Urgent virus problem

[uzi9mm]

Ok, the best thing to do is to have yourself behind a hardware firewall.
Use Mozilla Firefox.
Have Up-to-date A/V files.
Have some Spyware detection software.
And if you really want to be virus free, get linux.

 

[Trotter]

If she is not, or will not, get and use an anti-virus program of some sort, she deserves what she gets.

There are several great free ones out there. A firewall does not, nor can it, stop a virus. It will stop or slow down a hack or invasion attempt, and will keep rouge programs from accessing the internet, but it is not virus protection.

My AV stops viruses on a regular basis. While surfing, it pops up and lets me know that I opened a page with a virus on it, and that it has taken care of the problem, or what I need to do to take care of it. Surfing without it is asking for trouble.

 

[hu_xu]

Hardware firewalls don't stop everything.

For example, my Zone Alarm since installation (close to two months) has stopped 478 instrusion attempts and I'm behind a hardware firewall.

Anyways PC Chillin has been a critic favourite when it comes to PC security. I myself use NAV 2004. Works for me. Daily updates if you do it manually...weekly if you use live update. I believe Norton is also what the US military uses but theirs is most likely a much more expensive Norton .

Anyways to surf on the internet with no protection is suicide these days. I once had a buddy get 3,000 viruses on his PC. Seriously.

Generally this is the line of defense most people recommend:

Front line - Hardware firewall
Second line - Software firewall...you can use Windows firewall but beware because it does not stop outbound...Zone Alarm is free and it works great.

Even then viruses will get through so...

Third line - AV programs, spyware programs, popup blocker, and etc. (I suggest PC Chillin' and a combo of Spybot, Ad Aware SE, and Spy Sweeper and to use Firefox). Update Windows also.

If your neighbour doesn't want to pay just download free programs:

Software firewall - Zone Alarm or Sygate
Ant-virus (AV) - Panda's free online scan, Avast
Spyware - Spybot, Ad Aware SE

To check your firewall visit www.grc.com .

 

[Trotter]

Might as well have her download Microsoft AntiSpyware. It's free, and it's good.

 

[z3phyr04]

If she is not, or will not, get and use an anti-virus program of some sort, she deserves what she gets.

There are several great free ones out there. A firewall does not, nor can it, stop a virus. It will stop or slow down a hack or invasion attempt, and will keep rouge programs from accessing the internet, but it is not virus protection.

My AV stops viruses on a regular basis. While surfing, it pops up and lets me know that I opened a page with a virus on it, and that it has taken care of the problem, or what I need to do to take care of it. Surfing without it is asking for trouble.

Is yours a free one trotter - if so what is it?