Re: Google Maps & PC Guard

The message <W4i3k.158012$cZ3.28211@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
from "Phil Ditupp" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx> contains these words:

snip

AVG 8.0 is a combined anti-virus and anti-malware solution; it
works well.

That might prove to be true, but be careful not to give folk the
impression that it's so good that it can totally replace the tried and
trusted SpyBot S&D in the fight against drive by download malware and
worse.

Most AV software based 'security' suites tend to perform abysmally in
this department when they bloat up to become a "One Size Fits all" fit
'n' forget solution and I see no reason why AVG should fare any better.

At the end of the day, it isn't so much the "Man For All Seasons" all
in one security package that does the job so much as the mindset of the
end user[1]. Having a less fit and forget combination of protection
based on a simple trustworthy AV and SpyBot S&D saves the end user being
lulled into a false sense of security and keeps them that little more
mindful of the ongoing problem of keeping their PC secured against the
ever evolving threat of the many varieties of malware that abound.

[1] Don't forget that most of the end users of microsoft's festering PoS
OS are home users who also need to provide their own system admin and
take some responsibility in the fight against malware, not only for
their own sake but also for the sake of others.

--
Regards, John.


Did I not read here recently that AVG uses the same AV engine as
Norton and therefore has
become a system resource hog and teeth-grindingly slow?

I don't see the connection with Norton at all. What has made AVG slow
has been the "antispyware" component add on, in particular, the toolbar.

Now if they could offer an AV only version of AVG 8.0. that would
eliminate the unnecessary bloat and make it a useful component to go
alongside SpyBot S&D avoiding the weakness inherent in a 'monocultured'
"All Singing, All Dancing"(tm) "One Size Fits All"(tm) "Fit 'n'
Forget"(tm) "Security Solution"(tm).

SpyBot doesn't require too much by way of user expertise (not all of
its tools need be accessed), just a simple once a week check for, and
download of, updates and checking whether the immunisation BHO needs to
have any additional components applied followed by a precautionary scan.

I would recommend to anyone installing 1.5.2 for the first time to
uncheck the "immediately download updates" (best save the updating 'till
after it's been fully installed) and likewise deselect the "Teatimer
Protection" which, quite frankly, is more trouble than it's worth.

I believe the alternative that was recommended was AVAST.

Sadly, this too has also suffered a similar "Upgrade" and, what's
worse, it still has that *** interface that looks more like a dark and
moody "Meeja Playa"(tm) rather than an honest to goodness antivirus
front end.

I once used Avast to clear the stration C worm (when it was a zero day
threat) on a system where AVG wouldn't update and the usual cure of
uninstalling it and re-installing it failed (the re-install would almost
comple and then go straight into reverse).

Avast found and cleared the worm ok, but totally failed to detect the
other two infections which the re-instated AVG found and removed. As to
which of the two was to remain, there was no contest, Avast was
uninstalled and the repaired AVG left on the system. The situation could
so easily have been the other way round, except it would still have been
AVG that would have been kept. :-)

I've downloaded the latest Clamav installer but still haven't gotten
round to actually trialling it since AVG 7.5 is still currently being
supported (until at least the end of the month). This might prove to be
the last of the unbloated freeware AV offerings suited to pairing up
with SpyBot S&D.

--
Regards, John.

Please remove the "ohggcyht" before replying.
The address has been munged to reject Spam-bots.

.

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