[Randy Larsen]

I know that the opinions of FReepers are all over the spectrum on top computers vs home built. I've tried both and none have been very reliable after the 1st year(except Dell). I would like FReeper input on this topic from the smartest group of people I can turn to.

[decal]

I can only tell you what I use - I haven't had any trouble w/ virii/Trojans/spyware since:

SpyBot
Ad-Aware
SpywareBuster
X-RayPC

[Normal4me]

Look for the latest greatest model and then buy last years model.

[BallyBill]

Avast anti-virus. It is FREE and it is great.

[HairOfTheDog]

Been happy with my Dell... Going on several years now.

I use Trend Micro - PC-cillin Internet Security

[KoRn]

What are you planning on using this computer for?

[Normal4me]

Zone Alarm Firewall(free)
Spybot (free)
AVG antivurus (free)
Webroot Spysweeper ($29)
Firefox browser (free)

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

I have had no problems with the Dells I have been supplied with at work, with Seagate drives. I have a Toshiba laptop that I have had zero problems with in three-plus years.

[jdm]

I think the poster 'backhoe' originally compiled this...

Scan for Viruses and common Trojans online and free.

Etrust Web scanner

Bit Defender Virus Scan

Mcafee Virus Scan

Panda Online Scan

Trend Micro Online Scan

 

Things you need--(all FREE)
Anti-Virus
AVG Anti-Virus version 7 (free) release available...

 Avast
Firewall
Kerio(Direct Download) Zone Alarm

 If are using zone alarm it may slow your PC. Try Outpost Firewall http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpost or Sygate Firewall http://www.sygate.com/ both have FREE and Pro versions and are heads above ZA.
Misc.
IE Spyads SpywareBlaster Spyware Guard
Windows Update- you must keep updated, it is the start of a secure system-
get all CRITICAL Updates

Things you want(Still Free)
 

  I use Firefox. Click the link and give it a try.

 

 

Ad-Aware
Spybot S&D

SpywareBlaster
MS MVP Hosts file

Mike Lin's Homepage and get the Startup Control Panel and Startup Monitor tools.

 

The best forum for malware removal:

-SWI Forums-

 

 
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1315720/posts

 Microsoft Releases Anti-Spyware Beta 1 To Public Today.
Microsoft.com ^

 

=================================================

 

 

Browser Wars, take two various FR links | 12-22-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1306815/posts ...and let your compiler of links drop out of Lurk & Link mode for comment and advice: Keep your OS updated & patched. Run a hardware firewall-- with today's LAN's, it's easy. You need a hardware firewall.

[kerryusama04]

We only use laptops at my house. The home system is HP z4700 and is very solid. My two kids use it (4 and 2) and they haven't messed it up.

My folks have a Toshiba milti media laptop that is remarkably powerful for the money, light, and has a huge scren, but I can't speak for the reliability since it is rather new.

I get Dell's from my employers for work. I have no love for them at all. The current one is a D600 and is the first to not croak, but the keyboard went bad already. The past D400 and C810 were miserable.

[KoRn]

Dell is about as good as the pre-built PCs come these days for typical home use. If you plan on doing intense work on it like gaming or running a ton of apps you may want to throw in some more horsepower by upping the RAM to at least 1GB and a 256MB graphics card(if you are gaming).

About any anti virus is good as long as its up to date, and has fast responses to new exploits.

From what I've seen, NEVER...EVER buy a Compaq mini-tower. My boss bought 30 of them once because he got a good deal. Out of the 30 there were 6 bad hard drives, one that just stopped for no good reason, and lots of calls to India.

[upchuck]

IMHO, a computer from a local "Mom & Pop" computer store is the best way to go. You'll pay more than for a Dell, but they will genuinely appreciate your business and I can guarantee you they will be easier to get on the phone than Dell.

And if they've been around for at least 10 years, chances are they'll be around another 10.

Anti-virus: get AVG (free) from here: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

Be sure to keep the virus definitions updated. AVG will do this automatically if you want. I do mine manually twice a week or so.

Firewall: get Kerio (free) from here: http://www.kerio.com/dwn/kpf2-en-win.exe

Here's the manual: http://download.kerio.com/dwn/kpf/kpf21-en-v1.pdf

Turn the Windows XP firewall off. Not worth a damn as it doesn't protect against outbound messages which Kerio does.

Spyware: get Adaware (free) from here: http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/

Like AVG, keep the defs up to date.

Spyware: get Spybot Search and Destroy (free) from here: http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

Keep the defs up to date. Be sure to immunize. And be sure to get Tea Timer running.

When you install the program and run it the above will become clearer.

Got to grc.com and run the Shields Up utility. Make sure your computer is stealthy.

These are my personal recommendations. I never have a virus infection or spyware.

Run the spyware programs at least once a week. Run them both. Each may miss something the other will catch. Run AVG at last weekly (I have it set to run every morning at 3am; some folks don't like to leave their 'puter on 24/7. YMMV.

Oh, and be sure to keep your stuff backed up. A completely different topic. FWIW, I use Acronis True Image acronis.com

Before I forget, did I tell you I'm into FREE software?

HTH

[jdm]

Get one of these to improve typing speed.

[ThePythonicCow]

As for home built versus name brand computers, I recommend MonarchComputer.com. Take one of their pre-builts, or have them build one for you, configured as you like on their website. They are very highly ranked on ResellerRatings.com and have been for many years now.

Some ratings:

Dell	4.36
Monarch	9.06
Buy.com	5.04
Outpost.com	6.47
Best Buy	1.95
Overstock.com	3.09
CompUSA	2.23
TigerDirect	6.91
Circuit City	2.81

As for anti-virus (and anti-spyware) software, see the following sites that I have gathered over time, including from some of backhoe's excellent recommendations:

---

The best site for keeping your PC safe from spam, viruses, spyware and other security hazards on the internet is FirewallGuide.com.

The Geeks to Go site has a couple of excellent lists of steps to follow:

1. Steps to clean up a system
2. Steps to keep your system healthy

The best checklists of security recommendations for Windows XP are:

• LabMice.net's Windows XP Security Checklist,
• CITES Windows Security Checklist, and
• Digital Dave's Setup and Secure your PC and Network once and for all.

The "best Ad Killer out!" is: Ad Muncher (thanks to Malsua for the link.)

One decent (probably not the best) site for anti-spyware tool recommendations and downloads is Spychecker.

---

See more recommendations such as above, at the bottom of my Freeper home page: ThePythonicCow's Best Sites for Computers, Networking, and HTML.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The best in Anti Virus software is a freebie:

Grisoft's AVG Free

[L_Von_Mises]

Anti-Virus - Nod32 from ESET

Nod32
US Distributor

Firewall/antispyware - Agnitum Outpost
Outpost

Use both of these and never had a virus or spyware. They use few resources and have many options. Both have a fully functinal 30-day trial. Both have hourly updates and both protect against spyware and trojans.

Avoid Symantec and Kaspersky AV because of huge resource consumption. Also the free Zone-alarm firewall tends to work as an all or nothing firewall (few settings) and blocks a lot of apps. Symantec Firewall is a nightmare to configure for apps as well and eats a lot of resources.

[HairOfTheDog]

Dell, and Trend Micro's PC-Cillan. Happy with both, but they aren't free :~)