What security programs should I get. Avast? ...? ...? ...?

Just had comp reformatted and would like to know what programs you guys use for best protection possible and for free.

I’m getting firefox with security add ons, Avast and what else?

Hi…

I would recommend Spyware Blaster…

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.

MalwareBytes…

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

SuperAntiSpyware…

http://www.superantispyware.com/

and for real time antispyware protection, either Spyware Terminator, SpyBot S&D or Windows Defender…

http://www.spywareterminator.com/

http://www.spybot.com/en/download/index.html

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx

Spyware Terminator and Spybot will require somewhat of a learning curve in configuring their scanners, Windows Defender to my knowledge doesn’t ask you too much, if anything. At least my copy hasn’t. :slight_smile:

Hope this helps. :slight_smile:

Best Regards…

are they all compatible with each other?

Hi…

They should be but I would recommend choosing only one of the three programs that have real time scanners, Spyware Terminator, Spybot S&D and Windows Defender. Multiple scanners might cause conflicts. The one you choose should work well with avast.

MalwareBytes, SuperAntiSpyware and SpywareBlaster I know are compatible together. :slight_smile:

Best Regards…

I found that Superantispyware Pro running real time and Malwarebytes on demand and free are a great arsonal to run with Avast! (from experience) :wink:

Something I’ve notice of late with SpywareBlaster, and Firefox, is that it takes forever and a day to load the Firefox protections and when it does the chances are that not all will be enabled… ???

Hi…

I’m sorry this is happening. :frowning:

What OS and version of Firefox are you running? I’ve seen this before on a neighbor’s Windows XP system. If I remember correctly, after a couple or three times of shutting the program down and refreshing, it seemed to “catch.” ???

Best Regards…

You might want to add a 2 way firewall to the mix. I’m finding the PCTools firewall rather straightforward to use. Ports are stealthed. Probably as secure as most of them.
Others that are popular are Comodo and Online Armour. These include a HIPS component (BTW SpywareTerminator also has this as an install option) which is easiest thought of as an internal firewall. I guess.

Along the lines of SpywareBlaster, I use the MVPS Hosts file, which prevents connection to known bad sites. I use a program called Hostsman to edit/update it. It’s straightforward, and secure.
If you had SpywareBlaster (enabled) the “immunity” in Spybot (enabled) and the Hosts file, it would probably slow down connections. Probably best to just use one of them. Which one? IDK.

Likewise with HIPS, best to only have one, or they’ll overlap. Might not cause a slowdown/lockup, but it could really get annoying, and it’s a waste of resource.

Another good system monitor is Winpatrol, by Bill P. The free version isn’t realtime, it polls several system settings for changes every minute (varies 1-7 minutes depending on what area), and if something tries to modify what it guards, it pops an aural alert and a dialogue box. (Well, more of a canine alert, really. Cute as. ;D)

What else. Keeping software up to date can be a chore. Have a look at Secunia.org. Online inspection available, or an app. called PSI which runs in the background and alerts to any security advisories about almost any software on your computer. I highly recommend it. This one time, around patch Tuesday, it informed me that MS critical updates needed to be installed, before the Windows Updater did. Also monitors Java, Adobe…all sorts of stuff, and provides an easy to use interface to guide one through the updates, and an option to view the security advisory.
http://www.winpatrol.com/
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal/
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
http://www.abelhadigital.com/2008/07/hostsman-3157-released.html
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/ (This is a bit unusual, you have to download the “internet security” package, but have the option to just install the firewall.
http://www.tallemu.com/ (online armour)
http://www.pctools.com/firewall/

This is Off Topic I know? but anywhoooo!

Hello ProgrammerGuy I noticed programs in your signature and recall a similar problem I had with FF.
I removed all Spybot Firefox immunization (cover by other programs) and found that this helped quite a lot, others seem to agree,you may find this of some help.

Enormous slow down after immunizing Firefox!

My set up is light on resources, user friendly & has never let me down. All are FREE.

avast! Home Edition (has built in real-time antispyware in it’s single engine antivirus)

OpenDNS

Opera

WinPatrol

ZoneAlarm Free

SpywareBlaster

On Demand

SuperAntiSpyware Free

ESET Online Scanner (requires :cry: IE)

This topic should have a sticky as we’re always being asked “What security programs should I get that works good with Avast”?

[i]@ ardvark… I’ve posted this problem to the SpywareBlaster forum and have been given a process to follow in order to rectify the problem…

@ tednelly… That’s exactly the process that Javacool has laid out… :slight_smile: The only problem I have is determining, from the Immuniztion screen, which are the Firefox things to ‘turn off’…[/i]

Avast works best with comodo internet security. However, one must tame the hips system of comodo because it can become annoying.

Ad-aware, spybot, malwarebytes are the antispyware that I use and they are dependable.

That’s my setup along with SpywareBlaster. It’s all you need. :wink:

Well, if as I suspect the comodo internet security comes with an anti-virus element then that should at the least be disabled, but preferably uninstalled. With suite style applications (comodo internet security) this may mean a complete uninstall followed by a custom install and deselect the antivirus element.

Having two resident scanners installed is not recommended as rather than provide twice the protection it can cause conflicts that could leave you more vulnerable.

A complete uninstall is not necessary. Individual components of CIS can be installed/uninstalled in Add/Remove.

Comodo forum - FAQ - CIS

Thanks for the feedback Jahn.