Posted on 09/13/2015 6:42:44 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
How about MS Security Essentials?
ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall:
C-Net rating: OUTSTANDING
http://download.cnet.com/ZoneAlarm-Free-Antivirus-Firewall/3000-2239_4-75708651.html
I too have used Linux a good deal, and I like it.
Unfortunately, I’m a software developer and have about twenty years experience using MS Visual Studio. The developer tools for Linux (mainly Eclipse and Net Beans) is just a little too painful - in terms of learning curve - as long as no one is forcing me to use it. We have a lot of legacy code written over the last twelve years or so.
But I’ll tell you, the hassles of staying with Windows are have me right at the threshold of saying “enough already” and switching to Linux.
FWIW, here’s what I’m using. YMMV.
Antivirus - Avast! free
Malware - Malwarebytes and ADW Cleaner
Browser - Ad Block Plus and Ghostery
Frequent backups are a must.
Using more than one antivirus program at a time is asking for trouble. They get in each other’s way.
I use Windows Essentials. It came with Win7 and is free to use. It seems to interface without slowing a computer to a crawl.
I previous had tried most of the big names, but eventually each one became bloatware and/or conflicted with other programs.
I also run most of my browsers in a Sandboxie sandbox. That way, if a bug comes in, I can delete the sandbox. I also occasionally run spyware and similar programs for general maintenance.
I do have the Windows firewall and Router firewall.
I’m currently also using NoScript. Very Minor hassle to use. Less so as time goes by (I’m only up to a few weeks of use. FReeper recommended to me)
I’m pretty computer illiterate and I was told to use McAfee and I’ve never had a problem on my laptop.
I do not access my banks and brokers that often. Maximum once a day or so. So that system has worked great for me for 20 years. No need to buy anti-virus software, which I hate because ALL OF THEM SLOW DOWN my computer, without exception. And no one ever hacked into my accounts because I deal with reputable large institutions and they have not sent my any viruses, ever.
Right now I am logged on FR on my non-sensitive computer. It won’t matter one bit if I pick up a virus here. I will just reformat the hard drive. Once in a while I pickup adware on this computer but those can be removed easily.
Get one computer that you use only on the internet. Keep your important data on another one that has no internet connection. You can scan and port files back and forth with a thumb drive as you need them.
AVG and MalWareBytes here.
No issues on my old WXP SP# box.
Running Ghostery as well on FF v.40.0.3 along with AdBlocker.
The best resource on choosing:
This is a European non-profit whose sole job is to analyze anti-virus programs for the public.
Watching video in a Win XP box is not quite up to flawless, but I screwed up in the installation (It was just a test to see if it would even work so I under supplied the VM with resources on purpose so as to not screw up the rest of the machine..) and didn't get the multiprocessor kernel in the XPP setup. (I'm working on fixing that without a reload, but with all the layers of abstraction software can easily be "designed" to overwhelm any hardware).
Adding the VB enhancements made the XPP box appropriately size up to use a 1080x1920 screen just fine.
BTW, “BitDefender” is the best rated AV program and they offer a 30-day free trial.
I would probably switch, but I have a paid version courtesy of my job of AVG that’s good thru next year.
Yes, those two and add Kaspersky for real-time and SuperAntiSpyware (freeware).
Good luck.
I use AVG on this machine, have used it for around 15 years with good results.
Avast has a good reputation, Kapersky did a couple of years ago too but I haven’t checked recently.
Mawarebytes is good, I’ve used it on my machines and many time son customers’ computers. I repaired them for a living for 15 years.
I won’[t touch McAffee or Norton, both almost useless and so bloated trying to do everything in sight it’s ridiculous. When they were just an antivirus, McAffee was great. Once they tried to do everything, it went downhill fast. I also had problems with both.
McAffee was causing problems with my Win98 machine (before XP was released) and I had fits finding it because I also had a bad RAM stick and a video driver win98 didn’t like at the same time. Emailed McAffee 3 times over 3 or 4 months with no reply, finally emailed them a 4th time to notify them I had just broken their $50 CD into a hundred pieces and would never touch another one.
Installed Norton to replace McAffee. Everything good. One day I get a notice that they can’t update the virus database because my “subscription” had expired. HUH??? I knew nothing of any subscription. Did a bit of checking and found out they had started charging for their previously free database updates, and called it a subscription. All they got from me was a nastygram.
That’s when I found out AVG had a good reputation with the techs on the computer tech support site where I was moderator. Started using it, never looked back. It’s running right now, doesn’t seem to bog my machine down, just be careful about which one you download and make sure you uncheck that “Try the premium” box or whatever it says. You’re good for 30 days and it’s a hassle to swap back to the actual free and functional version, which is sufficient.
Watch the individual installation screens of ALL software you install. Many now want to install Google toolbar, Bing toolbar, or any of a dozen others. All are totally useless, they don’t do a thing you can’t do yourself if you poke around a little and find out how to actually use your computer. And they all install spyware. Some of it downloads and installs more.
Use Firefox web browser and install the Ad Block plugin. Many people also like the noscript too. Avoid Internet Explorer like a disease, which it probably is. IE still (after they’ve known about it for over 15 years) uses ActiveX, which allows websites and emails to install software, including viruses and spyware, trojans, rootkits, you name it. Microsoft still has ActiveX turned on by default...Firefox is faster anyway. And much more secure. Watch the installation screens.
Using copy & paste for passwords is a pretty good idea, also use at least 8 characters, letters and numbers. I try to avoid anything that makes me use the [Shift] key, it’s not too hard to forget it.
Password generators
https://www.random.org/passwords/?mode=advanced
http://www.thebitmill.com/tools/password.html
I’ve been using those for a long time. People hate it, but a strong password is critical. It’s too easy to get to know you and guess your password...pet’s names, kids birthdays, your mother’s maiden name...things like that are easy to guess, and many hackers use software that sits there and tries all the nicknames, birthdays, common phrases you can think of. Get away from easy to guess passwords. I can’t stress that strongly enough. sn8gr6e4 is a lot harder to guess than spike2. No that’s not one of my passwords, it’s right off the top of my head. I use the password generators linked above. Write it down until you memorize it, never let anyone see it, or use it, change it if they do. Once I have it memorized I burn the written copy. Think you can’t mremorize it? I can remember my debit card number, SSN, driver’s license, at least 20 phone numbers, and lyrics to dozens of songs...and I learn new songs all the time. And I’m almost 60. You can memorize an 8 character password...
If the ASUS is brand new it probably has a free trial of McAfee installed already. I recommend scrubbing the entire computer of all the free preloaded crap from ASUS. As for the a free antivirus, Avast or AVG work well.
The domestic security vendors have all bent over for the FBI. Kaspersky Labs told them to pound sand.
You mean the FBI forced the domestic anti-virus companies to include a back-door that would allow FBI spyware to operate undetected?
BTW, Kaspersky is headquartered in Moscow.
I don't have a lot of faith in the FBI, but I'd trust them over the FSB any day.
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