Computer Protection

[dee-u]

What do you think are the things your computer should have in order to maximize its protection against viruses and spywares? Currently I have AVG and Spybot....

[visualAd]

Use Firefox and only use restricted user acocounts to browse the Internet.

[dee-u]

What restricted user accounts? Why should I use Firefox?

[Sgt-Peppa]

What restricted user accounts?

Dont log onto your Computer with your Admin Accounts. Use restricted Accounts to surf!

Why should I use Firefox?

Cause visualAd said so!

[Pc_Madness]

Always be prepared to withdrawl the phone line from your computer. Its the best protection available.

[sciguyryan]

Always have spyware checkers (And addware checkers too).
Some good ones are: Spybot Search & Destroy
Ad-Aware

Also, a good virus checker and firewall are essential:
AVG Anti-Virus
ZoneAlarm

Also, never - EVER use IE... FF is much better anyway

There are loadds of other things you can do, the best one I would suggest is restricted user accounts - if you then get a virus its access will be limited. (I think that has already been suggested though).

Cheers,

RyanJ

[visualAd]

Have a look at this post:

https://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?p=1972764

All those goodies are free. The reason why I say use Firefox is because the majority of virus and spyware enter through Internet Explorer via exploits and Active X controls. You should use a restricted user account because most viruses are rendered useless if they don't have admin priviledges.

[BodwadUK]

Get a decent antivirus for a start. Most free ones are ok for a little while but dont compare to Panda etc

[dee-u]

As I have said in my first post I already have AVG and Spybot, I'm looking for something else I might be missing to maximize the protection of my computer.... Where can I download FireFox? Is it freeware?

[visualAd]

Check the link in my Sig

[BodwadUK]

Yeah but AVG is the free one

[sciguyryan]

As I have said in my first post I already have AVG and Spybot, I'm looking for something else I might be missing to maximize the protection of my computer.... Where can I download FireFox? Is it freeware?

Here is a direct link to the FF download: http://mozilla.mirror.solnet.ch//fir...up%201.0.4.exe

And yes, it is 100% free with no strings attatched

Cheers,

RyanJ

[penagate]

I sit comfortably behind an ADSL router with port forwarding almost completely off and those that are open, monitored using Windows Firewall

I use my admin account for everything

Never had any problems with spyware/viruses infiltrating themselves, except when I open nasty zip files

I have Norton antivirus but the monitoring is turned off because it slows my PC down too much I just use it for the system scan feature.

Personally I don't think you need worry too much about protecting your computer, as long as you have firewall (don't even need that if you have a router) and don't go to dodgy websites and click yes when they ask you to install dodgy software

Oh and yes I use Firefox It's great except for the popup blocker which only works when it is in a good mood... but apart from that


edit: I reckon there should be some sort of forum silly surprise when you hit 666 posts

[visualAd]

A hardware firewall is very effective at blocking unwanted incoming connections, also, if you have the time an know how, set up a proxy cache on a spare Linux box listening on a non standard port and only allow Internet connections through that.

[sciguyryan]

A hardware firewall is very effective at blocking unwanted incoming connections, also, if you have the time an know how, set up a proxy cache on a spare Linux box listening on a non standard port and only allow Internet connections through that.

Great, thats good news - My ADSL has a firewall too

Hmm, PCAdvisor has some good links to free, security software: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/index.cfm?go=downloads.main

You need to join to get there though

Cheers, Woo! 700 posts

RyanJ

[dee-u]

XP has a firewall but I havent tried it yet... Will it help turning it on? But I'm afraid when I turn it on I will not be able to access computers on out LAN and our SourceSafe would be affected.....

BTW, about that firefox, when its open and I to open Windows Explorer I encountered some errors, I think unhandled exceptions....

[penagate]

XP has a firewall but I havent tried it yet... Will it help turning it on? But I'm afraid when I turn it on I will not be able to access computers on out LAN and our SourceSafe would be affected.....

Basically it just restricts programs' outgoing access, and incoming port traffic. I haven't had any problems with it, once you have it set up for all your programs that access the internet and LAN then it's fine. It just asks you to confirm the 1st time whether you want to allow it access.

BTW, about that firefox, when its open and I to open Windows Explorer I encountered some errors, I think unhandled exceptions....

Strange... only way I can crash it is by unloading WindowBlinds

[dee-u]

Get a decent antivirus for a start. Most free ones are ok for a little while but dont compare to Panda etc

But doesnt Pandahave too many services that it loads thus slowing a computer?

My AVG doesnt detects any viruses yet since I installed it, does it mean no virus is trying to infiltrate my computer?

[BodwadUK]

Depends on the user

Try running panda activescan. Its a web thing and will tell you if AVG is working ok

[DaveBo]

Dont log onto your Computer with your Admin Accounts. Use restricted Accounts to surf!

Several folks here recommended this.
Can anyone give some specifics on the "how"s and "what"s of restricted XP user accounts?

e.g. a quick "How to"
and what permissions should be given or withheld from this account.

How is this made the default when the PC is turned on?
Do accounts HAVE to have passwords?
And, how easy is it to get back into admin mode when needed?

Thanks, DaveBo