Viewing Thread:
"What to get to protect a PC fully"

The missus' sister has got a PC which her daughter uses, on average, about 25 hours a day and has managed to cover it in spyware and it does funny things like pop-up porn sites and shutdown at seemingly random times. She's asked me to give her some advice on how to protect the PC and she's quite willing to pay for the software/hardware (and put it through the husband's business ;^).

So, can I get some recommendations on the best software to buy, i.e. antivirus, firewall etc., please? Also, would buying a new modem/router help at all? She's currently using the one that came with her BT broadband connection.

Thanks.

And above all, don't launch any attachments you aren't expecting to get.

Timmargh wrote:
> I'm tempted just to tell her to buy the entire McAfee suite of
> programs - any reasons why I shouldn't do this?

Only that there are better out there.

AVG 7.0 and Kerio Personal Firewall is currently the best protection bundle on the market, for about £45.

To be totally safe cut off all network and internet access (what its true)
Other than that follow what everyone has said below, you generally need a firewall, anti virus capable of scanning ya emails and if you have XP get Service Pack 2

Hannard wrote:
> The correct answer is in fact 'Flatten, Install Linux'. Problem
> solved.

You know as well as anyone that installing Linux would create 100x more problems that it'd solve. Having a secure PC is no good if you haven't the first idea how to use it.

The correct answer is in fact 'Flatten, Install Linux'. Problem solved.

Dont just re-install windows, what you need to do is...

Clean the HDD to stock (unless you have only got recovery cds, you need a proper windows xp disc), to do this use software that wipes so that no software can recover data.

Now install windows

Drivers next, chipset, graphics and then other

Now service pack 2

Now antivirus (Mcaffe's best, norten detects viruses but isnt very good at dealing with them, same with agv)

Now spyware

Scan regually (weekly probs)

Best thing to do would be to re-install Windows from scratch then put on all the spyware, firewall and anti-virus programs etc. Prevention being better than cure.

And yes, changing the ADSL modem to a router with a NAT firewall built in would also help.

Timmargh wrote:
> Tyla wrote:
> PrevX ...
>
> Am I right in understanding that I can use this in parallel with
> something like McAfee?
>

I personally use PrevX combined with Norton Internet Security Professional 2004. Occasionally run Adaware, but since using this combination I have yet to find any spyware?

Tyla wrote:
> PrevX ...

Am I right in understanding that I can use this in parallel with something like McAfee?

I'm tempted just to tell her to buy the entire McAfee suite of programs - any reasons why I shouldn't do this?

Cheers for the PrevX link Tyla.

For anti virus software I use AVG antivirus(google will give you the link) free to use and a good free alternative to Norton.

If she dosn't mind paying then I'm sure there is a Norton 5 in 1 thing that offers good protection when online and for virus protection.

Also use adaware and spybot search and destroy.
Also get her to delete any nonsense programs she has, a friend of mine was getting a lot of pop ups etc cause her kids had downloaded Yahoo chat and a few other yahoo things which decided to change the backgrounds on explorer and advertise stuff whenever they were online.