Anti-virus,malware, what ever

***hey_moe*** · August 21st, 2012, 02:58

I am using ZoneAlarm and have been using it for the last couple of years. Being since malware is starting to become more popular I am thinking about changing my protection on my systems. Any of you guys have faith in your protection. I notice when searching the net that when viewing protection it is hard to even pick one because you cannot tell if the site is done by the program maker or a true test. I also don't believe their is a god almighty program this will protect everything. Each program does one thing better than the others...Mike

**stiz** · August 21st, 2012, 03:16

i've been useing zone alarm internet security suite and haven't had any major problems or annoyances. Prolly wouldn't stand a direct attack but so long as you dont visit dodgy doggy sites its fine

***Dangerousdave26*** · August 21st, 2012, 03:42

I have been running AVAST for the last few years.

I back that up i with Malwarebytes and Fsecure on line scan.

Nothing is 100% effective unfortunately.

**Thoe6969** · August 21st, 2012, 04:38

Avast and Malwarebytes for me also,and I might add Malwarebytes has saved my butt more than once.

**mgchrist5** · August 21st, 2012, 05:06

Freeware Avast backed up with regular Malwarebytes scans for me as well. I've used them both for the last 3+ years and haven't had any issues. I'll echo what Thoe6969 said: Malwarebytes once saved me from a complete system reinstall due to a rather insidious Trojan.

***fallenphoenix1986*** · August 21st, 2012, 06:02

Avira, AVG, MWB and MSE. No nasties in over a year with that combo

Craig

**Odie** · August 21st, 2012, 06:10

Originally Posted by hey_moe

I am using ZoneAlarm and have been using it for the last couple of years. Being since malware is starting to become more popular I am thinking about changing my protection on my systems. Any of you guys have faith in your protection. I notice when searching the net that when viewing protection it is hard to even pick one because you cannot tell if the site is done by the program maker or a true test. I also don't believe their is a god almighty program this will protect everything. Each program does one thing better than the others...Mike

Moe, I've been using TrendMicro for about 7-8 years now. I've run it under all versions of Windows except 7 (don't have it yet) with no issues.

http://www.trendmicro.com/us/index.html

**aircav1970** · August 21st, 2012, 06:50

I'm another Avast/Malwarebytes/MSE user and haven't had any disastrous problems in quite a while with this combination....

***Ickie*** · August 21st, 2012, 06:57

AVG pro for 10 years now and no problems

.
but i have worked on a few computers with the FREE AVG and it isn't as good, lol, you get what you pay for.

**Tako_Kichi** · August 21st, 2012, 08:09

I use the free Avast anti-virus and periodically scan with Malwarebytes and Spybot Search & Destroy. I also have the Win 7 app Defender running in the background along with Windows firewall and a hardware firewall built into my router. That combo has worked well for me and I rarely see any alerts regarding nasties and any that do show up are dealt with in seconds.

***hey_moe*** · August 21st, 2012, 09:13

I've only had one bad hit and it wiped out all three hard drives including my back up drive. I now have a external back up that stays unplugged until I'm ready to do a back up. A friend sent me a email that had a nasty one in it..lol.Since then I have learned to keep my main drive with nothing important on it. I save everything to my back up drive. On my system I can do a complete wipe and a full install in about three to four hours. That is everything like it was before the wipe. I have been surfing the net trying to figure out what AV and AS I want to go with. The ones that have been brought to my attention I have had before, but they keep changing things to keep up with all this mess out there.

**cheezyflier** · August 21st, 2012, 12:03

the most important thing you can do to protect your computer from malware is not go to "questionable" sites. i really can't stress enough that YOU are your computer's best protection.
truth is, your not picking up those nasty viruses from fox news or disney.com. there are places you can go, and they're not even hard to find, where you won't get those bugs.
i know this is not the popular advice. however, it is the only advice that will work 100% of the time.

**Gdavis101** · August 21st, 2012, 12:57

Avast and Malwarebytes for me also, usually run Spybot also if I suspect something is afoot.

**Odie** · August 21st, 2012, 15:22

Originally Posted by cheezyflier

the most important thing you can do to protect your computer from malware is not go to "questionable" sites. i really can't stress enough that YOU are your computer's best protection.
truth is, your not picking up those nasty viruses from fox news or disney.com. there are places you can go, and they're not even hard to find, where you won't get those bugs.
i know this is not the popular advice. however, it is the only advice that will work 100% of the time.

We have met the enemy and it is us....Trend Micro will throw up a warning if the site is questionable and I usually let them do the driving. Don't know what criteria they use in that determination, but they keep me from wandering too far off the beaten path....

**TeaSea** · August 21st, 2012, 16:00

Frankly, and I do this for a living....any of the products and freeware mentioned above will protect you if you do the following:

- Keep them up to date.

- Take Cheezy and Stiz's advice -- don't visit dodgy sites....especially bit torrent or porn sites.

Beyond that it's really personal preference. I used Zone Alarm for years and liked it. I use McAfee now because it's provided to me free of charge....I like it too.

***hey_moe*** · August 21st, 2012, 16:39

Well I brought the Malwarebytes program and did a scan. Nuthin detected. My ZoneAlarm program expires in 44 day. I should have my mind made up by then.

**AckAck** · August 21st, 2012, 19:28

Originally Posted by TeaSea

- Take Cheezy and Stiz's advice -- don't visit dodgy sites....especially bit torrent or porn sites.

Well, jeez - why would you even need a computer then?

**SPman** · August 21st, 2012, 22:21

Avira pro, Spybot, Malwarebytes and Zone Alarm as the firewall - always regularly updated (Avira is automatic - set to check every 4 hrs)
Had almost no problems for the last 6 yrs with that lot........
"those" sites are OK - as long as you're extra cautious and suspicious..........:tgun2:

**Naismith** · August 22nd, 2012, 00:25

I like MS Security Essentials, yes yes, I know its easy to pick on MS, but I have used it since it came out maybe 2 years now with no issues. Also in coinjunction with Malwarebytes.

**cheezyflier** · August 22nd, 2012, 01:10

Originally Posted by Naismith

I like MS Security Essentials, yes yes, I know its easy to pick on MS, but I have used it since it came out maybe 2 years now with no issues. Also in coinjunction with Malwarebytes.

this is exactly what i use, and i have yet to have a problem i can't deal with.
the cool thing about security essentials is, it's not a resource hog like many of the more popular av programs

***hey_moe*** · August 22nd, 2012, 02:49

Well this is weird. I installed Malwarebytes last night, did a scan and nuthin was detected. This morning for some reason my wireless keyboard stopped working. I restarted the key board and still no glory. Decided to do a reboot and once it got to the desktop all it would do was lock up and act like it was trying to load something. Being since the keyboard was locked up I was unable to see what was going on. Went into safe mode and disabled all services, by the way in safe mode the keyboard worked and I was able to get on the net so I knew then there was a program causing the problem. Once everything was disabled, rebooted back to the desktop and no glory. I uninstalled Malwarebytes and rebooted, chet still no glory. I went back into safe mode and then into the registry and removed all traces of the Malwarebytes program, rebooted and this everything worked. After I went back into MSCONFIG and checked the programs I wanted to run at start up then rebooted it crashed my BIOS...lol. Went back into the BIOS and reset that up. Now I am back to the norm. I have never has a program affect my BIOS to a point I had to reset all the setting. I don't know if the Malwarebytes program had issues with what I was running or not but that was the only thing I have installed and it crashed my system...lol. I will try and reinstall it today just to see if the Malwarebytes program was causing this.

:isadizzy:

**cheezyflier** · August 22nd, 2012, 12:16

wow, that's surprising. i really like that program. forst i ever heard of someone having trouble with it. is it posible that there is a bug on your system tht is fighting with malwarebytes?. that HAS happened to me before

**TeaSea** · August 22nd, 2012, 16:15

I wouldn't jump to any conclusions just yet. It's always tempting to go with the last change but I would not make that assumption.

***Ickie*** · August 22nd, 2012, 16:25

free online scanner and removal
http://www.f-secure.com/en/web/labs_.../removal-tools

i use the scan weekly

***Dangerousdave26*** · August 22nd, 2012, 16:32

I was having blue screens of death two three times a day a few weeks ago.

After searching I found out that my DVD drive was hosed. Removed it and installed a new one and now its all ok.