computer antivirus question

[Dar]

aloha,
I have free versions of superantispyware , and malware bytes ,
and then I have trend micro pc chillin that is a paid sub which is
about to expire. I'm wondering if someone might suggest a free
alternative to pc chillin, to supplement the other two mentioned.
tia,
Dar (haven't even got my recording setup set up after moving in Feb.
oh well, priorities ...)

[Peter Larsen[_3_]]

Dar wrote:

> aloha,

> I have free versions of superantispyware , and malware bytes ,
> and then I have trend micro pc-cillin that is a paid sub which is
> about to expire. I'm wondering if someone might suggest a free
> alternative to pc-cillin, to supplement the other two mentioned.
> tia,

If pc-cillin works for you, why replace it? - avast is the currently
recommended free lunch, but I'd label a production machine or office machine
"corporate use" if I were them, it certainly is not just "home use" since
the latter is defined as "uncommercial".

Too many daemons may be bad for your daw ....

Kind regards

Peter Larsen

[Phil W]

Dar wrote:
> aloha,
> I have free versions of superantispyware , and malware bytes ,
> and then I have trend micro pc chillin that is a paid sub which is
> about to expire. I'm wondering if someone might suggest a free
> alternative to pc chillin, to supplement the other two mentioned.
> tia,
> Dar (haven't even got my recording setup set up after moving in Feb.
> oh well, priorities ...)

Hey there,

I´d try the free version of "Antivir" http://free-av.de/en - free and good.
According to a test (from February 2009) in the German magazine "c't", it´s
the best choice. Sometimes Antivir has false positive detections, but on the
other hand, it has the best detection engine, as far as one can say that.
Antivir can also be deactivated temporarily - e.g. for DAW use of the
computer. The limitations of the free version are: advertising pop-up window
with every upate and only 1 automatic update in 24 hours. It´s possible to
check for updates manually, though.
Of course, there are other free antivirus programs, like AVG free - but it
can be a real pain to get it off the system, if you want to.


Hope that helps,

Phil

[Bigguy[_4_]]

Soundhaspriority wrote:
> "Dar" > wrote in message
> ...
>> aloha,
>> I have free versions of superantispyware , and malware bytes ,
>> and then I have trend micro pc chillin that is a paid sub which is
>> about to expire. I'm wondering if someone might suggest a free
>> alternative to pc chillin, to supplement the other two mentioned.
>> tia,
>> Dar (haven't even got my recording setup set up after moving in Feb.
>> oh well, priorities ...)
>
> Take a look at http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/. They
> rank Bitdefender as the best, as well as the cheapest. Some people may have
> a problem with allowing a bunch of smart Romanians to run their antivirus. I
> don't. I bought ten licenses, and have not had a problem.
>
> Bob Morein
> (310) 237-6511
>
>
Ditto to that - I've been running Bitdefender for years and it is
excellent. Worth buying.

Guy

[Ben Hanson]

Hi Dar, you didn't specify if this is going on your DAW but assuming your
DAW is a dedicated machine I wouldn't put one on at all. I know this isn't
always possible given that home studios often use one machine for many
things (including getting online, playing games, etc).

Even if you don't use it to get online but you do need it connected to your
local network, I still wouldn't put one on...just enable your client
firewall, blocking all unsolicited inbound connections.

No matter who makes the A/V client you decide to use, remember that for the
most part viruses you get through your web browser (from visiting infected
web sites) will bypass your client A/V scanner anyway.

-Ben


"Dar" > wrote in message
...
> aloha,
> I have free versions of superantispyware , and malware bytes ,
> and then I have trend micro pc chillin that is a paid sub which is
> about to expire. I'm wondering if someone might suggest a free
> alternative to pc chillin, to supplement the other two mentioned.
> tia,
> Dar (haven't even got my recording setup set up after moving in Feb.
> oh well, priorities ...)

[Dar]

On Jul 29, 12:03*am, "Peter Larsen" > wrote:
> Dar wrote:
> > aloha,
> > I have free versions of superantispyware , and malware bytes ,
> > and then I have trend micro pc-cillin that is a paid sub *which is
> > about to expire. I'm wondering if someone might suggest a free
> > alternative to pc-cillin, to supplement the other two mentioned.
> > tia,
>
> If pc-cillin works for you, why replace it? - avast is the currently
> recommended free lunch, but I'd label a production machine or office machine
> "corporate use" if I were them, it certainly is not just "home use" since
> the latter is defined as "uncommercial".
>
> Too many daemons may be bad for your daw ....
>
> * Kind regards
>
> * Peter Larsen

oh , I shoulda noted, this is for my surfing box, not my daw.
Dar

[theclyde]

On Jul 28, 11:34*pm, Dar > wrote:
> aloha,
> I have free versions of superantispyware , and malware bytes ,
> and then I have trend micro pc chillin that is a paid sub *which is
> about to expire. I'm wondering if someone might suggest a free
> alternative to pc chillin, to supplement the other two mentioned.
> tia,
> Dar (haven't even got my recording setup set up after moving in Feb.
> oh well, priorities ...)

IMHO:
1) Get rid of ALL the spyware detectors, registry cleaners and other
cr*p. They are relatively useless. If you know what you are doing you
can detect and remove the spy and mal ware yourself without these
programs. If you do not know what you are doing, chances are the
paranoia these detection apps cause will cause you to inadvertantly
destroy your computer. I have made more money fixing peoples
computers after they used spyware detectors to fix them.

2) Uninstall all antivirii programs. Install Avast. It is free. Use
only 1 AV program. Avast has options to realtime monitor drive, web,
email, p2p etc. You can toggle the AV off then on if you need to
bypass for performance when you record (or need to move lots of known
clean files)

3) Be careful what you download and always opt out of browser toolbar
installation that comes with many freeware apps

4) Get to know your system. The only way to tell if something is wrong
is to know what it looks like when it is right.

[William Sommerwerck]

IMHO:
1) Get rid of ALL the spyware detectors, registry cleaners and other
cr*p. They are relatively useless. If you know what you are doing you
can detect and remove the spy and malware yourself without these
programs. If you do not know what you are doing, chances are the
paranoia these detection apps cause will cause you to inadvertantly
destroy your computer. I have made more money fixing people's
computers after they used spyware detectors to fix them.

Not true. They are generally effective. I know because I've used them. They
will catch and remove most -- but not all -- malware.

Some malware cannot be removed except by accessing the drive from a clean
drive so that you can delete or disable it.

[Peter Larsen[_3_]]

theclyde wrote:

> 2) Uninstall all antivirii programs. Install Avast. It is free. Use
> only 1 AV program. Avast has options to realtime monitor drive, web,
> email, p2p etc. You can toggle the AV off then on if you need to
> bypass for performance when you record (or need to move lots of known
> clean files)

Install only one anvirus proggie, yes, but occasionally scanning with
superantispyware is strongly recommended. It occasionally finds stuff that
normal antivirus software misses.

> 3) Be careful what you download and always opt out of browser toolbar
> installation that comes with many freeware apps

Browser toolbars have become a virus-like pest and their appear to be
distributed via payola.

> 4) Get to know your system. The only way to tell if something is wrong
> is to know what it looks like when it is right.

1) backup!

2) be prepared and willing to format and re-install if there is a problem.
1) is but a part of that preparedness, also protect your software licenses
and -downloads of electronically distributed stuff by proper documentation.

Kind regards

Peter Larsen

[William Sommerwerck]

The best form of backup is a bootable copy of your main drive, made every
week of two. If the main drive fails, you can be up and running again in a
few minutes. You will, of course, have to back up important files between
the main backups, but this is not inherently difficult.

[Arny Krueger]

"Soundhaspriority" > wrote in message


> None of the free programs work well enough. If a program
> catches 97 out of 100 bullets, and they keep firing at
> you, you're dead.

I've probably made more money removing viruses from machines *protected* by
FreeAVG, than any other.

Second and third on my list of software that gets me maximum positive cash
flow are McAfee and Norton, once expired for about 3 months.

[William Sommerwerck]

>> None of the free programs work well enough. If a program
>> catches 97 out of 100 bullets, and they keep firing at
>> you, you're dead.

> I've probably made more money removing viruses from machines
> *protected* by FreeAVG, than any other.
> Second and third on my list of software that gets me maximum positive
> cash flow are McAfee and Norton, once expired for about 3 months.


My computer was attacked five years ago, when I switched to a cable
provider. It took me two weeks to clear it off, but it has remained clean.

Software can provide some protection (and it's foolish not to use such
programs), but computers are infected by malware primarily because users do
stupid things.

[Dar]

On Jul 29, 8:35*am, "Soundhaspriority" > wrote:
> "William Sommerwerck" > wrote in message
>
> ...> The best form of backup is a bootable copy of your main drive, made every
> > week of two. If the main drive fails, you can be up and running again in a
> > few minutes. You will, of course, have to back up important files between
> > the main backups, but this is not inherently difficult.
>
> This has saved me many times:http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/
>
> Bob Morein
> (310) 237-6511

thx 4 that link, and other input, everyone !

DS