idiot proof security

[gordonsveg]

does anyone know of a reasonably priced idiot proof  security system for my pc please? ??? ???

[gordonsveg]

[chriscross1966]

Install Mandriva or Ubuntu and get used to the Linux OS.... Make sure you back up all your documents etc first (or use a new hard-drive for the install. The fact that you processes can't install executables without a password makes it pretty bulletproof....

[hippydave]

AVG internet security is what i use and you get a 2 yr license never let me down yet or you can go the free option by the free version of avg anti virus, zone alarm firewall, and ad-aware se spyware removal i used to use all 3 until getting the full avg package.

[Flunky]

AVG free is the way forward in conjunction with MalwareBYtes if you are running a windows based OS.

[lewic]

I find Avast free antivirus does the job. It uses way less resources than AVG, which has IMO become bloated with annoying features.

To avoid getting spyware, do not surf the net while logged on with admin rights.

Dont rely on any software to get rid of spyware - wipe the hard drive! I have never found anything that works 100%. And even if it said the PC was now clean, I would not trust it. Processes could be running in the background that were quietly grabbing keystrokes and passwords etc.

And I wouldnt bother with Zone Alarm if you have XP - it used to be good, but the Windows one is better.

[redimp]

AVG internet security is what i use and you get a 2 yr license never let me down yet or you can go the free option by the free version of avg anti virus, zone alarm firewall, and ad-aware se spyware removal i used to use all 3 until getting the full avg package.

Zone Alarm's free version is meant to be pants nowadays.  I would go for Kerio: http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Home-Home-Office/Sunbelt-Personal-Firewall/ or Comodo: http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/ instead.  AVG: http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition or Avast: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html are the two anti-virus programs I have been happy with but Avira: http://www.free-av.com/en/products/1/avira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.html is highly recommended.

Super Anti Spyware is meant to be the best spyware remover: http://www.superantispyware.com/

[manicscousers]

just downloaded that superantispyware, redclanger, do I leave avg on with it?

[Baccy Man]

I wouldn't reccommend SuperAntiSpyware it has a habit of detecting false positives on critical system files. As most people don't know which files are part of windows & which are viruses they assume the program is right when it says the files are infected & allow them to be deleted which results in Windows becoming unbootable.

I would suggest you download Returnil & use it when you are online. In very simple terms it creates a virtual copy of windows all viruses malware etc.. you pick up on the net will only exist in that virtual copy of windows not on your actual computer & rebooting will wipe them all. It is free to use on a home computer.
http://www.returnilvirtualsystem.com/rvspersonal.htm

[redimp]

just downloaded that superantispyware, redclanger, do I leave avg on with it?

yes but still digesting what Baccyman said!

[manicscousers]

so am I, have I knackered my comp now  :-\
my own fault, I tend to panic about viruses etc. still, it's still going at the moment  ;D

[redimp]

Nothing bad has happened to mine yet and I have been using it for about a month.

[Baccy Man]

have I knackered my comp now

No you haven't.

Every few months I get a load of PC's in for repair which won't boot because there was a mistake made in the SAS definitions database which made SAS think that certain microsoft system files were viruses & people have allowed SAS to delete the files without checking what they were first.

If you use SAS then when it says it's found a virus or piece of malware you need to make a point of checking which files it says are infected to make sure they really are viruses & not microsoft files rather than just letting it delete all the files it says are infected. If it identifies any operating system files as a virus then tell it to ignore them & run the system file checker utility which will check wether any of the operating system files really have been compromised if they have then they will be replaced properly rather than just deleted which is what SAS does.
A guide on using the system file checker utility can be found here: http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

[Plot69]

I am so glad I haven't got a PC!

[gordonsveg]

Many thanks to all of you who replied to my ??????????.

[manicscousers]

thanks for the reassurance, baccyman  ;D
I'll check if it says there is a problem

[telboy]

Things do seem to get complicated somehow.

I don't mind telling folks what protection I have & it works fine for me. If I do what other folks do that I need to change my pants every night, what am i doing wrong?

I have a simple Zone alarm system that I pay for. I do not have any probs.. I got rid of Spybot/Adaware that took ages to scan & never found 'owt.
Am I doing wrong?