helpful software

[herakles]

I have started this thread so that everyone has an opportunity to mention their experience with various software they have found useful.

I will start with two:

1. Fire Walls.

Having a firewall is essential and I guess many rely on the one provided by Microsoft. But a recent exhaustive survey of quite a few products showed that the Microsoft firewall is pretty useless. The product rated No.1 is called Comodo. And it is free.

http://personalfirewall.comodo.com

2. Usually much of the software we use needs updating as a new version is released. Sometimes updating is crucial as the older version has flaws that affect the security of your computer.

The product Secunia scans your computer and gives you a list of software that should be updated for security reasons. Usually it also provides the link to go to in order to do this. It is also free.

https://psi.secunia.com/

Lastly, for those of you with the wisdom to use Firefox instead of IE as your browser, note that a version 3 will be released soon. Smaller and better. Is that possible?

[BB60]

Agree with the thoughts on the MS firewall. I never use it and turn it off. I use a hardware firewall and prefer it over software firewall. It is a part of my router and has much more flexibility (that I rarely use). A hardware firewall is preferable to me because I have multiple machines and it can be a pain to set up relationships between the machines to allow traffic between them. Using an appliance, I set up a wall around them all, instead each machine individually.

[herakles]

I take your point Jeff. But is the hardware firewall actually any good? Does it really do what it's meant to?

[BB60]

Mine does. I use it to block traffic by MAC adresses and I NAT my internal addresses through it, but not using DHCP to hand them out, instead relying on static addresses and denying all others. I don't even bother with WEP or WPA on the wireless, but if you have no other security, then use it. I also limit what IP ports can be used, limiting inbound to port 80 and several others, unless a session is initiated from within.

That is where a good anti-virus comes, coupled with good internet usage practices and current OS and application updates, as you indicated with your Secunia suggestion. My anti-virus of choice is AVG (http://free.grisoft.com/).* It is free, updates daily and is lightweight. I took that Norton/Symantec crap off 4 or 5 years ago after another monitoring** application discovered a virus before Norton did, but after it had loaded. Plus it was so resource intensive it adversely affected wireless traffic for me. McAffee is about the same in that regard. I am speaking of the home versions, not business versions. Did I mention that AVG is free?

Any business should use a firewall on a seperate box. We have two large Sidewinders that I help to manage. You can see our external IP address, but nothing else. I work where security is a significant issues, we cannot allow unwanted guests inside the wall. We do not use any local firewalls on the PCs.

Anything is penetrable, it is just a matter of how many clues you give them to work with. The less they know about you the better. If you use a hardware firewall, then that is all that it does and it doesn't have potential of openings caused by other things running on that box.

*They sell to businesses and give it away to individuals.

**WinPatrol (http://www.winpatrol.com/)

[herakles]

OK. Now I understand Jeff. You are very much in control.

Using a sand box makes a great deal of sense. As one concerned about security also, I take as many precautions that I can.

I'm glad you mentioned AVG anti virus. I use two and that is one of them. The other is avast! which is also free. No anti virus program is 100% but these two between them beat off most challengers. A long time ago I canned Norton, McAfee and the rest as being damned nearly useless, expensive and very demanding on CPU time. And they have the cheek to require payment for their products.

http://www.grisoft.com for AVG

Next we had better talk about spyware.

[billbuntintosser]

This thread need livening up I think.....

www.openoffice.org

an alternative to the stranglehold of Microsoft. You can open and create all sorts with this FREE software. Word, Exel, publisher, etc.....

Bill

[CGRET]

I would say there are many forms of firewalls/Anti-Virus programs on the market, some work well and other well...leave a lot to be desired.

I have been using Norton for 6 years. I also use the microsoft's built in firewall with windows XP. In the time that i have been using this setup i have not had a virus or worm.

The bottom line here is use what you feel works best for your O/S application.

Regards
Charles

[Wafu]

I have been using a German Supplier called Ashampoo, they have a good range of products for security, office, photography etc. very reasionably priced and to date have done the job well.
One product I would endorse that is not theirs is Regcure. it is the best registry cleaner I have come across and gets excellent reviews on software forums.
Steve

[Guz rating]

I have been using a German Supplier called Ashampoo, they have a good range of products for security, office, photography etc. very reasionably priced and to date have done the job well.
One product I would endorse that is not theirs is Regcure. it is the best registry cleaner I have come across and gets excellent reviews on software forums.
Steve

Thanks for the information Steve, I've been looking at Regcure. I shall now try it out. Do you happen to know Steve, if WiFi is the same type of system as Mac Airport. I tried the web but with all the computer short form lingo I got lost.

regards

Alan

[Hixy]

Thanks for the information Steve, I've been looking at Regcure. I shall now try it out. Do you happen to know Steve, if WiFi is the same type of system as Mac Airport. I tried the web but with all the computer short form lingo I got lost.

regards

Alan

I don't want to scare people but make sure it is what you want before using Regcure. Some disappointed people here http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/791331.html

[Wafu]

Well there you go. I must admit that I do not use Vista so can't really comment about Regcure compatibility the first post on the whirlpool forum was interesting, over 18,000 registry errors found. That is some dirty little computer.
I suppose it boils down to what is right for you. I have a clean up day once a week and will run an anvivirus scan, spyware scan and registry clean of the whole system usually on Sunday arvo about Nanna-knap time;)
I cannot help you with the WiFi thing, sorry, a bit of a stick in the mud when it comes to ipods and laptops and having just the one stand alone pc just use a modum.
I am sure that one of the younger generation will pick up the tread and help out.

[Wafu]

"tread" must be me oirish ancestors coming out:D

[harry.gibbon]

WAFU, Alan will be allright in the final analysis ... I sent him orf on this chase but if after all his exploration he needs to come back to a super golly then I shall aquaint him with my system... bolted tight !!!;):p but it can't always be without cost ...

Alan... see you at the end of your expedition or sooner mate

LIttle h

[Guz rating]

I don't want to scare people but make sure it is what you want before using Regcure. Some disappointed people here http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/791331.html

Thank you Frank for the the hyperlink. Computers are a bit of a mine field for me. The little Mac i've got never plays up. Just the PC which costed three times as much.

Regards

Alan

[Guz rating]

"tread" must be me oirish ancestors coming out:D

Thank you Steve for your post. You can only go with, what works for you. I think the safest thing for me, is wait until my daughter gets home. Great picture of you and your dog, lost mine a couple months ago.

Take care

Alan

[Guz rating]

Well there you go. I must admit that I do not use Vista so can't really comment about Regcure compatibility the first post on the whirlpool forum was interesting, over 18,000 registry errors found. That is some dirty little computer.
I suppose it boils down to what is right for you. I have a clean up day once a week and will run an anvivirus scan, spyware scan and registry clean of the whole system usually on Sunday arvo about Nanna-knap time;)
I cannot help you with the WiFi thing, sorry, a bit of a stick in the mud when it comes to ipods and laptops and having just the one stand alone pc just use a modum.
I am sure that one of the younger generation will pick up the tread and help out.

Thank you Steve for your post. I agree you can only go with ,what works for you. I think I will wait until my daughter comes home next week.

Very nice picture of you and your dog.

Take care

Alan

[Wafu]

Thanks Alan, they leave a big hole when they go, she died two years ago so I have rescued two greyhounds, wonderful pets but the old girl was something special
Steve

[Big Al]

I am using iolla System Mechanic Pro, It is one of the best Security Suites I have ever used thoroughly recommend it to anyone.