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What firewall/ad/spyware/virus protection?


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#1
bunster

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Hello G2G!

Firstly, many apologies if this is in the wrong forum, I've been having a search round the place and think I'm on the right track!

Hoping you techy folk could help this newbie out! I've been reading a few articles on here and searching the forums but could do with checking my understanding is correct and asking a few questions!

Little bit of background - I'm currently waiting for my broadband to be connected and this will be the first time I've been online with my home PC. It runs XP and I'm guessing I haven't got the SP2 upgrade (or any other updates for that matter). It came with Norton installed on it but from what I read, there are better free alternatives.

The main points I could do with help with..

I read in one of your articles that my PC could become infected within a matter of minutes after going online. Obviously I'd like to protect myself ASAP and I get the impression I need a firewall, anti-virus software and also adware & spyware. If this is correct, should these be done in any particular order (and should I try and download SP2 and other updates before all these or afterwards?)?

I'm looking at Zonealarm, AVG, adaware & Spybot - do these seem like sensible choices? (Do they work together? Are there better free alternatives? Are they the sort of program I think they are???)

I also read that you shouldn't have two of the same sort of programs installed - If I'm right that I'm better replacing Norton, how do I go about uninstalling it?

Finally, is there anything I've missed that I should know about? (I've read the article about the product updates & activex control stuff)

Sorry to bombard you with so many questions, your help would be very much appreciated and I apologise if the answers are already here somewhere!

Thank you
B
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#2
cheyenne 09

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Hi Bunster
Firstly Welcome To Geeks To Go if you haven't been using a Firewall yes you do Need a Firewall and Antivirus Protection try these Link's but Don't run more than two of these programs at a Time i hope this Helps to Answers your Security Questions Good Luck.

Link's for Firewall
http://www.personalf...gistration.html

http://filehippo.com...sonal_firewall/

http://filehippo.com...zonealarm_free/

Link for a Antivirus
http://www.ewido.net/en/download/
avg
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php
sas

:whistling: Cheyenne 09 :blink:
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#3
bunster

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Hi Cheyenne 09, thank you for the quick response!

Will I need to get rid of Norton before downloading these?

Thanks again
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#4
cheyenne 09

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Hi Bunster
Yes you should completely Remove Norton before you run any of these as Norton hogs a lot of the resources of your Computer.


:whistling: Cheyenne 09 :blink:
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#5
bunster

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Much obliged, shall have a go when I get home!
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#6
cheyenne 09

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Hi bunster
Your Welcome i have just Uninstalled Norton 2006 Antivirus and Firewall from my own Computer and all is well so far and i Installed the Free ones Available so Please let me how you get on. and Remember to Uninstall from Add and Remove in The Control Panel. Good Luck


:whistling: Cheyenne 09 :blink:
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#7
zbd

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You must use Norton uninstall program. If you did then you're one step ahead.

http://service1.syma...005033108162039


A source of some good free programs.

http://www.majorgeek.../page.php?id=20
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#8
bunster

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Hi again Cheyenne 09

I think I managed to uninstall Norton last night successfully (got the warnings after restart saying XP couldn't locate antivirus) but in add/remove I noticed Norton Security Centre and Live Update 2.5 (Symantec corp) - should I be uninstalling these too?

Additionally, should I be removing the XP firewall in order to use a different one? If so, how do I go about it?



Hi ZBD

Unfortunately I'm not online yet with the PC in question (waiting for the connection to go live) so can't use your links yet. Will there still be some 'leftovers' on my machine the way I've done it?


Thanks to all once again :whistling:
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#9
zbd

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You don't uninstall the XP firewall when you get a new one. It's turned off automatically.

Did you uninstall Norton using the Norton uninstall program? You must use it.

I would uninstall/delete/remove any reference to Norton.
Use search button to find out if anything is still on it.

Having the fewest programs necessary will help.
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#10
bunster

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No, only through add/remove programs. Can I download the Norton uninstall program to a flash drive? The PC in question isn't online yet.
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#11
cheyenne 09

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Hi bunster
You Don't Uninstall Windows Firewall but make sure it's Turned off as far as i know can Download it to a Flash Drive but to make sure use the link as it Answer's Question's on USB Flash Drives and make sure all Symantec items are off your System let me Know how you get on Good Luck


Link to USB Flash Drive Question's and Answer's Website
http://www.usbflashd.../usbfd_faq.html

:whistling: Cheyenne 09 :blink:
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