Is this software enough?

I wanted to get some responses on the software I use. Let me know if there have been known conflicts with any of the software listed below. Also, let me know if you think there are other softwares that I should use and\or software that I should stop using.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal Pro 5.0.20 (switched from Avast Free)
Outpost Firewall Pro 2.5.375.4822 (374) - Plugins Active
Microsoft Antispyware (beta1) 1.0.509 - Realtime Active
DiamondCS Process Guard 3.150 - All Active
Regdefend 1.150 (14 - day trial)
Spybot Search & Destroy - Resident "SD Helper" Enabled & Immunized
Spyblaster - All Options Enabled

What do you think? Am I missing something or should I get rid of something?

dja2k

 

Hi Dja2k, welcome to Wilders.

Your setup looks pretty good, you may want to take a look at Firefox, you may also want to take a look HERE. As well there are discussions HERE and even more HERE.

Hope this helps...

Let us know how you go.

Cheers

 

Hi dja2k,

You have a very good protection

Suggestions:
1. If you cannot buy the Regdefend, try WinPatrol.
2. If you have the active protection of Microsoft Antispyware, it's useless to also have the Resident "SD Helper" enabled of Spybot-S&D.
3. Install the Ad-Aware that is a great program against spyware...

Regards

 

Thanks for the fast posts. Will take a look around those links that were mentioned.

dja2k

 

You look well covered, I agree that with MS Anti sypware you don’t need Spybot running any resident protection and some may also argue that with RegDefend you also do not need MS anti spyware running either. About the only thing I can thing of recommending would be an anti Trojan, KAV is very good at detecting Trojans but you could always use something like Ewido (which is free as an on-demand scanner) to check up.

 

Why would you use Prevx and Process Guard together? Aren't both of them about the same thing, Intrusion Prevention. Anyway, would Prevx conflict with anything on my list above?

Also I don't know if you are familiar with Outpost Plug-ins, but if you are, I am trying to accomidate your TIGHT Security while using those Outpost Plugins because they block some of the stuff you use external programs for. Like the "ADS" plug-in that blocks the ads from websites and the "Active Content" plug-in that blocks Privacy, Page Optimization, and scripting. For example, using those plug-ins to substitue IE Spyad.

I turned off the Spybot Resident "SD Helper" due to the Microsoft Antispyware. Am I missing something like Spyware Guard for Real time scanner for Browser Hijack prevention? Okay I have noticed that lots of people don't like the Microsoft Antispyware, why is that, isn't it good? Is ewido better? I see others using Spysweeper instead. What is your opinion on that?

dja2k

 

A couple of others you may also consider:

In addition and as a compliment to DCS PG, you can add SSM (System Safety Monitor) which is currently freeware, which would give you ultimate and total control. http://maxcomputing.narod.ru/ssme.html?lang=en

You could also deploy a script/worm guard such as DCS WormGuard (Payware) - http://wormguard.diamondcs.com.au/ or AnalogX - Script Defender (freeware) - http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/sdefend.htm (Both are excellent apps)

As far as Anti-trojan goes: Diamonds TDS3 is the best there is (payware) - http://tds.diamondcs.com.au/ ... Trojan Hunter is also excellent (payware) - http://www.trojanhunter.com/products/ ... There are also two good freeware solutions in Ewido and A2, they aren't on the same level as TDS and TH, but they are good scanners. http://www.ewido.net/en/download/ & http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/

For web filtering you could try Proxomitron (it's a little advanced but not to hard to understand and pickup) - http://www.proxomitron.info/files/index.html -or- http://duke.usask.ca/~macphed/prox/ ... there's a little guide here to get you started if you wish - https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=66222

Regards,

Steve

 

The "Attack Detection" and "DNS Cache" is sufficient to me...
I use Ad Muncher against ads-popups, and for the rest IE-SPYAD and Host File Manager...

If you use the Microsoft Antispyware you don't need nothing more on the active protection against spyware.

The problem is that Microsoft Antispyware is in beta stage...

The ewido is already an excellent addition for your protection. Very good detection of Trojans and other Malware. The new version will be amazing...

SpySweeper is one of the best programs against spyware and have a very nice active scanner...

 

PS. If you're using IE as your browser definitely check Eric Howes IE-Spyad - http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/resource.htm#IESPYAD & Enough is Enough - http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/resource6.htm.

Actually Eric's Privacy Site is one of the best resources on the net. You should probably bookmark it if you haven't already.

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/main-nf.htm

Another Layer of Protection would be to use a Hosts File - There are many available, two good ones are MVPS - http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm -or- HpGuru's - http://www.hosts-file.net/downloads.html

Regards,

Steve

 

I agree with you hollywoodpc!

But some users think that way...

 

Host files use the DNS Client? If that is so, what if I have that service disabled because of configuration of Outpost Firewall and my Router? Can host files be deleted, cause I don't want to be blocked from website to website etc?

dja2k

P.S.
And I agree, Microsoft's Antispyware is good even though it is in Beta. By the way, the previous version from Giant Software was good too, I don't know why they diss it. Its free and does a good job for some things.

 

Rather than typing out my own reply, here's is HpGuru's opinion which will answer your question.

HTH,

Steve

HpGuru Readme text (online) - http://www.hosts-file.net/pafiledb/uploads/readme.html

 

Would you say I need Prevx Home as well?

dja2k

 

As the question doesn't seem to be directed at anyone specifically, I'll take a stab at it.

I didn't really like Prevx personally ... but I'm more than comfortable with my current setup of using PG and SSM to control processes. I guess it's a matter of level of comfort/paranoia really ... as many do use PG & Prevx without issue. The best way to decide what you think you need is to try it ... if it works well on your system, with your setup ... go for it ... it's another layer of defence.

Steve

 

I use Prevx, however I turn it's settings down in regards to registry warnings, I turn off Spybot S & D resident, and use RegDefend to monitor the registry at the kernal level.

From the Prevx website:

Protects your PC against the Worms, Trojans, malicious Spyware, Malware and Hacker attacks that bypass traditional security technology.

Prevx Home anonymously and automatically sends us data each time an attack is made on your PC. Prevx sell this data to organizations such as ISPs and Prevx Enterprise customers. Prevx analyzes this threat data to track the emergence and spread of new security threats.

This same system is used to protect corporate customers, you benefit from the continual improvements made to the security policies that are such an integral part of our security solutions.

Hope this helps...

Cheers

 

Okay so does Prevx conflict while using Process Guard, Kaspersky, Outpost, Regdefend and Microsoft's Antispyware. I know that is a hard question to ask, but maybe Frevx is known to conflict with one or more of the above software.

dja2k

 

Just saw that my device manager doesn't work. I think one of my programs is blocking it or something. Check out the pic.

dja2k

 

I had that problem from using jv16 powertools 2005. If you used it, use the backups to restore and download the latest version form macecraft.

If this is not the problem, I leave it to others

 

Thanks, I just ended up installing a fresh copy of XP; it was time anyways.

dja2k

 

Hi dja2k,

I also had this problem and found the solution here: Device Manager, unable to run it...

Regards

 

Okay changed list to:

Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal Pro 5.0.20 - Maximum Protection Level
Zonealarm 5.5.062.011 Pro + Visual Zone - High Security
Microsoft Antispyware (beta1) 1.0.509 - Realtime Active
DiamondCS Process Guard 3.150 - All Active
Regdefend 1.150 + Regrun Entries - All Active
Spybot Search & Destroy 1.3 - Scanner Only + Immunized
Spywareblaster 3.3 - All Options Enabled
Firefox Browser - Alternative from IE
Protowall & Blocklist Manager - On when P2P Downloads Active
Ad-aware SE Personal - Scanner Only
Xoftspy - Scanner Only
Ewido - Scanner Only
AnalogX Script Defender - Active

I got rid of Outpost, kept giving me blue screen errors when browsing. Zonealarm is working fine. So is this setup pretty good as well. Any new programs to try out to add here?

dja2k

 

Hehe, well you've got more than enough apps I think The one thing that I really think goes all too often overlooked is system hardening. See my sig Another nice tool that will not take any system resources is DropMyRights: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dncode/html/secure11152004.asp (SecureIt will do this to IE, and add an entry to your context menu to start any program with reduced privileges, but won't let you easily make shortcuts to arbitrary programs like DropMyRights.)

 

Already did all what is done in that referred website before I even posted here. Will try that other program you mentioned though and see how it goes.

dja2k

 

Okay I was wondering since a lot of people don't use microsoft antispyware, what programs do they use as equal to that. Yes I know there are threads here saying what programs to use as tight security, but I want ot know what is programs are equal to microsoft's antispyware cause as a real time scanner, it takes quite a few resources and others use it as a scanner instead. As far as I know, microsoft is just anti-spyware, but what can I use for worm, trojan, adware, spyware all together as an active scanner in alternative to microsoft's antispyware.

Also, is there a way to use one antivirus as real time and then install another for scanning only. I saw some people use NOD32 realtime and KAV scanning only. Well can I use it the other way around?

Also I don't think I have any program to block spy cookies, what do you guys recommend? Yes I do use cookies cause some websites wont work without them and I am not going to manually imput site by site to allow cookies at the moment.

dja2k