Anti-virus, firewall and anti-spyware not enough??

Someone else posted the following link on this very board in an unreleated thread
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm

It seems to suggest that anti-virus, firewall and anti-spyware is not enough.
It has lists for
Browser Protection Utility
Trojan Scanner
Rootkit Scanner
Intrusion Prevention

Are any of these needed? Are the recommended software any good?
Or is it a clever scam to have you install the very malicious software that we would like to stay away from?

I use Norton Antivirus; Windows on Firewall; Microsoft Defender and sometimes run Spybot

 

I only use AVG Anti-Virus (free), Zone Alarm (free), Microsoft Antispyware(free). I haven't had any problems. I don't really think they are needed. Unless you are VERY secerity concious. The site is not a scam. All that stuff is free. Go to www.download.com. This is Cnet's site. It has most of the free programs listed on that other site.
Tim

 

I use Webroot SpySweeper, I love it and it takes care of any and all of my problems.

 

I am using ZoneAlarm Pro, Avast Antivirus, and Spybot but planning to buy ZoneAlarm Internet Security, which basically get rid Avast and Spybot.

JC

 

I'm planning on buying all of Webroot's products when I buy my new computer. They don't cost very much compared to other SpyWare protection and firewalls and such, I don't think...

 

I think Defender + Windows firewall covers 99% of it. I agree with avast or some other virus scanner if you really must. For that 1% I don't care, because all I want to know is if something changed. The moment I know (defender tells me for example) it is doomed. Whatever it is. If I can't get rid of it manually, I will find the tool to help me. Otherwise you might end up in a notebook doing what most of the time? Running TSRs in background slowing down your machine. I am not against protection and awareness, but do it wisely. Don't run multiple tools. Especially virus scanners. Their efficiency doesn't add up. It is not synergy either. It is the drop in effectiveness. Stick with the best. Run them on purpose or scheduled. Don't autostart them. That way you have the control. Otherwise, they will control your comp. Like a virus.

Cheers,

 

I use mcafee security suite (firewall, privacy, spyware, virus) and also use spybot and ad aware. Never had any problems. However I have ran on an old family pc nothing but adaware and spybot with avg and did have some problems.

 

Weird, I dunno how you guys get all this spyware. You must've installed something weird or messed with illegal software?

I NEVER get it. I just use Avast Pro, Windows Firewall, my router's firewall of course and that's it. IE and Firefox have pop up blockers installed and some other stuff to stop malicious scripts, and so does Avast Pro.

This stops any intrusion by spyware stuff, but not so much hackers. Sometimes hackers get by my setup, but oh well, I don't have much sensitive materials to be afraid of hackers.

Once this dude left a message for me telling me I was hacked, LOL.

He left my command prompt open and it had his elite message.

So funny, nice guy though, he didn't do anything to my system.

 

Now I am confused too. I just bought my new Sony FE590 and uninstalled the trial version of Norton Internet Security 2006. I've been using NIS 2005 for the last 3 years, and yes it did slow down my system and cause some other annoying problems as well. So I know I don't want to go with Norton again. Then after reading many reviews, I decided to go with ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2006 since it was a complete package with everything I needed and didn't hog resources like Norton. But now, after reading more and more reviews on several forums, I wondering if I should just go with the best of the free individual programs (firewall, privacy, spyware, virus) instead. Any suggestions?

 

I like AVG and Kerio Personal Firewall, these two together (setup right) work really well and I've never gotten a virus or spyware.

Oh: and they are both free.

 

I run AVG, Sygate Firewall, Spybot Search and Destroy, Spyware Guard, and Spyware Blaster when I run windows. I am on a university network, which is about the dirtiest place to have a computer. All kinds of filth. An unpatched/protected xp machine goes down in less time than you can get the updates from M$! I prefer to run Linux though.

 

A decent anti-virus should cover all of those, except intrusion prevention. I use NOD32, and it blocks any potentially harmful popups or scripts in my browser. Haven't had to deal with viruses or anything else yet, but I am sure it can handle anything that comes its way. Small footprint in RAM and very quick. Probably the best system utility tool I have ever used.

As others have said, try to stick with as little tools as possible - running a whole bunch of programs may be effective protection, but not efficient, as you will be left with very little system resources. You bought a laptop to work/play on it, not to run protection. Do some research (within this board and outside of it; sadly, some of the advice given here sometimes comes from people with little experience), read the reviews, and make your own decisions. A $30 price tag should not be an obstacle if you're that serious about your system.

And of course, just like with STDs, the best prevention method is abstinence - don't download and install random **** from P2P, don't go to shady websites, and don't talk to strangers on MSN.

 

huh???

What fun is abstinence???

 

After Norton AV failed to protect on two occasions I have switched to Trend PCCillin. Major improvement in protection, frequent updates and system demand. The combination of Trend and Spysweeper has kept the system clean for over two years.

 

Well, I run AVG for anti virus, Zone Alarm for firewall, and Ad-Aware for spyware and i think that is a pretty good setup, and plus its all free.

 

I use a physical firewall with SPI, IPsec, and un-pingable WAN port, symantec corporate edition, windows defender, and disabled certain services. Windows firewall is obviously turned off. I have zero issues on attacks, and nevern had to reformat due to an infected system.

Really only AV and spyware and adware are needed for normal people. Some people, like me, require more security and available VPN tunnels. For the most part malicious stuff doesnt affect the general user unless they are picked from the billions of online pc's. Mostly attacks are aimed at known targets. But even though I am technically "invisable" on the internet "bubble" I can still be attacked and shut down by a determined VERY skillful hacker. But it would take hima while as I have closed alot of his doors. Plus why would a skilled hacker want to get into a small home LAN with no foreseable data(other then college papers and games).

 

how do u update windows defender2?

 

I only used an antivir (bitdefender pro with firewall) and Microsoft defender nothing more. I think i've read of someone who doesn't used any antivir. Only security freak used a lot of protection. but i don't need most them since i'm quite picky on the sites i visited when i'm on the net.

 

Whether they are needed or not depends on what you use your computer for. If all you do is casually suft the web, and rarely do anything that could expose you to viruses or spyware, then although you would benefit from using it, it is unnecessary. If you have valuable information which needs the extra protection, or you do lots of downloading/visiting bad sites, then this software is highly useful. If you are already using an antivirus/antispyware product(s), then you have probably sufficiently covered the Browser Protection Utility, Trojan Scanner and Intrusion Prevention criteria, and wouldn't really benefit from a seperate utility to cover those factors. However Rootkit Scanners are worth looking into, because very few antivirus/antispyware software even offer the capability to detect rootkits, and rootkits are difficult to find/remove even with the usage of specialized tools. As far as recommendations, you can go to your own link: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm for a list of good software.

 

the NoScript add-on for firefox is great