I’ve tried Trend Micro, McAfee, Norton, Registry Mechanic, CA, and several freeware programs like Zone Alarm, AVG, Advanced System Care, Spyware Blaster, Easy Cleaner, and most recently COMODO Internet Security. It seems to me like they all worked somewhat well for a while. Seems like either the program gets too cumbersome or the PC ends up slowing way down. Even had 3 PC’s die after getting slow. Got a laptop now that’s really slowed down. Do you just need to switch security providers frequently? Who do you trust??
Tagged with: freeware programs • internet security • laptop • mcafee • norton • registry mechanic • security providers • trend micro • zone alarm
Filed under: Registry Cleaners
Securing Windows operating systems from Internet assault is not a single application, or even a suite.
It’s layers of protection, user habits, threat landscape awareness, system configuration, real time protection, and more.
Although ‘all-in-one’ suites may be OK, (CareOne, McAfee, or Norton) plenty of freeware is available that will do the same job (maybe better???) & don’t deplete your system resources (and therefore speed).
Generally speaking: as a system’s convenience, interactiveness & flexibility increase: security decreases.
Look through some of the suggested freeware here, study up, and pick some of the frontline, real-time defenses. Create a restore point after each install, then run the system to verify that application’s ‘friendliness’ with your system before adding other applications.
Sorry, but using Windows requires you to become a security expert, it’s that simple. Something they don’t tell you when you buy this system…
http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/security/fwsecuritytools.html
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Whatever ‘layers’ you decide on, add this to your counter-measures arsenal:
"Sandboxie" (http://www.sandboxie.com/)
runs your programs in an isolated space which prevents them from making permanent changes to other programs and data in your computer.
Use it for:
Secure Web Browsing: Running your Web browser under the protection of Sandboxie means that all malicious software downloaded by the browser is trapped in the sandbox and can be discarded trivially.
Enhanced Privacy: Browsing history, cookies, and cached temporary files collected while Web browsing stay in the sandbox and don’t leak into Windows.
Secure E-mail: Viruses and other malicious software that might be hiding in your email can’t break out of the sandbox and can’t infect your real system.
Freeware.
Not overly difficult to use. Don’t presume you can do just anything as it does have limits; listen to ‘Security Now’ #174 for more details (http://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm)
Freeware.
Not for 64 bit Vista platform.
Recommended by Steve Gibson (Security Now & GRC)
seksee has a fairly decent guide and seems to have some knowledge about computers. personally i think his protection that he suggests sucks ass and microsoft windows updates are as about as useful as a toilet seat full of crabs. if you click on a link that has a rogue program like antivirus2009 or spywaregard2008 attached to it, do you really think those microsoft updates will protect your pc? yeah right. personally i only download software updates only. i dont do the so called security updates. personally i think the only reason they put those out is to make you believe that they are actually doing something more than twiddling their thumbs. he’s right though, they dont hurt anything and they really dont take up that much space but they dont really do anything as far as protection goes. anyhow, as far as start up entries goes, you should eliminate as many of those as possible and services as well. microsoft has a gazillion services that you dont ever use. if you want a guide to knocking those down then go to http://www.blackviper.com/ . personally i go way beyond what this cat THINKS needs to be running. i almost have the bare minimum just because i know for sure i dont use a tenth of those services. defragging your system really depends on how much you download files..i could be ready for a defrag after a week or less seeing how i am a download freak. anyhow i’m not a big fan of comodo. in fact i think their firewall is a pure piece of shit. not only does it have problems remembering your applications, but it is way over protective in my opinion. of course i’m talking about the firewall. unless you are pissing off hackers, you dont need anymore than windows built in firewall. anyhow there is a ton to know about the windows operating system and in keeping it healthy as well as many tweaks and just plain old common sense that can improve performance. a lot of it you learn by reading and experience though, not asking questions, good luck.
Here’s how to protect your computer and keep it running fast.
Remember . . . 10 pts!
Basic Computer Maintenance Tips
1- Right off the top, protect your computer from those nasty things floating out there in the internet. I rarely have computer issues and when I do they’re minor. You can do the same, to accomplish this follow these simple tips:
A- Having a firewall (windows has its’ own version installed and ready to use or there are others, I just use windows).
B- Microsoft updates (Your operating software updates are basically designed to update it from security flaws they’ve discovered from others having problems, keep Microsoft updates frequent). If you do this once a month or as problems arise, you’ll be fine.
C- anti-virus (There is a slew of them out there. I’ve used AVG in all my computers for years, it’s free and like I said . . . I don’t have issues!). If you’re constantly downloading stuff, check every item as you download it and run a full scan weekly. If you’re a moderate user on the internet then twice a month full computer scans will do.
D- YOU NEED A GOOD ANTI-MALWARE/SPYWARE PROGRAM (Too often this is ignored and more than anything it’s what most people experience, it’s not the viruses as much as it is that adware stuff.) I’ve used Spybot Search and Destroy. Again it’s free annnnnnd, I don’t have computer issues. If you run this once a week/every other week or as problems arise, you’ll be fine.
2. The above is protection and prevention, now you still want your computer to run as fluid as possible. The following is maintenance designed to keep your computer running smooth and fast.
Microsoft designs their system to load up unnecessary software, merely for the convenience of having it running just-in-case-you-might-want-to-use-it. It’s useless and takes up memory which slows your computer down. These are the things you do to rid those programs from starting up:
A- In the start menu under “All Programs” there will be a “Startup” folder. That should remain empty. Very rarely is that needed at all.
B- Also, the programs around the clock (better known as the tray), rid that area as much as possible. Right click or click each program there to open up the options menu for each program and select the option that keeps it from loading onto the tray. Do this every six months (twice a year) and you’ll be fine.
avg free 8.0 and spybot s&d keep my computer clean. they’re both free.
i hope you aren’t using internet explorer. if so, there’s your security hole. plug it with firefox.
otherwise, just be smart about what you do online. you can avoid nearly all problems by not being as naive as a ten-year-old girl.
i am currently using AVG internet security but have had great results with zone alarm firewall and avg anti virus both free
NOD32 (under the name of ESET). It has the smallest fingerprint (that is, your computers performance suffers least because of it) among all-in-one protection software. It has a firewall equal to that of ZoneAlarm, and the Virus Scan is as powerful as Norton, at least. You can find it for $60 for a year-long 1-user version. VERY well worth it. Many sites refer to it as the best software available for antivirus. The only drawback is that if you go into "advanced settings" and you don’t know your way around (intermediate-level savvy) computers, it can be a little boggling.
Here’s the ESET site: http://www.eset.com/
Trust me, this is good.