Vista 32bit - Avast/Comodo/Spybot/Spywareblaster/Hardware Firewall = more tha enough?

Burnsy2023 · 4 Mar 2009 at 13:29

Ratbag said:
[I want outbound filtering - windows firewall doesn't have it]

Yes it does.

_Jimlad_ · 4 Mar 2009 at 13:40

Ratbag said:
I've just been called upon to deal with a vista machine [UAC on, Windows defender on] that was riddled with malware....

yeah it some one is dumb enough to click on things and say yes to install this online virus scanner not much anything can do.

that's the problem

Mattus · 4 Mar 2009 at 13:50

_Jimlad_ said:
yeah it some one is dumb enough to click on things and say yes to install this online virus scanner not much anything can do.

Exactly. Common sense will always stop more malware than running loads of anti-malware software. Software helps, but some trojans are incredibly invasive and will impair the functionality of your AV and anti-spyware. I don't really see the use in much more than a decent router, a firewall, a good AV and possibly Malwarebytes or similar. Once you've let nastyware into your system, the only thing you can really do is reinstall. Even if you think your anti-malware program has got rid of the infection, can you be sure you're not running a secret keylogger?

cjmUK · 4 Mar 2009 at 14:07

Mattus said:
Exactly. Common sense will always stop more malware than running loads of anti-malware software.

_Jimlad_ · 4 Mar 2009 at 14:08

Mattus said:
Exactly. Common sense will always stop more malware than running loads of anti-malware software. Software helps, but some trojans are incredibly invasive and will impair the functionality of your AV and anti-spyware. I don't really see the use in much more than a decent router, a firewall, a good AV and possibly Malwarebytes or similar. Once you've let nastyware into your system, the only thing you can really do is reinstall. Even if you think your anti-malware program has got rid of the infection, can you be sure you're not running a secret keylogger?

what the net needs (if possible) is some sort of super spyware detector that is updated like a forum so when you click on a link and something starts to install a msg pops up saying 'NO this is really really bad news' not 'this could possible be dodgy'

and agree, if i come across a badly infected virus or spyware then only true and fair way is to reformat

Craig321 · 4 Mar 2009 at 14:10

Burnsy2023 said:
UAC, Windows Firewall, NOD32 and a NAT router.

Anything else is OTT.

This.

If you want more control over what's going in and out of your PC over the internet then go for Comodo & turn off Windows Firewall.

You could even get away without a firewall on your PC if you have one on your router.

Craigius · 4 Mar 2009 at 14:54

Burnsy2023 said:
UAC, Windows Firewall, NOD32 and a NAT router.

Anything else is OTT.

I use the above and have no problems

Ratbag · 4 Mar 2009 at 19:47

Burnsy2023 said:
Yes it does.

Though Vista's outbound firewall is 'on' by default, all outbound connects that do not match a rule are allowed. By default, there are no outbound 'block' rules, only allow rules. In other words, even though the Windows Firewall outbound protection is on, it is not doing anything.

Great.

I know I could theoretically spend hours setting up rules but hey.

Diggsy · 5 Mar 2009 at 16:46

Thanks for the advice guys. I have been looking at NOD32's security suite. I take it this would give me the control over what's coming in/going out that I want?

My router does have NAT, so that's sorted. Just want to get the right mix of software to go along with it.

I am pretty careful about what I click on, where I visit etc, and have managed to have a system clean as a whistle for as long as I can remember now, running XP with Norton AV and Firewall, Spybot and SpywareBlaster.

Craig321 · 5 Mar 2009 at 17:02

Diggsy said:
Thanks for the advice guys. I have been looking at NOD32's security suite. I take it this would give me the control over what's coming in/going out that I want?

My router does have NAT, so that's sorted. Just want to get the right mix of software to go along with it.

I am pretty careful about what I click on, where I visit etc, and have managed to have a system clean as a whistle for as long as I can remember now, running XP with Norton AV and Firewall, Spybot and SpywareBlaster.

Eset Security would give you more control of whats going in/out of the system, NOD32 is simply an anti virus.

swinnie · 5 Mar 2009 at 17:12

NOD32/Avast/AntiVir with Windows Firewall, Fully patched OS, router with NAT

And the super power of common sense.

_Jimlad_ · 5 Mar 2009 at 17:47

swinnie said:
And the super power of common sense.

that's the key at the end of the day

Diggsy · 5 Mar 2009 at 22:14

Craig321 said:
Eset Security would give you more control of whats going in/out of the system, NOD32 is simply an anti virus.

Yes, that's the one I meant, don't know why I called it NOD32 :rolleyes:

Thanks a lot, just what I needed to hear.

quackers · 5 Mar 2009 at 22:34

Personally i like having a software firewall installing so i can see what's trying to get out, also firefox with noscript. I also don't see the problem of having multiple anti spyware programs, as they all seem to pick up different things

Burnsy2023 · 5 Mar 2009 at 22:42

Ratbag said:
I know I could theoretically spend hours setting up rules but hey.

It doesn't take hours. I've got it set up on my 2008 server. One block all rule and then exceptions, took about 30 mins to configure properly.

Ratbag · 6 Mar 2009 at 07:21

Burnsy2023 said:
It doesn't take hours. I've got it set up on my 2008 server. One block all rule and then exceptions, took about 30 mins to configure properly.

Fair enough, but on your average PC there is little doubt that deploying a 3rd party firewall that asks permission for outgoing connections is an easier and more sensible option.