Mcafee

ahopeter · December 14, 2003, 22:44 hrs

i have the trial of mcafee, but im looking into getting some kind of antivirus program, any suggestions? how is the sponsor for FREE antivirus? thanks

Whizbang · December 14, 2003, 23:04 hrs

I have tried installing McAfee twice and crashed my computer. Others use it with good results. The only free antivirus I have tried that I can recommend is AVG . It worked great on my system and caught every virus for about 3 months. I then upgraded to the PRO version as a show of gratitude. Free version has automatic updates also. I use Zone Alarm free firewall with excellent results. Trend Micro at the left side of the screen here has both an antivirus and firewall combined in the PC-Cillin program. You really cannot afford not to have both antivirus and a firewall. Hacking has become much too insidious to do without either.

ahopeter · December 14, 2003, 23:21 hrs

cool, so AVG for antivirus and Zone Alarm for firewall...right?

frenchie47 · December 15, 2003, 02:27 hrs

I use McAfee Personal Firewall which I think is great. I also have NOD32 as an anti-virus, and although it is a 'pay for' product, I consider it well worth the money for peace of mind

ahopeter · December 15, 2003, 15:57 hrs

what exactly is firewall?

pat · December 15, 2003, 16:08 hrs

Basically a firewall is either a software program or a hardware device or a combination of both that keeps intruders out of your system. They can also block other programs on your system from accessing the internet.
If you do not have a firewall installed, do consider getting one.
The free version from Zonelabs (Zonealarm) should be good for most home users.
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
Windows XP comes with a basic firewall preinstalled. If you install Zonealarm make sure to turn off the XP one.

ahopeter · December 16, 2003, 01:32 hrs

I have XP, in your pro opinion what do you think i should do...keep xp's basic or get the Zone Lab?

Mark H · December 16, 2003, 09:53 hrs

Get Zone Alarm. XP's built in firewall is not nearly as good a third party solution.

Mark H

ahopeter · December 16, 2003, 15:59 hrs

Thanks...how do i shut down xp's factory firewall?

Mark H · December 16, 2003, 16:10 hrs

1. Open the "Control Panel"
2. Open "Network Connections"
3. Right click on your connection and select "properties"
4. Select the "advanced" tab
5. Uncheck the check box beside the firewall entry

Mark H

pat · December 16, 2003, 16:11 hrs

1st Download Zonealarm, don?t install yet.
2nd Disconnect from the internet.
3rd Click Start, Network Connections, Right Click on the Icon of your Internet Service Provider. Choose Properties then the Advanced Tab, Uncheck the box that say?s Internet Connection Firewall.
4th Install Zonealarm, read through the tutorial it is pretty self explanatory on what to expect with the new firewall.

I wouldn?t suggest connecting back to the internet without a firewall installed.
Also, make sure you keep up to date with the Critical Updates from the Windows Update Page.

Whizbang · December 16, 2003, 21:56 hrs

And do not choose default setting on Zone Alarm for program alerts. Choose the setting to tailor ZA as programs attempt internet access.

Just for information,
26,892 internet blocks have been made by my Zone Alarm since installing less than a year ago. That is approximately one every two minutes of on-line time, and that is spooky.

630 have been high rated, as in vulnerability probes. That translates to about one hack attempt every 1hour and 20 minutes.

ahopeter · December 17, 2003, 01:40 hrs

thanks everyone, i really appreciate the great input and feedback. i'll do it as soon as my dsl is back up and running. i'm using dial up right now (problem with the dsl equipment verizon sent me) so i dont think it is really that good for downloading programs. OH! i kept getting this error message evertime i started my computer and after hours of airtime with dell it turned out that it was the free trial of mcafee that dell gave me! i guess mcafee isnt that good afterall. you think dell should "comp" me something ...lol

pat · December 17, 2003, 04:40 hrs

Zonealarm is not a large download and it may be better to get it up and running before you connect back up to your "always on" broadband connection.

ahopeter · December 24, 2003, 02:43 hrs

finally got my dsl running and the first thing i did was install the firewall protection... two questions
1. i accidentally installed the firewall before disable the xp firewall protection... should ibe worried?
2. when i went to disable the firewall protection... it was already disabled... should i be really scared!?!

query · December 24, 2003, 04:56 hrs

No; the installation probably disabled the XP firewall for you.

ahopeter · December 24, 2003, 12:00 hrs

whoa, thanks alot... talk about feeling some serious relief.

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