anti-virus

[frankiepop]

i am looking for more expertise opinions who might suggest what is the best anti-virus program....

i have norton and i think i have a virus....but norton is not finding it...maybe another program might...

otherwise, i plan to shut down and re format....

[Gary Sisco]

LATEST VIRUSES
> >>> > The George Bush Virus
> >>> > Causes your computer to keep looking for viruses
of
> >>> > mass destruction.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Ronald Reagan Virus
> >>> > Saves your data, but forgets where it is stored.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Bill Clinton Virus
> >>> > Gives you a permanent Hard Drive with NO memory.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Al Gore Virus
> >>> > Causes your computer to just keep counting and
> >>> > re-counting.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Bob "Viagra" Dole Virus
> >>> > Makes a new hard drive out of an old floppy.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Monica Lewinsky Virus
> >>> > Sucks all the memory out of your computer, then
> >>> > emails everyone about what it did.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Arnold Schwarzenegger Virus
> >>> > Terminates some files, leaves, but will be back.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Mike Tyson Virus
> >>> > Quits after two bytes.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Oprah Winfrey Virus
> >>> > Your 200 GB hard drive shrinks to 100 GB then
> >>> > slowly
> >>> > expands to re-stabilize around 150 GB
> >>> >
> >>> > The Ellen Degeneres Virus
> >>> > Disks can no longer be inserted.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Prozac Virus
> >>> > Totally screws up your RAM, but your processor
> >>> > doesn't care.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Joey Buttafuoco Virus
> >>> > Only attacks minor files.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Lorena Bobbitt Virus
> >>> > Reformats your hard drive into a 3.5 inch
> >>> > floppy...then discards it through Windows
> >>> >

[bluenoter]

1. Check for a virus online (for free) with this:

Trend Micro's Housecall

You'll have to wait for it to open and then wait for it to download some stuff. Wait!

2. Install this excellent (free) virus protection program, which updates daily automatically, and do a manual virus check with it:

Grisoft's AVG

3. Install the (free) programs Ad-Aware and Spybot (you can Google them) and run checks for adware and spyware, some of which can have viruslike effects.

(I used the word "program" above, but I might mean "utility." I'm not too clear on the difference.)

Edit: Some posters below have concurred with those recs, but I have to say that I'm no antivirus expert, having been woefully negligent about virus protection until fairly recently.

[sonic1]

Get a macintosh

I'll second Rita's picks.


I've been using AVG for about four years. I started using it right after McAfee slept through a virus that destroyed my old machine. It's free, but there is no support for the free version. But I've never found the need for it. Rock solid, not one problem in four years.

Also, AdAware is essential for ANY computer.

And if you run it with Spybot Search & Destroy, you should be in great shape. Use Spybot for the daily checks, and run AdAware once a week or so for the deep system scan.

Also check out SpywareBlaster. It runs in the background and zaps anything that tries to download itself to your machine while online, or using e-mail.

Fuck a Crashintosh.

[sonic1]

ah cummon scott. You aren't THAT partisian are you.

I am using a PC right now. But I have worked on both and I HATE PCs.

I never had any problems with macs. No virus. No spyware. No needy registries.

But some people love to spend hours on their computers trying to make them work....

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

Also check out SpywareBlaster. It runs in the background and zaps anything that tries to download itself to your machine while online, or using e-mail.

That has been a life saver on my machine at work, which for some reason was being hijacked like crazy, something that never happened on my home machine.

Originally Posted by sonic1

ah cummon scott. You aren't THAT partisian are you.

I am using a PC right now. But I have worked on both and I HATE PCs.

I never had any problems with macs. No virus. No spyware. No needy registries.

But some people love to spend hours on their computers trying to make them work....

Unfortunately, I've worked on both as well.

Macs suck ass. The Mac OS is the most ungodly piece of shit ever visited upon mankind.

I love my PC. No Virus. No Spyware. You just have to keep an ear to the ground about what's going on out there. It doesn't take hours. Minutes at the most.

With Macs, I spend at least the first five minutes cursing and telling anyone within earshot what a piece of shit it is.

http://www.funfry.com/data/654/2Dave...nFry_coml.mpeg

[sonic1]

To each, his own.

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

LATEST VIRUSES
> >>> > The George Bush Virus
> >>> > Causes your computer to keep looking for viruses
of
> >>> > mass destruction.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Ronald Reagan Virus
> >>> > Saves your data, but forgets where it is stored.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Bill Clinton Virus
> >>> > Gives you a permanent Hard Drive with NO memory.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Al Gore Virus
> >>> > Causes your computer to just keep counting and
> >>> > re-counting.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Bob "Viagra" Dole Virus
> >>> > Makes a new hard drive out of an old floppy.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Monica Lewinsky Virus
> >>> > Sucks all the memory out of your computer, then
> >>> > emails everyone about what it did.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Arnold Schwarzenegger Virus
> >>> > Terminates some files, leaves, but will be back.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Mike Tyson Virus
> >>> > Quits after two bytes.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Oprah Winfrey Virus
> >>> > Your 200 GB hard drive shrinks to 100 GB then
> >>> > slowly
> >>> > expands to re-stabilize around 150 GB
> >>> >
> >>> > The Ellen Degeneres Virus
> >>> > Disks can no longer be inserted.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Prozac Virus
> >>> > Totally screws up your RAM, but your processor
> >>> > doesn't care.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Joey Buttafuoco Virus
> >>> > Only attacks minor files.
> >>> >
> >>> > The Lorena Bobbitt Virus
> >>> > Reformats your hard drive into a 3.5 inch
> >>> > floppy...then discards it through Windows
> >>> >

Typical. Viruses become a form of humor. Nothing like trying to have a serious conversation.

[clinthopson]

We have the Norton Professional on our system and it seems to do a pretty good job of spotting viruses. We also have mechanical and software firewalls.

Plus never, never use IE or the other Microsoft crap, especially Outlook - a licence to snoop.

I've always used IE. As well as OE without a single piece of spam to speak of.


The only harmful mail clients I've found are the ones that the ISP's give you. My father uses Juno, and he uses their mail client.

Get's viruses AND spam to beat the fucking band.

[sonic1]

again, if you don't want viruses get a mac.

And if you actually have plans to make your computer useful, get a PC.

Macs make very expensive aquariums.

[sonic1]

You are so touchy today honey.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Microsoft is currently offering a free download of the beta version of their anti-spyware program. I'm using it on a few machines and it's been great. Actively blocking spyware for free is good in my book.

Later,
Kevin

[Chris D]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

And if you actually have plans to make your computer useful, get a PC.

Tell that to the graphic designers, music producers, TV professionals and film editors whose lives have been made so much better through the Mac.

Hahaha..........at least that horseshit ad campaign worked on someone.

[Chris D]

???

I work in a creative field. I know what Macs can do, as does my wife, who teaches TV production. Try to limit your blanket statements to your own experience.

[jaka]

I am still a graphic designer most of the time and work in a team where Macs and PCs are equally used. We do Internet design, publishing/advertising, image, sound & video editing on both platforms.
It generally depends on the user professional background.
We don't suffer much from SpyWare or viruses on either, mainly due to proper protection. However, I must admit that MacOS X has finally broken the no-viruses-law on Macs...

Lately, I share the same monitor/mouse/keyboard set between a WONDERFUL Apple G5 (that I use mainly for publishing/advertising projects) and a WONDERFUL Pentium4-based self-assembled PC (I prefer it for web related jobs).
I LOVE both.

Back to Jared's "To each, his own".


To respect the initial thread topic, I'd say I second everything bluenoter wrote about Adaware and TrendMicro's Housecall (which is also the brand we chose for our corporate server-based AV).

[Coda]

I own 3-4 PC's and 1 Mac. I love the mac and would never consider buying another PC for standalone work. I agree that the operating system is not as slick as Windows but it's sufficent enough to launch and manage programs.

The mac is unix based and one powerful machine. It really gives a noticable speed improvement when working with heavy programs like Photoshop. Apple is far ahead of MS for creative work.

Microsoft's office is available in Mac version. Well, word, excel, and powerpoint applications are - which is what most folks use.

To all you PC users, take a look at the Mac monitors and you will see color and resolution well above what you get on a PC.

This is the year of the Apple. Give the hackers time, they'll find a vulnerability in the mac machines.

[jaka]

Originally Posted by Coda

It really gives a noticable speed improvement when working with heavy programs like Photoshop. Apple is far ahead of MS for creative work.

To all you PC users, take a look at the Mac monitors and you will see color and resolution well above what you get on a PC.

I can't agree with that, though while using both platforms, I still consider myself a Mac user.
I've been using Apple computers for more than 20 years (my first was an Apple IIe, first Mac a 512!!!) and I'm a great supporter of their products, but what was true 5/7 years ago is not anymore.

Originally Posted by Coda

This is the year of the Apple. Give the hackers time, they'll find a vulnerability in the mac machines.

It's happening already. Unix-based, as you said...

Originally Posted by Chris D

Try to limit your blanket statements to your own experience.

But then it wouldn't be a blanket statement anymore.

Give the hackers time, they'll find a vulnerability in the mac machines.

Hahahaha...........

Time?!

Hackers need very little time. What they need is incentive. Why the hell would they want to spend even a minute of their time on something that will infect what, 110-120 computers?

[Ron Thorne]

Interesting that the first thread topic I saw in The Alley today was this one. Interesting, because my Norton AntiVirus 2003 LiveUpdate subscription was running out soon. So, instead of just renewing my old software, I downloaded the 2005 edition of Norton AntiVirus last night, which is even more robust and thorough (new worm eliminator & advanced scanning among other things) for five dollars more. I also have Zone Alarm Pro (firewall) running in the background for extra protection. I run Spy Bot and Adaware frequently. I'll now check into SpywareBlaster, too.

I agree with all of bluenoter's suggestions, but I also have a couple of important questions. A complete answer to each one may yield some very useful information.

• What makes you think you have a virus?

• What version of Norton's AntiVirus do you have installed?

• When did you last run a full virus scan?

• Is there anything in your Norton quarantine folder? Look in Reports.

• Do you get regular and frequent Automatic LiveUpdates from Norton?

• Is your Norton LiveUpdate subscription up-to-date?

I'm not going to get into the PC vs. Mac debate, especially because I know that each OS has its virtues and limitations. Plus, both of our sons work in computer-related fields, so I have some unique insights. One of them is a lead artist with a video game company and does 3-D animation, the other is a multi-language translator/website designer. I'm using a PC custom-built by our oldest son at this time.

Originally Posted by Father Thorne

I'll now check into SpywareBlaster, too.

Definitely.

As Pete said, it's absolute tits if you are having any kind of hijacking problems.

[jaka]

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

I'm not going to get into the PC vs. Mac debate,

Wisdom in person.


How can I be such a fool?