software needed to keep pc running strong?

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Gawd
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Jan 18, 2006
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Decided ill get NOD32 for my av needs... but other than that, im lost as to what else i really need... the system will mainly be for gaming and a little web browsing. ill be connected to the internet via a Dlink router. since the router has a firewall, do i really need one on my pc as well? and if so, which one will get the job done?

i read the sticky up top, and theres so much there its hard to see what i really need.
 
Spywareblaster and Firefox are pretty much all I use, no antivirus. I used to run ZoneAlarm for a firewall back when I didn't have a router like yours.

I also use Regcleanr and CCleaner for cleaning the registry and junk files. TuneXP is a good one because it puts some common WinXP registry tweaks in simple drop-down boxes.
 
Don't listen to the people who don't run AV software. That's the equivalent of going on vacation and leaving your doors unlocked to your house.

Anyhoo, therere plenty of decent software packages out there, even some free ones, but you have to add common sense and knowledge to the software as well. Combined with those three parts, you're computer should be fine.
 
Snag yourself a copy of FireFox or Opera, I prefer Opera since it's way better :D, but anyways one or the other will help a little to prevent malware.

Stay off the P2P networks, the crack sites, the free porn sites and you should be set with a good AV program like NOD32 or AntiVir.
 
So a good browser and NOD32 should do it for me then? I dont need to be worried about a firewall or anything after i get the AV stuff installed then? I used to use black ice before i got the router... dont see much use of a FW running on my pc now... but if i should have one, ill get one =]
 
Skip the software firewall. In my opinion, all they are good for if you already have a hardware NAT router is to block outgoing malware connections on an already infected machine.
 
NOD32 is not as great as people say, it is fast, but over on another forum and some tests done NOD32 was worse then %75 of other scanners, people seem to tout it as being so great simply because it is faster then others, fast for a reason because it is not thorough.

AntiVir was ranked 2nd (next to kaspersky online scan) so gowith AntiVir.
 
MrGuvernment said:
NOD32 is not as great as people say, it is fast, but over on another forum and some tests done NOD32 was worse then %75 of other scanners, people seem to tout it as being so great simply because it is faster then others, fast for a reason because it is not thorough.

AntiVir was ranked 2nd (next to kaspersky online scan) so gowith AntiVir.
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Got a link for that? Not that I am disagreeing, I'd like to read the rankings and comments.
 
djnes said:
Got a link for that? Not that I am disagreeing, I'd like to read the rankings and comments.
Click to expand...

I saw the same rating not long ago but i'm not sure what lab tested it and where i saw it or i would link it, but i believe it.
 
I don't really put to much weight on those "personal testing" reviews of AV programs. So many non-scientific methods are used. You get one site claming AV-A is better then AV-B since it detected more stuff and then you goto another claiming the opposite.

There is a site that is run by an organization that specializes in AV ranking, but if I remember correctly, it's a subscription based site. Does anyone have a clue to what site I am trying to think of?
 
just bought NOD32 online.. So am i supposed to download the trial version and enter my registration info from the email im supposed to get from them?
 
In addition to the AV (NOD32 is a great choice), you'll want a secure browser, general knowledge, and of course latest OS updates. I use the full version of ProcessGuard in addition to Kerio Firewall. Kerio has a free version, and the free version of ProcessGuard is better than nothing I guess.

djnes said:
Don't listen to the people who don't run AV software. That's the equivalent of going on vacation and leaving your doors unlocked to your house.
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:cool:
 
Just to expand on my no-AV comment, I applaud anyone who runs an antivirus program, you're definitely doing your part keeping your computer safe, and with dual core processors scanning performance drops are practically nonexistant.

I don't run an AV because I run the least processes possible at one time, I reformat every month, and I keep triple redundant backups of my data so I'm not worried about my data getting messed up. I'm the only one using my personal computer, so it's not hard to avoid making mistakes by downloading from untrusted sites, etc so I think my risk of infection is pretty damn low. 6 years with no viruses or spyware, knock on wood.
 
How do you know that you haven't had a virus in 6 years if you don't have a virus scanner?? :p

And you should check out NOD32 if you don't want something slowing down your computer. Low CPU usage and low amount of memory.

btw, why reformat every month?
 
ChingChang said:
btw, why reformat every month?
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Like the feel of a fresh install, and it gives me a way to waste an hour or two when I'm bored :p I don't keep much besides my baseline programs installed, when I finish a game I remove it, and everything else is kept on other hard drives or optical media.

Once a month is an exaggeration, probably 7-8 times annually.

Don't need to worry about viruses if your next nuke & pave is just around the corner imo. Obviously I don't know if I have a virus if I don't have a scanner, but if I don't notice, then why does it matter? When some rogue .exe starts deleting my MP3 folder, I might get worried, but I don't see any processes in the task manager thatn I can't recite by memory. I guess it's an "ignorance is bliss" kind of thing, I don't want to worry about it but I'm too stupid to actually run the software to prevent it.

I'll check out NOD32 anyway, thanks.
 
-=Antimatter=- said:
Don't need to worry about viruses if your next nuke & pave is just around the corner imo.
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You either have been living under a rock, or don't work in a corporate IT setting. I may sound like an ass saying this, but do you understand that many viruses would affect yourr machine, but cause damage to the rest of us? You may not even know you have a virus, but you could be ruining our networks. Ever heard the term Zombie PC? How about all those viruses that go through your contacts list? How about a virus that simple sends out your personal info?

This has been rehashed a hundred times on here, but saying you don't need AV software is a clear indication that you don't know how they replicate, or the damage they can inflict. It's not just about deleting your own personal files anymore.
 
djnes said:
This has been rehashed a hundred times on here, but saying you don't need AV software is a clear indication that you don't know how they replicate, or the damage they can inflict. It's not just about deleting your own personal files anymore.
Click to expand...

At work I run the PC-Cillin like everyone else on my workstation, and when I'm on the campus network I run the school-licensed AV. When I'm at home for the summer on my own network, I really don't care. I stopped AV scanning years ago, just like I stopped scanning with Spybot because it never found anything once I figured out how to install preventative software. Yes, it's ignorant, and yes it is potentially dangerous to others. I'm perfectly aware of how they replicate and spread.

I guess there's a difference between being an ignorant asshole and choosing to be one.
 
Met-AL said:
I don't really put to much weight on those "personal testing" reviews of AV programs. So many non-scientific methods are used. You get one site claming AV-A is better then AV-B since it detected more stuff and then you goto another claiming the opposite.

There is a site that is run by an organization that specializes in AV ranking, but if I remember correctly, it's a subscription based site. Does anyone have a clue to what site I am trying to think of?
Click to expand...
Virus Bulletin
http://www.virusbtn.com/index
 
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