Re: How much "protection" needs to be running all the time?

Art wrote: 
On Sat, 28 Jan 2006 07:09:01 GMT, louise <louise@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


I'm wondering whether it is ok not to keep an anti-spyware program running all the time - seems like a lot of overhead.


Then practice safe hex and get rid of the stupid thing :)


I was running Spyware Doctor for a short time and it seemed kind of intrusive and maybe over-zealous? Or is it really just doing it's job?

I'm now running:

Nod32
Sygate Firewall Pro
Linksys router (have cable connection)

I run Adaware, Spybot and Spyware Doctor , alternating programs, at least once a week.

Is this enough or do I really need to keep one of these spyware programs running all the time?


You should be asking instead, "How does one get hit with spyware?"
You then correct your behaviour accordingly.

Many get hit by "driveby" spyware because they use IE with activex and/or scripting enabled. The use of a alternate browser such as Firefox for general browsing will practically cut the risk to near zero. Such a Gecko based browser (or Opera) should be set as the default browser because of clickable
links.

The other way people get hit is by indiscriminate installations
of software. In fact, some alleged anti-spyware contains
spyware :) There are some black lists and white lists that
are helpful in this regard, and it pays to be very careful
about what you install and/or allow to run. If you're a freeware fanatic, you should follow alt.comp.freeware
and learn what apps others have black listed and white
listed.

Art
http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg

I do use Firefox about 90% of the time - some things just wont run on it - thus the other 10%

One other person uses this machine who has very little computer awareness and not much interest in learning. It's bad enough that I had the IE icon so that this person can't just casually open up IE because that's what he's used to doing on his own machine :-) Nevertheless, I can't control everything.

I have to use Outlook for email. I have a good spam filter and nothing gets opened without being recognized by me, or at least thought about for a while..

I don't tend to go to questionable sites, but sometimes you run into one while following search engine links etc. - it does happen very occasionally.

I use very little freeware

Nevertheless, my system was completely crashed this summer and I think it was a trojan - I don't know from where.
I've become much more "paranoid" since and I now use NOD32 and I do run the various spyware programs mentioned on a much more frequent basis.

Louise
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: How much "protection" needs to be running all the time?
    ... >program running all the time - seems like a lot of overhead. ... Then practice safe hex and get rid of the stupid thing:) ... > I was running Spyware Doctor for a short time and it ... In fact, some alleged anti-spyware contains ...
    (alt.comp.anti-virus)
  • How much "protection" needs to be running all the time?
    ... I'm wondering whether it is ok not to keep an anti-spyware program running all the time - seems like a lot of overhead. ... I was running Spyware Doctor for a short time and it seemed kind of intrusive and maybe over-zealous? ...
    (alt.comp.anti-virus)
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    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: water drop sound when on internet
    ... Perhaps you have some kind of program running in the ... - perhaps do a spyware check. ... Have you downloaded any themes, wallpapers, skins lately? ... >Please reply to the newsgroup so others may benefit. ...
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