Anti-spam/virus software

I'd say forget it, & go with AVG for free. I went from Mcafee to AVG & haven't looked back.
If you do want to stay with Mcafee, I would assume there must be a 'contact us' bit somewhere on their site?
Matt.

Removing anti-virus software can be tricky. I advise looking on the McAfee website before you start.

Another vote for AVG Free. Absolutely class and I never get viruses. had it for over a year now without problems

Regards

Diccus

AVG if PC based or buy a Mac, 140,000 viruses defintions for PC .....4 for Mac

No Brainer IMHO

Anselm

quote:

Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
Removing anti-virus software can be tricky. I advise looking on the McAfee website before you start.

A few months ago I removed McAfee from a friends XP machine by using the Admin Account and then Control Panel > Add/Remove Software> AcAfee > Uninstall (iirc) but I do remember the tick boxes that offered obscure options rather than an explicit uninstall - about par for the course.

Get a Mac or use a flavour of Linux, both are less troubled by virus type things than most MS installations.

Antivirus - I have been happily using Avast for about five years; it is available free if you are using it for home applications.

Spyware - I've tried a few. The one I like is Spyware Doctor.

With PCs operating on Windows 98 and then XP I found that Norton really slowed down the workings of the computer.

James

Another vote for AVG - free, no muss, no fuss. I had Norton before, and it ended up nearly crippling my PC through over-zealous security measures that I found impossible to undo.

bit confused guys - been on the avg site and they want $25 dollars (which part is free ? )

quote:

Originally posted by scottyhammer:
bit confused guys - been on the avg site and they want $25 dollars (which part is free ? )

AVG free is on a different site Scotty just google it.

I use Avast as I had trouble with AVG at one point and for SPAM I use Mailwasher which I highly recommend.

For a catch all programme I use CounterSpy ($19.99)very cheap and possibly the best of the cookie killers. Which is better than Adaware and Spybot put together.

For malware, Trojans and Worms try A- Squared which you can get free off the Internet.

Scotty,
It is there, its just that its not obvious, probably as a ploy by grisoft to make people give up & say sod it, I'll go for the pay version.
Go to google & type in avg anti virus free edition & I think you'll eventually link to it, possibly via another site that reviews & rates computer gear. Stick with it, its worth it.
Yossi's definitely gone then I see.
Matt.

Scotty

Yes it took me awhile to get round the options but the free one is in there somewhere.

diccus

Is there a decent Spyware removal prog that is free. The one's i've tried seem to remove a couple of threat then want you to buy full prog to get rid of rest. Spyware Doctor seems like this...................... or am i just being tight?

quote:

Originally posted by Roy T:

quote:

Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
Removing anti-virus software can be tricky. I advise looking on the McAfee website before you start.

A few months ago I removed McAfee from a friends XP machine by using the Admin Account and then Control Panel > Add/Remove Software> AcAfee > Uninstall (iirc) but I do remember the tick boxes that offered obscure options rather than an explicit uninstall - about par for the course.

Get a Mac or use a flavour of Linux, both are less troubled by virus type things than most MS installations.

I'd be very surprised if that actually removed all traces of McAfee from the machine, which may or may not cause future conflicts. Symantic and McAfee offer "cleaning" unistall plug-ins on their sites.

So was I. I used this method to remove McAfee from a newly purchased machine so as to install Nod32 and Spybot S&D as I trust both these products and have used them in the past. I now have a dual boot machine containing a fully patched MS XP Home system with no additional (free offer, advertising type) software running other than Nod32 plus S&D to keep an eye on things if and when I decide to boot into and use Windows.

I use a combination of Zone Alarm, Avast, AVG, Spybot and now additionally the Freeware 'Ccleaner' - http://www.ccleaner.com/ - which gets rid of loads of crap the others don't.

Regards
Geoff

the free software (i.e., zone alarm, AVG and others) will give limited protection but it's not ideal. i currently run norton internet security and have been doing so for a number of years and it has always been excellent. i also have a hardware firewall since any software can be hacked.

i would just buy new fresh new software either from a shop or online as this will probably be cheaper than renewing your subscription direct with mcafee. search around for some deals. pcworld usually have something on offer.

i use adaware se personal edition to check for any spyware etc - it is excellent.

quote:

Originally posted by Dazren:
the free software (i.e., zone alarm) will give limited protection but it's not ideal. I currently run norton internet security and have been doing so for a number of years and it has always been excellent.

All software will only give limited protection - Zone Alarm, which is now under Check Point ownership, is one of the most trustworthy PC firewall products around, it is industry strength software used by many leading financial institutions. It is not easy to break through unless you can trick its user in to installing an executable file and then allowing it to pass through Zone Alarm.

Used correctly, Zone Alarm is a much better firewall than that supplied with Norton: You can run a simple penetration test to verify this. The Norton Firewall I saw was just a packet filter and you could tunnel anything you like through http. Tryout the Leak Test and here is some freeware to help you check your security. This Link should take you to Shields-Up.

quote:

I also have a hardware firewall since any software can be hacked.

If you have a true hardware firewall like the DERA-Diode which has a fixed configuration then it is difficult to get through, but if it is just a router configuration that does network address translation and a bit of packet filtering then it is vulnerable. Check out The MetaSploit Project and Nessus.

Don't worry - the biggest risk at the moment is from Spam and Phishing - you can check out the latest hit parade here

All the best, Rotf