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    Antivirus and spyware protection

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by prkys, Aug 9, 2007.

  1. prkys

    prkys Notebook Enthusiast

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    I got new Acer 5920G and i need best possible antivirus protection.
    Since I dont have any usefull expirience in this area help me find best and free of charge combination.
    Thnx
     
  2. prkys

    prkys Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have Vista home premium.
     
  3. Algus

    Algus Notebook Deity

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    I recommend AVG, Spybot: Search and Destroy, Lavasoft Ad-Aware, and HijackThis

    These are all freeware programs (Though AVG's paid program is VERY good and cheaper then other providers such as Norton)

    HijackThis can be VERY dangerous to use unless you know what you're looking at but if you ever get taken over by malware then tech support people are going to tell you to get it and compile a log so they can look at it (Well, ones on the Internet anyway...I dunno about people like the clowns at Best Buy)

    Spybot and Ad-Aware are both malware/adware removing programs that are good and free. I like to have both because sometimes one finds something the other one doesn't have a definition for yet.
     
  4. kappa.squared

    kappa.squared Notebook Consultant

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    The best of the free stuff, imo:

    Antivirus (just use one)
    AVG Free
    Avast!
    AntiVir

    Antispyware

    Spybot
    Ad-Aware
    SpywareBlaster

    Software Firewall
    Comodo Personal Firewall
    Sygate Personal Firewall
    ZoneAlarm

    Antirootkit
    RootkitUnhooker (you do need to be a bit more computer literate to use this)

    General Stuff
    Never hurts to have HijackThis around...
     
  5. prkys

    prkys Notebook Enthusiast

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    So you recommend me to uninstall my trial NOrton and install all those except HijackThis
     
  6. lehans

    lehans Notebook Guru

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    You should only use one personal (software) firewall as well. having more than one personal firewall can conflict with each other. however, you can have a personal firewall and hardware firewall running at the same time.

    yes, you should uninstall norton. it's a memory hog and just bloatware
     
  7. Algus

    Algus Notebook Deity

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    AVG runs circles around Norton. If you've got a free trial you can go ahead and use it but get rid of it after that. All it does is slow your computer way down during a scan and constantly nags you to renew once your subscription expires.

    It has a very poor selection of options for disabling it if you don't use it either. Get rid of it.