Anti Virus Help Please

[dennykyser]

Last night windows crashed so I had to re install it. :x I had tried everything but could not even get it to do a system restore.
Anyways need Anti virus sugestions please, I have never been a user of them but guess I need to start.

My Systerm.
Dell 4600 P4, Windows XP Home.

I used to use a program called Norton system works and that worked good at keeping the system working and fixing errors. I have heard some bad things about Norton so hesitant to get it again. I guess I want an antivirus program and some type of system tool that keeps everything running smoothly. Thanks for anyone that can help. Denny

[Jesper]

What bad things did you hear about Norton? The Norton products are made by Symantec.

Nowadays, there are so many viruses around (I get a few virus e-mails every day) that you can't live without anti-virus software! I use Norton AntiVirus (http://www.symantec.com/nav/nav_9xnt/) and it works well.

It's also a good idea to have a firewall installed. The least you should do is activate the built-in firewall of Windows XP (unfortunately it's switched off by default). You could also get something like Norton Internet Security (http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/nis_pe/index.html) (which includes Norton AntiVirus).

Also, switch on the auto update in Windows XP or visit Microsoft Windows Update (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) regularly to install the latest patches and updates for Windows.

[Scottes]

I haven't run anti-virus in well over a year. I've been online (BBSes & Internet) for 16 years. I have never gotten a virus that I didn't deliberately install myself.

If you play smart you won't get bit. Among other things... Don't run a Microsoft mail program. Don't download from sites you don't completely trust. Don't post to newgroups. Don't allow people to send you email if they CC a bunch of people - teach them about BCC, or change your address and ignore them. Get a Yahoo/Hotmail account and use that for *anything* other than family and friends who play be these rules. Disable any Microsoft scripting crap. Run Regedit.exe and delete all keys referring to EML and NWS. Keep up to date with Windows security patches.

Then, once you do all those things, run some anti-virus program: F-Secure, Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, whatever. Schedule scans to run often, and scan anything you download. But I don't recommend running any of their background scanners - if you play by the above rules you won't need background scanning, and they just eat memory & CPU at that point. Absolutely positively run a firewall of some sorts.

I'm just about completely certain that it is impossible for my PC to get infected, and the same for my wife's.

[vvizard]

I've had a computer for 13 years, and the only malicous code it have ever run was products of my own "creativity" as a child. Don't flame me, this was waaaaay before we had outlook and Internet Explorer to spread those ;)

While I was on DOS/Windows I used Norton Antivirus, and it worked great. For the last five years, I've run Linux, and since Linux can't run *.exe files, I'm safe from 99,9999% (probably even higher) of every mail-worm. I get roughly 10 virus-mails each day now after mail-worms have become the "cool thing" (yeah I post alot on usenet with real emails). First of all they're all stopped at my mailserver, and I only get the notification-mail of who sent it, what filename it was, and that it have been deleted. For "possible viruses" which the scanner don't find malicious code in, the mailserver anyway rename a file which in the first place maybe is named "your-letter.pif" to "your-letter-9874398375-defanged-pif". Notice the replacement of the last period with a dash. It keeps silly windows-users getting mail through that server from doubleclicking the attachment. If they want to run it, they'll have to save it, rename it, and then run it. And windows-users stupid enough to click unknown email-attachments sure aint smart enough to go through the hassle =P

And lastly, during my five Linux-years I've never been infected with any virus or rootkit, and have never seen a Linux-executable ELF-file as an email-attachment. So I feel quite safe ;)

[bctrout]

I've been using NOD32 for about a year and a half, and it's never missed a virus. If you decide to get an anti-virus program, take a look at www.nod32.com.

[garethhhhh]

There is a new Internet Worm going around by the name of Sasser.

It exploits a hole in Windows XP and Windows 2000 software. It can infect your machine without you even doing anything.

Infected computers will slow down, display error messages and crash. Users who are most at risk are broadband users who are permenantly connected to the Internet...

There are four versions of the worm as well... Sasser-A, Sasser-B, Sasser-C and Sasser-D.
(It seems they are trying to refine the code to try and beat all the patches and fixes. :? )

If your PC is infected with Sasser then I would suggest:
1.) Disinfect your PC with the Sophos Disinfectant Tool (SASSGUI): http://www.sophos.com/support/disinfection/sasser.html (it's free!)

2.) Installing this Windows patch: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-011.mspx

3.) run a final check to make sure that Sasser is no longer on your system (Click the: "Check my PC for Infection" button near the bottom of the page)http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/sasser.asp

If you can't download these patches and follow these steps because the PC keeps shutting down, then you should use a friend's computer to download everything and write it to CD so you can run it on your own PC . :wink:

Hope this helps :)

[garethhhhh]

Norton is very good. I've never had any problems.

But more importanly: Get a FIREWALL! For one of the best Firewalls around, check out http://www.zonelabs.com :wink:

Something else you might consider getting is an Anti-Spyware program like SpyBot Search & Destroy. You will be amazed at the amount of crap that gets installed (without your knowledge) by the web sites you visit. These programmes usually send information, back to the offending web site, about you and the web sites you visit.
So, apart from wasting space on your PC, they also eat you bandwidth and violate your privacy... nice :?

[mson]

I use the free version of AVG. It seems to work well, I've never gotten a virus so...

http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

Like others have said, you should get a firewall. ZoneAlarm from Zonelabs is a good one and it's free. The Paid version adds a few features but is not necessary. Or you could buy a router with a built in firewall.

[JZaun]

I used to be able to say I never had a virus :D ,, I got a worm last summer,, Lost it all :( ,, system, files, backup on hard disk,, everything. Have no idea where it came from. only opened mail from known sources. I was usning McAfee... Rebuilt system and installed Norton. No problems since. I do use windows firewall. I like the way norton works and updates..
There are millions who never got one and millions who have :D ..

JZ

[Jemmind]

I had a worm infect my computer and it came up with popup ads and crashes, eventually I had to reformat, but I saved my pictures, ect first. I always back up by pictures on my husbands laptop too now. The antivirus software I am using is PC-cillin. Also look at their website, you can scan your computer online for viruses for free. http://www.trendmicro.com/en/home/us/personal.htm
I highly recommend this program.
The only problem I have had with lately is that if you activate a firewall and you are connected to a home network, the firewall will not let you access the other computers in your home through your computer or vice-versa. I just turn the firewall off if I need to, and turn it back on.
Julie

[Scottes]

The only problem I have had with lately is that if you activate a firewall and you are connected to a home network, the firewall will not let you access the other computers in your home through your computer or vice-versa. I just turn the firewall off if I need to, and turn it back on.


Julie, this really isn't a good idea. You shouldn't ever turn off the firewall - as a test (I do computer security) I once installed a system onto the Internet with no firewall & no protection of any kind. Within 4 minutes it was getting probed. It was hacked within 12 minutes, and someone had full access to the system. *12* minutes.

What firewall do you run? There's always a way to allow some computers access while denying all others. So you can keep the firewall on at all times to access local computers, yet still be fully protected from the Internet.

Of course, if one computer somehow gets hacked/wormed/virused then you might lose all of them. So you just have to enable & disable access for the local machines - better than enabling & disabling access to the world...

[dennykyser]

How do I activate my firewall on Windows Xp home?

[Jesper]

Copied from Microsoft's website:

To configure Internet Connection Firewall manually for a connection, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. In the default Category View, click Networking and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections.

3. Right-click the connection on which you want to enable Internet Connection Firewall, and then click Properties.

4. Click the Advanced tab.

5. Click to select the Protect my computer or network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box, and then click OK.

[LightHunter]

Bless Macintosh!

[dicky109]

Denny,

I don't open unknown e-mails, however, the new worms harvest e-mail addresses, so you might get a message from someone you know & it can contain an infection.

If you have a Staples near you, and older versions of Norton or competetors, you can get the Norton System Works & Internet Security this week only for FREE after rebates. This also includes a year's worth of updates. Just remember to dot all the i's & cross the tees, otherwise the rebates won't be processed. On the other hand, if you send in the correct information, they're pretty good at sending you the money.

I've purchased Norton once, & upgraded this way every year at no additional cost, & never been infected!

Good luck

[John_T]

I don't think you need to get bit more than once to get twice shy. Some years ago I got my one and only virus in an e-mail from, of all people, my beloved SISTER! It very neatly corrupted every single JPEG on my computer! Luckily most were backed up. I've been careful since.

Many hackers and virus originators are trying to get back at an ex-employer, girlfriend, or some imagined enemy. I have often wondered if one got lynched by ordinary citizens it would discourage others... :evil: :twisted:

[Motorsports Photo]

I haven't run anti-virus in well over a year. I've been online (BBSes & Internet) for 16 years. I have never gotten a virus that I didn't deliberately install myself.

I thought I was pretty smart about the whole thing too, but the viruses are getting trickier and trickier.

If you play smart you won't get bit. Among other things... Don't run a Microsoft mail program.

This advice is the best I've seen. Using Pegasus Mail has saved me from multiple virus infections especially last years Klezmer, where messages appearing to be from people I knew were actually virus filled.

Disable any Microsoft scripting crap. Run Regedit.exe and delete all keys referring to EML and NWS. Keep up to date with Windows security patches.

What is the significance of eml and mws? I did find an eml key but no nws on my computer.

I have gotten annoying spyware and bad cookies. adaware found some and quarantined them but spybot found a LOT more. Now my computer is back up to speed!

I'm just about completely certain that it is impossible for my PC to get infected, and the same for my wife's.

Even practicing safe computer, one will get in somehow! They keep gettting trickier and trickier all the time.

-Pete