Step 1: Go to http://everythingisnt.com/hosts.html, install the simple text file that blocks the majority of ad servers and malicious websites on the web.
Step 2: Download and install Mozilla Firefox from http://www.mozilla.com/firefox. Make sure you also goto http://noscript.net and install the No Script Firefox add-on, which blocks many of the scripts and metalinks that cause malicious software to be installed on your computer.
Step 3: You’re done. I advocate using a web based e-mail system like gmail or yahoo mail to deal with spam e-mails or e-mail borne viruses. Unless you specifically permit it, there’s little manner for someone to break into your system using the above two steps.
If you’re worried about people accessing your computer (hacking it) and seek defenses; odds are you already have it. It’s called your ‘router’ - there’s many websites on the net about how to secure your router, but the vast majority already prevent almost all intrusion into your computer. Your ‘interaction’ with the internet is where you should have the most concern, and Firefox with Noscript, as well as Mike’s Ad Host blocking file, does an incredible job of blocking most of the trash from coming to your door.
For anti-virus, consider AntiVir.
For anti-spyware, I recommend SuperAntiSpyware.
Comodo is a good firewall. It's what I use.
There are websites that will walk you through how to delete more of it, how to try to find the cab files on your ‘restore’ disc (or partition), but it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
Finally on AVG, etc. If your computer is being run in such a way that it’s likely to be compromised (mostly from software downloaded and installed from the Internet), no anti-virus solution will ever work 100%. It’s honestly a waste of resources to try to do it. Just don’t download and install software, use Firefox with NoScript, use the host file from Mike’s, and stay away from sites likely to cause problems (adult ‘entertainment’, hacking, illegal file sharing, etc.)
AVG is really good. I’ve been using it for years now.
Ping!
I would not- doubling up on AV programs usually eats up system resources and causes very slow performance.
2. How do I completely delete the Norton product?
Get the Norton removal tool here:
3. Does anyone have any experience running Comodo? Good? Fair? Bad?
Sorry, never heard of this one. Sounds good, but you get what you pay for. I'd be suspicious there is a hole built into it to for reporting your browsing habits (marketing). If your computer is behind a router with a correctly configured firewall you don't need more than the windows firewall.
Are you behind a cable or DSL router with a firewall? Also, why not just the XP firewall?
Yes, I have AVG Antivirus and Firewall and it runs great. It's been the best combo I've ever used.
2. How do I completely delete the Norton product?
You have to uninstall the product through the Add/Remove Programs feature in the Control Panel. Make sure you everything! Norton is such a bloated creature that it's counterproductive to what you want to achieve. Also run the MSConfig and ensure there are no start-ups for Norton listed under the Startup Tab.
3. Does anyone have any experience running Comodo? Good? Fair? Bad?
I've heard some folks say it's good, some are indifferent. AVG Antivirus and Firewall will do the trick for you. Go with that and nothing else. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
First, Comodo firewall 3.0 is awesome. It can be complicated though, you have to write your own rules for certain programs and certain behaviors of certain programs. (I’ve created “custom” port sets for IRC, FTP, P2P, system process defragment utilities like O&O Defrag and perfect disk 8, for example, so far in my use of it) Biggest problem is each FTP server I use requires a seperate rule because each server uses a different default port.
Second, AVG Free, is NOT awesome in default configuration. You have to shut off the daily virus scan, or the thing will destroy your hard drive eventually. Without buying the pay version, that means you have to manually keep to a schedule of initiating full system virus scans. I got around this by using my calendar program in my Thunderbird email software to send me a reminder once a week to do a scan. A Post-it on the monitor could be just as effective.
Third, as others have mentioned, install a free hosts file manager at this point, and save yourself further time (by blocking ads from downloading and rendering), and protect yourself from malicious IP addresses. I personally use HOSTSMAN, http://www.abelhadigital.com/ , though there are a good many free programs to do this.
To delete Norton and it’s random files, first download CCleaner, http://www.ccleaner.com/ and select the option to fully delete all Norton files, CCleaner removes the orphan files from Norton that wouldn’t be removed otherwise. Then use the control panel add/remove programs to fully remove Norton. After that you can use CCleaner again, this time the registry cleaner option, and remove any orphan references to Norton in your registry. ALWAYS make a back up of your registry before using CCleaner registry editor.
That should have you running smoothly.
* AVG Anti-Virus
* Windows Firewall
* Windows Defender
They are all free, and they work fine for most applications. If you're reasonably careful about where you surf and what you open in your email, you won't have trouble.
I have probably a dozen home users on this combination, and haven't had one of them reinfected after switching.
Norton is a resource hog of the first magnitude, so I have been steering customers away from it.
If you are already infected, you may need more powerful tools to get cleaned up, but once everything's cleaned up, those three work just fine.
Hope you have better luck uninstalling Nortons than I had.
Even after a thorough registry search I had to format the hard drive to get rid of the stragglers.
I didn’t use the programs outlined here by others.
I’ll never,never put Nortons on another machine. Worse than the disease.
Norton was very problematic not too long ago. Unistalling a firewall can be difficult. Good luck.
Trend Microsystems
0r F-Prot
I removed all my Symantec/Norton software when I just got tired of the slow bloatware. The main tricks to removing it:
1. Disable the product protection feature. There’s a checkbox somewhere in the options, something like, “Turn on protection for Norton products.” UN-CHECK this first before doing anything.
2. Use the Symantec uninstaller from the “Add/Remove Programs” control panel.
3. Also un-install the LiveUpdate program from the “Add/Remove Programs” control panel.
Rebooting before you start and after each step is probably a good idea too.
That’s how I did it. I didn’t have any problems, but suddenly my computer booted up a lot faster. Good luck.
1. Remove Norton - use the Norton Remover from Symantec
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/Norton-Removal-Tool.shtml
2. AVG with a firewall, no problem.
3. Commodo - excellent choice together AVG. Commodo is the one bidirectional firewall that’s free and easy to use.
Don’t forget to add a good anti-spyware program.
Good luck.