Keeping Your Computer Clean

[peter991]

I am just wondering what ThaiVisa members use to keep their computer free from viruses and spyware.

I run a legitimate copy of Windows XP Pro, NOD32, Zone Alarm Pro and Spyware Doctor.

Is this enough, or should I be using more/other applications?

Peter

[Mid]

spybot and adaware would be my addittions .................

if you got the resources , windows defender , maybe ................................

[kevc]

I am just wondering what ThaiVisa members use to keep their computer free from viruses and spyware.

I run a legitimate copy of Windows XP Pro, NOD32, Zone Alarm Pro and Spyware Doctor.

Is this enough, or should I be using more/other applications?

Peter

We had a problem with our internet so got out TOT to look at it they said NOD32 was no good, got a guy from Pantip to come out and service the computer he said the same and put a version of Norton on instead. well worth it he wiped the hard drive clean and re installed everything as well as cleaning out the interior cost 800 baht. speaks a bit English as well anybody want his telephone number just pm me.

[crockett]

NOD32 - very good, Zonealarm Pro - ok, does the job. As for Spyware Doctor, I have used it before but found it to be very heavy on the memory. The computer needed ages to start up because of all the signatures and monitors loading. I am now using Spy Sweeper which is much lighter. I like it.

[peter991]

I used to be a Norton/Symantec fan for a very long time. However, for the past couple of years, Norton has been a heavy user of system resources. I am happy with NOD32.

I agree with the comments about Spyware Doctor - it's heavy the same as Norton/Symantec - but I found it picks up spyware the others can't find.

Peter

[quiksilva]

AVG professional virus protection and firewall.

Spybot, Lavasoft's Adaware, and Mozilla firefox with the superb "No Script" extension

Winner of the "2006 PC World World Class Award", this tool makes Firefox the safest browser around.

Winner of the "2006 PC World World Class Award", this tool provides extra protection to your Firefox.

It allows JavaScript, Java and other executable content to run only from trusted domains of your choice, e.g. your home-banking web site, and guards the "trust boundaries" against cross-site scripting attacks (XSS).

Such a preemptive approach prevents exploitation of security vulnerabilities (known and even unknown!) with no loss of functionality...

Experts do agree: Firefox is really safer with NoScript ;-)

[Simmo]

AVG is crud, sorry to say.

It still doesn't detect the Adober.exe trojan that seems to be on every Thai office workers flash drive. That trojan has been around for a good 6 months.

Number 1 thing you can do for security is to switch to Firefox.

[waldwolf]

peter991 - Your setup looks pretty good.

Like a lock on your doors, IMHO the most important security setup you should have is a "two-way" firewall. Properly installed, Zone Alarm meets that requirement. Some will say a firewall which blocks incoming malware is sufficient. Not so, in my opinion. If I knowingly or unknowingly allow a virus, rootkit, or keylogger to be implanted within my system, I want to be forewarned should it attempt to send data to an outside server, or as it's commonly referred to "calling home". (Old Chinese proverb: "Man who lock front door not back door end up with pain in rear-end." )

NOD32 is recognized as being in the top 3 of antivirus utilities. (The top ones juggle places with each other from year to year, adding, deleting various "functions" to attract new buyers.)

In the anti-spyware category, Webroot's SpySweeper, which crockett recommended, is highly rated but not free. AdAware and SpyBot Search & Destroy are free and quite good.

Just remember, no malware detector is 100% perfect. Prevention is the best medicine. Thus my continuing recommendation (rant actually) on using a good two-way firewall, like ZoneAlarm.

waldwolf

[cdnvic]

Windows Machines:

Nod32, Windows Defender, Windows Firewall, Ad-Aware SE

Linux Box:

Avast Antivirus for Linux

All sit behind a NAT router/Firewall that's fully stealthed.

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IMO the guy who replaced Nod32 with Norton cleaned up the disk and got himself a Norton sale at the customer's expense. Norton uses almost twice the system resources that Nod32 does. I wouldn't trust the pirates at Pantip to get anywhere near my systems. The computer is running faster because of the clean install, and the tech is richer (and customer poorer) by one Norton sale. If he were to uninstall Norton now and reinstall Nod32 he would see another gain in system performance.

And as for buying AVG, that's like paying for an ugly hooker, including the way it tends to leave many people infected with something. Best to look at some actual lab tests before putting out money for these things.

[colino]

Im just trying system mechanic pro 7 with fire wall and virus checker its found 2 viruses so far and it cleans your pc up realy well ,,, also has disk scrubber

[jackk]

I am just wondering what ThaiVisa members use to keep their computer free from viruses and spyware.

I use Linux

[cdnvic]

I am just wondering what ThaiVisa members use to keep their computer free from viruses and spyware.

I use Linux

Viruses and worms such as Adm, Adore, Bliss, Cheese, Devnull, Kork, Lapper, LinuxLion, Mighty, OSF.8759, Ramen, RST, Slapper, Staog, and many rootkits are out there. That's why I run an antivirus and rootkit detectors on my Linux desktop and servers. Not to mention a good firewall. Seen too many smug idiots get r00ted because they thought they were immune.

Edited May 11, 2007 by cdnvic

[naka]

Firefox with "No Script" what does this mean please.

Naka.

[cdnvic]

Firefox with "No Script" what does this mean please.

Naka.

It disables all scripts running on websites unless you specifically allow a site to run them.