KWSN Orbiting Fortress

davide405 · Knight Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 77 Location: Central USA

I got in on the managed Beta of Windows OneCare Live.

There were some growing pains at first, particularly with the firewall (it was annoyingly aggressive) but it has run trouble-free for me for so long it doesn't seem like a Beta anymore.

It's so good that, when they go public with a subscription service, I'm going to sign up.

OneCare is a combined Firewall/Anti-virus/Spyware/Backup/Tune-up solution.

Note: I don't work for Microsoft in any capacity, I am simply a satisfied customer Smile

Also: check <grc"dot"com> for a great free check of your computer's security. Look for the link to <Shields Up!>

KWSN Sir CADCAM · Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 6:38 pm Post subject:

A Shrubbery · Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 11:45 pm Post subject:

I havn't seen an antivirus program yet that hasn't been sucessfully infected.

A lot of it just has to do with the savy of the end user. AOL users get the most viruses because they tend to be the least knowlegeable and people that get one virus tend to have at least six variants of whatever's out there.

In any case, I've seen viruses on McAfee that Norton dectected and vice versa. I have a multitude of boot disks specifically targeted to removing individual virii depending on which is the most lethal.

The most entertaining ones to me are some of the classics. Anyone remember the giant black spiral covering the desktop? The computer is completely functional just can't see the display. That one was actually a modular virus, it would seek out updates to itself and do all sorts of fun things.

As far as protecting yourself, don't visit suspect sites, take the basic precautions, have an antivirus program (any of your choice) and keep it updated. A router is also far better than software firewall, but it's all better than nothing.

If you do get a virus, don't panic. Most don't do any permanent damage and are relatively easy to remove if you have a techie nearby.
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A Shrubbery for Prez. Let's put more bushes in the whitehouse.

KWSN - A Shrubbery
Shrubbing since 2000 for the KaNI!ghts.

Spider from Mars · Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 9:09 am Post subject:

Elwood · Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 8:29 pm Post subject:

FWIW, I've been pretty darn happy w/ Avast as free aps go. I went to it after Norton expired and haven't looked back.
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braddblk · Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 11:56 pm Post subject:

Didn't use anything until about 5 yrs ago when I started using McAfee. Used it on 5 different machine with aol and without and have never had a problem with a virus.
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I a lumberjack and I'm ok

Lady DC · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 1:46 pm Post subject:

**Sigh** Norton expired. I am still protected. Just no updates. I am researching AVG and avast now. I see that my Microsoft Antispyware will expire in 83 days. But to upgrade I have to go to Windows Defender. Which of course requires Service Pack 2. Has anyone been able to upgrade to Service Pack 2 without any issues?
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|----Ni---Ni----|
Goddess of Spankings.

Leon Day is coming. A most wonderful day to celebrate.

[img]http://www.katrinashome.com/ladydc_counter.php[/img]

Fart in your gen direxion · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 1:51 pm Post subject:

Mr. Snrub · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 2:51 pm Post subject:

Isn't installing the Service Pack 2 a big security upgrade in itself? Do you mean to say that you do not have SP2 for Windows XP?

Fart in your gen direxion · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 3:07 pm Post subject:

Yea, I think she is saying that.

And SP2 does contain a lot of security patches. Billions and billions of them according to Carl Sagan Confused

.

But it also contained basic OS fixes. The question is, even if she's running SP1, she still might have been receiving some/all of the SP2 security related patches, but perhaps not. In any event, there's no reason not to upgrade. If you're on dial-up, Mister Softie will even send you the SP2 upgrade on a CD Cool

.

davide405 · Knight Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 77 Location: Central USA

If you're on dial-up, you'll definitely WANT to do the upgrade by CD...

SP2, the one time I did the upgrade online, took a good long time on a DSL connection.

KWSN imcrazynow · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 6:03 pm Post subject:

Teh Grvmm · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:02 pm Post subject:

HEY! I got my new video card so I couldn't be on the forms at all for a while, but reading this I'd say I'm prob . the only certified computer tech guy here.

Let me say off first that YOU SHOULDN"T UPGRADE YORU BIOS UNLESS YOU KNOW WHT YOUR DOING! If you mess up your looking at a big bill to hire and replace your bios chip if you corrupt you bios data.

Second, I'd recommend you using AVG, along with microsoft anti virus, spybot, adaware, and upgrade to SP2. From the sound of howyou use the internet,and havign dial-up you shouldn't have to worry about getting something professional (altho AVG has been one of the best I've seem of the many I tried).

You shouldn't worry to much about getting hack ( or as much as our taking it to be). Yes their are many hackers out their but the reality is that your not going to get "hacked" unless you have a reson to or means to do so ( ex. spend tons of cash online, pissed someone off that does this stuff, gong to fake sites to purchase things, etc.) but in most cases people who has information stolen from them simply went to a fake site to order something, or fix some account info. they where told was wrong from the mail or something. As long as you aviod sites you don't know or trust you shoudl be fine really.

Also jsut because an anti-virus such as mircosoft antivirus don't pick soemthing up doesn't mean it sucks so much as you probably don't have anything on yoru computer or cleaned it with someother program beforehand.

What I presonally liek to use is BitDefender, or PCTrillan. Those two are mostly for Professional user or administrators in schools or companys that nkow what their doing, but if I rember right PCtrillan has a user friendly interface as well.
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What I found out in life is that theirs a fat man behind everything great in life.
Well I found the greatest man ever.

X2 3800+ sonic tower + AS paste
2GB of Mushkin HP 2.3.2.6
4x 320 WD hdd Sata2 16mb raid 0
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X-Fi Fatal1ty

Lady DC · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 9:14 pm Post subject:

Okay, you guys have convinced me. I am going to upgrade now. I do not have a Dell, I have a HP computer. And I am on the internet. I am going to start it before I go to bed.

Wish me luck! #ni-1

_________________
|----Ni---Ni----|
Goddess of Spankings.

Leon Day is coming. A most wonderful day to celebrate.

[img]http://www.katrinashome.com/ladydc_counter.php[/img]

Cohiba · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 8:03 am Post subject:

Teh Grvmm · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 8:09 am Post subject:

Well I'm kinda really pumped about it cas I just got it #ni-1

A++, and MSCDT, BOTH MINE! bwah ahahahaha
_________________
What I found out in life is that theirs a fat man behind everything great in life.
Well I found the greatest man ever.

X2 3800+ sonic tower + AS paste
2GB of Mushkin HP 2.3.2.6
4x 320 WD hdd Sata2 16mb raid 0
SLI 7600gt
X-Fi Fatal1ty

Gunslinger · Duke Joined: 19 May 2002 Posts: 353 Location: Behind you

Al Dente · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 12:50 pm Post subject:

I take it you mean Certified Tech, Certified Looney, or in many cases, both.

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Teh Grvmm · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 1:02 pm Post subject:

hey YOu callin' me craZy fool?! BWARH dinosaur att. you for 20points of dam , you faint! Your DoT deals 1 to me, I faint! We tie you dont' Win! I dont' loSe! now who who and whats crazy?> Bam

hey what did you end up getting LadyDC? and how it's it working out so far?
_________________
What I found out in life is that theirs a fat man behind everything great in life.
Well I found the greatest man ever.

X2 3800+ sonic tower + AS paste
2GB of Mushkin HP 2.3.2.6
4x 320 WD hdd Sata2 16mb raid 0
SLI 7600gt
X-Fi Fatal1ty

Fart in your gen direxion · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 1:07 pm Post subject: