My system: xp pro, service pack 3, I only use firefox and don’t have or run many programs. I mainly use this computer for poker so I’m trying to be safe. I use the free version of Comodo firewall as well as Avast 4.8 free version. I run malwarebytes as a back up now and then. My Internet activity is very safe, no porn, no pirate downloads, etc. I read the news, check email, play poker and visit trustworthy poker sites. I don’t store any passwords on my computer or important files. I just want to be safe so no one can get to my poker accounts or bank account.
How safe is my set up? any recomendations?
My main email is at Yahoo. In the past week I’ve gotten two virus alerts while on yahoo that avast web shield blocked. The first said this was blocked: alwaysinwork.com/kvusa/newload.php? and then tonight this was blocked:upmostly.com/upkvusa/index.php. I assume I’m not infected. I just did a malware bytes scan that came up clean ( Do I need to shut down avast and comodo when I run a Malwarebytes scan?). This is so frustrating. Why does comodo not pick this stuff up (TY Avast!). Should i be changing all my passwords every time something like this comes up?
Should I be using a different email provider? If so what is the safest?
I’m tired of not knowing how to answer these questions my self. I want to know what is going on, how to read a log file… i don’t want to be computer illiterate much longer. Where can take a class or seminar that can get me educated? I don’t need a degree just some education.
No one is 100% safe but you are 99% safe. I would advise you to install Noscript and WOT addon on your Firefox and see if your firefox is updated. Also make sure if your Windows Update is switched on…
Some poker sites are just fake…so I won’t advise playing poker…
Yahoo and Gmail are safe but nobody is 100% safe… You don’t need to change your email id…But you may think about having a secondary email id in Gmail…just in case…
Don’t open any unknown email in the Spam folder…empty it
Don’t keep some guessable secret question and password
Does SpywareBlaster and Windows Defender work along side my other programs? Do I need to configure them in any special way other than default settings?
Thanks for the firefox add ons, I’ll def get those up and running.
How does those malware sites come up when I’m on Yahoo’s homepage (while logged in)? It just doesn’t make sense.
And fwiw, I’m always on top of keeping my stuff up to date. Although, adobe reader worries me.
Yes, they should work alongside your other programs without any problems. The only adjustment I would personally make is configuring Windows Defender to quarantine everything that it finds.
I know more about computers than anyone I personally know (how sad since I don’t know all that much!)–especially how to protect them, thanks to this place!–but still not near as much as I’d like to know by a long shot. Hang around here and you’ll learn plenty—great people!!
No, I’m only running comodo firewall w/o anti virus as well as Avast. I assume Avast web shield catches stuff before the need for my firewall to prevent/block?
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