Whoa...so much to choose from...head spins!

LoL...talk about the more I read the more my eyes roll back and my head spins in trying to figure out what I should add.

I would appreciate any help to this semi-newbie on what else I should add to complement my current programs. Thanks much in advance! Oh and please feel free to tell me to get rid of any of the programs

My laptop is running Vista Business 32 bit OS 2ghz and 3gb RAM with firefox

Here is what I have:
UAC off
Windows Defender on (however I see a lot of people turn it off??)
Router
Firefox addons: adblock plus, no script, betterprivacy
ESS 4.0.417.0
Spyware Blaster
Spybot
Zemana Anti-logger

What else do you think I should add that will not bog down my system (either free version or paid?)

I hear good things about:
sandboxie
prevx
malware defender
defense wall

Again thank you very much for any help you can give!

 

Start here https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=246446 then determine how much more you need.

Sul.

 

Personally I'd drop

Spyware Blaster
Spybot


You probably don't need anything else if you don't do high-risk surfing ( warez , cracks etc ).

 

You should keep what you've got already. You have enough layers.
The advice to ditch SpywareBlaster and Spybot is misguided - they are layers of protection that (without Spybot's 'TeaTimer' installed) use NO RAM except for the few minutes when they update each week!
So wtf is the idea behind removing them?
The idea you won't get caught out by malware just by not going to porn or crack sites is nonsense.

 

Thanks for the replies. I guess I just don't know/understand what else I need. With what I have am I missing an area of protection completely (a dumbed down example is running an AV but no firewall)?

This is a new laptop and will use it for a new small business.

I'm online all the time (no warez sites and such on this laptop).

My online activity:
- Many forums (for marketing/promotion)
- Social sites (same as above)
- Banking / running an online store / online purchases etc
- Streaming sites (sometimes)
- Heavy email

Someone told me to add sandboxie, defensewall and prevx to my list and I'm golden.

Thoughts behind that?

Thanks. Sorry yep I'm paranoid (never before but now will use this laptop for a small business as well).

Thanks!

 

ummm....add a backup/imaging/recovery programme....like shadow protect desktop/rollback/acronis etc

 

Oops sorry.

Stevie -
I made that reply before I saw yours.

 

You are NOT missing any security software.
All you need to do is keep what software you have and combine that with:
1. NEVER opening a spam email.
2. NEVER just clicking on a website link in an email or web page - ALWAYS copy and paste the visible link
3. Naturally avoid sites promoting or allowing access to cracks for subscription software, and avoid using p2p/torrent software to download illegal copyrighted material - you risk massive fines as well as malware
4. Keep all your security software up to date and always keep Windows OS up to date with all High Priority/Critical updates - burn it into your memory that Microsoft releases OS updates on the 2nd Tuesday of every month!

Happy surfing!

 

That's good advice

 

If you can, run with LUA (Limited User Account), so that your day to day use is as a User, not an admin. Sounds like your normal day to day would work with no problems in LUA. Feel safe, run your browsers in Sandboxie. Have an anitvirus or something to watch for known bad things, realizing using an AV you are a few days behind current threats.

Using LUA, you mitigate most threats. Using Sandboxie for browsers, you mitigate most others. You could fine tune it further, but these two things alone can lock down things pretty tight. If you don't want to use Sandboxie, have a look at using SRP in combination with LUA. The idea this way is simple, you deny by default any execution. Then you explicitly state your certain programs or directories/file will be allowed to run. They will still run as a User not an Admin, so it is an easy and effective way to take more control.

Everyone has an opinion, as it should be. My opinion is that you can use all those tools and scanners if it makes you feel good, but they are not needed at all in the right setup. There are many here who don't use them at all. It will come down to your level of knowledge and your practices concerning, as mentioned, opening emails or clicking popups etc. Some peeps just want to know they are in control. If that is you, perhaps using many tools will give you peace of mind. If that is not you, there are ways to still stay secure without constant manipulations and scans.

Sul.

 

Thanks all!

Great advice by everyone. I will take a look at LUA as well!

This has helped me tremendously!

 

A lot of people here, incl. me, are testing the superseeded version of Windows Defender, called Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). It's a much improved version of the Anti-Malware functionality found in OneCare and has faired very well in testing from different places - both by professionals and amateurs. It's easiest downloaded at SoftPedia; http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Download-131683.html

One of its key-benefits is their new Dynamic Signatures, which, if no information is found on the local system, and malicious activity occurs, makes MSE connect to an internet database to look for information. If a definition is found, it'll send back that definition to your system to identify the malware, then you'll be asked to send information on your specific file with prerendered based on it. If it's not found even in that online db, it's either fixed in real-time or, atleast I think, heuristically taken care of.

 

I agree. Would help to have a link scanner. My favorite is WOT (firefox extension). IE version is also available.

 

.
Spybot S&D and SpywareBlaster are fine as long as you don't use Internet Explorer 8. IE8 has a serious problem with the very long restricted sites list that these two programs create - it slows to a crawl and becomes unusable. Other browsers (including IE7) don't have this problem.

 

use IE6 is better

 

also in my house

 

Yeah I don't use IE at all. I also just added WOT to firefox.

 

Information overload... Tell me about it!

When it comes to security and technology, there is just too much out there. Partly because the commercial market for this has become the easiest place to get information, it is part of their advertising budget. The problem with this, is every vendor wants you to think you need their product to be safe. Also, because computer security is an interesting hot topic that is applicable to most people these days. Same thing if you go to get your oil changed at a "quick lube" place and ask them what else you need. You will end up spending $500 for what you thought was just going to be a $30 oil change.

I would start with basic information from the manufacture of the thing you are trying to secure. Microsoft.com has a ton of information that would be helpful to you. For example, using LUA (limited user access) with ACLs (access control lists), and enabling the build in firewall without exceptions is a great start. SANS is also a great place to educate yourself. Once you have a good foundation and understanding of your risks associated with what you are doing you can lock down you operating system to limit your exposure. All the other stuff i.e. antivirus, antispyware, etc just fills in the cracks, but is not to be relied upon, contrary to what the vendors will have you believe.

Basically, there is an inverse relationship between understanding security and risk with the amount of security gadgets you need.

 

You should also switch to an alternate PDF viewer to reduce the risk of vulnerabilities caused by Adobe Reader.

And I agree with others that common sense and backup are very important.

Personally I would use Prevx over Zemana, as I think the protection of Zemana is a bit limited.

 

Not confusing for me. I go through what I want to use, what I practically see beneficial while still not being a pain in the butt. That goal is easily achieved through only freeware too.

 

Spiral -
Well said. Thanks!

Someone -
Any suggestions for adobe acrobat replacement?


Thanks again all!

I've taken a liking to learning all this stuff. Wilders is an awesome place with a plethora of great information.

 

PDF-XChange viewer

http://www.docu-track.com/home/prod_user/PDF-XChange_Tools/pdfxchange_lite

 

If you mean "Reader" - Adobe Acrobat Lite (not from Adobe - customized/optimized by 3rd party) or Foxit Reader - whatever suits you best.