Help with New Laptop

AdmThrawn · Conscript Joined: Mar 08, 2005 Posts: 151

I'm getting a new (well, used) laptop. A relative used to use it for business stuff and I figure since it has wireless and I have a network I can use it for... I figure I should get some stuff to protect myself from nasty viruses and whatnot. UPS says the package will arrive on Friday.

So... uh, any clue what I should use? It doesn't necessarily have to be free, but that would be nice.
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Is · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 4:49 pm Post subject:

just remember to run ad-aware every once in a while... use firefox instead of internet explorer (http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox)

install mcafee or norton antivirus (ONLY antivirus... do NOT get any of the security utilities) and make sure that they DO NOT run constantly or your system will be drained severely. just remember to run it regularly
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evofire · Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2005 11:54 pm Post subject:

Actaully, I would suggest AGAINST Norton or McAfee. I would suggest using AVG or AntiVir. I've tried both programs, and I can say they work well. And having a wirelss network means that you already have a router which has a firewall. You are set to go after you grab an antivirus programs. Those 2 anit virus programs run below 20MBs, and should not drain much resources.

Is · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:26 am Post subject:

AVG and AntiVir? never heard of them... but then i'm usually stuck in *nix Wink

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evofire · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 4:09 am Post subject:

Well, basically free anti virus that works just as well. I've used both programs coupled with Firefox and has had not virus problems. Or maybe that is just because of my rather clean browsing habits, I avoid any suspicious sites(most porn sites are suspicious!)

when in doubt, go do a housecall scan from trendmicro. When it won't allow you to do that, then you might as well start from scratch.

Lucifer · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:05 am Post subject:

I have more than one antivirus program installed in my pc (3 actually). Used all the anti virus program you guys mentioned. Norton and McAfee have a large database of virus and worms definition but they eat a lot of resource, so i recommend RAM over 256. For AVG and AntiVir, they didn't detect some viruses that was found when use aVast. So i stick with aVast now since it's a pretty good program which updates frequently like 3, 4 times a day (means more viruses and worms are found every day).

My pc just got infected by some viruses and worm since i forgot to on firewall (Zone Alarm) but got them removed using aVast. Zone Alarm has it's own anti virus but you have to uninstall other anti virus program if enable it. So i disabled it.

Spyware and Adware are common found so using both Adaware and Spybot is good to remove them. Another good software is called hijackthis. One disadvantage of hijackthis is it doesn't have any backup function, so becareful of what you delete.
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evofire · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 12:44 pm Post subject:

Without enough ram, I suggest against running more than one antivirus app at a time. Though they only run in the background, they are a significant percentage off total system memory usage. Considering ur laptop is passed from another person, and probably at least 6 months old, there is a high chance that it only has 256MB ram and that is not very sufficient to run Windows. Windows XP chews around 200MB of memory right on start up(mine, running close to the bare minimum starts using 160MB). Any of the AV apps would be fine, just watch ur computer memory, or else you will have more fustration than usability.

Is · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:09 pm Post subject:

that's a good reason to NOT run your AV program in the background... the only stuff i have running constantly is... nothing. all that's in my system tray is volume control and trillian
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AdmThrawn · Conscript Joined: Mar 08, 2005 Posts: 151

So...

Antivirus... McAfee/Norton if I can spare the resources and aVast is good too? Where should I buy these (or download if they're free)?
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evofire · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 10:02 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure if aVast is free or not, but McAfee and Norton will cost you something like $60 at least. AntiVir and AVG are both free.

Lucifer · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 12:21 am Post subject:

You can use download aVast and use it for 30 days without any limitation. Once the date is up, you have to register or enter serial number (although i know it's wrong but i didn't buy it but still continue using it...)

Antivirus is important but i think a good firewall is more important. Without a software firewall installed, it's easily to be infected by viruses and worms. So, i suggest you get a firewall first. And again, i use Zone Alarm for the firewall.
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evofire · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:00 am Post subject:

I agree with the firewall, yet I don't use one(lol) Laughing

I haven't been infected before... I think that with good browsing habits, one does not even need a anti virus, its just there for safe measures. I've used McAfee, Norton, AntiVir, AVG on at least 5 computers. Never has any of them chime in when I was in charge of the computer.

Is · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 8:56 am Post subject:

i've never used a software firewall (except in OS X... but even that wasn't very useful) and never intend to.
best place to run a firewall is on your router.
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Drako · newbie! Joined: Apr 06, 2005 Posts: 34

I'm getting a new dell laptop here in a few months any suggestions?

Is · Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 5:25 pm Post subject:

get Centrino if you can... avoid Celeron at all costs.
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