Mele20Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
kudos:4 | reply to newsnerd8
Re: Beginner in Security said by newsnerd8:I see so many suggestions, it's kind of overwhelming where to start from. If I use a router and Windows XP firewall, a solid AV, along with a program for spyware, is that good for a beginner? Do I need a seperate program for anti-trojans? Yes, what you have listed is good for a beginner, but AVG is NOT a "solid" AV. That is not just my opinion. AVComparatives is a site that is highly respected among security people and AV vendors. They run tests several times a year on AVs that want to participate to evaluate performance. Results of the latest tests will be on the site on March 1. The last tests with posted results was from last Nov and on those, AVG scored a "Standard" rating. In comparision, Avira, which I started using a few weeks ago (free version), and really like, scored the highest of all tested and got a rating of advanced plus (not just advanced).
I suggested that you use BoClean partly because you are using a mediocre AV that does NOT do well on catching trojans. If you use Avira it will catch most everything and if you like it and you purchase it, instead of using the free version, you will get protection against adware/spyware (more than what is in the free version). I see nothing wrong with you using AVG if you like it, feel comfortable with it, and find it not confusing or hard to use (that's important for a beginner). But I really believe you will need an antitrojan application like BoClean to go with it. With Avira or Kaspersky for your AV (or a few others) you would not need an additional application for antitrojans as Avira and Kaspersky are top AV. However, I don't think KAV is easy for a beginner to use and even Avira might be confusing for a beginner although you can leave the settings at default and be safe with it. You don't need to tinker with it. The free version does not have a mail scanner but if you are interested in learning about and practicing safe computing you may already understand that you don't need an email scanner. If you get an attachment in an email never open it, unless you were expecting to get it, and even then always, no exceptions EVER, download the attachment to disk and right click scan it first with your AV before opening.
You said to start off, you want a "set and forget it" application. BoClean is that and it will catch everything except viruses. I have not used the Anti-Malware that AVG has now so I can't speak to its ease or non-ease of use as set and forget. Others here can. AVG is very popular here (that does not mean that it is a great AV though).
»www.av-comparatives.org/
Click on the November test to see the results of those AV tested. This, of course, is just one test but it is a good one and will give you some idea of which AV are really strong, good ones.
One other thing: are you using IE? You should use a safer browser like Firefox and half your worries about security are gone if you just avoid IE.
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"If you want to do DRM on a PC then you need to treat the user as the enemy." Ross Anderson in "`Trusted Computing' Frequently Asked Questions"
»www.msfirefox.com/ |
