Are you secure?

[The Visitors]

What steps have you taken to keep your computer secure?

I personally have the following programs installed & updated (mostly freeware)....


spybot search and destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org

spayware blaster: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

kaspersky internet security suite: http://www.kaspersky.com

Host man: http://www.abelhadigital.com/hostsman

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware: http://www.malwarebytes.org

Peer Blocker: http://www.peerblock.com

Sandboxie: http://www.sandboxie.com

On top of all this, I've removed Internet Explorer. Installed Firefox & Opera Bowser, then installed WOT ( http://www.mywot.com ) and AdBlock Plus ( addons.mozilla.org ). And finally, I only use web mail (nothing to download on my PC) and besides Windows Update, I use Secunia PSI ( secunia.com ) and FileHippo.com Update Checker.

This also does not count the password security program I use and also the drive encryption. So what do you do to keep yourself secure?

 

[Gizmo]

I purchased the AVG 2011 edition a little while ago.

 

[Jue]

Personally, I think you have way to much installed. This would swallow your RAM and processor usage. I only have Avast installed on my machine. I suppose being a computer "geek" it helps knowing what i'm doing.

 

[The Visitors]

Personally, I think you have way to much installed. This would swallow your RAM and processor usage. I only have Avast installed on my machine. I suppose being a computer "geek" it helps knowing what i'm doing.

spybot search and destroy, spyware blaster, host man, WOT, and AdBlock Plus doe not load with the computer or take up any memory (0 Ram) in the background. They are good for preventing things from installing or from me coming across and accessing a bad site by mistake. The also keep many ads from loading when online making for not only a safer experience, but a faster one.

WOT & AdBlock Plus are only browser add-ons & only load with the browser. Together they use at most 1 - 5MB (max).

FileHippo.com Update Checker also does not load with the computer (0 Ram). It is used at least 1x - 2x a week to check for software updates.

Secunia PSI provides real-time software update information and also alerts me of any of any changes. Uses a max ram of 6MB (when loaded)

Kaspersky Security Suite is my standard ant-virus & firewall of choice. Everyone should have one of each, but mine is all included in the same program (thus not competing with each other or doubling system use).

Peer Block loads with the computer and again protects me from coming over by mistake, any sit which could cause a possible harm (9 MB Ram). It's also good for blocking ads and site tracking.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware does load with my computer. Does everything "Peer Blocker" does, but also offers real-time protects from spy-ware, adware, and other things which could harm my system. (8MB)

And finally Sandboxie keep my browsing, downloading, and program testing to a minimum risk by keeping most of everything I do online within a "sand box" and thus preventing anything which could get through, from really affecting my system (3MB).

Not counting Kaspersky in my math, as with most anti-virus / firewall suites; it does vary.... My system uses 26 MB upon load & 31 MB with the browser loaded (rounded up) to protect my system. The average low end PC sold today comes with 2GB of Ram (2048 MB). I'm using less then 1% of the average low end PC (with 2GB of Ram) to secure my system.

Although my system is not low end, it currently has 8GB of Ram installed (will been upgrading it the the max 16GB at a later time) 😛

 

[Kashike]

On this netbook, I have AVG Free, and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Paid.

Once my new laptop is here, it will have Kaspersky Internet Security 2011.

I use Google Chrome, with Ad-block.
Firefox is crap.

 

[Hobbies230]

Yup, I use CA. Probably not the most memory efficient software around, but it gets the job done.

 

[CyberFreak]

No script is a good add on for firefox - http://noscript.net/

 

[The Visitors]

No script is a good add on for firefox - http://noscript.net/

I've tried this in the past & more then often I found it got in the way of browsing, shopping, and just general use. But I do like the concept.

 

[Jue]

As I said, I just have AVG and that's all. Spybot S&D is good, but if someone who was computer illiterate used it, they would wonder what the message was that came up every 5 seconds.

 

[CyberFreak]

I've tried this in the past & more then often I found it got in the way of browsing, shopping, and just general use. But I do like the concept.

It is a pain to start off with but when you have allowed all your main sites and all that stuff then it isn't that bad and annoying.

 

[Jue]

Agreed Fowler. It also does the job. Something else that is worth having on a pendrive put away is ComboFix. Niftly little program that clears almost anything!

 

[Justin M]

I'm more into physical security. I hired John Cena to stand by next to my computer and look mad all day long.

 

[Kaiser.]

YOU HAVE WAY TOO MANY WHICH IS ACTUALLY A BAD THING. Kaspersky, and Malwarebytes is all you need. They arent really helping you because if they are real time who knows they might be canceling each other out and many other problems.

 

[Kevin X Dragon]

I personally think that you have too much stuff. All you need are

• Sandboxie
• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• An Antivirus Software

If you use Firefox:

• No Script
• WOT or McAfee Advisor or both

 

[froggyboy604]

I mostly just use MalwareBytes Paid version, WinPatrol Plus, HitmanPro, Microsoft Security Essentials, rKill, SuperAntiSpyware, Clamwin, K9 internet filtering software, Spybot, Spywareblaster, keyscrambler, Keepass, TrueCrypt, noscript, System Protect, Sandboxie, and Bitdefender free.

Most of these tools I listed are not real-time antivirus and malware except for WinPatrol Security Essentials, Malwarebytes, K9, and System Protect are real time.

 

[spork985]

You have all that poo installed? Holy crap, it's amazing your computer even boots!

 

[The Visitors]

I mostly just use MalwareBytes Paid version, WinPatrol Plus, HitmanPro, Microsoft Security Essentials, rKill, SuperAntiSpyware, Clamwin, K9 internet filtering software, Spybot, Spywareblaster, keyscrambler, Keepass, TrueCrypt, noscript, System Protect, Sandboxie, and Bitdefender free.

Most of these tools I listed are not real-time antivirus and malware except for WinPatrol Security Essentials, Malwarebytes, K9, and System Protect are real time.

The only thing which run always in real time for me (and I think its been confused that they all do, which the do not) is Kaspersky , MalwareBytes , Peer Blocker, and Secunia PCI. They all do different jobs differently.

FYI: BitDefender , Clamwin, and Microsoft Security Essentials should not be all on the same system. This will cancel each other out.

 

[x86cam]

Just reinstalled windows 7. Aah... Fresh..

 

[Panik]

I have a mass amount of security installed on my PC.

I am using:
AVAST! anti-virus - due to the mass crazyness of it upon detection.
Comodo firewall - fairly secure and a good firewall.
malwarebites S&D - good tool to have.
superantispyware - very effective and a good tool.
keyscrambler - to prevent all the key-loggers from picking up anything.
sandboxy - amazing piece of software to use.
Virtual Box - amazing virtual machine to test anything I need to.
Truecrypt - this is doubled up to make sure that everything is 100% secure and encrypted.

Firefox - really good browser and fairly secure on it's own.
As far as the plugins go I have many installed; shown here.

With these I believe that I am fairly secure.

 

[froggyboy604]

I mostly just use MalwareBytes Paid version, WinPatrol Plus, HitmanPro, Microsoft Security Essentials, rKill, SuperAntiSpyware, Clamwin, K9 internet filtering software, Spybot, Spywareblaster, keyscrambler, Keepass, TrueCrypt, noscript, System Protect, Sandboxie, and Bitdefender free.

Most of these tools I listed are not real-time antivirus and malware except for WinPatrol Security Essentials, Malwarebytes, K9, and System Protect are real time.

The only thing which run always in real time for me (and I think its been confused that they all do, which the do not) is Kaspersky , MalwareBytes , Peer Blocker, and Secunia PCI. They all do different jobs differently.

FYI: BitDefender , Clamwin, and Microsoft Security Essentials should not be all on the same system. This will cancel each other out.

The Free version of Bitdefender, and Clamwin are both Anti-viruses without active shields. They just scan for viruses when I click the Scan button on the programs. Only Security Essentials has the active shield enabled.