Advice for new internet security.....

Jun 23, 2006
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Im fixing to make a few upgrades this week{new cpu,new os} Im going with W7 and need to replace my internet security{bit defender}.
Ive also used Trend micro along with Norton in the past and i want something that is bloat free and fast. Is Windows Security Essentials any good?
Any advice would be helpful......thx
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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Another vote for Microsoft Security Essentials. Or AntiVir is good too.

Along with that, here are some more suggestions:

1) fully enable your Data Execution Prevention by putting Advanced system settings in the Search box on the Start menu, opening it, and then doing this:

enable_DEP.gif


2) enable SEHOP (prevents certain types of exploits from being attempted) by running the Fix-It on this page.

3) do not disable UAC.

4) once you've got Windows installed and patched, make a new Standard User account, and use that one as your "daily driver." Leave the Administrator-level account just for Admin duties.

5) use Secunia's free vulnerability checkup utility at least once a month to make sure your stuff's all patched (Flash, QuickTime, Java, Adobe Reader, etc etc) since that stuff is a major source of "attack surface" these days.

6) make sure you're using the Microsoft Update engine, not the plain-vanilla Windows Update engine, by going to http://update.microsoft.com.


Those steps won't slow the computer down, but will make it more difficult to attack.
 
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Jun 23, 2006
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I decided to wait on getting W7 so looks like im going to be using XP home for a bit longer.So far i am impressed with Windows Security Essentials. So my next question is....is the firewall that came with XP adequate?
Or do i need to d/l a free one?
THX..
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
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One app that I've started installing is WOT.
It's a user based web page rating app. Sure it's not perfect, but it gives users some kind of idea how reliable/trustworthy a web site is.
It helps the regular Joe weigh the risks of clicking on search result links.
It can be configured to block, but I just set the warning levels to default.
 

tzdk

Member
May 30, 2009
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Try DynDNS internet guide http://www.dyndns.com/services/dynguide/ OpenDNS is probably just as good or better with most categories except what they call "spyware". Is quite effective and as far as I know the only free dns service offering this. OpenDNS suddenly found a way to block malware when business plan was in place.

If you sign up for an account you can actually disable landing page for unknown addresses. Of course they have one. Well then service is invisible unless something is blocked. In other words brilliant :) If you just punch in numbers "spyware", phishing, conficker will be blocked. I also use spam, advertisements/popups. Dns blocking ads is not pretty but it seems their filter is mild. Not that often you see a Dyndns box. And way faster than waiting for blocking.opendns.com

Their source for malware etc. is Barracuda http://www.barracudacentral.org/ Don't know them but so far so good. WOT has many more sources (forget users) so is "better" but this is dns = more powerful in some ways. Router is not the same as a browser plugin.

There are no stats like on Opendns. So obvious there will be a premium service but as long as they keep "spyware" category that is fine. Free version lets you add own domains and whitelist too - should Barracuda go too far. I would imagine "spam" category can be tricky. They seem strong with malware - can rarely be debated anyway.

Blain, try Linkextend for Firefox http://www.linkextend.com/ That way you can see verdicts from not only WOT but also Mcafee Siteadvisor, Norton Safe Web, Browserdefender, Google and Web Security Guard. 9 out of 10 times you are on something really nasty you will find that only WOT knows the site :) Rest are useless to be honest. Getting close to false sense of security. WOT has so many good sources blacklisting malware that there is no contest. And I will add if only they would focus on that... WOT is also about green sites = promotion and then you get eager advertisers or spammers. Ain't seen nothing yet but depends on popularity. For now it works ok if focus is on red sites. Few false positives.

If you even use Firefox you can move the green button for these services up next to "wonder bar". Will change unless full green for all. Easy to check which don't like this or that, and why. No need for a pixel eating LinkExtend toolbar. Most you probably don't care about. Check settings and disable away. Each button can be moved about.
 
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Pheran

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2001
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As an add-on on top of the basic firewall and antivirus protections you should have, Secunia PSI is hugely useful in determining whether all your software is patched, and it's free for home use.
 

Chiefcrowe

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2008
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Another vote for Secunia, its a super useful program to use!

As an add-on on top of the basic firewall and antivirus protections you should have, Secunia PSI is hugely useful in determining whether all your software is patched, and it's free for home use.
 

tzdk

Member
May 30, 2009
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Yeah, regardless of auto-update some always manage to run with old java, flash, pdf stuff. And more. Their online scanner can be run by anyone just like that. Same with Filehippos Update Checker, standalone version http://filehippo.com/updatechecker/ Not much sense in protecting if important programs are outdated. Can't see how but would be cool if Windows had a column for each entry in add/remove blinking "update available" :)