Virus protection - RV-Dreams Community Forum

ahoweth · RV-Dreams Family Member

Virus protection

Howard · Host

Hey Alan,

Based on advice I got here on the Forum, we have AVG from grisoft.

Here is the link: AVG Free.

I've been very pleased with it. So glad I got rid of both Norton and McAfee. smile

I notice AVG has a couple of other free protection softwares now: Anti-spyware and Anti-rootkit.

Ken & Sarah · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have used AVG for several years and have never had a virus problem. It can be set to update daily. The only thing the free copy does, on my pc, is at 8 AM CST it scans the entire system for virus. There is no way to reschedule that I would assume if you bought the upgrade you would have control over that but it is a minor detail at this time.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

We had a computer technician recommend it last year in Vermont and we've been using it ever since without any issues, or viruses.
Would definitely recommend it.
Fred

mikeway · RV-Dreams Family Member

I also recommend 2 additional programs. One that searches your web data and finds tracking ads and such.

It is called Adaware

Also a program that finds other cute little packages that often come with free online games called SpyBot - Search and Destroy.

Over the years I have found these along with AVG to be a good suite of free protection.

Always practice "safe computing", not paranoid, just safe.

Mike

RVDude · RV-Dreams Family Member

For what it's worth both Adaware (by Lavasoft) and AVG (both in the free versions) are positively superb products.

I currently run freebie Adaware on all my machines (if you pay for it you can turn it on to actively block spyware/adware code deposits, otherwise it simply scans and removes after the fact) and have 1 each of Norton, McAfee and AVG. I have positively no complaints about any of them. Many ISPs will provide a free subscription to Norton/McAfee as part of you plan.

Having numerous friends who are in the internet security business I can relay these are all highly regarded products. Just make sure you have BOTH firewall AND anti-virus at all times and have them set to automatically update. Adding Adaware and anti-rootkits are a big bonus.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

The only thing the free copy does, on my pc, is at 8 AM CST it scans the entire system for virus. There is no way to reschedule that

I have free AVG and can change the scan time. Bring up AVG Free Control Center (it is on the start menu All Programs->AVG Free->AVG Free Control Center). Notice the "Scheduled Tasks" button? Click it and edit the scan time. Mine runs at the local time.

bailey51 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hello all.

I like to chime in here as I'm a pc Tech on the side.

You're all very educated as I to recommend those products as well.

Probably over 90% of the pc's I work on are Virus / Anti spyware infected.

As a matter of fact, a good bit of those infected pc's had Nortons or McAfee on them, and they still got infected.

Currently I use the following freeware products on my 3 pcs.

Anti Virus Programs
Avast home edition

Spy ware removal
Spy-bot Search and destroy
Ad-aware
Spyware Blaster
Trend Micro Hijack This
I just started to use Spyware Terminator with good results.

And my Web Browser of choice is
FireFox ( Safer then Internet Explorer )

Internet Clean up Tools.
CCleaner
Or
Windows CleanUp!

You can fine all these fine freeware products and much much more along with some shareware programs at this link below.

http://www.snapfiles.com/freeware/

Here is a link to bleeping computer forum on how to keep your pc safe and many other topics.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic2520.html

And more forums here.

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/forums.html

http://www.castlecops.com/

Hope this info helps.

Hope to have a RV by spring or summer of 2008.

Thanks all
Bailey51
( Mitch, Margaret, My two dogs, Toby and Bailey )

-- Edited by bailey51 at 06:59, 2007-11-10

ahoweth · RV-Dreams Family Member

A big thanks to all.

I have been using Nortons which I bought but it slows down my machine a lot. That may be an issue with all virus protection as in a former life McAfee was used and it did the same thing. I certainly am not interested in paying for Nortons again if good products are available for free and it certainly sounds like they are.

Thanks again. I'm sold. biggrin

Froggi · RV-Dreams Family Member

The ever increasing size of Norton is one of the reasons I started to search for an anti-virus alternative. My backup & mini travel laptop just couldn't handle the bloat anymore.

I ended up with NOD32 which I love....decent price, good reviews and small footprint on the computer. I did ask my son, my network/computer guru, first. <g>

For ANYONE who is moving away from Norton, a normal uninstall doesn't really get rid of all the parts & pieces of Norton. You need to use the Norton Removal Tool.

-- Edited by Froggi at 08:59, 2007-11-11

brucedelta · RV-Dreams Family Member

ahoweth wrote:
Being in the computer tech support business I can tell you I agree fully with Baily in that Virus/spyware is a huge problem for the average user.
I basically use the same list of tools as Baily and would give a big endorsment to Avast. On the other hand I would not advise anyone to change just because I or someone here recomended a product. Unistalling and installing Antivirus (AV) software is a very complex thing, even though it seems like just pushing a simple next button, and I have seen the unistall process on AV screw things up badly. So if you have a reason to change go ahead, but don't do it just for the heck of it. Good reason to change include that MacAffe/Norton may be slowing your computer down, expired subscriptions, or updates failing.
Norton and MacAffe have just become to large in trying to be everything to everyone and I think in general they are terrible products as they take so much machine power that it slows down a older computer considerably. They also portray themselves as doing everything and give users a false sense of security.

Remember a user can still download bad things and override the best protection. It is also possible for a competent user to operate a computer with no protection and remain free of problems. These programs are just tools and common sense with a large dose of caution are also warrented. The largest class of items to be aware of is any program that wants to install something on your computer for free. Remember every company has to have a revenue model.

-- Bruce

A big thanks to all.

I have been using Nortons which I bought but it slows down my machine a lot. That may be an issue with all virus protection as in a former life McAfee was used and it did the same thing. I certainly am not interested in paying for Nortons again if good products are available for free and it certainly sounds like they are.

Thanks again. I'm sold.

-- Edited by brucedelta at 12:13, 2007-11-11

jcw · RV-Dreams Family Member

I don't want to raise the old Mac vs PC battle here, but I just have to point out that this is one of the main reasons many people prefer a Mac. We don't have to deal with any of this spyware or virus junk. They just don't exist on the Mac. Some people say it's because of the small market share, but I'm a technically savvy guy and I know that the real reason is the underlying Unix operating system used by the Mac. It's a LOT more bullet proof, robust, and secure than that toy operating system used by Microsoft.

Ok, I'll get off my soap box now....

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

I prefer Linux. Much cheaper, nothing is a secret, and I don't have to do things some arrogant billionaire's way (Steve Jobs, Steve Ballmer, Larry Ellison, pick somebody). But I mostly run XP because I want to run certain software, like Microsoft Streets and Trips, that only exists on Windows. I protect the system as well as I can and seem to do well since I am always helping others get rid of problems.

jcw: Remember the first worm was on Unix. I have programmed on a Mac, pre Unix version, it was like water torture. I am sure a lot of the arcane wierdness from the old Mac software has come to the new version and will bring lots of bugs and problems.

Fordiesel250 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have Norton and Spy ware virus scan on my PC. If I download Adaware do I have to remove these from my computer? Norton is really difficult to remove.

sirwinston21 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ford, that is what I had to do. Norton was a pain to get rid of but not as much of a pain as it was to keep it. Good luck and I think you will be happy with AVG. Jesse

-- Edited by sirwinston21 at 10:45, 2008-08-03

RVDude · RV-Dreams Family Member

I assume you are running AVG firewall or antivirus? Then yes, only one of those tools (1 firewall, 1 AV, etc.) per PC please. Each can be different brands, just one tool per PC.

The Official Norton removal tool suite is at www.symantec.com/autotools it includes the complete cleaner tools.

AVG is a superb product and in defense of Norton it is too. I have had both running on separate PCs for years and never had a problem with either. Seamless and effortless. And yes, I do regularly run intrusion and crack my PC tools against both and both products deflect the intrusion and mask my environment with flying colors.

-- Edited by RVDude at 15:16, 2008-08-04

RangerPaul · RV-Dreams Community Member

Have any of you running Norton or MacAfee tried adding RAM to your PCs? That oughta help, and it's easier than trying to get rid of deeply entrenched software. RAM is really cheap these days.

-- Edited by RangerPaul at 16:28, 2008-08-06

Gerryann · RV-Dreams Community Member

I just installed Norton in my PC and it keeps asking me to reactivate it every few days or after shutting it down, I am reallly getting frustrated with it. I called Norton tech and they walked me through the problem so they said. but i am still having to reactivate it every couple days.
I would really like to uninstall it, but after reading on the forum here, sounds like it might be a problem. Any suggestions?

Gerryann

-- Edited by Gerryann at 00:13, 2008-09-23

cc · RV-Dreams Community Member

Mikeway,
Do you need this (Adawared) when you have an Apple?
Carol

RVDude · RV-Dreams Family Member

AdAware (and other "spyware" programs) monitor/control/restrict the little "goodies" every computer and every browser can encounter while surfing. These little "goodies" include nosy cookies often called "tracking cookies" which track your browsing. These little "goodies" all come from simply browsing - using a browser - and are not OS related.

So yes, Apple or PC or Linux or Windows or MacOS or whatever systems should have some form of AdAware or other "spyware" system installed to help with these nosy browsing monitors.

PS Some Norton packages also include SpyWare capabilities as do some McAfee packages. Then there is AdAware and a myriad of other SpyWare programs.