I just bought a computer from Best buy and also got Norton virus protection and some spyware thing they recomended. Are previous computer we had crashed 3 times, we had McAfee before the 3rd time it crashed. What are the best software programs to have? How often should I update? how often should I run a clean up? I don’t know much about viruses, but I don’t want my computer to crash again. Are the programs I go from best buy going to work? Also do you know if I can go in and recover anything on my computer? Is it worth getting it running again, or just pitch?
if you are sure that crash was because of the virus or malware then you’d better use Kaspersky internet security
this will gaurd your computer from maware ,trojans, spywares ,viruses, popups and etc.
it has afirewall which you can exactly tell that which program has permission to use internet connection ,it will also block site contain harmful scripts for your PC and it updates in database everyday.
but still this cannot garantee that your computer will never infect because every program wrote by prorgrammers and human can make mistake but this is more trustable.
also this is depend on you and your habbits that what do you do when you are using internet, sites you visiting, people you are contacting and many other things you do.
it is higly recommended to scan your computer once a week if you are heavy downloader and you are uisn internet alot everyday.
downloading Active x controllers from unknown sites will harm your computer and your anti virus cannot detect that becasue you let that to be in your computer and allowed installation process to happen.
better not to keep your files in drive C because most of viruses ,malwares and spywares copy themself there and also recovering files in drive C after system crash is harder becasue by formating you will delete your files along with virus so I recommend to keep your important files in another partition rather than your OS partition.
you can recover your files and formated drives using
Recovery my files ,it will recover almost all of your lost files except if they are overwriten or damaged and you can use its filter to recover only one specific extension of files.
it is beter that you always back up your important data and updating your back up file at least every week if you don’t use to change your files alot or every day or 2 if you change them alot.
The program you have should work just fine.
Update it daily
If you are on the Internet a lot, scan daily
Do not let you subscription lapse, unless you are planning to use a different program for this.
For your old computer, you could try the free program "The Ultimate Boot Disk For Windows. With this program, you create a version of Windows XP that runs from the CD-ROM. It has several anti-virus and anti spy-ware programs.
Most of the newer mal-ware programs start routines before Windows starts that allow them to hide from even the best anti-virus and anti mal-ware programs. Because you are booting from the CD-ROM, these routines never start so they can’t hide, making them much easier to detect and remove.
Build this disk on a PC that you know is free of viruses and mal-ware. Follow the instructions on the FAQ section on the link below to build the disk.
This may be all you need to make your old computer usable again. If not, re-format the hard drive. I would even consider a wipe program. Before you wipe your old hard drive, you could use the UBCD4WIN to copy some of your files to a flash drive or other external source. Be careful what you save, you don’t want to infect your new computer. Do not slave in your old hard drive on your new computer as you would be risking infecting your new computer.
After you have saved what you want, wipe your old hard drive and reinstall Windows and all of your programs. The UBCD4WIN contains the program DBan, one of the best disk wipe programs you will find. Use it to wipe your old hard drive. If you only re-format, traces of the virus could remain.
Depends on your definition of "crashing".
If the computer freezes, or shuts off, and the computer is almost brand new, it could be a hardware issue. You can return the computer to Best Buy and exchange it.
Believe it or not: you can protect and secure your PC w/o paying a single cent for any software! Heres how i did it for over 3 years now!
1) Antivirus
There are many adequate yet free AVs like AVG, Avira and Avast. Try one that feels most user friendly and read reviews about its detection engine and frequency of updating the definition files, etc. In the end i went with Avast Home Edition and it beats some paid for AVs even!Just the one AV would do as theywould run in resident protection mode i.e they run as you are using your PC
Frequency of scan: Once a week (min)
2) Anti Spyware/Adware
Here having a few actually works for ya? Set none as resident scanners and for me i stick to this ‘trilogy’
a) Spywareblaster
Prevents spyware from passing through in the first place! It like a checkpoint for spyware by telling the PC: look these travellers (bad guys) have been recognised by our database as terrorists – pls do not let them enter
b) Spybot Search & Destroy
Now for bad guys that jump over the fence spybot search and destroy has this job of nabbing them!
c) Ad-Aware 2007 free edition
For other typs of bad guys..ok maybe adware can be the illegal hookers Ad-aware plays the anti vice squad and nabs these!
Frequency of scan: Once a week (min)
3) Registry cleaners/tuners
Lastly constant installing/uninstalling and what not may cause a lot of clutter to accumilate on your PC. Imagine these guys as your rubbish collecters from town council? I have stood by 2 so far with great results!
a) Ccleaner
Easy to use – just analyse ‘rubbish’ space, clean and check registry
b) Abexo free registry cleaner
A bit more advanced so if you are not comfortable, the first one would do!
Frequency of scan: Everyday and defrags daily also
4) Internet browser choice
Ok eversince i dumped IE for Netscape about 6+ years ago and then go with Firefox, my systems have been far more secure. Firefox has so many customable add ons/extensions and i just d/l adblock plus, fasterfox, no script, etc and it is faster, more secure and nicer than IE hands down! My laternative browser is Opera another gem which consumes far less memory compared to Firefox but not as customable – but still a solid alternative browser! Been using it more often as i wait for FF3 to come out of beta!
5) Software Firewalls (Optional)
Nope i don’t feel the need to as my internet connection is behind a router which already has a harware firewall. If you need to go with Comodo firewall – they are free and score great in leak tests
FYI: Windows OS already comes with a FW to check its status click run and type firewall.cpl
So there you have it! Darthgeeku’s El Cheapo Security Suite Solutions! Tada!! LOL
p.s Oh ya free softwares like these do not have an auto update function so update daily!
Pease install AVG Antivirus and update it daily.
After your internet observations,clear history.If you r using
Internet Explorer.Go to control panel>internet options and then you can clear history,delete cookies and delete files.
Please make sure that firewall(a wall to stop spyware and viruses)is switched on.You can look that by
Startmenu>All programs>Accessories>System tools>Security Center.