rut. 
I hope this helps. GOOD LUCK 
thanks for all your replies, also.......
by Jman787 - 11/15/08 3:32 PM In reply to: Free Anti-malware Arsenal by btljoozDoes anyone know if:
-using Spybot's Immunize option will conflict with a firewall?
-which in your opinion is more easy to use - Comodo or Zonealarm firewall
-whether in AVG or Avast - can they - scan automatically and if s/t is detected - will it automatically fix it or will it ask the user what to do
thanks!
re the above
by Tarq57 - 11/15/08 5:59 PM In reply to: thanks for all your replies, also....... by Jman787Spybots Immunize shouldn't conflict with anything, firewall or other. The TeaTimer (if selected) might.
Comodo or ZA. Neither. Or both. Both will sometimes require an answer to an alert. Comodo's free; ZA has a free/trial version, try them both out.
AVG can be set for scheduled scans. Avast can also, but it's tricky, and involves the use of the Windows task scheduler. I don't know about AVG, but with Avast it's necessary to respond to the first (if any) malware found, with an answer, and leave the checkbox (apply this decision, or similar) ticked.
What is "s/t"?
oh sorry..
by Jman787 - 11/15/08 6:36 PM In reply to: re the above by Tarq57i meant "something"
Automatic fixing
by btljooz - 11/16/08 11:35 AM In reply to: re the above by Tarq57... ... ...and leave the checkbox (apply this decision, or similar) ticked.
This is a practice that I strongly suggest NOT be employed.
The reason for this is that sometimes infections are in different places, therefore requiring different actions being taken to deal with them without "borking" one's OS (Operating System - E.G.: Windows, Mac, Linux are all Operating Systems). If the first item found can safely be deleted and the checkbox is left checked and the next item found can not safely be deleted then problems (possibly BIG ones) can arise...including having to re-install the OS. In the second case the best option would be to send the file to the "Chest".
This applies to ANY anti-malware program.
Therefore, it is not a very good idea to just allow any anti-malware program to blithely deal with all files (without strict supervision) in the exact same manner when in fact they could need different reactions because of their location. Again, E.G.: Files residing in Temp folders versus files residing in the Registry of the OS or other needed/always-used program.
Excellent point, well made.
by Tarq57 - 11/16/08 11:47 AM In reply to: Automatic fixing by btljoozThanks for putting that correction in.
Tell the truth, on the odd occasion I run a scan, should anything be found, I usually command "continue", and deal with anything needing dealt with - which usually isn't much - from the scan report at the end.
My personal experiences concerning your questions:
by btljooz - 11/16/08 11:03 AM In reply to: thanks for all your replies, also....... by Jman787-using Spybot's Immunize option will conflict with a firewall?
I use SS&D with Comodo on Win XP with no problems at all. They both do need to be "trained" to tolerate each other though. I strongly suggest waiting until after everything else is installed to turn on SS&D's T-T so that the "training" process can be done one program at a time. It's easier that way.
The Tea Timer gives real-time detection of all changes done in the Registry whether the user is actively doing it or its being done surreptitiously/nefariously. When a program is installed, that program usually puts its own 2¢ worth into the registry. That's why I install all programs and then turn on the T-T and train it to allow those progs before I allow the computer to go on-line for the first time. That way it will only "cry" if something/one is nefariously messing with the registry or simply if the user has installed a program them self.
-which in your opinion is more easy to use - Comodo or Zonealarm firewall
As I stated above, to me (I have over a decade of computing experience), Comodo is a lot easier to use than ZA. Maybe you can test each of them SEPARATELY to acquaint yourself with them and see what *you* think. That's what I did. The only thing with Comodo is that they ask you to "Register" it annually in order to receive updates, but that is no big deal. You simply give them the e-mail address you want the registration number to be sent to for easy retrieval and then you copy and paste it in the program at the prompt and you're done. No biggie! Just remember to SAVE that e-mail (or at least the registration number) somewhere where you will be able to get to it in case you have to re-install the program again for some reason (like a computer crash, etc).
-whether in AVG or Avast - can they - scan automatically and if s/t is detected - will it automatically fix it or will it ask the user what to do
It's been several years since I quit using AVG because it became bloated and allowed my 'puter to get infested [a couple of times] so bad that I had to do an OS re-install so I don't know how the program is now. I currently use Avast. It gives real-time protection in that it will "cry" as soon as it detects something. It does ask the user what to do at the time it "cries".
The *only* 'useful' function that I know of that is left out of the FREE Version of Avast is the ability to schedule Automatic Scans. I've found that with its real-time protection Automatic Scans are somewhat moot, anyway. But I do run a manual scan at least once a week for "insurance" -AND- immediately after it cries and that is dealt with. On the rare occasion that it does happen to find something during the scanning process that managed to slip through the real-time protection, it will also ask the user what to do.
Avast has a much stronger heuristic capability than AVG and it also has a much larger database of definitions which are updated a LOT more often than AVG. Back when I did use AVG it only updated once, maybe twice, a week. I don't know about AVG's updating now, but I do know that Avast updates at LEAST once a day, sometimes several times a day. That's why I have it set to look for those updates upon booting up my 'puter at each use and then every four hours afterwards. (I shut my 'puter completely off when not in use to save electricity, wear and tear on the computer and it's a LOT more secure when it's off than on.)
As for ease of use, I think configuring AVG in its initial set-up may be a bit easier (accounting for its popularity), but learning how to comfigure Avast is well worth the tiny bit of extra time involved in its initial set-up. After that, Avast is actually easier than AVG to use because one can set it and then allow it to do its thing. Again, Avast needs to have its scans run manually but that is a snap!
~If anyone else wants to chime in on this subject I hope they do. I'm interested in their experiences concerning your questions as well as you are. 
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