AntiVirus, Firewall, PopUp Blocker

[Engine09]

Need to reformat my computer again, tons of spyware and most likely a few viruses.

Any recommendations on free software once I get Windows running again?

[Bobblehead]

Windows SP2 firewall
Firefox
Thunderbird
Avast Anti-virus
Spybot S&D
Ad-Aware

[Mike F]

Zonealarm is a great free firewall.

I prefer it (I use Zonealarm Pro) to the XP firewall for the added control and feedback.

However, the most important thing to do IMO is to get XP SP2 and refrain from downloading and installing a whole bunch of programs, screen savers, etc. from the net.

[ken0042]

Other thing to do, when you feel like surfing....um.... adult stuff, go into you IE security settings and set it to "high." (Tools- Internet Options- Security)

Or for my less than technical friends I set up an XP login called "surfer." I set that account's settings as high as possible.

[Buff]

Buy a router too. I've seen so many computers get infected within seconds of connecting to the internet (even to merely obtain Windows updates) because they weren't protected by the router. Your router will act as a firewall and help prevent you from getting hit with them nasty worms.

Can't go wrong with bobbleheads suggestions. I've actually never used Avast so I don't know much about it. I use AVG Free edition. It ain't Trend Micro but it does the job for me.

I've been virus and spyware free for years now (except for the odd tracking cookie, which ain't really that big of a deal) and I've been getting by on the free stuff but you didn't hear it from me because I get money (and sometimes headaches too) from fixing computers that didn't play well with the paid versions of antivirus.

[@theCBE]

I use AVG-free edition for antivirus
and Microsoft antispyware (its free on the microsoft site) and both work great.

I use firefox too and that seems to keep my pop-ups manageable, doesn't get them all but stops enough so I don't get frustrated.

[cSpooge]

use MS anti spyware for spyware... firefox with adblock for popups and better browser security and AVG or Avast free for anti virus. NEVER and i mean NEVER use the built in windows firewall it a freaking piece of junk. If you have a router don't worry about the firewall... if you dont have a router just get zonealarm, but a hardware firewall (router etc.) will always work better then a software firewall.

[Vulcan]

If you are with Shaw, you can download ShawSecure for free. It's a little bloated but seems to work well. I like using Firefox as well.

[Buff]

I've seen ShawSecure in action. It was on a slower computer, but the computer still exceeded the requirements to run ShawSecure. It was a system hog on that computer.

That is, however, the only time I've seen it in action. I would tend to stay away from something that is offered by any ISP for their customers and stick with something that is offered for everybody.

[Vulcan]

I believe ShawSecure is from F Secure, a commercially available system much like Norton. It's a hog, sure, but no worse than Norton.

[BlackArcher101]

I find diligence is the best. All that software is useful to cover up your mistakes when you click/run something you shouldn't.

I use:
WinXP Pro with ALL updates, XP firewall disabled
AVG Free Anti-Virus
Mozilla Firefox, no extra toolbars
And my Linksys router with SPI firewall

Never had problems with virus' or spyware for years.

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I believe ShawSecure is from F Secure, a commercially available system much like Norton. It's a hog, sure, but no worse than Norton.

thats not much, norton is one of the biggest systems hogs out there.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by Buff

I've seen ShawSecure in action. It was on a slower computer, but the computer still exceeded the requirements to run ShawSecure. It was a system hog on that computer.

That is, however, the only time I've seen it in action. I would tend to stay away from something that is offered by any ISP for their customers and stick with something that is offered for everybody.

I can back up those comments.

My dad is running the ShawSecure package on his computer, which is by no means a monster machine but is definitely above average, and it gets completely bogged down not long after startup.

[Superfraggle]

Well I'm not nearly so computer literate as others on this site, but I use ZoneAlarm, Ad-Aware SE Personal, and Spybot Search along with the Norton Antivirus that came with the computer (yes I've heard lots of bad things about it, but haven't had any problems other than it popping up to ask for a renewal every freaking day if I haven't reformatted recently enough). Haven't had any problems since getting these programs.

[FlamesKickAss]

Avg Free version and Yahoo Spyware detector.

Havent had a problem in a long time. I also use firefox. cant go back to IE

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Superfraggle

Well I'm not nearly so computer literate as others on this site, but I use ZoneAlarm, Ad-Aware SE Personal, and Spybot Search along with the Norton Antivirus that came with the computer (yes I've heard lots of bad things about it, but haven't had any problems other than it popping up to ask for a renewal every freaking day if I haven't reformatted recently enough). Haven't had any problems since getting these programs.

I also got a free Norton A that magically renewed itself when I reformatted. Norton or ShawSecure don't seem to effect my cheap computer[2.4 Celeron,768 memory] badly but I mostly just use it for the internet. I like whatever is free and works.

[Knut]

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/OptimizeXP.html

follow that link..i do it after i reformat.. it really streamlines XP and gets you secure. Alot of it is heady stuff, but most of it is just programs...

go step by step from that site and you will be ok (might take 4hrs though).

I have a purchased version of McAfee Antivirus, Firewall and pop-up blocker....i like it much better than Norton, and the program is not as bloated.

Use Avant browser (modelled on IE instead of netscape like mozilla/firefox).

Spy-bot Search and Destroy....

If i run a scan with McAfee, but i still feel like i might have something on the computer i run the free Avast... it has caught a trojan that McAfee didnt get..... then again... McAfee caught a few things Avast didnt get when i used to just use AVast...

double wrapping is good..

[Wolfwood]

I would probably use like some of the others have mentioned Zone Alarm for a fire wall (and if you can get a router that would also be good), AVG or Avast for anti-virus, and spybot and ad-aware for anti-spyware.

I used to think that Microsoft Anti-Spyware was really good but it seems to have gone down hill imo some months ago. Still if you suspect having spyware and the other two don't get it, it is a good third tool to use.

As far as pop ups go no real recommendations. Use Firefox or Opera or another browser other than IE. If you are going to use IE make sure you have all windows updates installed.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Hesla

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/OptimizeXP.html

follow that link..i do it after i reformat.. it really streamlines XP and gets you secure. Alot of it is heady stuff, but most of it is just programs...

go step by step from that site and you will be ok (might take 4hrs though).

Be careful of that link. Most of the stuff is good, but others things I question. Never, ever play with the Windows pagefile. The engineers are Microsoft are a lot smarter than I am, and know how windows works a lot better than I ever will, and they have algorithms to set the pagefile to the appropriate size.

The person at that link also must have some connection to Diskkeeper. It's a fine program, but the version included in windows will work fine for 95% of people out there, and the other 5% can make decisions on what defragmenter they want to use (and there ARE some good free ones, just not as easy to use as Diskkeeper).

Norton is a bloated POS. AVG or Avast do as good of a job for free, and if you wish to purchase anti-virus there are lots of better choices (Trend, F-Prot, Kaspersky, Panda).

A personal router, as mentioned above, is a great firewall, they can often be found on sale or purchased second hand.

Finally, while I like ZoneAlarm, it has been know to screw up more than a few peoples machines (it can corrupt the IP stack). It is still better than nothing, but the XP SP2 firewall does as good a job and is already included.

[MRCboicgy]

We have a sonicwall firewall--thanks to my roomie's friend who is a sonicwall techie--it's sweeeeeeeeeeet if you wanna dish out the cash hehe

I use Symantec Corp. A-V 10.1, so much better than the Norton version

Spy-bot is a must have as well.