How to keep your machine virus/trojan/spyware/malware free.

Lateralus · Post by **Lateralus** » January 12th, 2006, 16:21

Someone told me recently that if you're on a network behind a router, then you don't need a firewall? Instinct tells me to ignore him, but is he right? For similar reasons I've shied away from using the XP firewall, but is it any good and does anyone else use it? "Free" is the key selling point here!

Post by **FatherJack** » January 12th, 2006, 16:29

Depends how the router works. It may have a built-in firewall, or it may use NAT.

Most use NAT, to give out internal IP addresses to your machines (192.168.0.1, etc) this gives some protection as you can specify in the router's configuration which ports are forwarded to which machine. Often though, the default is to forward everything to the first machine in the list - which gives you no protection at all.

Also, for application-based firewalling you still need software, as even built-in router firewalls cannot tell what programs you are running, only block/allow certain ports/IPs.

Post by **FatherJack** » January 12th, 2006, 16:33

In answer to the second part, the XP one is okay - although not easily configurable. Most people's response to something not working is to just turn it off. There are lots of free ones around, though - the one I got on best with was ZoneAlarm.

Woo Elephant Yeah · Post by **Woo Elephant Yeah** » January 12th, 2006, 22:50

XP's built in firewall does it exactly what it says on the tin.

Unless you're extremely paranoid, and have files stored on your computer that you 100% don't want anyone else to access (i.e. you are Gary Glitter), then the built in firewall with SP2 loaded is more than adequate.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » January 12th, 2006, 22:52

This is true.

it's good enough for government work, and bukkake. (i still swear by sygate where i have access to computers)

cashy · Post by **cashy** » January 12th, 2006, 23:16

http://www.bullguard.com/badkarma/

related, yet amusing :D

Post by **fabyak** » September 3rd, 2006, 19:39

Free anti-rootkit from Sophos (final assembly by yours truely

)

http://www.sophos.com/products/free-too ... otkit.html

Woo Elephant Yeah · Post by **Woo Elephant Yeah** » September 3rd, 2006, 21:53

fabyak wrote:Free anti-rootkit from Sophos (final assembly by yours truely )

http://www.sophos.com/products/free-too ... otkit.html

Nice find! What a great idea for a piece of software, I wonder if all the big antivirus companies will nick their idea?

Sheriff Fatman · Post by **Sheriff Fatman** » September 3rd, 2006, 23:22

Sophos are flippin' ace. We used their clobber on our Army systems and it was soooooooooo much better than the other stuff we got thrown our way it wasn't true.

Post by **fabyak** » September 4th, 2006, 7:01

they are a bit good arn't they (make companies buy more of their stuff, get me a bigger bonus next year!)

Post by **Dog Pants** » September 4th, 2006, 7:26

General opinion in our place is that Sophos (who we used to use) are better than the stuff we use now.

Kenbo Slim · Post by **Kenbo Slim** » September 10th, 2006, 20:07

Cheers for all this stuff, especially CCCleaner- it bloody cleared up 3Gig of space for me!

Really should spring clean my computer out more often...

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » September 11th, 2006, 11:55

CC is also good for running at start-up and wiping any potentially incriminating evidence on a shared PC or company laptop, I use it for the later. It may not be an infallible method, as someone will likely point out, but it's good enough for most.

Fear · Post by **Fear** » September 11th, 2006, 13:40

Another useful one if shit has already hit the fan:

WinsockXPFix

In some cases spyware can really disrupt Windows networking and cleaning it out can result in loss of the Internet. This program can fix this - worth downloading first.

MrGreen · Post by **MrGreen** » January 5th, 2007, 19:54

Avast anti virus is great, it's the only real option for x64 users, and it monitors your PC constantly, but doesn't have all the stupid pop ups that zone alarm has, it also updates its database about every day. It's saved my bacon many a time.

Woo Elephant Yeah · Post by **Woo Elephant Yeah** » January 29th, 2007, 16:27

First post has been changed slightly to reflect stuff that has since gone or been upgraded.

I could do with a more recent list of free anti-virus sites/downloads though please.