Re: Unwise as ever.

From: Peter ("Peter")
Date: 04/09/05 

Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2005 04:41:02 -0400

Here's some tips I publish in my own Forum:

The three things that anyone must have installed in their PC are Spyware
scanners, Virus scanners and a reliable Firewall. There is a fourth one,
but not quite so important - a good spam filtering tool. You cannot hope to
have a reliable, functional computer without these. Whilst there are
excellent ones that you can buy, there are also free ones out there. If you
think that you don't need such things then you either need your head
examining, or as "7 of 9" would say, "You will be assimilated", but not by
the Borg, something much worse. Are you aware that an infection can enter
your machine in just a few seconds if you don't have a firewall, without you
even going on to the internet if you are using an "always on" connection?

Spyware Cleaners

Adaware SE
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
>From the same site (right hand side) I recommend you also download the
following plug-ins:
VX2 Cleaner (for VX2 Variants)
Messenger Control
OE-W Messengerctrl
(The latter control Windows Messenger)

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

SpywareBlaster
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/

CWShredder
http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder.html

Anti-Virus

Stinger Removal Tool
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

Trojan Remover
This is an excellent product and is available for a 30-day fully functional
free trial.
http://www.simplysup.com/tremover/download.html

Avast
http://www.avast.com

AVG
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/

PC World's Choices
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/collection/0,collid,1259,pg,1,00.asp

Firewalls

ZoneAlarm
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp

PC World's Choices
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/browse/0,cat,1446,sortIdx,1,pg,1,00.asp

Now that you've cleaned all the crud out of your machine. Clear out your
TIF (Temporary Internet Files) and do a defrag. periodically, and it would
be good idea to go to Windows Update and download all those updates that
you've been ignoring forever. They are, after all, there to improve your
computing experience and to make things safer all around.

Note to XP Users: After April 12, if you haven't already got it, SP2 will
no longer be a "download later on" option, WU will keep offering it, whether
you like it or not, you really should have it!!. XP "Gold" will no longer
be supported by MSFT. If you don't even have SP1, SP2 includes all updates
from day 1. There have been several updates since SP2, so once you have it
installed set Windows Update to automatic.

Lastly, a word of advice. Do NOT post email addresses in newsgroups. You
are asking for spam by doing so! There are nasty things called spambots out
there that harvest anything with an "@" in it. If you must post an email
address disguise it (the technical word is "munge") by showing it as (for
example) soandso AT blahblah DOT com. 

-- 
Peter
Toronto, Canada
XP Home SP2
P4 dual HT @ 3.0ghz, 1.0gb RAM, 160gb HD
"annonymous@discussions.microsoft.com" <annonymous@fsnet.cvo.uk> wrote in 
message news:OtkIuUNPFHA.3928@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>I asked a simple question for a recommendation of software to increase the 
>security of my PC (for those interested vide Total Security? posing on 
>08/04/05 -08.15hrs) and the response although very generous, left me as 
>unwise as I was before I made the posting.
> Is there an organisation/body which could make a recommendation having had 
> an opportunity to assess the quality of all the available protection 
> software? I for one would like an independent view on this subject. Thank 
> you.
>

Relevant Pages

  • Re: windows updates fail after sp2 installed
    ... After my first posting - I reformatted and was able to get SP2 and all the ... specific spyware software - which wasn't doing a very good job. ... > but don't think that would prevent the installation of updates. ... > to install them or just attempted to install them via Automatic Update ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: SP2 crashes during install
    ... two virus scanners, three spyware scanners and a quick ... Then try a group more suited to your problem where SP2 and various problems ... If you get to install SP2 OK, I would suggest that the others are done with ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Can I safely remove SP2 updates?
    ... Their suggestion that to remove them would remove the protection the ... Now, it is important to remove the SP2 updates, clean up ... and (if you don't won't SP2) turn off automatic updates. ... Obtain good virus protection and spyware protection, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: XP(?) problem
    ... Tell your friend to run all of the spyware and virus scanners he or she can ... They must be loaded with the latest updates. ...
    (alt.os.windows-xp)
  • Re: Do i need SP2?
    ... > I am running XP pro with all updates EXCEPT SP2. ... many patches will begin requiring SP2 to install.. ... and some you can only download if you are registered - but it is best ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)