What is your security setup these days?

no u dont need a realtime AS and yes avg antispyware would be better than spyware terminator.

 

so it should be ok to uninstall spyware terminator and install avg antispyware free for only scans?

 

that is correct

 

thank you wsfuser.

 

I've seriously played around with many AV, AS, HIPs etc. applications over the last 18 months seeking the holy grail of system protection with low system resources usage. I am behind a Router firewall and I now run NOD32 2.7 and FDISR only.

Quite seriously and I say this honestly to add to legitimate debate, the question could be "what malware have you been infected with to justify the multiple app setups in the above posts?

I have run many, many AS scanners that have detected nothing but harmless cookies. Have you also noticed how they are demanding more and more memory. I don't need an app consuming , in some cases 40+ mb just to delete cookies.

With respect, HIP's is starting to seem like little more than a scam. When was the last time that those of you running a HIPS app and I include KIS 6 Proactive Defense, actually got a notification about a program that was not a legitimate system function? I exclude those who were intentionally testing malware/leaktests. How many people are still running SSM or their Firewall in learning mode because they realise that if they turn it off they don't know what to do when asked for a decision? My guess is that they just allow everything which makes having the application pointless.

The only regular legitimate security notifications I receive with my setup have been about malware attachments in spam email mostly trojans. They are deleted by NOD and that's it.

Should something actually get on the sytem then I'll boot to the secondary snapshot in FDISR and that's it. That process takes 5 seconds. I haven't had to do that for malware but I have for other software problems so it's very versatile.

For what it's worth I have given up sorting out the myriad driver conflicts that arise when running multiple apps that often duplicate functions. Even if they are "different" in functionality how many low level kernel drivers do you want?

So far I have had no problems with this setup.

 

New setup: Behind a router:

F-Prot
Look 'n' Stop
BOClean
Defense Wall

 

Just want to know if using avg antispyware in real time still wouldn't be a bad thing because it has other detection than just spyware. I used pc tools firewall and avg free antivirus. would cyberhawk be better then avg antispyware with them?

 

either one would greatly add to your protection. i would use cyberhawk as it can detect various forms of malware just by using behavioral analysis. i also find it to run light.

and like ive said previously, just use AS for ondemand.

 

Experimenting here with a "minimalist" approach.

I've eliminated Outpost firewall and now have:

Router

System Safety Monitor with the Network module enabled for basic outbound filtering (go/no go) of apps requesting it.

NOD32 ver 2.7 antivirus

I surf primarily using Opera and use Ad Muncher for pop-up and advert filtering. Using WWDC (Windows Worm Door Cleaner) I also have ports 135, 445, 5000, Messenger RPC and NetBIOS disabled. This reduced package has afforded me faster surfing speeds and better overall system performance. There is no need to be a security paranoiac

 

My is at the moment:

Comodo Pro Firewall
NOD32
Spywareterminator (real time shield enabled)
Cyberhawk 2.0
Prosecurity 1.26

On demand: Ad-aware, Superantispyware free, a-squared free,MRU-blaster, RKUnhooker, UnhackMe

Other:Spywareblaster, Sentinel, xp-antispy

Firefox with NoScript andSandboxie

 

Currently, in real-time:

Notebook: Avira PE & Outpost Pro 4.x
Desktop: NOD32 & Outpost Pro 4.x

On both machines I use Firefox with NoScript extension.

 

A lot of people on this forum probably exercise self control and common sense while surfing. Most appear to use a plethora of security apps for something to tinker with. I will only allow anti-malware applications to run in real-time on that do not issue nags, popups, or cause any system lag.

What I use:

Wireless router
NOD32 v2.7 (all real-time modules enabled)
SUPERAntiSpyware Pro v3.5 (real-time enabled)
SpywareBlaster
IE7
Windows XP Pro SP2 firewall

Of course I have other tools to use for on-demand scans but I cannot recall the last time they were used or actually found rogue applications.

 

FWIW-

NOD32 AV
Comodo 2.4 FW
Spyware Terminator for realtime shield
Snoopfree
IE7


Others-
Comodo V-engine for phishing filter
MVPS hosts
SpywareBlaster

On demand scanning-
CounterSpy
AVG Anti-Spyware
SuperAntiSpyware
Ashampoo AntiSpyware
Ad-aware
F-Secure Blacklight
Trend-Micro Rootkit Buster

The only "paid" programs I have are NOD32 and CounterSpy and I believe their renewal costs are $23 +/- for NOD32 and $9.99 for CouterSpy. But with all the instant and mail-in rebates out there I doubt I will ever pay for security protection again.

 

And this is final..........untill of course i change it again.

 

Drop My Rights
Prevx1
Nod32
Windows Firewall
FD-ISR
Acronis 9.1 Workstation w/Universal Restore
Firefox 2 with NoScript, AdBlock Plus and SiteAdvisor

 

Added
Removed
Testing

Hardware: Netgear FVL328 Websafe Router

Resident:
LooknStop
Comodo
Nod32
System Safety Monitor
Ghost Security Suite
Defense Wall Hips
Prevx1

On Demand:
SuperAntispyware
Rootkit Revealer
a-squared free
Process Monitor
Process Explorer
Autoruns

Hardening:
Spywareblaster
IESpyad
WWDC

Browser:
Firefox w/No Script, Shazou, Adblock Plus, Form Fox, Site Advisor
SandBoxie

Backup and Recovery:
FD-ISR
IFW/BiNG

 

Added
Testing
Removed

"Resident"/"Active 24/7"

COMODO
SNOOPFREE
CYBERHAWK 2.0
POWER SHADOW 2.6
SYSTEM SAFETY MONITOR

"On-Demand"

AVZ 4.23
RKUnhooker
SuperAntiSpyware
BitDefender AV
A2 Squared


Start-Up Monitors

Sentinel2
Tiny Watcher
FileMapp byBB
Process Logger

Avast
Avira Anti-Vir
Dynamic Security Agent Replace with SensiveGuard Maybe

 

Do any of you guys run "programs" ? i.e spread sheets, word processors, or even games or just tons of security ?

I really can not believe how successfully all of these ( by and large unneccessary) security programs are being "sold". If security is a state of mind then for the some the state is insanity

 

I get where ya coming from, but I always thought that was kinda backwards ..... I think if you're looking for a cause of irrationality, then 'insecurity' is the operative state of mind.

Now while I'm not a big fan of swathes of additional 'fear based' software - isn't security supposed to be more of a practical response to a rational, if subjective assessment of various factors - including those of the individual user and the way they make use of their computer?

If security is identified by the individual, as having been achieved within the bounds of perceived need - and as a result, the mind placed at ease - then I'd have thought insanity was a little less likely. So ya see, what may seem to be wasteful - is actually just a stage of therapy. As confidence increases, waste is reduced along with the corresponding need to be re-assured.

Me - I appreciate my router/hardware firewall. I have a light AV that apart from updates I don't hear from, unless I'm testing it. Apart from securing ports & services, I believe in managing scripts, the principle of permissions being based on merit and not attributed by default etc.... this backed up by good restore options. When I'm exploring, testing etc. there are virtual and sandboxing options to help maintain the integrity of my base install. Beyond these, there are online file testing options. On another box I have other variations in snapshots including different OS's. I'm able to test beta stuff out, or double check software out for my family and keep their boxes clean. On this box, I occasionally install games, P2P, music, OS customisation tools, distributed computing, a variety of office based applications, editing, photo processing etc and a fair bit more. All on a 4yr old laptop that runs about 14hrs a day, with a little extra RAM to help with large renders in the graphics program.

So you see, you don't have to be mad to tweak here, it just helps

 

Sounds good to me. I prefer a good image to a restore point but its the same get of jail card essentially.

 

Well spotted Long View - I really should have said image (TI images, kept on external hdd for total restore).

 

I'm always changing programs but I'm content with my signature for now.

 

No spreadsheets/wordprocessors or even games here, unless they are strictly "Adobe Flash"

However, in addition to those posted that i run i also run "resident" Third-Party XP customations programs such as UberIcon/Vanimator and even YZ-Dock/Shadow/Toolbar "PLUS!" a ObjectDock or other Dock programs.

Pleased as pink to report absolutely no issues whatsoever. And i been running various security programs with these customs for a very long time and i wouldn't even turn on a PC without them

 

I use MS Word several hours a day and have MS Office 2002 installed. I've used all of it at one time or other, but mostly Word.

I like playing with security software, always looking for the Holy Grail as somebody said since my research takes me to a lot of different sites looking for information on this or that.

For the past approximately couple of weeks since getting this new computer, I think I've discovered that Holy Grail and see no need for any more than

AVG antivirus
PowerShadow 2.6
Hardware Firewall
Sandboxie (used only occasionally)
Firefox 1.5.xx (FF 2 doesn't like this computer, or vice versa)

For the present, PowerShadow is the best security I've found. A simple reboot and everything collected during your time online is gone. If you want to save something, it's as easy as moving it to an unshadowed hard drive or to CD.

 

Look n stop
OSsecurity

firefox (with noscript and adblock plus ) and dump all cookies on closing firefox

AVZ antiviral toolkit ( ondemand and learning tool )