Advice on computer Virus protection please

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:09 pm

Anyone using a free Virus protection program ? Is it any good ? Helpful advice much appreciated - but please keep it 'simple' for a non-computer specialist!

Post by **PSL184** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:13 pm

I have always used AVG from Grisoft.com. Found it to be OK but I guess there are loads of them out there.....?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:15 pm

Yes - thanks, i was thinking of AVG - but should I get from AVG.co.uk - or from grisoft.com ?? Have you had any problems with it ?

Post by **Welung666** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:17 pm

Here you go Roy... http://www.grisoft.com/ww.product-avg-a ... ee-edition

Just click on the free edition and away you go.

Post by **PSL184** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:19 pm

I've been using it for a few years now and never had any problems or viruses for that matter so I think its OK - I'm no expert on these fangled computer things though so others may advise differently.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:08 pm

Thanks lads - well I did it, and was expecting it to take ages churning though my computer checking files etc - but nothing much seemed to happen. Does this mean I have no virus problems - or do I need to 'force' it to make a check of the files ?

Post by **PSL184** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:12 pm

You can go into settings and done a muanual scan and also set it to scan everyday or everyweek at a set time. I can't remember the exact menu sequence as I'm on my work pc at the moment which has symantec on it. It takes about 20 mins on mine to do a full scan but after that you can ask it to just check any new files or files that have changed since the last scan so its much quicker....

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:17 pm

Thanks PSL - i'll look for that then.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:51 pm

Ok PSL - thanks again - found it and ran the check and it took almost two hours! Found two suspect items which it removed. Seems amazing to get it FREE when others charge quite a bit - and want an annual fee to upgrade! Thanks again for your help. Maybe tomorrow I will try the Firewall thing!

Post by **PSL184** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:21 am

Search for a programme called "Spyware Terminator" I use that too for all those nasty tracking cookies and such like. Its free and again, seems to work OK for me.... Rich

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:29 pm

Yes - well what exactly IS a 'tracking cookie' please!! - AVG found plenty but didn't do anything about them. Are they not used for automatic signing-in to forums etc like this ? If I delete them - will I not cripple (or at least slow down) my access to sites ?

Post by **bigginger** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:36 pm

No and no.
http://icrontic.com/forum/archive/index ... 17764.html

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:48 pm

Right - well that will need deeper reading some day! I think I will just leave my cookies be for now ! Thanks for the link Andrew!

Post by **millerman** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:28 am

Online banking with Barclays? Kaspersky is offered as a free download.

Is this a good virus protection

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:06 am

I think the free AVG is fine - have now put it on all 3 of our computers and so far they are still working!

Post by **moggiemadman** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:55 am

NONONOONO The free AVG isnt that good avast is much better
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
You download it for free,and then you register,and they give you a free serial number to register your copy,you get all the updates ect.
Very useful

Cheers
John

Post by **moggiemadman** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:59 am

kaspersky isnt to bad,But really and free kaspersky isnt as good,as the premium kaspersky,It doesnt stop all the virus's I think when a last survey come out AVG free only stops 70% of virus's and kaspersky only stops a sad 55%,Where avast stops 99%

Cheers
John

Post by **Rob_Jennings** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:06 pm

AVG is fine, its kept relatively up to date in definitions and is not too system hungry like some of the commercial products.

the biggest risk in computer security sits between the screen and the back of the chair..... i.e. uneducated users

things to be very wary of:
- email scams with misguided links
- 'click me to install codec' type of attacks when watching media files
- 'friends' that forward junk silly emails with things that you are required to 'run' or even just read outside of the email program. (I remember the spate of macro viruses hidden in excel, power point and word documents that spread like that)
- so call performance improving software
- password remembers, just who might they be in contact with?
- so call free instant PC health checks (if nothing else they are just trying to sell you something)
- avoid installing silly gadgets, animated pointers, magic screen savers etc... they slow down your PC, you will soon get bored of them and they may be a risk

Oh and if you are on Windows, keep it right up to date at windowsupdate.com, Years out of date is low risk as you are not a useful target and bang up to date is low risk, the worst is a few weeks/months out, where the loop hole is known (even published) and latest viruses are hunting for those gaps

Post by **millerman** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:12 pm

Moggie

As a Barclays customer I get the 'paid for' kaspersky. I will be very disappointed if it doesn't do better than 55%.

If I hadn't had this offer I would have gone for Avast on your recommendation

Thanks anyway

Post by **moggiemadman** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:18 pm

No problem