How secure is this setup?

How secure is this setup?

McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.0.0
ZoneAlarm Pro 5.5.062.044
Spyware Blaster 3.2
Spybot Search and Destroy 1.4 B2
Spybot-SD Resident
Ad-Aware SE Professional
Ad-Watch SE Professional
xp-AntiSpy
Windows SP2

Also, can you see any improvements which could be made?

Jimbob

 

You may want to take a look HERE. As well there are discussions HERE and even more HERE.

Cheers

 

Oh and I'm also using FireFox over IE.

Jimbob

 

Is this setup going to be used by you? I presume it is, otherwise the question is meaningless.

Okay Instead of merely listing my own setup which helps no one, let me try to comment on yours based on what I know about you.

From what I have read, you exhibit high risk net behaviour, so you probably need more security than the average person who just uses the web for email and news.

The good thing is you now use firefox right? So there goes one major vector of infection.

That said, if I were you, I would still be more comfortable if I was using another Antivirus to backup McAfee. As a on demand scanner.

Though McAfee isnt too bad on trojan detection, it doesnt hurt to add some backup in the form of A Squared and Ewido both free since I expect you download quite a bit. I would go for a paid solution though if I were you.

Given your skill level, you should also consider going for some behaviourial based monitoring software like PrevX, System Safety Monitor ,MJ registrywatcher maybe. As it is your setup above, Ad-watch is probably the only one that fits the bill in this area, and I'm not too impressed by its abilities in this area. Even Microsoft's antispyware real time abilities is better.

Hope this helps.

 

One suggestion: ProcessGuard 3
IMHO ProcessGuard is a must-have security program.

 

I would advise to you is lose the ZoneAlarm Pro and get Look n Stop or Outpost, lose the Ad-aware and get Spy Sweeper, also used SafeXp, TDS-3, and ProcessGuard, and LOSE MCAFEE!!!!!!!!! PIECE OF CR$P run NOD 32 and you be safe and can sleep good at night.

 

Excuse me, but I think you are full of it. The advised you gave don't and will not protect a well as you may think. Don't get mad or get offensive.

 

I think you're running a hardware firewall right, Jimbob? The hardware firewall should keep you pretty safe.

 

Please be less aggressive in your posting, it keeps everything running smoothly this way.

If you play nice, then generally they will as well, please refer to my advice above.

Cheers

Blackspear.

 

I would say it depends on how secure you want to be.

It looks like you have a pretty good basic setup there. You can always add more, but that depends on how much more security you feel you need, and what you're trying to defend yourself against. I know people who have far less security than yourself and have never had any real problems.

Also, how much time and effort your willing to put into it all?

How much of your system resources do you have available and want to spare for all the different running programs?

Not to mention the annoyance factor generated from having many different security programs poping up this and that warning, and certain Windows functions blocked, that you may need at different times.

I could recommend adding programs like Prevx, SSM, Process Guard, ect.. but with the regular popups asking if you want to allow this or that action, would that be too annoying? And would you be able to understand what they are asking you to allow, when they do ask?

Encrypting the contents of your hard drive could prove valuable for added security.

Doing regular backups/hard drive images is always helpful, though not directly security related, it would be of great help should your security be compromised and a reformat be required.

How willing are you to put up with some loss of functionality? If you use programs like Bugoff, Secureit, Safexp, WWMD, ect... these programs can disable certain functions you may need at some point, so you'll have to go through them re-enabling certain things when you need them. Another trade-off between ease of use and security.

For example I recently tried to do an update of Windows xp, through Windows Update, and found that Bugoff was blocking me from doing so, after I removed some of the protection in Bugoff, I could again check for updates. This will be more so if you use programs like Secureit and Safexp ect... they will block certain functions you may need at different times. You don't have to be an expert at using these different programs, just be aware that they can and will block certain functions in Windows and you may have to re-enable them from time to time.


Good luck.

 

Yes, but a hardware firewall has NO visual outbound alerts for what is trying to access the internet FROM your computer, this is why he should remain with a softwall firewall as well.

Cheers

 

No offense intended at all here, but Microsoft's Antispyware is still in the beta stages and there might a few bugs/stability problems that're still not fixed. Best not to fool around with beta.
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=62737

LOL!!!

 

Yes a software firewall and a hardware one packs quite a punch.

software

 

The reason I am using this virus scanner is because it found many items which Norton did not. Also as intended for business use, updates are made available daily instead of weekly.

Jimbob

 

That's ok, people choose various scanners for multiple reasons...

 

Ok, I have installed SpywareGuard and some patches. I installed Crap Cleaner and The Proxomitron.

Jimbob

 

Hi, i think you have a very good set up, are you having any particular problems or worries?

My personal set up has far less security programs, and i dont have any problems.

Basiclly just cover any holes, if things are getting through adjust the programs accordingly.

 

Ahhhh but you aren't a young male who likes to go exploring, and JB is

He is better with more security than less, there is a thread running at the moment with this same senario, where less has caused issues on a site that looks innocent:

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=357620

Cheers

 

I wonder what his problem is? Once again this shows that registered members don't necessarily act better than guests.

 

My advice also applies to you Ronin, we don't want baiting any more than we want biting

Cheers

 

Who me, I don't break any restriction

Jimbob

 

Thanks for the advise. I know I was wrong in the way I posted.

 

That's ok, just trying to make sure everyone plays nicely in the sandpit

 

A couple of comments - with software firewalls, proper configuration is critical to the amount of security they can provide. Most default setups err on the side of being overly permissive to avoid problems (resulting in new users uninstalling the firewall as a "solution") so can be tightened up in most cases. Advice on this can be found for many other firewalls but I'm not aware of a setup guide for ZoneAlarm - however you should be able to adapt the details from elsewhere.

The second comment is about privacy - this does closely relate to security but has separate concerns. While using a specialised web filter like Proxomitron can tackle some privacy issues (cookies and scripting), the main concern IMHO is the ability (and legal requirement in many countries) of ISPs to monitor your online activity (noting which websites you visit). This can only be avoided by using an anonymising proxy such as JAP (easier to use), Tor (faster and arguably slightly more secure from "legislative compromise") or one of the commercial services (faster still but more subject to legislative compromise). These do have the downside of slowing down your Internet connection and making troubeshooting network problems more difficult.