Good Internet Security

[toon_marth]

Hey everyone, im kinda stuck when I get on the topic of what internet security im gonna use for my new computer. Please don't refer any Norton Anti-virus, it sucks. What do you use? And does it do its job well?

 

[AltF4]

Hahahaha! Internet security?! Haha!

That's a good one...



PS:
They're really all the same. Just go with the one which pisses you off the least.

 

[Red the Ghost]

If you're planning on buying stuff, use Zonealarm Security Suite

If you'd rather get free stuff, just use the free Zonealarm Firewall, AVG for anti-virus
and Ad-aware for spyware and other stuff (good to have more than one scanner)

 

[SkylerOcon]

AVG is free and it works pretty good.

But, if you really don't want to get any viruses, just don't download suspicious stuff. If you're downloading stuff off a website with comments enabled check the comments to see if anybody says it has a virus. Or, if the website just looks untrustworthy, don't download stuff from it.

(Oh, and don't get Sophos. It pretty much locked itself into my computer and isn't letting me uninstall it)

 

[toon_marth]

The thing is, every computer my family gets, someone tries to hack into it, and has succeeded several times...

 

[Vyse]

Avast Anti-virus > All.

I've never had a problem with it, and Avast has worked better for me than any other AV software I've ever tried. AND it's free.

 

[Greenstreet]

I've got avast as well and my computer still works.
Avast: 1
Int3rw3b H4x0rs: 0

 

[Gerudo Warrior]

avg free for me, pisses me off the least.

 

[leviathan_]

Internet Security? The best choice would be your brain. Avoid websites (i.e. pornographic sites, warez) which might obviously compromise your system. Use Opera or Firefox with the latest updates. Both have malware and spyware protection built-in the latest versions, so use them and avoid IE.

Also, you don't want to just defend yourself against viruses, but hackers. Get a firewall to complement your antivirus program. Comodo is free, and very very good IMO. Google it.

Many antivirus programs suck. They suck in part because they give false positives, in part because they fail to detect some viruses, and in part because many of them eat up your RAM and CPU. AVG free edition and the paid edition are both pretty lightweight. ESET NOD32 is also pretty lightweight.

 

[toon_marth]

Internet Security? The best choice would be your brain. Avoid websites (i.e. pornographic sites, warez) which might obviously compromise your system. Use Opera or Firefox with the latest updates. Both have malware and spyware protection built-in the latest versions, so use them and avoid IE.

Also, you don't want to just defend yourself against viruses, but hackers. Get a firewall to complement your antivirus program. Comodo is free, and very very good IMO. Google it.

Many antivirus programs suck. They suck in part because they give false positives, in part because they fail to detect some viruses, and in part because many of them eat up your RAM and CPU. AVG free edition and the paid edition are both pretty lightweight. ESET NOD32 is also pretty lightweight.

Thanks. I was considering AVG last time but didn't get it. I also use firefox and it does help against pop-ups and hackers.

My main concerns are hackers, spyware, and hijackers. 'Hijack This' is a pretty good program but a little difficult to use. Are there more user-friendly anti-hijacking agents out there?

 

[derek.haines]

The best internet security is not making yourself a target. Sticking to reputable sites and not opening suspicious emails are the two biggest pieces of advice I can give anybody. Don't download P2P files unless you know what you're doing and just be responsible overall.

Under Windows, I use both Avast and AVG, and find that both do their jobs admirably (I don't find many opportunities to use them, however). I don't use a firewall generally, but Comodo has done well on the systems I've installed it on.

As for the hijacking and hacking, I'd say just avoid making yourself a target. Don't go around purposely pissing people off and you really shouldn't find yourself in harm's way.

 

[The Executive]

AVG AV & AS + Ad-aware. Comodo 3 gave me too many issues (I has Vista), but it's also good.

Also, as everyone else has said, use common sense.

 

[AltF4]

Common Sense isn't enough. You don't even have to be touching your computer in order to get a virus. It just being on and connected online is enough for you to get something. It's just a hazard you have to deal with.


Fun Game: Install Windows XP original (no Service Packs) onto a fresh box, plug it into the wall, and start a stopwatch. It'll catch a worm within an hour. There are worms which just roam the internet looking for unpatched machines.

 

[derek.haines]

Common Sense isn't enough. You don't even have to be touching your computer in order to get a virus. It just being on and connected online is enough for you to get something. It's just a hazard you have to deal with.


Fun Game: Install Windows XP original (no Service Packs) onto a fresh box, plug it into the wall, and start a stopwatch. It'll catch a worm within an hour. There are worms which just roam the internet looking for unpatched machines.

Clearly then, the key is not antivirus software, but further common sense: Keep your machine up-to-date.

 

[AltF4]

That was an extreme case. But don't think it can't happen to you even if you are up-to-date. A patch might not exist. If a 0-day comes out, on something you use, it's just a matter of luck on whether you get affected or not. It happens daily.

 

[Mith_]

Use Firefox with NoScript.

Some malicious code can be placed in Javascript and Java and some HTML. NoScript blocks all scripts from running unless you allow them. Only scripts I have allowed are from websites I trust, like Youtube and Wowhead.

I hate all Antivirus programs because they slow my system down. I don't think that's such a wise decision though. I use Spybot search and destroy and scan my computer ever so often. I have a firewall too.

 

[streetracr77]

The thing is, every computer my family gets, someone tries to hack into it, and has succeeded several times...

When you say hack it, do you mean like they just get into it for fun or take all of your personal information

And most antivirus systems are all the same, so you have to pick one I guess..

 

[RDK]

Common Sense isn't enough. You don't even have to be touching your computer in order to get a virus. It just being on and connected online is enough for you to get something. It's just a hazard you have to deal with.


Fun Game: Install Windows XP original (no Service Packs) onto a fresh box, plug it into the wall, and start a stopwatch. It'll catch a worm within an hour. There are worms which just roam the internet looking for unpatched machines.

Gotta love Winblows. Err, I mean Windows.

 

[MaxfireXSA]

I have McAfee Internet Security and Spybot Search and Destroy. While I have McAfee Internet Security installed on my computer, they didn't include Spyware Protection on my computer, so I would recommend to get a McAfee Total Protection, because I have Spybot, it detects spywares what I have, and I need to get McAfee Total Protection for my computer.

McAfee did a great job, including if you want McAfee Total Protection.

 

[Amigo]

What's wrong with Norton Anti Virus? Seems to work fine with me.

 

[toon_marth]

old thread. I dont need this anymore. ive decided to get a macbook so i dont internet security.

 

[AltF4]

If you say so. You don't happen to live in Arizona, do you?

 

[Frames]

old thread. I dont need this anymore. ive decided to get a macbook so i dont internet security.

makes sense

after all everyone knows that macs are 100 percent virus/hack proof, and that buying one will mean you never need anti virus ever again

-_- of course maybe that's simply a result of the extremely low market share that macs have, rather than some uber l33t OS

 

[jmlee337]

ahem
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10110852-83.html?tag=mncol;txt

lmao at Apple

 

[AltF4]

They've actually retracted that statement, now. In fact, in their forums, they've deleted any posts referencing to antivirus software entirely. What are you afraid of, Apple?

 

[toon_marth]

If you say so. You don't happen to live in Arizona, do you?

Nah, Colorado. Complete opposites.

 

[TheBuzzSaw]

Abstinence is the best security.

 

[RDK]

If people actually bought Macs, they'd be just as cancerous as most PC's today.

But who the hell buys Macs?

 

[TheBuzzSaw]

I want the Mac Air.

 

[toon_marth]

If people actually bought Macs, they'd be just as cancerous as most PC's today.

But who the hell buys Macs?

Well im getting a MacBook and putting Windows XP on it (simply because my school software wont run on anything but Microsoft OS) and eventually im gonna get another hard drive and order Ubuntu since i didn't know you could get it free. SO, you have no reason joke on my OS, since ill have all of them. No complaints.

 

[SmashChamp]

You sir. Are made of FAIL---EPIC FAILURE!
Get a Macbook, than install on a Win XP? Blasphemy!!

 

[toon_marth]

You sir. Are made of FAIL---EPIC FAILURE!
Get a Macbook, than install on a Win XP? Blasphemy!!

MAcBOOK+ XP=made of win

 

[flaco]

avast is good but ias a 30 day trial

 

[toon_marth]

Avast comes free if you only get the antivirus. But, meh....i don't like to go with freebies.

 

[flaco]

well what I do is get the pro version and steal the license and is the pro version it lasts for 3 years

 

[TheBuzzSaw]

So, pirate it? >_>

 

[toon_marth]

So, pirate it? >_>

I should report him to the HIGHER authority.

 

[flaco]

who cares lol

 

[SmashChamp]

lol
I use AVG before was black kraspy (forget name).