Which security measures do you have in place? [

glugglug

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2002
5,340
1
81
Which security measures do you have in place on your home PC?

For the purposes of this poll, the NAT from a DSL/Cable router counts as a hardware firewall since you have to explicitly tell it what ports to allow through to which PC. A DSL or Cable modem connected directly to a PC without a router in-between does not.

Edit:
Using hardware & software firewalls here. No AV software, never got a virus, last scanned about 6 months ago.

Good point about the AdAware type programs. I have Pest Patrol running, and let's face it it serves a pretty similar purpose to the software firewall.
 

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
No AV here, i didn't have a virus for all of 2002 so i stopped paying for norton, i know not to open random .exe's from e-mail and stuff.

But i have a Router/Firewall and Windows Firewall enabled (but i didnt count that as a software firewall since it sucks)
 

Davegod

Platinum Member
Nov 26, 2001
2,874
0
76
software firewall, antivirus.

Though "security measures" dont end there; there's a lot to be said for keeping your OS/programs (especially AV) up to date (+some OS tweaks), and especially using your computer sensibly. I'd also count Spybot/Adaware as a security measure, they dont just spot ads but pickup some stuff such as keyloggers aswell.

Might be of interest to people reading this thread to try out security scanner sites, e.g. scanit, norton
 

rb56

Senior member
Oct 27, 2000
873
0
0
I've got a router, Norton AV and Internet Security running on my main rig at home. My daughter will get on it once in a while so I have to have it locked down pretty tight.
 

GoSharks

Diamond Member
Nov 29, 1999
3,053
0
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router only... i've never had a virus/worm/anything in the many years that i have been online (past 9600baud, i dont even remember when i came online). i did/do run NS/mozilla/firebird/firefox and have never used IE extensively.
 

sharq

Senior member
Mar 11, 2003
507
0
0
Hardware firewall (router) && software firewall. Also helps that I'm 95% of the time in linux. :)
 

ArmchairAthlete

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2002
3,763
0
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Hardware Firewall (router), Software firewall (Sygate), AV scans when I want to (Trendmicro's Housecall).

I use Housecall since I don't want some junk slowing down my PC in the background. I try to run as few things at a time as possible. I've heard gamers complain that their AV kicks in as they play a game, basically disconnecting them and ruining whatever they were enjoying at the time. Housecall is also free and always up to date!

there's a lot to be said for keeping your OS/programs (especially AV) up to date (+some OS tweaks), and especially using your computer sensibly. I'd also count Spybot/Adaware as a security measure, they dont just spot ads but pickup some stuff such as keyloggers aswell.

Yea, for sure. I run an Adaware/Spybot search every now and then too, doesn't usually find more than a handfull of cookies though.
 

Cheetah8799

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2001
4,508
0
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I don't use software firewalls because my PC configurations change so often that it would be one more thing to worry about. Plus, I keep Windows and Mcafee updated, so I'm not too worried. I also only use Mozilla/Firebird/Firefox when possible (some sites still require IE...)

The one thing that does worry me is if someone hacks my wireless router...

EDIT: I also use AdAware and SpyBot on a regular basis on all my systems.
 

buleyb

Golden Member
Aug 12, 2002
1,301
0
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actually, my layout involves two hardware firewalls, a software firewall, A/V software, and monitoring logs to offer a heads up
 

KB

Diamond Member
Nov 8, 1999
5,406
389
126

Linux. Includes builtin iptables firewall. Plus I shut down nearly every daemon.