Ultimate Freeware Setup

Discussion in 'other anti-malware software' started by toploader, Sep 25, 2005.

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  1. toploader

    toploader Registered Member

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    ok for all of you dedicated to the support of freeware on the net - what is your ultimate freeware security setup?

    this is my provisional lineup (i don't have all these products installed yet - some are based on the opinions of users i've read.

    Browser........... - Firefox and/or Opera/Netscape

    Firewall............ - Kerio 2.1.5 (so far passed all tests i've tried)

    Anti Virus......... - Avast! 4 (thinking of installing this) together with Kaspersky on demand online scan

    Anti Exec......... - Winsonar (waiting for news of new version)

    Anti Trojan....... - A-Squared scanner

    Anti Spyware.... - Spybot Ad-Aware MSAS Spyware Blaster and HijackThis

    HOSTS............ - MVPS

    Registry protect - MJ Registry Watcher or Regprot

    System Monitor - Winpatrol

    love to hear your opinions on the above and what you would choose.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2005
  2. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

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    I would add :
    Email-software : Thunderbird, which is safer, easier and faster than MS Outlook and it has an excellent anti-spam function + extensions/themes like Firefox.
    After all handling emails is a daily activity and what you do daily deserves the best software.

    I replaced Winpatrol with MSAS Realtime + SpywareGuard, but that is a matter of personal choice.
     
  3. toploader

    toploader Registered Member

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    thanks for adding Thunderbird Erik - i use webmail so overlooked that :)
     
  4. ErikAlbert

    ErikAlbert Registered Member

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    I would add this one too for managing your HOSTS File (MVPS)
    Very usefull, userfriendly and very easy to keep your HOSTS File up-to-date.
    Just try it and you will be surprised and its FREEWARE.
    HostsMan v2.1
    http://hostsman.abelhadigital.com/
    If you have it already you are smarter than me. :cool:
     
  5. user345

    user345 Registered Member

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    On access programs

    Jetico firewall
    Panda (or AVAST)
    MS antispyware
    Snoopfree privacyguard
    SSM
    Prevx Home
    Processguard 2.0
    MJ registry watcher
    Proxomitron+sockscap+TOR
    Javacool filewatcher
    Firefox

    By category

    1)Antivirus

    Active : Panda or AVAST depending on mood

    On demand : Escan free, Etrust free, Bit defender free, Antivir, AVG , Winclam, F prot-dos,

    2)Anitrojan

    Active : Nil

    On demand : A2 squared , Ewido free, Rkdetector, Extroyan

    3a)Spyware/Adware control

    Active : MS antispyware (will switch to tea-timer later , also spywareguard)

    Also spywareblaster ,IE spyad, Hpguru hosts

    On demand : Ad-aware, Spybot,Pest Patrol, Bazooka, spyware doctor,Cwshredder,aboutbuster,HJT

    3b) Spyware/Keylogger

    Active : Snoopfree privacyguard

    On demand: Those in 3a plus Xcleaner, elbtech scan


    4)Registry Monitor

    Active : MJ registry watcher, PrevX /SSM (backup)

    On demand: Nil

    5)Startup Monitor

    Active : MJ registry watcher

    On demand : Starter, a2hijackfree, autoruns, autostartup viewer, autostart explorer.

    6)Application/processes/file area Monitor

    Active : SSM (will switch to Processguard or Winsonar) , Process Guard free 2.0 (to block drive and services from running etc), Prevx (to watch file accesses), sandboxie,

    7)Script control

    Active : Script defender, Prevx

    Web-browsing sandbox

    Active: IE runs on restricted accounts via dropmyrights, maybe AVAST's new webshield,

    9)Popup killer

    Firefox (built in)

    Adshield for IE.

    Maxthon (built in)

    10)Banner replacement

    Adblock for firefox

    Adshield/proxomitron for IE

    Adhunter for Maxthon

    11)Homepage Guard

    MJ registry watcher, PrevX, MS antispyware all watch IE settings.

    12)IE clean

    MRUBLASTER, Eraser + bat file. Will switch to Cleancache once problem with secure deletion is fixed.

    13)MRU and tracks cleaning

    MRUblaster, Spybot S&D , Crapcleaner + eraser and bat file.

    14)Secure eraser

    Eraser.

    15)Browser and refferer blocking

    Builtin in firefox
    Proxomitron

    16)Web-bugs filter (prefix)

    Proxomitron.

    17)Cookie Manager

    Built in.

    1Ip Hiding

    JAR or TOR

    19)Firewall

    Linksys WRT54G,Jetico firewall ,

    20)Outward bounds protection

    Jetico firewall

    21)Encrpyion file

    PGP, Truecrypt

    22)Email encrpytion

    PGP

    23)Password Manager

    keepass, Firefox master password.

    24)Spam filtering

    POPFILE, Spamgourmet

    25) Intergrity tool checkers

    On access : Javacool's file checker
    On demand : Fingerprint

    OTHERS

    Portmappers : Activeports, TCPview
    System tools: Processexplorer,packmon,regmon,dependency walker,processviewer,killbox, Advanced process terminator
    Hardening tools : Secureit, Qwifix (not used), xpliter, xpantispy, safexp, bugoff, Windows worm door cleaner, DSOstop2

    It's a bitch to configure, but they all play nicely together.
     
  6. The Hammer

    The Hammer Registered Member

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    You would be much farther ahead to install Ewido which converts to the free version after about 14 days than A2. A2's developer says that Ewido has a better scanner and that A2's is a gimmick in comparison.
     
  7. toploader

    toploader Registered Member

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    hi Hammer thanks for your reply - i did give Ewido a trial but had a system crash after scanning (not sure if it was the cause but have had no further problems since uninstalling it). For those who don't have that problem then i agree that Ewido offers additional protection. (but it's keylogger detection is currently poor)

    trojan detection is the one area where i think free software currently doesn't offer a totally adequate solution. i use AVG which often scores poorly in tests - it's AV detection is good but it's AT isn't so good. Avast and AntiVir may be better but still lag behind the paid for scanners like Kaspersky and Nod.

    hopefully winsonar and pg free plug some of these gaps.
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2005
  8. toploader

    toploader Registered Member

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    hi user345 - that's quite a list you got there thanks for submitting it

    CWShredder is a good addition to the arsenal.

    is proximitron an IE only product? or does it work (do you need it) with firefox/opera/netscape?
     
  9. Meltdown

    Meltdown Registered Member

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    I'd keep it light:

    browser - K-Meleon
    email - Foxmail
    firewall - Kerio 2.1.5
    AV - Avast
    AT - Ewido (on demand)
    AS - Ad-Aware (on demand)
    web filter - WebWasher

    and I'd maybe add WinPatrol.

    WebWasher and Proxomitron are both web filters, you can use them to control the content of web pages - block ads, tracking cookies, malicious javascript, Flash, animation, etc. etc. I wouldn't be without one. WebWasher is set and forget, although I have to bypass it for ftp. Proxomitron is more powerful and more configurable, and offers more security, but has quite a learning curve. This is a good place to start. Grypen's filterset seems popular at present.
     
  10. _Lyn_

    _Lyn_ Guest

    -XP:

    nLite
    WWDC
    XP Antispy
    Opera
    CurrPorts
    DCS APT
    ProcX
    Autoruns
    Eraser
    7-zip
    CryptIt
    CryptoSwap Guerilla
    DBAN

    -Win98:

    Qualystem Rescue
     
  11. toploader

    toploader Registered Member

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    thanks for the webwasher info - meltdown :)

    winpatrol is useful for monitoring auto start and HOSTS
     
  12. toploader

    toploader Registered Member

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    thanks lyn - what's WWDC? - webwasher?
     
  13. solarpowered candle

    solarpowered candle Registered Member

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  14. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

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    Hi,
    I would like to add:
    AxCrypt - encryption of software
    BartPE & Ultimate BootCD for Windows - allows the user to build bootable Windows CD - includes anti-spyware, anti-virus tools, firefox browser, backup, partitioning, imaging, diagnostics, defrag tools, remote administration, and dozens of more excellent applications - sort of a Windows Knoppix disk.
    Mrk
     
  15. tlu

    tlu Guest

    I'm sure that all the software presented here makes sense in some way or another, and I'm also using a couple of them. Just don't forget ONE important thing (like 95% of all Windows users) before installing zillions of them:

    Do not run Windows as administrator! By running it under a restricted account you avoid a lot of security problems - and that makes several of those tools simply superfluous.

    A great website with many excellent hints is http://blogs.msdn.com/aaron_margosis/default.aspx . I recommend starting with http://blogs.msdn.com/aaron_margosis/archive/2004/06/17/157962.aspx - it explains why you shouldn't run as admin. Very convincing!
     
  16. toploader

    toploader Registered Member

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  17. toploader

    toploader Registered Member

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    good work MrKvonic :)
     
  18. toploader

    toploader Registered Member

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    thanks for the links tlu - there are many doors in windows that need to be firmly closed, including admin :)
     
  19. _Lyn_

    _Lyn_ Guest

    Hi Mrkvonic,

    Do you know if BartPE can be used to convert an existing nLite system to run from CD?
     
  20. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

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    Hi,
    Well I have built separate installations using nlite and I have built boot cds using bart pe (basic) + extended (with all the nifty tools), but both times I used the original xp (with sp2).
    But there's no reason it should not work. nLite disks are installations disk like any other. Besides, when you copy the files and build iso with Bart, it will tell you if anything is missing or not. If not, you're done.
    Besides, you can test it. If the live cd is good, it will boot... :)
    Mrk
     
  21. toploader

    toploader Registered Member

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    for those of you that don't want to download the full suite with all the bells, whistles and extensions - a bare bones on-demand scanner - ewido micro scanner

    the scanner is 128k - the signature database is somewhat larger. options to scan cookies and/or registry, memory and all files. it runs as an exe that doesn't require installation.

    (note - you will only see the link if you are using a browser that does not support activeX - like firefox - if you are using IE all you will see is the online scan option)
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2005
  22. toploader

    toploader Registered Member

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    Last edited: Sep 27, 2005
  23. toploader

    toploader Registered Member

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    Nmap network security scanner....

    "We have all seen many movies like Hackers which pass off ridiculous 3D animated eye-candy scenes as hacking. So I was shocked to find that Trinity does it properly in The Matrix Reloaded. She whips out Nmap version 2.54BETA25, uses it to find a vulnerable SSH server, and then proceeds to exploit it using the SSH1 CRC32 exploit from 2001"

    http://www.insecure.org
     
  24. JRCATES

    JRCATES Registered Member

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    Since the main point of emphasis is freeware and we're dealing with security software, I would add F-Secure's Blacklight (rootkit detection) to the list. Although it's in beta and only guaranteed to be free until Jan.1 of '06, it would be a nice "temporary" freebie addition.

    Also, UnHackMe (which does the same thing that Blacklight does, and provides real-time rather than simply on demand protection) offers a 30 day "free" trial, so while it's not exactly completely free either, it is for at least a month.......
     
  25. _Lyn_

    _Lyn_ Guest

    Excellent! i had never really considered BartPE before this thread. Thanks.

    Ultimate Freewares list v0.1b-

    -XP:
    nLite
    BartPE

    -Win98:
    Qualystem Rescue

    : )
     
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