Register - Login
Views: 99852615
 Main - Memberlist - Active users - Calendar - Wiki - IRC Chat - Online users
Ranks - Rules/FAQ - Stats - Latest Posts - Color Chart - Smilies 		05-04-22 11:08:42 AM
Jul - Computers and Technology - HELP!!! New poll - New thread - New reply
Next newer thread | Next older thread
Friendbot2000
Member
Level: 51


Posts: 56/577
EXP: 950553
For next: 63385

Since: 06-17-09


Since last post: 10.5 years
Last activity: 10.5 years
Posted on 07-21-09 10:36:48 PM Link | Quote
Now that I have just gotten screwed up the ass by Best Buy for fixing my computer from a nasty virus I am left with just one question: How can I supplement the protecting power of a mainstream virus protection software program so this never happens again?

____________________
303darthbobby
Catgirl
I'm the one they warned you about.
Level: 83


Posts: 844/1810
EXP: 5341225
For next: 90996

Since: 03-02-09

From: North Carolina

Since last post: 3.8 years
Last activity: 3.6 years
Posted on 07-21-09 10:38:29 PM Link | Quote
You mean aside from installing it?

I'm confused.

____________________
Xkeeper

Level: 263


Posts: 11969/25353
EXP: 297173128
For next: 1787325

Since: 07-03-07

Pronouns: they/them/????????

Since last post: 4 days
Last activity: 9 hours
Posted on 07-21-09 10:39:01 PM Link | Quote
Get avast, a firewall, and some common sense.

____________________
Friendbot2000
Member
Level: 51


Posts: 57/577
EXP: 950553
For next: 63385

Since: 06-17-09


Since last post: 10.5 years
Last activity: 10.5 years
Posted on 07-21-09 10:42:02 PM Link | Quote
Hmmm...my sarcasm senses are tingling Xkeeper, but thanks for the help.

____________________
— FPzero —
9590



Post 4969/9597
Active 5.5 years ago
Posted on 07-21-09 10:42:54 PM Link | Quote
MalwareBytes is good too. Saved my brother's laptop.

____________________
Bagel

Giant Red Paratroopa
without music life would Bb
Level: 75


Posts: 33/1446
EXP: 3802669
For next: 24235

Since: 03-30-09

Pronouns: he/him
From: bear

Since last post: 191 days
Last activity: 7 days
Posted on 07-21-09 10:43:30 PM (last edited by supermagicalpenguin at 07-21-09 07:46 PM) Link | Quote
Use something that is less mainstream, basically.

Norton, Symantec, Trend Micro, and McAfee are really pretty bad solutions. There are free alternatives like AVG, avast!, etc. that sort of work, but they are also heavily targeted by malware authors. (I have had a pretty good experience with the Kaspersky suite though.)

The best practices are to use a browser other than Internet Explorer whenever possible, exercise a good amount of common sense, and use plugins or addons for your browser that can remove threats from pages entirely. For example, AdBlock Plus and NoScript for Firefox -- these two addons can be more valuable than any scanner. NoScript stops malicious code in pages from running in the first place, while AdBlock will ... remove ads.

The other alternative is to use another operating system entirely. That works pretty well.

____________________
744 is a site with musics on it
Friendbot2000
Member
Level: 51


Posts: 58/577
EXP: 950553
For next: 63385

Since: 06-17-09


Since last post: 10.5 years
Last activity: 10.5 years
Posted on 07-21-09 10:45:52 PM (last edited by Friend2.0 at 07-21-09 07:47 PM) Link | Quote
I will keep those things in mind Penguin, thanks a lot for the help, downloading avast now.

____________________
303darthbobby
Catgirl
I'm the one they warned you about.
Level: 83


Posts: 845/1810
EXP: 5341225
For next: 90996

Since: 03-02-09

From: North Carolina

Since last post: 3.8 years
Last activity: 3.6 years
Posted on 07-21-09 10:46:30 PM Link | Quote
Originally posted by Friend2.0
Hmmm...my sarcasm senses are tingling Xkeeper, but thanks for the help.

He actually gave you some decent advice there.

Everything that they've said so far is really good advice. Follow all of it, and yes, common sense too, and you should be fine.

____________________
BlackNemesis13
1150
I am ***** but it's hard to pronounce, so you can call me Geno after the doll.
Level: 70


Posts: 293/1155
EXP: 2884132
For next: 131679

Since: 07-23-07

From: Columbus, Ohio

Since last post: 10.6 years
Last activity: 10.6 years
Posted on 07-21-09 11:39:33 PM Link | Quote
Speaking of which, what firewall would you guys recommend for someone that isn't computer savy at all, (like, if I don't protect their computer it will be chock full of viruses next week kind of dumb,) doesn't interfere with filesharing, and will be put on a laptop that will wirelessly connect to whatever random network can be found and has no router? I'm setting up some basic protection for a friend of a friend.

I already have Firefox, Avast, Spybot, Ad-Aware, and Malwarebytes on there. I also set up automatic updates, and a scheduled monthly defrag. All I'm really missing is firewall, but I don't know anything about good software firewalls. I could just turn on windows firewall, but I'd like something that actually doesn't suck. I just use the hardware firewall in my router, but this person isn't going to have that option. They are basically going to be relying on wifi hotspots and random places on campus for internet access. Occasionally they will be connecting to a network secure enough for filesharing though whenever they are home or visiting over here, and they DO use limewire (I'm trying to talk her out of that and into bittorrent though).

I'd be great if there was something I could set up ONCE, and then they would never even know it was installed afterward.

____________________
Ctenophorae


Level: 85


Posts: 75/1921
EXP: 5773183
For next: 125357

Since: 06-19-09

From: Oregon

Since last post: 8.1 years
Last activity: 28 days
Posted on 07-22-09 01:47:40 AM Link | Quote
I've been an avid Zonealarm fan for a few years but it didn't want to do the last update so I went with COMODO Firewall from a suggestion from a friend. I've been using that one for the latter half of the year now and it has a slightly beefier defense system in my opinion.

I would personally suggest either of them.

____________________

Photobucket
Hiryuu

Level: 207


Posts: 12015/14435
EXP: 127635836
For next: 2148318

Since: 07-06-07


Since last post: 11.8 years
Last activity: 11.7 years
Posted on 07-22-09 09:32:33 AM (last edited by Hiryuu at 07-22-09 06:32 AM) Link | Quote
My usual systems compliment that I put on, whether at home or at work, is AT LEAST Avast! Home and Spybot Search & Destroy. Updates included. If you have issues with getting the updates and are connected to the net...there's a huge problem.

Browser-wise, Firefox, if not Opera.

Outside of that, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware does a good job for a secondary scan. COMODO offers a good software firewall, but you'd likely be better off with a hardware firewall/router to do the job a lot better.

____________________
303darthbobby
Catgirl
I'm the one they warned you about.
Level: 83


Posts: 866/1810
EXP: 5341225
For next: 90996

Since: 03-02-09

From: North Carolina

Since last post: 3.8 years
Last activity: 3.6 years
Posted on 07-22-09 04:39:52 PM Link | Quote
http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm

Found today, might be worth a look at. Basically a file that should trip your scanner when you try to download/extract the rar it's in. No malicious code in there.

____________________
Hiryuu

Level: 207


Posts: 12019/14435
EXP: 127635836
For next: 2148318

Since: 07-06-07


Since last post: 11.8 years
Last activity: 11.7 years
Posted on 07-22-09 04:41:16 PM Link | Quote
Wow. AVG did its job.

Now I wish it would do its job where Avast! picks up.

Proven once again today.

____________________
303darthbobby
Catgirl
I'm the one they warned you about.
Level: 83


Posts: 867/1810
EXP: 5341225
For next: 90996

Since: 03-02-09

From: North Carolina

Since last post: 3.8 years
Last activity: 3.6 years
Posted on 07-22-09 04:42:25 PM Link | Quote
I tested Avast! with it. Siren effect is kinda neat

____________________
Hiryuu

Level: 207


Posts: 12022/14435
EXP: 127635836
For next: 2148318

Since: 07-06-07


Since last post: 11.8 years
Last activity: 11.7 years
Posted on 07-22-09 04:43:50 PM Link | Quote
WOOOP WOOOP! CAUTION! A VIRUS HAS BEEN DETECTED!!!

____________________
303darthbobby
Catgirl
I'm the one they warned you about.
Level: 83


Posts: 869/1810
EXP: 5341225
For next: 90996

Since: 03-02-09

From: North Carolina

Since last post: 3.8 years
Last activity: 3.6 years
Posted on 07-22-09 04:44:47 PM Link | Quote
Yeah, that.

Better than the update thing.

____________________
Sine
2310
Level: 94


Posts: 1432/2316
EXP: 8201503
For next: 155154

Since: 07-07-07


Since last post: 3.7 years
Last activity: 290 days
Posted on 07-22-09 09:31:03 PM Link | Quote

Shiny new layout!
----------------------------------------------------

Originally posted by 303darthbobby
Yeah, that.

Better than the update thing.
You can turn that off >>

____________________
The question is what is the question
303darthbobby
Catgirl
I'm the one they warned you about.
Level: 83


Posts: 871/1810
EXP: 5341225
For next: 90996

Since: 03-02-09

From: North Carolina

Since last post: 3.8 years
Last activity: 3.6 years
Posted on 07-22-09 10:01:51 PM Link | Quote
Originally posted by Kattwah
Originally posted by 303darthbobby
Yeah, that.

Better than the update thing.
You can turn that off >>

I know

____________________
Hiryuu

Level: 207


Posts: 12034/14435
EXP: 127635836
For next: 2148318

Since: 07-06-07


Since last post: 11.8 years
Last activity: 11.7 years
Posted on 07-22-09 10:03:14 PM Link | Quote
You can't deny the WOOOP! WOOOP!

____________________
Next newer thread | Next older thread
Jul - Computers and Technology - HELP!!! New poll - New thread - New reply


Rusted Logic

Acmlmboard - commit 47be4dc [2021-08-23]
©2000-2022 Acmlm, Xkeeper, Kaito Sinclaire, et al.

31 database queries, 7 query cache hits.
Query execution time: 0.084335 seconds
Script execution time: 0.036005 seconds
Total render time: 0.120340 seconds