Virus Scanners, Spyware Scanners and Others

[Goldear]

I've had experience with many types of scanners.
For cheap and easy virus scanners. You can find a couple of sites on the web that will scan your computer "while you wait", so to speak.
The first thing one must have is a software firewall. No sense in putting on a virus scanner if you are going to leave your computer wide open to the internet.
Then virus scanners. Then your spyware scanners. Some or all you will have to turn off if you are a gamer, it will slow your machine.
I use " Avast! " for my virus scanner(free). AVG is a good and FREE as well. AVG is a small program so does not use lots of resources to run, probably better for older machines.
Spyware, the most popular are Search and Destroy, Ad-aware, and the new Windows one still in beta i believe, but I run it.
Here is url below for my favourite FREE utilities site. You will find all the ones I have meantioned. I will check back if anyone has questions on the programs. I 've tried many of them.
If anyone has questions on browsers, I have used FireFox and Mozilla for years and have seen most problems at least once. I keep Internet Explorer just for doing my windows updates..can't escape Microsoft completely! Once you've tried Firefox you'll wonder why you used Internet explorer for so long. Incidently, Firefox is available for Mac, OS X only.
If I could also mention, don't go crazy and download everything and install. Take it in steps if you are new to this, software can sometimes conflict with each other.
Uninstall all virus scanners before you install a new one.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm

[Ruby]

Thanks, Goldear!

Do you have a personal recommendation for a free firewall software?

[Tojo]

Yes I've found AVG to be very good, free & updates itself.

As for firewalls, Zone Alarm is a good free one, but I just use the XP one- I had some sort of prob with Zone Alarm when I upgraded to XP- something about the MSN Messenger from memory.

Spybot & AdAware work well together, though most 'experts' say you need 3 spyware programs. :rolleyes:

Tojo

[subdude05]

I use Avast Too, its great, i had Norton and that seemed to do nothing exept tell me its just let a trojan horse through, whereas Avast tells me its caught one and it says something like "theres no need to worry" which seems to work like "Don't Panic" from hitchhikers Guide for me, i have neaver found a good free anti spyware i usedto but they now all seen to tell you that theres so many on your computer but wont do anything about it for less than £30.

[Goldear]

As Tojo said, Zone Alarm. Unless you have WinXp then just use the one it comes with.
I've used Zone Alarm for years now, it's the simpliest to use I found of all the free ones. Tried a couple of the others always came back to Zone Alarm...and I like free things.

[Warbaby1943]

I used Zone Alarm for years but it has its problems especially when setting up a network and trying to use it. It isn't free but I have found OneCare by Microsoft (which has both a firewall and a virus scanner) to be an excellent program. It updates itself daily and doesn't use the system resources other take up.

I still run Spybot and Adaware weekly and they are both free programs which do a good job. They just aren't real time programs.

The beta program mentioned above is Windows Defender and I also use it on 4 machines and find it also does a good job plus it is a real time program.

[cariad]

I used to use Zone Alarm all the time - now have to a non-free firewall since I aslo use my laptop for work.

I run spybot and Adaware when I remember to, but my primary protection is Spyware Doctor. I bought this on line. Do not remember it being very expensive, but more to the point it was the only software which would solved a particularly nasty problem I had downloaded, and it saved me having to scrub my hard-drive. It also has the advantage of running in the background, so provides continual protection. When you consider what spyware can do, I do not begrudge the fee.

I am not a fan of Windows Defender - have you ever looked to see what processing power it uses during start up???? And even more to the point it did not defend me against whatever it was which I had to buy Spyware Doctor to fix.

[Warbaby1943]

I am not a fan of Windows Defender - have you ever looked to see what processing power it uses during start up???? And even more to the point it did not defend me against whatever it was which I had to buy Spyware Doctor to fix.
What version of Windows Defender beta were you running at the time? I have not encountered any problems with it but it is still beta. They are coming out with new updates for it quite frequently. However I say again, it is still beta and that is using at your own risk if someone is not familiar with the "beta" term.

[Goldear]

I know since I've used the open source browsers, Firefox, before that Mozilla, I've had less of a problem with spyware. Firefox has a very good migration guide, so you can take all your favourites with you.
I used Mozilla mail for years and had never caught an email bound virus, it has been replaced with Thunderbird Mozilla mail. All free open source software btw.
Just recently moved all my work and email files over to Linux system for added security. Using all open source software, didn't cost me a penny, built the computer out of spare parts. Still learning, I feel like I did when I first touched Windows way back, lots of help out there though.
I feared Linux, I must admit. I laughed when I installed it, it took 15 minutes, all the drivers were loaded..ready to go, I didn't have to touch a button..just sit and watch. Quite different from Windows reload experiences! But I only recommend you try it for non gaming, working machines and probably your second machine at home. Fun learning something new.

[cariad]

What version of Windows Defender beta were you running at the time? I have not encountered any problems with it but it is still beta. They are coming out with new updates for it quite frequently. However I say again, it is still beta and that is using at your own risk if someone is not familiar with the "beta" term.

I don't know which version it was - would have been the most uptodate one available at the time, and happened about 6 months ago.

[Warbaby1943]

I don't know which version it was - would have been the most uptodate one available at the time, and happened about 6 months ago.
Thanks for the reply.

They do have a newer version out now and I have not had any problems with it. They also have many more Spyware items that they protect against. I believe they are going mainstream this coming December but for now it is still beta.

[cariad]

Thanks for the reply.

They do have a newer version out now and I have not had any problems with it. They also have many more Spyware items that they protect against. I believe they are going mainstream this coming December but for now it is still beta.


My assumption is that it will be linked to Vista, which is still a moving target...

[Warbaby1943]

My assumption is that it will be linked to Vista, which is still a moving target...
Yeah, vista has been pushed back to next year or at least late this year, I believe. But the last I read is that Windows Defender will be released in the retail version this coming December.

Are considering upgrading to Vista? At this time I'm not. I'm a creature of habit and I don't like what I know about Vista's GUI.

[Widget]

I also use spy bot, ad aware but i have also found a malware removal tool at http://www.ewido.net/en/ . Ewido antmalware got rid of stuff I had no idea was there and I think for the most part I take good care to protect my system. It has a free scan and removal too so its nice to run and make sure nothing is slowing your system down that shouldn't be there.

I thought i saw someone say that Firefox was only availible for mac, but I run it on my pc and I like it much better than IE.

[cariad]

Yeah, vista has been pushed back to next year or at least late this year, I believe. But the last I read is that Windows Defender will be released in the retail version this coming December.

Are considering upgrading to Vista? At this time I'm not. I'm a creature of habit and I don't like what I know about Vista's GUI.


I ran an early beta version of Vista for 2 days on a reasonably high spec machine and it was sooooooo demanding that it was practically impossible to use, and was too painful to explore. It only stayed on that long since I did not have the time to remove it sooner.

In fairness, it was a very early beta version, and I am sure the final version will much slicker, but I will not be looking to upgrade in a hurry. I love new toys - but this one was NO fun!

Off to look for other toys to play with......

[Warbaby1943]

I ran an early beta version of Vista for 2 days on a reasonably high spec machine and it was sooooooo demanding that it was practically impossible to use, and was too painful to explore. It only stayed on that long since I did not have the time to remove it sooner.

In fairness, it was a very early beta version, and I am sure the final version will much slicker, but I will not be looking to upgrade in a hurry. I love new toys - but this one was NO fun!

Off to look for other toys to play with......
cariad thanks for that. I know a beta tester who is very impressed with it but from what I have read, I agree with your assessment of it. In addition, I'm very happy with XP & IE 6 except for their security issues. Hell they're even exploiting more and more holes in the Office products. They need to set some serious examples of these hackers that they actually catch. :gun: