Computer protection for free

[WoodPeckr]

Computer protection for free
By MARSHALL LOEB

NEW YORK - Anybody whose computer has been overrun by a virus or gummed up by spyware knows how frustrating it can be to revive a hard drive that's been attacked. To protect your computer you need not only antivirus and antispyware programs but also a firewall, a spam blocker and perhaps even a backup hard drive.

You might be able to get all that for free too.

Alwil's avast! antivirus program is free at www.alwil.com and comes with a firewall to prevent unauthorized communications to and from your computer. The company also lets you download its Virus Cleaner repair program for free.

Here's a download site in English: www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

Spyware may not destroy your hard drive, but it will track your movements and send them to marketers and it can slow your computer noticeably or cause it to crash. If you surf the Internet, there's a good chance you've been infected at least once.

Download Spybot Search and Destroy from a number of sites, including www.pcworld.com or Microsoft Windows Defender from www.microsoft.com. Spybot was ranked the better of the two by Consumer Reports but even installing both may not protect you from the wide variety of threats out there. You might want to buy a separate spyware program as a backup.

Most popular e-mail programs such as Microsoft Outlook and e-mail Internet sites Hotmail and Yahoo! will block spam according to the settings you choose. If you're an Outlook user and spam remains a problem, try Trend Micro's Anti-Spam Pilot for free. This stand-alone was ranked the highest of any spam blocker by Consumer Reports. Find it at www.trendmicro.com.

Buying a backup hard drive can cost hundreds of dollars (though the price is going down), so if you don't have the cash for it, regularly back up your important files on CD or with a flash memory card and keep the software installation discs that came with your computer. If your hard drive crashes and must be reformatted, you'll save yourself the cost of buying popular programs like Microsoft Office again.

 

[High_Roller]

Thanks.

I was looking for a free anti-virus program.

 

[salsamarc]

I have symantec antivirus on my pc is it any good???

 

[antlerman]

I use NOD32...real easy and runs way deep in the back ground.....does not use alot of space.....I found Symantec to lag the XP systems

 

[hungry]

I use avg anti virus, ewido anti spyware, zone alarm for a firewall. All are free with free updates and seem to work quite well!

 

[WoodPeckr]

I have symantec antivirus on my pc is it any good???

As long as they do the job and auto update they are all good.

I still use Norton 2002, been using it since 2002 with no problems. It auto updates and that's what is important.

McAfee came with my PC and ran it for 3 yrs before McAfee said I had to pay for the next update subscription if I wanted to keep it. So back in 2002, I D/L Norton 2002 off AudioGalaxy for free and have been using it ever since.

AVG is another good free AV program.
There are a few others out there.
To find them just Google for them, then google for their reviews.
There's no need to pay for an AV program anymore.
Saw that article about this AV and thought of passing it along.

All I D/L off Alwil's Avast was the Virus Cleaner repair program offered to try it out. It's a nice little anti-spyware program. Ran it, all was clear on my PC.

 

[pony123]

If you use Rogers hi speed , their virus software is free to download .




So what can you do about viruses? Your best course of action is using Rogers Yahoo! Anti-Virus. It's included with your Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet and it detects and cleans dangerous viruses from your PC before they damage your system.
Anti-Virus works in three ways to keep your computer safe and clean:

1) It automatically scans new files downloaded onto your PC;

2) It performs regular scans of your computer, including hard drives, removable media such as ZIP drives and floppy drives; and

3) Since no two viruses are the same, it regularly and automatically updates the information that it uses to detect viruses, to combat possible new threats to your computer.
The even better news is that accessing Rogers Yahoo! Anti-Virus is easier than ever with the new Rogers Yahoo! Online Protection security software suite that brings your security tools together in one easy-to-use dashboard. You should see the green circle icon and the word "On" in the Anti-Virus section of your dashboard when Anti-Virus is on and working properly.

The Internet can be rife with viruses and other annoying infestations, but with Rogers Yahoo! Anti-Virus, you'll be able to keep your computer healthy and use those sick days when you really need them!

 

[Cobster]

Norton is a resource hot and a REAL pain in da ass to remove.
Shit, they even made a Norton removal tool, specifically for that reason.
NOD32 is sweet and REALLY good, well worth the $35 a year.
That's 2 dances or a few pack of smokes (for any smokers out there).
I don't have any A/V program right now, I watch where I surf and what I download. So far so good.

 

[Hightop]

i use trend micro pc chillin and has caught everything that tried to hit me so far you can download 30day trial from the site

 

[Cobster]

I have symantec antivirus on my pc is it any good???

It's good if you already have a subscription, or have it for free.
Once the subscription is up, GET rid of it.
It's so bad, they had to make a removal tool, especially for it, BECAUSE, it won't remove clean through add/remove programs.
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

 

[monkeychan]

I use AVG antivirus... and it's free!

free.grisoft.com

 

[WoodPeckr]

Removing & Reinstalling Norton

Norton is a resource hot and a REAL pain in da ass to remove.
Shit, they even made a Norton removal tool, specifically for that reason.

I don't have any A/V program right now, I watch where I surf and what I download. So far so good.

Here's the trick to reusing Norton......

True Norton is a bit of a resource hog, uses about 5% system resources for me, but I'm familiar with Norton and that doesn't bother me.
Back in 2002 the guys at AudioGalaxy told me about it and have been using it since then. You don't need any special removal tool.

1: First uninstall Norton using the add/remove feature in your Windows control panel.
This will take out most but not all of Norton.
Symantec leaves behind several folders and a few registry keys, so you can't just remove & reinstall it.

2: Then click on, Start>Find>Files or Folders.
In 'Files or Folders' do a complete search of your computer for all Norton, Symantec & Antivirus, and delete all folders you find.

3: Get and run a Registry Cleaner, which is freely available on CNET or Download.com.
After running Registry Cleaner, scroll through the registry keys listed and remove all Norton & Symantec registry keys you find.

Once you have done these 3 things just reinstall Norton for another entire year complete with auto updates and all their features.

AVG is another good free AV. Downloaded AVG a couple years back and was going to use AVG instead of Norton. Looked AVG over but stayed with Norton because I didn't want to take the time to learn AVG since I knew and was comfortable with Norton.

At least get AVG, it's free. There's lots of nasty stuff on the net that you could stumble upon that can in no time mess up your PC.