Originally posted by flexmoreI have not come across any reliable anti-virus software, at leat not software that is up to date.
i am just setting myself up on net and wonder what i should do about security, especially keen on free programs. thanx
But you should buy a copy AND pay for updates of the viruses it can detect regularly.
Originally posted by flexmoreTrekkie is right, you need to fork out a lil' cash. I find McAfee Clinic is pretty good... just about 25 a year... but you can use it on more than one computer. It also auto updates every couple days if not more often.
i am just setting myself up on net and wonder what i should do about security, especially keen on free programs. thanx
I have never been happy using Norton... but I am sure some people are.
When you get something free, you get what you paid for.... Nothing.
P
Originally posted by flexmoreWell the first thing to set up is a firewall, methinks. I recommend Zonealarm, the free edition. Been running it for a few years, and it's excellent. You have to browse their site a bit to spot the link to the free version. (www.zonelabs.com)
i am just setting myself up on net and wonder what i should do about security, especially keen on free programs. thanx
As to free antivirus software, I really don't see what's wrong with AVG (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php). A Google search revealed one pretty bad review, but it was horribly dated, and it's critisisms are no longer aplicable to the version I'm running. I used to run Norton antivirus, but it seemed to cause some stability problems, so I didn't renew my subscription. Gave AVG a try on a friend's recommendation, and it's worked like a dream. It's certainly good enough for me.
-Jarno
Don't run antivirus protection, and I open any mail or attachment I like and I don't ever get infected.
How? I don't run on an insecure operating system. Any Windows machine is inherently unsafe beause you have to get your worm and virus patch before the nasties arrive. Some now spread globally within hours.Once they hit your machine, the lack of basic security means everything can get wasted. Remember Blaster?
I run Mandrake Linux and never connect to the web as root user.And I don't pay for my programmes - but I am not a pirate because it is open source.
Why pay for an inferior programme?
Originally posted by steerpike...and then spend the rest of your IT life running around trying to find drivers and patches to run mainstream hardware and programmes
Don't run antivirus protection, and I open any mail or attachment I like and I don't ever get infected.
How? I don't run on an insecure operating system. Any Windows machine is inherently unsafe beause you have to get your worm and virus patch before the nasties arrive. Some now spread globally within hours.Once they hit your machine, the lack of bas ...[text shortened]... t I am not a pirate because it is open source.
Why pay for an inferior programme?
An increasing large number of sites do not/will not support any of the Linux OS's. But thats what you get from an OS designed by a committee. A free Camel !
skeeter
Originally posted by skeeterGot to admit - Linux may not be for everyone. and you can get geek fatigue. Still, spent a fair amount of a recent weekend trying to clean worms off a friend's Win98 machine - only to have to format and reinstall. And then you find how many people have 'borrowed' some disks and can't get it back to where it was. (First site I went to was AVG - definitely requierd software and your advice is good). So Windows machines can take some effort.
...and then spend the rest of your IT life running around trying to find drivers and patches to run mainstream hardware and programmes
An increasing large number of sites do not/will not support any of the Linux OS's. But thats what you get from an OS designed by a committee. A free Camel !
skeeter
Not sure about Linux unfriendly sites. RHP is fine - is there anywhere else worth visiting on the internet?
Sorry to sound smug - just so nice to be virus free😉
I've used ZA for sometime now on a Windows machine and it hasn't stopped working after 30 days. You should be ok.
You don't say how you are going to connect to internet. If you are getting broadband (rather than dial-up) there are several reasonable routers out there that have built-in firewall capabilities.
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Originally posted by flexmoreYup, you did.
Thanx for all the help and advice.
Looking at AVG an ZONELABS I found only the trial version to be free, and it only lasts for 30 days. As all chess players constantly ask : did i miss something?
There are three versions - basic Zonealarm (which is the free one), Zonealarm Pro (which has the 30 day trial), and Zonealarm Pro with some extra features.
You need the basic Zonealarm. Go to: http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/comparison.jsp
Click on the download above the basic Zonealarm column, and you'll get to the right download page.
-Jarno