Virus Protection

[Harlan Huckleby]

I recently got some nasty spyware on my machine that took about 12 hours to deal with. I'm curious what other people use to protect your computer on the internet.

I used Norton a long time ago, but it was always a dog. I read they have fixed it so it doesn't slow your machine down so much.

I like McAfee. But I foolishly let the subscription expire.

The situation is really bewildering. spyware, viruses, trojan horses, worms, malware, adware.

BTW, I used a free program from beepingcomputer.com to clean-up my machine. Did a fantastic job, pulled my chestnuts out of the fire. I then got subscription to SpySweeper, and was surprised that it found little beyond what the free program had removed. (The nasty virus, or whatever it is to be called, blocked me from loading programs like SpySweeper.)

[SkinBasket]

I used Norton on our old desktop. It slowed it down - mainly doing shit it didn't tell you it was doing, and made opening documents a minute long process sometimes. 2009 edition seemed to help, but I'm still dubious. I kept it on there because the machine was at a higher risk than most due to the abstract nature of the websites it was used to visit and the type of files it downloaded and stored.

On our notebook, which is for the most part on the up and up, I only use the AVG free edition. I don't know if it works since it never tells me it finds anything, but I also haven't had any problems. It scans every day and hardly draws any resources at all.

I hope you use something that fucks up your computer and causes it to explode in your face. Good luck.

[Zool]

AVG free is as good as anything out there for AV.

Spybot for those tough to reach spots.

[red]

i use spybot for the things norton misses

[mraynrand]

C:\\WINDOWS\system32\noytcyr.exe
C:\\WINDOWS\system32\mabidwe.exe
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[Harlan Huckleby]

It seems like the commercial anti-virus SHOULD be the best solution. All these programs just check against a database of signatures. McCaffee & Norton have large databases with an organized effort to update them.

I heard a few years ago that spybot was essentially useless, missed too much, but sounds like it is worth the bother.

I'll try that AVG program that ZOOL recommended instead of renewing McAfee. Will spend the $20 I save on candy.

This situation is SO FUCKED UP. The signature databases should be consolidated. The idea that you have to load different programs to hunt spyware, viruses, adware, etc., and then use different versions of programs on top of that is absurd.

[Harlan Huckleby]

On our notebook, which is for the most part on the up and up, I only use the AVG free edition. I don't know if it works since it never tells me it finds anything, but I also haven't had any problems. It scans every day and hardly draws any resources at all.

This is another issue I am confused about. I have HEARD that it is necessary to use real-time monitoring, block the the little fuckers from sneaking into your machine in the first place. AT least in one Best Buy employees opinion, these programs do a poor job of removing viruses if you just scan for them after your machine is already infected.

One reason I didn't bother renewing McAfee after 2 or 3 years is it never found anything juicy. I figured I must be so brilliant that I never click on bad stuff. But then on Sunday, it happened. It was a website I surfed to from a link in this forum, btw, sorry I don't know which link or where/how I got there. It was like a bad dream.

[Partial]

Don't do dumb stuff, and then you don't need any of that garbage. Or, get a Mac!

[SkinBasket]

AT least in one Best Buy employees opinion

Mistake number one boner. You never NEVER listen to what a Best Buy employee tells you. Never. Or Partial.

Oh, and your stupid computer's fucking up the formatting.

[swede]

You've got to love how evil the little technoweenies are that prey on those of us with less technical expertise, thus exacting some revenge against the procreatariat class.

Google spybot and you're likely to link to a company that spends eighty minutes loading more spyware on your machine and then offers to clean up whatever for 80 bucks. The real Spybot works pretty good if you can sort it out from the commercial doppelgangers.

[Freak Out]

AVG Free, windows firewall, hardware firewall on a router and my BRAIN! Keep things up to date as far as definitions go but you just have to be smart.

[Jimx29]

Apps running full time (all free):
Avast! anti-virus (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)

Comodo Internet Security (http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/)

Spyware Blaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html)


Apps run as needed (also all free):
Maleware Bytes (http://www.malwarebytes.org/)

Superantispyware (http://www.superantispyware.com/)

Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html)

A Squared (http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/)

Crap Cleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/)

And one last app that I just got activated through giveaway of the day:
Returnil Virtual System Premium (http://www.download.com/Returnil-Virtual-System-Premium-Edition/3000-2653_4-10704696.html)

[Harlan Huckleby]

Apps run as needed (also all free):
Maleware Bytes (http://www.malwarebytes.org/)

Ya, this is the program that I used to clean-up the mess. It seems to have excellent detection. Good support at bleepingcomputer.com for virus problems.

The virus (or whatever it was, a trojan horse) proved to be smarter than me. I fought it hard, but it fought harder. It put all sorts of problems onto my computer, then kept trying to trick me into paying for their associated virus-removal program. It incidiously blocks access to websites like webroot.com, mcafee.com, etc where you can download software to fight it. Sweet! :D It even interfered with the loading of anti-virus software from CD-ROM. I am a poor-man's hacker, and was able to identify and kill most of the problem files and devious services. I had the fucker on the run at about 3 AM, but there was one piece I couldn't kill, even with a utility to delete files before windows loads. Anyway, the nasty virus wasn't aware of the MaleWare Bytes utility, it loaded ok and saved my ass from a humbling trip to the Geek Squad.

[GBRulz]

I bought a new laptop a couple weeks ago and they had a deal where if you bought a laptop and this Kapersky (sp?) Internet Suite, you got a rebate for the $80 back...the cost of the software.

Anyhow, it seems to work fine and doesn't bog down your system like Norton.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I think "The Kapersky Suite" is a british spy film starring James Mason.