Internet security

[bindeweede]

Perhaps I am the only one a bit paranoid about this issue, though I doubt it. You can spend a small fortune on various security programs, but for the private user, there seems to be more and more free stuff available. And it can be very good. I came across this. It's worth reading through all 6 pages.

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=13214

I also find the free Advanced WindowsCare Personal Edition an easy way of cleaning up your hard drive.

http://www.iobit.com/advancedwindowscareper.html

[Anthrax]

I use AVG free and Bit Defender free and thats been just as good as other paid anti virus progammes i have had and better than norton.

[bobdezon]

I just browse with javascript off.No virii, no popups, no problems. I have no firewall, or anything. My ports are closed. Although there is a real risk for the unprotected while accessing the internet, if you understand the machine and the habits its quite safe to just take minor precautions. Seems selling the fear of hackers, is big business for the less than savvy computer user.

[bindeweede]

Seems selling the fear of hackers, is big business for the less than savvy computer user.

But I am talking about the free stuff.

[ZERO]

+1 for AVG free.

I have had no real trouble.

I think being a bit sensible with what you do online goes a long way too.

[Anthrax]

If you have AVG, there is no harm in getting Bit Defender 8 as well, also free and is compatible to work with AVG works as a secondary anti virus.

[Cuddles]

I just browse with javascript off.No virii, no popups, no problems. I have no firewall, or anything. My ports are closed. Although there is a real risk for the unprotected while accessing the internet, if you understand the machine and the habits its quite safe to just take minor precautions. Seems selling the fear of hackers, is big business for the less than savvy computer user.

The trouble with this is that many websites require scripts to run. Using Firefox with NoScript is generally very secure, but it can't protect you from a trusted site which gets compromised. It's important to remember that it's not just you that needs to be protected, and no matter how safe you are, someone else can always screw up and put you in danger. There's also the big problem with "if you understand the machine". The sad fact is that most people really don't.

[Matt]

I just browse with javascript off.No virii, no popups, no problems. I have no firewall, or anything. My ports are closed. Although there is a real risk for the unprotected while accessing the internet, if you understand the machine and the habits its quite safe to just take minor precautions. Seems selling the fear of hackers, is big business for the less than savvy computer user.

Sounds like you'd be vulnerbale to a delibertely misformed IP packet like winbonk.

[FarSideOfTheMoon]

Just got newish version of AVG when I refreshed my laptop this week, seems to bundle together spyware and antivirus into same package.

I've stopped using Windows defender cos it seemed to slow my PC down a lot occasionally.

CCCleaner is a useful app for removing a lot of crap from your hard drive, probably for the reasonably experienced only though.

Also used Spybot(?) in the past I think, and Adaware is always useful.

[bobdezon]

But I am talking about the free stuff.

Yeah, I have tried the free stuff because I was curious to see how it would work. I have tried the online AVG, Panda, Trendmicro, and even downloaded symantec antiv virus (you get to use it free for a month) They all have good and bad points. Sometimes they identify suspect files that are nothing to do with virii. Lots of false positives. Sometimes they identify an infection which is not listed anywhere except by the proprietary software your using.

[bobdezon]

The trouble with this is that many websites require scripts to run. Using Firefox with NoScript is generally very secure, but it can't protect you from a trusted site which gets compromised. It's important to remember that it's not just you that needs to be protected, and no matter how safe you are, someone else can always screw up and put you in danger. There's also the big problem with "if you understand the machine". The sad fact is that most people really don't.

I do like firefox, but to be honest I tend to still use IE (habit). I know some websitess require java for functionality, and you can always turn them back on for that site if needed. Yes if a site you trust is compromised you will be likely to be in trouble, and recognising the signs of infection, trojan, or scanned ports will help alot in combatting this. I understand the danger of my machine infecting others (possibly millions) and I do my best to ensure that doesnt happen.

[bobdezon]

Sounds like you'd be vulnerbale to a delibertely misformed IP packet like winbonk.

Winbonk? What is that Matt?

[Matt]

Winbonk? What is that Matt?

Not an exploit as such but an attack that crashes a service on your machine or the whole machine itself. May be used in combination with another exploit that needs to force a reboot or simply to threaten a nuisance.

http://safari.oreilly.com/9780131481046/ch09lev1sec3

Those particular attacks won't work on a machine with the latest services packs and updates but the view is that windows is more vulnerable to new attacks than hardware firewalls.

Win Bonk was a program that sent out bonk packets to target addresses or networks. A Windows 2000 machine on the recieving end died displaying the BSOD.

[Graham Lappin]

With the risk of kicking off a techno-war, I am a MAC user and I don't really have any of these problems

[Matt]

With the risk of kicking off a techno-war, I am a MAC user and I don't really have any of these problems

I'm saying nothing. I'm especially saying nothing about Safari