Tech: Virus and utility software

Subject: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 08:56 PM

In the 503 thread, it has been stated by People In the Know that it's not so good to use Symantec/Nortan any more, since Norton ain't Norton any more. I tried McAfee, and it crashed the computer I was working on, so I haven't tried that gain. Better the devil you know....but Symantec is the prime suspect for the sluggishness of my computer.

Sooner or later, when the new Windows comes out, that will be my excuse to buy a new computer, which I should have bought six months ago. I suppose that with a new operating system, it's hard to project which antivirus software will be best, since it's a whole new ball game.

Anybody have good advice?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Nick
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:01 PM

Use AVG at home (free version) and at work (paid for version) with no problems and would recommend it to anyone

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: bobad
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:12 PM

I recently dumped Norton and went to AVG. One thing about it that I don't like is that it automatically scans every AM at 8:00 o'clock, a scan that takes around an hour and a half to complete. As I don't always remember that it is doing this my computer bogs down (I'm on dial up) or the radio programming I'm listening to keeps cutting out. I haven't been able to figure out if I can disable this feature. Does anyone know if that is possible?

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:18 PM

Try Panda. Or Avast. I run a different antivirus on each machine on my network on the theory that if something gets past one antivirus I have a good chance of something else staying working.

What do people find is the best thing/way to manage cookies?

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Nick
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:18 PM

If you open the Control Centre in the System Tray it has a list of Scheduled Tasks and it is probably in there I would guess

It says the following in Help -

"Schedule Daily Test

Use this dialog to run the Complete test at regular intervals.

The Scheduled time group allows you to activate daily testing and determine at what time the test is to be launched.
Select the If missed option to ensure that, in case the test is not performed at the defined time (e.g. the computer is turned off), the test will be launched immediately after the computer is next started.
In the Schedule group, Complete Test is selected (as the scheduled test). The User Test option is available only in AVG Professional Edition.

Click the OK button to save any changes and close the dialog.
Click the Cancel button to close the dialog without saving any changes."

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:21 PM

AVG...or one called "Avast"... I haven't tried Avast, but it gets good recommendations on the alt.comp.freeware newsgroup.

I have had NO problems with AVG, and it is tedious to switch, so I just keep on with it.

There is also a new one called Comodo, but it is still being hotly debated...so,,,

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Nick
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:22 PM

Panda Titanium causes all sorts of hassles on the databases some of our clients run over their networks with various odd errors coming off unless the heuristic bit of the program is turned off. May not be too relevant at home.

Agree with the McAfee comments and will be removing it from my sons university computer when the free trial period runs out!

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: artbrooks
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:25 PM

I have Norton on 2 machines. I like Norton and have had zero problems with it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: bobad
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:28 PM

"The User Test option is available only in AVG Professional Edition."

I take that to mean that that there is no way to change the scheduled scan in the free edition.

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:33 PM

after 5 or 6 years of satisfactory use
i was ready to get rid of norton
because of increasing frustration with the last years or so's
'improved' updated versions..


i actually like norton, and the way its options are laid out..

but not the recent increasingly slower performance & PC resource hogging..

though after trying a few alternatives i decided to stick with it
for the time being
because my UK ISP offered it free as an incentive to stay with them..

[some incentive.. yeah right !!??.. but then again its free !!]


of the potential replacements i trialed

AVG free just didn't feel right..

however, the one i did find to be a positive alternative

is F-secure

from the developers of the great F-prot free DOS antivirus utility

http://www.f-secure.com/home_user/products_a-z/fsav2007.html

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Nick
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:33 PM

If you edit the schedule you can turn it off or move it to a different time that suits you

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: bobad
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 09:40 PM

Nick

It looks to me as if that schedule edit option is only for updates.

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 10:06 PM

McAfee has had problems for years.

In AVG, I just do a manual scan whenever it suits me...it's the updates that I want on automatic, and those happen every few days.....I just had one today. With new definitions regularly, I don't NEED a full scan very often. I haven't had a notice of a virus in several years, largely because we scan email online and delete anything suspicious before it is even ON our computer.......that, coupled with AVG and a firewall keep things pretty clean.

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 12:34 AM

Many of the regularly published magazines and journals devoted to computing offer regular comparisons of the various AV programs, and the "leaders" shift around quite a bit from one month to the next. With respect to AntiVirus programs, it should be somewhat reassuring to know that the AV software producers are well organized and share information on new threats so that anything really significant can be incorporated into virtually all the reputable programs soon after each new thing appears.

Even for AV threats, there's no such thing as a "perfect" program, since new stuff comes up with annoying regularity. The best one can do is to pick a program that provides, generally, a level of protection that you're comfortable with, and to try to get your program from someone who responds quickly and reliably when there are new threats.

Because sometimes a virus may be loose "in the wild" for some time before it's reported and documented, it is always possible that you might have picked up a new one before its signature was found and incorporated in the files for your AV program. It is thus good practice to scan at least as often as you update your signature files - hence the valid recommendation that you run scheduled scans just as you run scheduled updates.

In recent months, most of the "new threats" have been discovered by "white hat" hackers who have responsibly reported them to program manufacturers and to AV producers before they have appeared where they can infect any significant number of users. Of course once a public disclosure is made, each new vulnerability gets a flood of exploits from those attempting to use it for illicit purposes. Those who update their AV signatures and run AV scans regularly are unlikely to be too much affected, since they'll have the detection means available before the exploits appear. It is also important to get the patches to vulnerable programs promptly when they are offered, since a known vulnerability can probably be exploited in more than one way. Those who don't update AV and program software and/or don't scan regularly are the ones who get hurt.

Many of the AV program publishers have begun to add other forms of protection(s) such as popup blockers and AntiSpyware (AS) features. For the most part, popups are more annoyance than real threat; but popups can and often do incorporate threats so blocking the gratuitous ones contributes something to security. True AS protection is still an evolving art, although some progress is being made. Spyware removal programs probably are more reliably available than spyware blocking programs, and getting the extra features usually requires that you get something more than the "baseline" (free?) programs.

It is much more important that you get and keep updated with one good AV program, preferably one incorporating a decent firewall if you don't have one in hardware, and that you keep it up to date and run it regularly, than that you pick one or the other particular program.

Currently the greatest threat is from a loophole called "operator stupidity." Spyware and "botware" is widespread on the 'net, with large numbers of machines infected. In nearly all such cases the infection originated with the user "clicking something" or engaging in some marginally illicit action while browsing. If you give permission, knowingly or unknowingly, to allow a program to be installed on your machine, there is NO Anti-everything program that can prevent it from being installed - since you're 'da boss.

There are enough viruses and trojans and such in circulation to make a good AV (and firewall) necessary; but much of the most malicious stuff currently of concern contains NO VIRAL CONTENT, is NOT identifiable as adware, mimics common web activity to conceal that it is spyware or botware, and relies on user stupidity (= curiosity, synonym: gullibility) to get on your machine.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 03:51 AM

AVG Free works fine for me.

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Dave Earl
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 06:08 AM

I have 2 desk top PCs and a laptop.

On the laptop I run Panda (cos it came pre-installed)Desktop No.1 has Norton Internet Security (again cos it came pre-installed) Desktop No.2 has AVG (free) on it cos I didn't want to pay any more for Anti-Virus Software. All 3 use Windows XP Firewall as I found that the individual Panda and Norton's Firewalls interfered with the Networking and wouldn't allow the machines to see each other.

So far no nasties have got into my Network (Wireless)but each pooter slows down when it auto-scans and updates. I have set the auto-scans etc to run at different times so that I always have at least one machine working at usual speed.

Dave

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 06:22 AM

Yes, I turn the heuristic bit of Panda off too.

Now, what about cookie control?

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Dave Earl
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 06:48 AM

Richard,

The only way I know is to manually delete them through Internet options.

Dave

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 07:02 AM

My own policy with cookies (using Firefox) is to allow a site to set its own cookies (but not 3rd party cookies) by default - I do have a couple of exceptions set. I have a tidy up about once a month.

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 07:07 AM

Well, there is a thing called cookiejar, and another called cookie control, but I don't really know how good they are.

The thing that bothers me about allowing cookies (so I usually set to "prompt" which slows surfing down a lot and stops some sites working at all, ebay included) and then deleting, is that hte delete cookies option only empties cookies in the temporary internet files folder - so a really sneaky cookie that is elsewhere will not be deleted.

I also run Ad-aware SE 1.06 and Spybot Search and Destroy. I think these are commonly thought to be the best, does everyone agree?

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 07:16 AM

so a really sneaky cookie that is elsewhere will not be deleted.

I could be wrong but I don't think that's possible Richard.

It is the browser that decides what to do with (whether to accept it, how/were to store it, etc.) the cookie information the server sends.

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 08:08 AM

AVG here too Joe.....Works great.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 08:18 AM

An article about the new Windows and AV here

I think once again I'm glad I mostly use Linux.

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 09:08 AM

AVG free, Zonealarm, Adaware 6 SE, and Spybot Search & Destroy.

Problems in the four years since I ditched Norton:- Zero.

When I first installed AVG, it found viruses that had got past Norton, and Norton also made my computer run like a tortoise.

Open AVG control centre, and go to task scheduler. Click on the scheduled tasks button. Highlight Test plan in basic mode, in the dialogue box, then click on Edit schedule and you will see a check box "Periodically

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 09:12 AM

"Periodically start scheduled antivirus test". Alongside is a box which offers a range of start times from 00.00 hours to 23.00 hours.

Pick the on you want.

Damned submit button got in the way
Don T.

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 12:17 PM

AVG

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 12:20 PM

Cookies are easier to handle in some browsers..(remember, the cookie is set IN your browser, not some vague place on the PC)

Firefox has an 'allow cookies for sessions' prompt, which means it will be deleted when the browser is closed. You can also create a 'cookie database' in your browser settings which tell it "don't bother to ask me in certain sites I list as trusted". With a little care, it is possible to reduce cookie prompts by quite a lot....and newer browsers have a way to pretty easily cleanse all cookies except those you want.

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 12:22 PM

When it comes to browsers, if you're not using Firefox/mozilla, you deserve all the crap you get.

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: bobad
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 12:24 PM

Thank you for that DonT - exactly what I was looking for.

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: MartinRyan
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 02:27 PM

Currently use Avast! and AdAware, combined with such common sense as I can muster. Have used F-Prot in teh past,at work, and found it excellent.

Incidentally, one of the labs I teach in has had some curious problems with items disappearing from the Start-Programs menu. Even though the application is still there, this can be confusing for beginning users or the IT-challenged. Our computer services people reckon it's due to a virus picked up from removable media. They suspect the student is ignoring warning messages and the virus is getting through. I hae me doots! Anyone come across virus with this type of effect?

Regards

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 04:34 PM

A "convenience" listing of AntiVirus makers is at Microsoft:

List of antivirus software vendors KB 49500.

This list includes the major makers. Note that company names are listed at the top, which may not be the same as AV Program names you're accustomed to seeing in the advertising. The actual programs each vendor produces are mostly listed in the details lower down.

The above linked page includes a link:

"For additional antivirus resources and lists of antivirus products that are designed to work with various Microsoft products, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Microsoft Security Antivirus Information"

Here you can check out how to claim your reward for finding a couple of virus creators, how to report stuff to "the authorities." Linked from here, you can proceed to:

Microsoft Antivirus Partners.

This last link shows companies who have entered into specific agreements for producing and distributing "Windows compatible" AV products. (Note that absence from this list does not necessarily mean a product is not compatible, although most of the best you may have heard of are probably here.) This link possibly will be of most interest to anyone wanting to look seriously at what AV programs are available from "respectable" sources.


As side information, at Microsoft and possibly useful if someone wants to check out another kind of software maker:

Hardware and software vendor contact information, A-K
Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P
Hardware and software vendor contact information, Q-Z

The listings are in plain text, so web addresses don't appear as links. This is a general listing and is not limited to AV or other Security related software.

Note that this list probably includes all software makers whose programs have been certified compatible with Microsoft programs; but may also include software makers whose stuff has caused problems. Appearance on the list doesn't necessarily mean it's "good for Windows."

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: chrisgl
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 07:07 PM

I've used a program called Cookie Pal for years. I guess most modern browsers allow you to set accept and reject lists, but as I often switch between browsers it's useful to have a single program to sort them out and alow easy housekeeping.

My AV software used to be McAfee untill they stopped me from being able to configure the program on a file basis - nevermind making the machine run slow, so I switched to Kaspersky.

This is a link to their web based scan


chris :-)

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 07:37 PM

Kaspersky works great too!

Subject: RE: Tech: Virus and utility software
From: GUEST,redfred
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 07:51 PM

If I load MS SP2, my laptop won't boot. Anyone know a fix for this?