256 RAM

[Pidiot]

I've been using free (or even no) AV and firewalls and I've had maybe 6 viruses in 10 yearssince more than 10 years now, with IE. I think most people really wonder how you get up to 2963 viruses (and I guess you reinstall quite often). Again, no offence, but this must be linked to user's behaviour.

I don't know how. My computer started working slowly. Those AVG Free and Ad-Aware showed nothing. I installed Norton Antivirus and it detected 2963 viruses. I had SP2 installed. Actually I don't like the idea of patching, and those automatic updates are very annoying. So I reinstalled Windows XP Home SP1a v2002 completely. Now I want to figure out how to protect them, since 256 Mb of RAM is not enough for a better antivirus.

[Pidiot]

CCleaner is a godsend as far as I'm concerned. It can save a lot of HDD space consumed by junk/temp/cache files many users don't know even exist and can remove the typical tracking cookie that Ad-Aware reports. It sure makes a defrag easier and quicker.

I know about CClener. It removes back-up files. But in a couple of days megabytes of them appear again.

[Pidiot]

If you're directly connected without any hardware based protection considering the growing threat of malware online these days, you need to at least get something. For example, a basic D-Link router is not expensive.

Thank you, Jeremy, I will try one, but first I need to figure out more about them.

[Jeremy]

I installed Norton Antivirus and it detected 2963 viruses. I had SP2 installed. Actually I don't like the idea of patching, and those automatic updates are very annoying. So I reinstalled Windows XP Home SP1a v2002 completely. Now I want to figure out how to protect them, since 256 Mb of RAM is not enough for a better antivirus.

You want an anti-virus appropriate for 256 MB of RAM and you install Norton? Norton is garbage. Remove it with this tool. Also, you should be on SP2, not SP1. The updates can be configured to download and install automatically without user intervention. What you're doing the exact opposite of what you should be doing in order to maintain order on your PC.

[Pidiot]

You want an anti-virus appropriate for 256 MB of RAM and you install Norton? Norton is garbage. Remove it with this tool. Also, you should be on SP2, not SP1. The updates can be configured to download and install automatically without user intervention. What you're doing the exact opposite of what you should be doing in order to maintain order on your PC.

Maybe Norton is garbage, actually I didn't like it because it was slow. And that SP2 didn't help either, as I said, because I caught so many viruses on it. But it doesn't matter now because I reinstalled Windows completely. I reformated hard drive to FAT32 and made a fresh installation from CD. And actually I didn't notice any difference between SP1 and SP2 except that SP2 didn't speed up my computer. I want to protect what I have now and I don't want to install other garbage.

[Jakebo]

Check Trend Micro or ESET. Probably ESET would be a little bit better. There is a free download you can get to try it and see how it works for you. And the cost for it is pretty low. Hope it helps.

[noguru]

You want an anti-virus appropriate for 256 MB of RAM and you install Norton? Norton is garbage. Remove it with this tool. Also, you should be on SP2, not SP1. The updates can be configured to download and install automatically without user intervention. What you're doing the exact opposite of what you should be doing in order to maintain order on your PC.

Maybe Norton is garbage, actually I didn't like it because it was slow. And that SP2 didn't help either, as I said, because I caught so many viruses on it. But it doesn't matter now because I reinstalled Windows completely. I reformated hard drive to FAT32 and made a fresh installation from CD. And actually I didn't notice any difference between SP1 and SP2 except that SP2 didn't speed up my computer. I want to protect what I have now and I don't want to install other garbage.

But like Jeremy said, it's the opposite of what you should do to keep your system save. If you really don't trust AVG free (it kept me clean for years) then try Avira personal edition. Free as well and a great detection rate!

The only good security advise that is still missing in this topic is to login as a restricted user. But that is useless since you choose to format your drives in FAT32. That's also the opposite of what you should do for security sake.

[Pidiot]

Check Trend Micro or ESET. Probably ESET would be a little bit better. There is a free download you can get to try it and see how it works for you. And the cost for it is pretty low. Hope it helps.

Thank you, Jakebo. These commercial fellows tend to hide information about prices and everything. What can those programs do? And How much do they cost? If I want to protect my Windows, I need to install firewall, antivirus, anyspyware/malware, attach a router, right? That is complicated and costly. Is there a single program that is cheap and effective and can do everything mentioned above? Interesting: frankly, I didn't read the Microsoft lisense I agreed with, is there anything written there about virus protection? Maybe to sue them?

Edited April 2, 2007 by Pidiot

[Pidiot]

But like Jeremy said, it's the opposite of what you should do to keep your system save. If you really don't trust AVG free (it kept me clean for years) then try Avira personal edition. Free as well and a great detection rate!

The only good security advise that is still missing in this topic is to login as a restricted user. But that is useless since you choose to format your drives in FAT32. That's also the opposite of what you should do for security sake.

Thank you, noguru, for your advice. I know all that stuff from the Microsoft web-site. Actually you can't check anything if it's true and have to believe these guys. Windows are a very weak (if not to say unsatisfactory) OS in the sense of protection. I know a lot of people who have turned away from Windows to the OSs that provide better protection. I myself prefer to use Linux as much as possible. That's why I made FAT32 file system. I can access Windows from there.

[Jeremy]

Pidiot, plain and simple on a Windows machine for security:

- Use SP2

- Use NTFS

- Use a freeware anti-virus (Avast or AntiVir)

- Use a freeware software firewall (Comodo Firewall Pro)

- Keep your OS updated

The only thing that would cost you money is a router. Unless you have a second machine you can run Linux on between your cable/DSL modem and your Windows PC.

[Pidiot]

OK, guys, I see there no free protection solution for Windows.

I knew that. I just wanted to make sure.

- Use SP2

- Use NTFS

- Use a freeware anti-virus (Avast or AntiVir)

- Use a freeware software firewall (Comodo Firewall Pro)

- Keep your OS updated

Unfortunately I have to confess that I used all that stuff and it didn't help.

I don't know the reason. And actually I don't want to know it.

I just want to be sure that my files will stay safe.

Thank you, Jeremy, for Comodo. It looks really cool.

I will think about a router.

Edited April 2, 2007 by Pidiot

[Jeremy]

The difference between free and commercial software will not escape you from the fact that if you open IE6, go to a porn site, click "Yes, I want that bouncing, flashing free laptop because I am the 999,999th visitor!" and then tell your firewall that it's okay for whatever is trying to access your system to do so, you will get a trojan or worm or spyware. If you do, you have to manually run a scan with Ad-Aware and Spybot.

You cannot hide behind the illusion that simply having this software installed means you are invincible.

I know using the software and security measures I recommend to others keeps you safe because I do not get infected. I have visited rated R sites in the past and downloaded EXEs from torrents, but as long as I take the appropriate measures, I'm fine.

Opera

Ad-Aware / Spybot

Kaspersky

Comodo

Router

[Pidiot]

The difference between free and commercial software will not escape you from the fact that if you open IE6, go to a porn site, click "Yes, I want that bouncing, flashing free laptop because I am the 999,999th visitor!" and then tell your firewall that it's okay for whatever is trying to access your system to do so, you will get a trojan or worm or spyware. If you do, you have to manually run a scan with Ad-Aware and Spybot.

You cannot hide behind the illusion that simply having this software installed means you are invincible.

I know using the software and security measures I recommend to others keeps you safe because I do not get infected. I have visited rated R sites in the past and downloaded EXEs from torrents, but as long as I take the appropriate measures, I'm fine.

Opera

Ad-Aware / Spybot

Kaspersky

Comodo

Router

Thank you, guys for your help. I really appreaciate it. I installed Opera, Avast and Comodo, and I will think about a router, though I don't like the idea that I have to have all this stuff that occupis resources and memory of my computer because Microsoft didn't bother to make Windows XP a reliable and safe OS. That's why I prefer Linux, though it's a **** difficult and user unfriendly OS. In Linux I don't need to worry about any measures and can visit the dirtiest porn sites that are made of viruses exclusively and stay clean and shiny because it is safe.

Edited April 2, 2007 by Pidiot

[_Erik]

I agree with Jeremy, keeping you computer clean from threats is more a mentality.

[Pidiot]

I agree with Jeremy, keeping you computer clean from threats is more a mentality.

No, I disagree. If Microsoft sells OSs, they should be protected. Windows XP have no protection at all. Why should I bother my mentality? Maybe I am a mentally handicapped? Comodo is a good firewall, but it is annoying. I don't use windows, but my wife keeps asking me each time what she should do, allow or disallow. Do you think it is nice? If I give you money, protect me physically, not mentally, not virtually, not because it is my business to protect myself by myself, otherwise next time I will buy something from a different guy who offers nicer OSs.

Edited April 3, 2007 by Pidiot