Spyware/Malware

[Twinky]

Just wondering if I should install some of this stuff.

I know yesterday I opened a pps that was a convincing hoax.

My computer runs slowly anyway, can't take anything that slows it down. Not much memory.

I use Firefox and AVG Free (latest version) which probably stop something but as Bramble has said on another thread - you authorize a pop-up - you let in baddies. Heh, and I have Win2000.

[cman]

Run these occasionally, they are free.

The paid version can run for real time protection,

but if you update and run these manually like once a week or month you will be ok I think.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/

http://www.filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/

These are good too and need to updated manually like the other two.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_spywareblaster/

http://www.filehippo.com/download_spybot_search_destroy/

These two add lists of sites that are bad to your browser, effectively blocking them.

Spybot has a scanner as well to run manually.

None of these will slow your computer down, except when you initialize a scan.

Otherwise they are not running, so not a problem.

[cman]

O yeah and do get adblocker plus and flashblock add-ons for Firefox.

For adblocker plus subscribe to Easylist-English and Fanboys list.

Flashblock will block all flash objects until you click on them or set a page to allow for flash without clicking.

I advise to leave it all blocked until you are ready to see the flash video or object.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/433/

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865/

[WordWolf]

Please note that if you have an antivirus but no FIREWALL, you're missing a vital part of the process.

ZoneAlarm and Comodo have reliable, free firewalls that are easy to use.

As for Firefox, Flashblock is good, but NoScript is better.

With NoScript up and running on your Firefox,

all websites have to be PERMITTED to run javascripts before they run at all.

You'll be amazed about how many DIFFERENT websites are trying to run Javascripts

while you're at ONE website.

My tip? Generally, the website you're on is safe to permit Scripts for.

If you're unsure, you can give temporary permissions to it.

And when in doubt, Google the domain name and see if it's an ad site.

It's my personal opinion that NoScript has pretty much clobbered whatever thought

it could slip my antivirus and firewall.

Once again, I have lots of protection, all for the grand total of $00.00

[Twinky]

Sure is a lot of useful stuff out there, all free.

I just checked, and my AVG Free has an anti-spyware thing in it.

I think the firewall is through AVG in some way. I did have ZoneAlarm and that slowed things down horrendously. Friend who is a computer chappie by trade uninstalled ZoneAlarm and said there is already a firewall.

Is there any way to know if one's address has been grabbed for spamming all the world selling Viagra?

[WordWolf]

Programs-Control Panel-Security Center should give you the section showing your firewall and

antivirus names, which would settle which you're using.

I suppose the only way to check if your IP address has been misused would be to

Google the IP address and see if warnings came up from security websites, or something.

There may be other ways-I wouldn't know them.

I'm into free security to prevent intrusions and access in the first place.

[cman]

Just run one Antivirus, any more and your computer is less protected and will cause problems.

Now for firewalls, there is a built in firewall in windows XP and windows 7.

And if you have a router, that is a firewall as well, a hardware firewall.

But neither of these are sufficient for max protection.

They are fine for an average user, if that is what you are.

If you want to see what is connecting more closely then a another software firewall is needed.

I recommend PC Firewall Plus, just cancel the download if you don't want it.

It will replace the Windows firewall, and will ask you on connections and transactions that happen.

Not all of them, but when you install a program or run one.

It will ask if that program is allowed to install, access memory or connect to the net.

Go through 'add remove software' (XP), or 'programs and features' (W7) to see if you have an extra software firewall already. You only need one.

This one is free.

http://www.pctools.com/firewall/download/

This one will not slow down your computer....if it does, the computer is probably an older one.

Mine is from 2005 and it does ok.

Edited October 1, 2010 by cman

[WordWolf]

There is something called a built-in "firewall" for Windows, but it's not adequate.

It's there to turn on when setting up the computer, and for minimizing damage while you

download a REAL software firewall.

One of the reasons I say that is that it completely lacks security for outbound traffic.

If some malware makes it onto your PC, then the firewall should ask for permission

when the new program suddenly tries to dial out and contact a computer outside yours.

The Windows firewalls will not do that- and it's the last defense of any PC with

malware problems, and the last warning.

BTW, all firewalls and antivirus programs slow PCs a tiny bit. That's them doing their

jobs. Generally, they slow it very little, so you don't notice it. If you're getting

a significant slowdown, then either

A) You have a PC with a slow microprocessor, one with a speed measured in mb instead of gb

or

B) You have a PC that's already running far, far too many processes all simultaneously,

which means you need to switch some from "automatic" to "manual" so they don't start up

until you open the program,

or

C) You have a PC with many infections running as processes all simultaneously.

I knew someone who had this problem. When they finally decided to take PC security

seriously, it took 2 days to clear out over 2000 infections, viruses, and other pieces of

malware. When we were done, they now had several security programs added to their PC-

but they had no less space since the malware was taking up a lot of space that it no

longer did. They also said their PC hadn't run as fast as it now did since it was

brand new.