Posted by CentralNY on 9/6/12 9:55am
Msg #433337

Computer Protection

long story short i had a very bad experience with HP india support and had to call a local computer company to get me fixed and at that time they talked me into purchasing a pretty sophisticated anti virus program and plan. i was so paranoid and vunerable at the time i did go for it. they are national but an office is down the street from me. i have been able to call them about many issues, some actually caused by their software. i was told today that i call too much and they want to put me on the business plan, more $ i am sure. anyone know of really good virus software that doesn't cost an arm and leg. i am told my original problem was that i had too many anti virus programs on my puter which I didn't put there.
SUPER TECHIES ANY INFO MUCH APPRECIATED.

Reply by bagger on 9/6/12 10:02am
Msg #433338

Avast is FREE!

Reply by Shelly_FL on 9/6/12 10:19am
Msg #433343

Anti Virus programs are only the first line of protection

outside of having a hardware firewall (router). They are only as good as the definitions getting downloaded on a regular basis. The manner in which you use your computer (opening attachments from known and unknown sources, clicking on links in emails or webpages, keeping your OS and programs up-to-date, to name a few) is key to avoiding getting infected or pestered with malware.

There are plenty of free solutions for anti-virus/malware protection. I use MS Security Essentials. Run, run, run away from Norton and Mcafee. They are bloated and power hogs. JMHO

Reply by CentralNY on 9/6/12 10:23am
Msg #433345

Point taken

i once got a horrid virus from facebook, yikes. i would think if i got a good av and use the microsoft firewall i should be good. one can only hope. these guys are too expensive and then they scold me for calling.

Reply by Shelly_FL on 9/6/12 10:27am
Msg #433346

Just to be clear, MS Firewall is software on your computer.

Don't confuse that with a hareware device that acts as a firewall.

Reply by bagger on 9/6/12 11:13am
Msg #433363

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but

it has always been my opinion that Norton and McAfee were the leading source for virus's.
JMHO

Reply by sueharke on 9/6/12 1:02pm
Msg #433396

I use "Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security" and buy it when it is on sale with a rebate of all but the sales tax (from Frys). It may take time to get the rebate back, but free is free. The version I use covers 3 PC's or one Apple computer. It has warned me many times of bad websites.

Reply by Clem/CA on 9/6/12 10:06am
Msg #433340

Never had a problem with this free one

http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

Some folks use this

http://free.avg.com/us-en/free-antivirus-download

Reply by janCA on 9/6/12 10:13am
Msg #433341

Used to use Avast, my laptop guy put "Kaspersky" onto my new computer. Don't know why, except he said it's much better. Also is free.

Reply by CentralNY on 9/6/12 10:17am
Msg #433342

Thanks so much .....

me thinks i am being taken for a ride with this company. thanks again

Reply by Clem/CA on 9/6/12 10:22am
Msg #433344

I run two malware programs once a week also

malwarebytes http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/

and

Spybot search and destroy http://www.safer-networking.org/

somtimes one does not find what the other does. Spybot has am immunizer that stops most malware from ever getting on your puter

Reply by CentralNY on 9/6/12 10:41am
Msg #433351

OK, now to be a real pain

should i download what i choose from above and then ask them to delete their software or should i delete their ware. also they deduct their fee every month from my visa so i want to do this before the next deduction. hope i don't have to cancel credit card over this. they were po'ed as i called 5 times in july. really thanks all, "I love ya man."

Reply by Clem/CA on 9/6/12 10:59am
Msg #433359

Re: OK, now to be a real pain

You can just go to the control panel..Programs and features. and find their program and uninstall it. I don't know what kind of contract you have with the current folks so good luck with that

Reply by jba/fl on 9/6/12 12:09pm
Msg #433378

I would notify bank and visa to stop payment.....they will.

Then delete as mentioned earlier.

Reply by CentralNY on 9/6/12 12:26pm
Msg #433383

Re: I would notify bank and visa to stop payment.....they will.

i just cancelled my visa. will take 7 to 10 days to get new one. the cost of the service was expensive but it did save my life but above are so many cheaper great options. i just don't like that they are playing hard ball about service with the monthly fee they charge. they must think a sucker is born, you know

Reply by MW/VA on 9/6/12 10:43am
Msg #433352

I've run E-Set NOD 32 anti-virus on my computer for several

years. I do pay for it, but it's been good & isn't a hog like Norton, etc. This was a recommendation from some tech people I know.
I've also heard that Kaspersky & a new one called Viper (plug in device for up to 6 computers) are good.
I also run Malwarebytes from time to time, but haven't had any major issues on my computer. My email acct. was hacked, but that's happening to almost everyone.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 9/6/12 11:28am
Msg #433365

Norton used to be a hog, but it has gotten a lot better. Comcast offers it free to their subscribers. See what your ISP offers free. If it's a good one, download it to a CD; there should be directions on how to do it.

Then get your local company to remove your anti-virus. It can be hard; the usual procedures for removing other programs often don't work. After all, the first thing a virus will try to do is remove the anti-virus.

Then take your computer home, don't plug it into the internet, and install the ISP's antivirus from the CD.

Then run a scan.

Then hook up to the internet and receive updates for your antivirus.

Make sure scans are being done. It used to be these were scheduled, say once a week at a certain time. But now Norton does them whenever the computer isn't busy.

Reply by CentralNY on 9/6/12 12:01pm
Msg #433376

all great info. i think i am going to call a techie friend of my hubby's to assist me at the whole process. i believe i only have a month to month with them but i might cancel my credit card before next payment. somehow i don't trust them. silly me. also time warner rr i believe reccomends that we BUY mcaffe for anti virus protection. always an angle. really this is all great info that i will utilize as a combination of fixes. thanks all.

Reply by JPH13/MO on 9/6/12 12:18pm
Msg #433380

Kasperski Plus Malwarebyte's Antimalware works great

Kasperski is for viruses, Malwarebyte's is for malware (short for malicious software, software used or created to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to a private computer). I have the paid version of each. You should NEVER have more than one of each type of software on your system as that can cause a lot of problems and allow viruses, etc. to get thru, as each tries to ward things off at the same time and things go funky when that happens.

Reply by CentralNY on 9/6/12 12:22pm
Msg #433381

Re: Kasperski Plus Malwarebyte's Antimalware works great

i have heard that and i believe the multiple software thing got me in trouble to begin with. i wish i had taken it classes, really.

Reply by Clem/CA on 9/6/12 1:01pm
Msg #433394

Re: Kasperski Plus Malwarebyte's Antimalware works great

That would be multiple anti virus software. You can have multiple malware programs as the are not constantly running.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 9/6/12 1:27pm
Msg #433405

Re: Kasperski Plus Malwarebyte's Antimalware works great

Some of the products out there, like Norton, do the whole job, anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-trojan, etc. That's not to say it gets everything, but it tries. If running an additional anti-spyware/anti-trojan, you have to make sure it won't interfere with the protection software that is always running. If you don't feel comfortable with the terminology, you should probably ask someone who knows this stuff and is using the products your thinking of.

Figuring out what these products do is harder than figuring out what a legal signature is.

Reply by CentralNY on 9/6/12 2:16pm
Msg #433416

Re: Kasperski Plus Malwarebyte's Antimalware works great

you got that right. i await a call back from techie friend to help me. i am afraid to uninstall their program w/o anything else on. also there are issues about whether it is really "UNINSTALLED". for what it's worth a youtube guy had bitdefender as #1, avg as i believe #2 and e-set nod32 as #4. my friend is an it guy for our county so i am going to ask what he uses on his pc. again, i am just afraid to uninstall w/o software on. thanks all and i will let you know what goes down. i don't want to tell the co. to uninstall as i am afraid they will do what india did. isn't it crazy that i call hp for support on a brand new pc/printer and some guy in india screws me. just isn't the american way and it's scary. AND I'M SICK OF SPENDING $ FOR THIS STUFF.

Reply by Frenchie/TN on 9/6/12 3:34pm
Msg #433425

I run eset NOD 32

It was recommended by my son who is a real techie and stays on top of all that stuff. He also recommended running Spybot and Malwarebyte so that's what I do. Haven't used Norton in years because it's such a space hog and slowed down my laptop to a crawl.