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Antivirus/Anti-spyware software discussion

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Re: Anti Virus programs

I use AVG with the desktop XP home and never had a problem and I use Mcafee on my laptop with Vista Premium, bit slow but ok. Prefer the Free AVG.
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

Norton 2008 gives you 3 licences for the price of one , however you have to tell your firewall which progrms to allow , it is senseless allowing all microsoft internet based programs in automatic configuration . It is better to manually configure access , then you know it is a process you have allowed.

Ditch anything to do with Microsoft from then on. This includes Internet Explorer 7 . Use Firefox with No Script and Ad Block add ons. As someone else mentioned use CCleaner , however run it as a batch file in auto mode ie
run ccleaner/auto with any internet based programs such as firefox , internet explorer , ms outlook , outlook express etc.

make sure your registry is clean , all temp files through disk cleaner or any other method are removed , if using firefox select option "clear private data" on exit and defrag when need be.
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

I've used Linux for over ten years. I have never had the need for any Anti Virus software,,, ever.
You can use free Unix/Linux based Anti Virus software on Linux clients, but it is normally used on servers to help protect Windows clients that are connected to the same local area network.


You also have to remember that Anti Virus software only protects against known computer viruses. That means there is a potential (not possible) amount of unused or inactivated viruses waiting to be used that will not be searched for until known.

And that does not matter what headers or types of common codes are used in executables, because most of them can be packaged up in a trojan.


See this link for more info:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_horse_(computing)


Just one of many reasons why I don't rely on Microsoft products. You must stop listening to computer administrators who have really no idea or have no choice but to support Microsoft, due to illegal practises (manly in large money involvement by Microsoft). It is costing everyone more than they know.

Vista anyone? Oh wait, that was not meant to be out, as it had no new features we said it was going to have. Oh well, Windows 7 is coming next year (Based on (or built on) Vista).

wake up.
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

electronicmaster said:
You also have to remember that Anti Virus software only protects against known computer viruses. That means there is a potential (not possible) amount of unused or inactivated viruses waiting to be used that will not be searched for until known.

And that does not matter what headers or types of common codes are used in executables, because most of them can be packaged up in a trojan.
Click to expand...
Or sign in as a guest so viruses can't be written or programs can't be installed.

Av programs have behaviour trackers but may not be able to pick up every unknown malware. On access scanning works better in some packages than others while scanning may not be as good.

I installed Kaspersky as it was supposed to be a good scaner. It wa simpossible to use for all of the pop ups blocking everything and asking me to approve. Norton doesn't do that and is quite good but resource hungry. The fan is revving as I type.

Also have trialled zone alarm which uses the Kaspersky engine and it found a few nasties which some others couldn't find.

Finding the best overall package is difficult.
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

NOD32 is very good, when i worked for a small IT business it was used to clean clients machines very effectively.

I use AVG free. It picks up most things but Combined with this free online scanner: http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/
Nothing seems to get past.

I also use Crap Cleaner, RegXP Scrub and some anti adware programs.
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

Kaspersky is perhaps one of the best AV's out there, it detection rate is very high and updates are availabe every a few hours. They have a very talented team that knows their stuff very well, for example when the Gpcode virus came out, they were the fist anti-virus company to crack the 660-bit RSA encryption key. This is a huge cryptographic challenge for anti-virus and security companies, but kaspersky have manage to crack the key :)

Security companies such as ZoneAlarm, Juniper, Messagelab, F-Secure, BlueCoat...etc .... are all using Kaspersky's engine and definitions in their product, so its a highly recommended anti-virus.

I strongly recommend not to use Norton and McAfee!!!
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

I use a commercial one plus a few different freebies.

And I wouldn't be so sure about Unix/Linux systems not getting viruses. Have you heard of rootkits?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootkits
Make sure that whatever you use, it can detect these. On, that note, IceSword is a really powerful (and free) detector, so much so that it probably shouldn't be used by people who are technologically impaired.

In any case, most of the time all an antivirus program can do is tell you that you have a problem. Most viruses etc nowadays are too sophisticated to be able to be removed by an antivirus program and require you to either do it manually or run a specific virus removal tool.

Lastly, from what I've read/heard, Kapersky seems to be the best antivirus program. As mentioned above, the scan engine etc. is used by a number of other commercial products.
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

white_crane said:
I use a commercial one plus a few different freebies.

And I wouldn't be so sure about Unix/Linux systems not getting viruses. Have you heard of rootkits?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootkits
Make sure that whatever you use, it can detect these. On, that note, IceSword is a really powerful (and free) detector, so much so that it probably shouldn't be used by people who are technologically impaired.

In any case, most of the time all an antivirus program can do is tell you that you have a problem. Most viruses etc nowadays are too sophisticated to be able to be removed by an antivirus program and require you to either do it manually or run a specific virus removal tool.

Lastly, from what I've read/heard, Kapersky seems to be the best antivirus program. As mentioned above, the scan engine etc. is used by a number of other commercial products.
Click to expand...


Yep. I have and been aware of root kits.

Root kits still need to be installed on the system before use. It can be easy to spot them by looking at the time stamps (or even file size) of the effected binary. That is if they were able to install on the system.

It takes a real effort to effect a Linux system. Ubuntu always updates programs if any possible vulnerability is found.

With Windows? Vulnerability s have always been there from the begining, and has never been fixed or can't be correctly fixed at all.

That is why Windows is the man target and always been effected easily.

But that is the point. If someone really wants in on your PC. They will do it no matter what, because they are experts. With Linux? It's a lot more harder to crack. With Windows? They don't need to work hard to crack it at all. In fact, they do it without really trying.

It all comes down to Operating System design, and Linux is well designed for the NET. Windows is just an over marketed OS (A Toy really) that is not really meant to be used on the NET. Windows is more geared for game platforms.


Unfortunately, it appears that people like to use the hammer to fix everything it seems.
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

Whiskers said:
I've found the same with Norton... to much load.

Currently running Avast free version in conjunction with Spybot, SpywareBlaster and CCleaner along with some tweaks to XP Antispy.

The only bit of an irritation is the automatic voice notice that comes with the pop up window and says 'your antiviris has been updated'.

Anyone know how to shut it up?
Click to expand...

Right click "A" in taskbar....."program settings"...."sounds".....tick box "disable sounds"...click "ok"
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

Julia said:
Why?
Click to expand...

Because they slow down your computer! less performance, over protection.

I strongly recommend Symantec Endpoint. I think it has great balance between protection/performance.
It has Antivirus & Antispyware Protection, Proactive Threat Protection, and Network Threat Protection.

I have 2 new computers (1 XP Pro, and 1 Vista home premium) and they both run like new after a year old.
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

never had a problem since started using AVG free.

have had problems previously with commercial programs, mainly they slow the system and block various operations, and they cost!
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

I have been using avast for a nuber of years and I have had no problems whatsoever. Would not use anything else Cheers P
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

The Fsecure anti-virus program provided free by Optusnet to subscribers works extremely well and has great tech support
I use it in conjunction with CCleaner and Spybot.

I wouldn't load Norton on my machine. In my experience it has ordinary detection performance and slows system speed, has rubbish support service, and is almost impossible to delete.
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

have used AVG and spybot free, but now use latest version of norton - they promised me it wouldn't slow down computer - but it still does.
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

dalek said:
The Fsecure anti-virus program provided free by Optusnet to subscribers works extremely well and has great tech support
I use it in conjunction with CCleaner and Spybot.

I wouldn't load Norton on my machine. In my experience it has ordinary detection performance and slows system speed, has rubbish support service, and is almost impossible to delete.
Click to expand...

Reformatting is an option and easily enough to do along as you have a cd to reinstall with.
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

Julia said:
Why?
Click to expand...
Julia,
Some programs hog system resources and have mediocre detection availability. Norton is not too bad as is Macafee for detection, as long as they have rootkit detection ability. The key is not to rely on one program alone. Use some free programs tha tyou can scan with to back up your regular scan routine with. I run 4 programs for scanning only. Nortons runs all the tiume with another browser hijacking program to avoid bad sights with. if you require a list I'll happily post them for you, though I am not an expert I have a lot of infection experience and have picked up some good survival knowlege.
Cheers.
 
Re: Anti Virus programs

Julia said:
Why?
Click to expand...


Julia,

As others have pointed out, both Norton and McAfee are resource hog and bloatware, they simply slow your system down, where in some cases your system becomes unusable! There are also 24/7 campaign around the world by Hackers, Virus and Malware writers to find new methods and exploit to bypass popular anti-virus, because they know around 70% of worlds pc's if running any AV are either Norton or McAfee, so once they find a way to bypass this two anti-virus they will release the virus to public, you will be better off with other small AV's where you will have much better chance against viruses and malware!! :)
There are hacking website selling tools to make malware undetected for Norton and Macfee for as little as $50!!:D


They both spend millions of $$$$ on marketing and sales campaign, but unfortunately not so much on R&D and writing better codes for their products, the only improvement i have seen for the last couple of years is to make their interface more pretty and adding new features such as anti this or anti that, which only half of them works and its only used for marketing gimmick!! ;) ... having a program to do 10 different functions simply does not work!!:cool:

You should download trial version of different AV's and see what work best for you, but my preference is Kaspersky or NOD32 (very light AV) and the free ones i will go with AVG or Avira:)
 

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