how do i decide which software programs i need?

i see so many software programs listed here and i have no idea what they’re for, from where they are downloaded, how well they work, or what platforms they work on (or don’t).

for example, DavidR lists: WinXP Pro SP2/ Outpost Pro 4.0/ Firefox 2.0.0.4/ OE6/ MailWasher Pro 5.2/ AVG-AS/ HiJackThis /Drive Image 7.1.

Dave, can you give me a quick run-down on these?

what happens to IE7 if i install Firefox on my Vista machine – which browser prevails?

which browser prevails?
The one you set as your [b]default[/b] browser. Let Google be your friend. To find out what all the programs do, simply search for them and look at the descriptions. :)

Operational system

Firewall

Browser

Outlook Express (email program)

Antispam

Antispyware (antitrojan)

On-demand browser checker for malware

Partition (disk) full backup utility.

More? Google 8)

Looks like I was still asleep when you asked this and Bob and Tech bet me too it ;D

But google really is your friend. They are my main applications relating to security but there are more. I also feel you can goo too far in the other direction, too much where it impacts on your computer use. One tool not mentioned is common sense, don’t go opening attachments or clicking links in unsolicited email and if an offer seems too good to be true, often it is. Use google to check out these things.

Probably the most important I feel is my Drive Image software which take an exact image of my partitions/hard drive. I take an image every week of my primary hard drive and store it on my secondary hard drive (or external media), it takes less than 10 minutes. If I ever have a problem, I restore the last image from my backups and I can be up and running in about 15 minutes.

The minimum that you need are an anti-virus, anti-spyware & firewall. My recommendations are in my sig. below. Click on them & you will be taken to their websites. All work on Vista 32 bit & are free.

As you have Vista you already have Windows Defender, I feel Spyware Terminator is a better real-time anti-spyware. I use XP sp2 & have Windows Defender, but I shut it off & rely on Spyware Terminator. You can use both, but it is a waste of RAM.

Other useful security programs are WinPatrol, SpywareBlaster & SSM.

I recommend stand alone programs.

Vista 23 bit
A little typo. That should be 32 bit. :)

Thank you Bob. ;D

nweissma,
This thread may be of some help for you.
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=28395.msg231949#msg231949