internet security

[brightspark]

the last 2 years on the trot ive let internet security lapse. a day later viruses appeared no viruses were blocked hardly during the year is this coincidence or what . looks fishy to me

 

[Hitch]

Probably put there to gt you to re subscribe.

Last two times, weve had email/popup, saying its oun in 24 hours etc...Upgrade now for £49.99

Then look round, found it last year for about £15 on disc, downloaded this years for £20.
The money they must make from people who just click it and payup!

 

[knoba]

If you lie down with dogs*, you will get up with fleas!

...

* Microsoft

 

[cumbriasteve]

I use Microsoft Essentails...it's free!

 

[Sean]

AVG free always had a good reputation amongst my friends in the Computer business. and its FREE!

(but so does running opensource.)

sean

 

[mike os]

avg free here too... but not for business use

 

[pedrobedro]

AVG started hanging my system so I took it off and installed Microsoft Security Essentials and it scans a lot faster and has blocked quite a few trojans in the time it's been on. It is free from Microsoft so I use it because getting anything off Bill Gates for nothing must be a good thing

 

[Wedg1e]

I use AVG, Comodo Personal Firewall plus a couple of anti-spyware things... Adaware 6 and Bulletproofsoft's thing... despite using peer-to-peer extensively I don't get much trouble.
On the other hand the g/f's PC with Microsoft Firewall and Norton Antivirus suffered an attack last week that took me a couple of hours to clean up... I think the Hotmail Live site had been hacked or something, she tried to log in and suddenly the screen was full of ******** saying "PC Infected! Click here to fix!" and sundry ballcocks. It disabled Registry Editor, Ctrl-Alt-Del functions, Msconfig and various other things. Rebooted in Safe Mode, did a search for all files created that morning and with a few swift deletes normal service was resumed... for now.

 

[barrygibson]

If you lie down with dogs*, you will get up with fleas!

...

* Microsoft

And if you fly with the wild geese you can expect to get shot down with the fekkers

ps/ Here Brightspark its a wonder you havent 'knocked up' a working type of Internet security in your shed

 

[Shox Dr]

I find, not using/viewing dodgy sites, is the best form of Anti Virus

 

[madkayaker]

or run linux

 

[barrygibson]

or run linux

Or get a mac

 

[keith19]

Agree with madkayaker; you can't beat running Linux.
On Windows machines if you must visit dodgy sites (perish the thought!) use Sandboxie and run your browser inside that. Your browser will be running inside a virtual machine, and it is almost impossible for infections to pass through this into your regular system. When you close it down everything in the browser vanishes, unless you unwisely choose to save it, of course. Have a look here

 

[knoba]

I run Linux.

...but to be completely fair, it's only really for people that like engineering.

barrygibson
And if you fly with the wild geese you can expect to get shot down with the fekkers

Sorry Barry ...that was really cheeky of me, don't hate me, I honestly couldn't help myself!

 

[Chipper]

Don't visit dodge sites like Shox says, and don't open suspect email attachments. Been working on the net every day since 1994 and had one virus in all that time, thats with Windows.
Basic AV + basic firewall + little awareness is all you need.

 

[PTvor]

Run Linux.

Ubuntu is aimed at non-techies.

 

[Chipper]

There's just no need, as above.

Plus there's so much Win software. Devices are easy to install. If granny has a problem or wants to know how to do X, there's loads of people she can phone who know how to do it. Etc etc.

I did run Linux on one PC, only because it was needed at the time (business), but soon it became redundant. The only reason I let a Mac in the house was because it was free, and I needed one for testing their iffy browser on (at the time it was Konqueror based).

 

[barrygibson]

I run Linux.

...but to be completely fair, it's only really for people that like engineering.





View attachment 20540



Sorry Barry ...that was really cheeky of me, don't hate me, I honestly couldn't help myself!

 

[keith19]

Re Linux ease of use, I have loaded it on machines running in a very public-service environment, where everyone uses those machines for anything from looking for jobs and filling in forms online, looking up student information and printing out or copying to flash drives, to young mothers going on Face Book and wasting time, etc etc.
Also used by kids to download lots of Windoze programs and games and other crap they can't even start to use in Linux... Ho ho ho! They soon get tired of doing that!

At one time, with Windows on, it used to take the manageress of this community shop about an hour every night, or several hours at weekends, to clear the Windows machines of rubbish, viruses, malware, etc, that had been downloaded and installed by the clientele. Now it just takes a couple of minutes every night to point and delete all the useless Windows downloads on the desktop, which is where they land. Their icons are broken cogwheels...

As for the clientele, some don't even know they're in Linux, because they only use it to browse the Internet.

 

[knoba]

Barry... you're a good sport. You've just made my Christmas card list!

Chipper
There's just no need

awareness is all you need.

Computer / Internet (home, personal, etc.) security is primarily a user process. There is a need for knowledge in these areas, and that is something that Windows doesn't teach well, or even try to promote successfully, to it's user base.

I don't maintain my own computer (or automobile) because I'm a skinflint. It is hard work, but I do it because it's important to me, my family & everyone else. I do it because that's my responsibility. I don't want anybody ending up as just another forgettable tragic corporate statistic.

Where does the user's responsibility end & the computers' failings start? Where is the thin red line drawn? With Linux it's as plain as chalk & cheese (it makes no bones about letting the user know exactly what their responsibilities are). I love that simplicity & transparency. I think a lot of other engineers appreciate it too...