Online security question.

[Bugman]

My wheezing old Compaq has been behaving badly for months, and it is not worth spending any money on. Today I picked up a refurbished Dell Optiplex GX 620 that should serve my needs nicely. Now maybe I'm paranoid but I'd like to have anti-virus and anti-spyware programs loaded before hooking it up and thought I'd solicit some opinions on what to use. I understand there is no one size fits all answer, just curious as to what you use and how it works for you.

 

[Marquis De Sade]

I'm no tech God but I've certainly had my fair share of viruses and malware and what worked for me was:

Avast: It's free and works in realtime and seems pretty awesome.
Anti-Malware: Also free and has helped a LOT.
Microsoft Security Essentials: I had a redirect virus once. Worst. Thing. Ever. I downloaded a bazillion different things to try and get rid of it but nothing helped until a friend of mine recommended this. It found it immediately and beat it to death.

Look up some reviews, wait for more opinions. These are just what's worked for me. Also, save copies of all on an external hard drive or a USB flash drive. If you ever get a virus, it'll help for when and if you have to disconnect from the Internet to run whatever program you're using to get rid of it.

 

[jhop220]

SpyBot is great, I would recommend it to anyone.

 

[kurchatovium]

Avast is good. (for antivirus)

SuperAntispyware is good (for antispyware)


Comodo firewall is good too. (for a firewall. )

Those are all free.

Check out wilderssecurity forum too. Its free to join.

www.wilderssecurity.com

 

[socktickler86]

Microsoft's security essentials is one of the best anti-virus programs (yes, THAT Microsoft). That should be suitable for anti-virus

For anti-spyware, Spybot run weekly will keep you humming along.

Window's firewall is good enough for a software based firewall.

I almost feel dirty suggesting Microsoft software for security, but it's amazing that they got certain things right finally.

 

[Bothersome]

Indeed. Microsoft Security Essentials is what I use.

Along with that, I use Malwarebytes as a kind of backup program to try and grab anything that another program might have missed.

Also, I heard this from my friend, and i don't know if it's true or not, but I heard that Microsoft Security Essentials and Avast have conflicting real-time shields... but I'll leave that up for someone else to confirm.

 

[Mitchell]

What kurch and Marquis said...

I have Avast Free Home Edition for my antivirus. This was first recommended to me by the computer store that fixed my old Dell. Additionally, kurch told me to download SuperAntiSpyware to perform a weekly check/cleanout for spyware.

Whatever you do, PLEASE stay away from Norton. I used to have Norton, and it gave me terrible problems. Norton is what I had when I got the adware virus in 2008, that caused it to be neccessary to get my old computer serviced, and when I first got Avast.

Good Luck. I hope the suggestions you're getting work for you.

Mitch

 

[Bugman]

Thanks guys. I'm using Avast and Spybot, just thought there might be something better out there. Mitch, I hear you about Norton. Tried it once, and that was enough. Several people have suggested Kaspersky. Any thoughts on that?

 

[kurchatovium]

Thanks guys. I'm using Avast and Spybot, just thought there might be something better out there. Mitch, I hear you about Norton. Tried it once, and that was enough. Several people have suggested Kaspersky. Any thoughts on that?

I have used Kaspersky its not bad much better then Norton certainly. Currently I use Eset Smart Security which I have used for over 3 years. I am pleased with Eset too. 🙂

 

[Gothika]

Currently I use Eset Smart Security which I have used for over 3 years. I am pleased with Eset too. 🙂

i use the same works great for me

 

[paracarl44]

I use AVG and have had no problems.