Racquelle
Posts: 600
Joined: 4/21/2008
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Icarys
I strongly suggest you use more than one of any virus annnnd spyware program..even if you have to install then uninstall to add the next one..i use 3 and each one catches something new..so i'll wait for awhile till they have a chance to load up my system.then i'll load each program/clean.uninstall and do the next program...i'd say in a month or two then check it..i bet you'll find new ones that one software alone didn't get.
This is possibly one of the silliest suggestions I have ever heard about anti-virus software. If one is using it properly, keeping it updated, and being at all smart about how they use the net - the scans for viruses and trojans should find almost nothing - because it should keep you from getting the malicious code installed in the first place. Uninstaling and reinstalling all the time? Sorry - that is just asking for trouble.
Ok, I am going to qualify this by saying, my best friend is one of the world's foremost authorities on computer security.
Here is what I recommend based on my experience, and what I have gained from knowing him and his anti-virus pals:
1. Stop using Internet Explorer. Use Firefox instead. Most malicious code is written to exploit IE. Script-kiddies don't bother writing code to exploit Firefox.
2. Use the Firefox adblock feature.
3. Ask it to notify you when sites try to set cookies - and deny all but those you need to make the site function. (Sites where you log-in, and sites where you shop need to install some cookies.)
4. Invest in a comprehensive security suite. My personal preference is TrendMicro.
5. Uninstall applications that clash with it - like Windows Firewall. Once TrendMicro installs, Ad Aware and Spybot seem to work ok if you reinstall them. No matter what else you use, you can also run "Housecall" which is Trend's online tool.
6. Set your security software to update daily - yes, daily. Set it to do a basic scan daily. Use real-time scanning so you don't download malicious code to begin with. Set it kind of high until you get used to how it works.
7.Set Windows to do automatic updates so it installs security patches as soon as they come out.
8. Expect most pornographic sites and gambling sites to be FULL of malicious code. Browse them at your own risk. This will sound like a crazy conspiracy theory - but most of the serious "hacking" is now done by the Russian mob - no, really. And they infest porn and gambling sites. Play at your own risk.
Basically, this is part of what I do when I set up a new PC - then it's done and I don't have to think about it often. If you are unwilling to take the time to set it up properly, you will really hate it when you have to rebuild your system.
Common misconception - that you will actually "see" anything that a virus, trojan, or block of malicious code is doing. Unless you get a hijacked browser, you are unlikely to notice much of anything except a gradual decline in performance, and rarely - identity theft. Most of the time if someone steals your password - they didn't steal it at all - they just asked you for it and you gave it to them.
< Message edited by Racquelle -- 6/12/2008 4:57:31 AM >
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Question About Anti-Spyware Programs - 
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i tried spybot a few times but it always was messing up my computer.
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