bargainshare.com > Need virus protection

lovethecold

6-24-05, 10:19am

My laptop does not have virus protection right now, and is connected to the internet. Any recommendations on which one to get??

Thanks!

msh11

6-24-05, 10:27am

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/Get+AVG+FREE/lng/us/tpl/v5
AVG free

updates are free too

edit to fix link

lovethecold

6-24-05, 10:28am

QUOTE(msh11 @ 6-24-05, 10:30am)

http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=3&q=h...oft.com/&e=9717

AVG free

updates are free too

Free?!?! Awesome!!

garsh

6-24-05, 10:31am

I suggest doing the following immediately:

Make sure you have the firewall turned on.
Go to start -> Control Panel -> Security Center.
At the bottom, click on Windows Firewall.
Make sure it is "on", and also check the "Don't allow exceptions" box.
This will make sure that nobody can directly attack your computer.
Then you only need to worry about infected emails and bad websites.
Stop using Outlook for email and Internet Explorer
Virus writers are always taking advantage of exploits in these two programs.
Download Thunderbird for email and Firefox for web browsing.
Both programs are completely free, and better than the products they replace.

By doing just those two things alone, I've managed to keep my computer-unsavvy family members completely virus-free for years.

As for anti-virus software, there are always deals to get Norton Antivirus free after rebates. Those deals usually require that you own a previous version of the product or a competing product. In reality, you just need a photocopy of a CD, which I'm sure someone could share with you.

Alan

6-24-05, 11:15am

I recommend AVG also. Another free antivirus program is Avast. I've been having a little trouble with Avast & Outlook on some computers, so I mostly recommend AVG.

I'd also recommend doing a full scan of your system w/ TrendMicro's housecall.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

lovethecold

6-24-05, 1:04pm

QUOTE(garsh @ 6-24-05, 10:34am)

I suggest doing the following immediately:

Make sure you have the firewall turned on.
Go to start -> Control Panel -> Security Center.
At the bottom, click on Windows Firewall.
Make sure it is "on", and also check the "Don't allow exceptions" box.
This will make sure that nobody can directly attack your computer.
Then you only need to worry about infected emails and bad websites.
Stop using Outlook for email and Internet Explorer
Virus writers are always taking advantage of exploits in these two programs.
Download Thunderbird for email and Firefox for web browsing.
Both programs are completely free, and better than the products they replace.

By doing just those two things alone, I've managed to keep my computer-unsavvy family members completely virus-free for years.

As for anti-virus software, there are always deals to get Norton Antivirus free after rebates. Those deals usually require that you own a previous version of the product or a competing product. In reality, you just need a photocopy of a CD, which I'm sure someone could share with you.

I've had trouble using firefox with some of my favorite websites. The whole website doesn't load, but I could definitely start using it when I check my hotmail from home. Thanks for all of this fantastic info!

izx

6-24-05, 11:53pm

QUOTE(lovethecold @ 6-24-05, 4:07pm)

I've had trouble using firefox with some of my favorite websites. The whole website doesn't load, but I could definitely start using it when I check my hotmail from home. Thanks for all of this fantastic info!

Usually it's bank/financial sites that are the culprits, requiring IE. 95% of average web sites should work perfectly with Firefox. You can also get an "extension" (plug-in) for Firefox that will allow you to click links/open specific sites in IE from within Firefox.