Online safety with Vista OS

P. Breathnach

Hi, folks.

Readers of the laptop sub-forum will know that I have just got a laptop with Windows Vista Home Premium. I plan to use it with my own wireless home network (mainly) and sometimes with WiFi when I am away from home.

My usual protection is AVG anti-virus and ZoneAlarm, which I run under Windows XP on my desktop and which I used with Windows ME on my last system. They have served me well.

What I am thinking of doing with my new system is ditching the pre-installed Norton (which I consider to be as much a virus as a protection) and installing AVG. I did a search in this forum, and found that opinions are divided on AVG -- but they seem as much divided on the alternatives. So I lean towards sticking with what I am familiar with unless there are particular issues about using it with Vista.

My big question is about a suitable firewall. Can I trust Vista's own firewall, or should I install something else (preferably, but not necessarily, free)?

All comments welcome.

ActorSeeksJob

I'm not sure how good Windows Firewall is, but I would recommend getting Comodo anyway as it is considered the best firewall

AVG is pretty good, you aren't going to find anything better unless you wish to pay money.

P. Breathnach

Thanks, ASB.

Here's what happened:
- I downloaded the latest version of AVG and the 64-bit version of Comodo onto my desktop;
- I put them into a folder on the laptop using a USB;
- then I went to Control Panel and ran the delete program procedure to get rid of Norton, which I had not activated;
- I ran the AVG installer, and it reported that there was another anti-virus program installed;
- I aborted, and had a little dig around: there are Norton and Symantec shortcuts still in the system and I can't delete them;
- I ran the AVG installer again, ignored the advice about another AV program being there, and it installed correctly (I'm now running a scan just to prove that it works-- over 30,000 files scanned, and counting!);
- I then ran the Comodo installer, and it reported an unknown problem and refused to install;
- deciding to put at least temporary trust in Vista's firewall, I went online and nothing bad seemed to happen.

Until I am more sure about Vista's firewall, or I manage to load a version of Comodo or something else, I plan to disconnect from the internet when I am not actually using it -- it runs against the spirit of having a wireless setup at home, but it's not a big deal.

aidan_walsh

Try putting your computer into restricted startup mode using MSCONFIG and run the Norton Removal Tool to completely clean your system of Norton.

Capt'n Midnight

you can get zonealarm free for vista for home users

ZoneAlarm is FREE for individual and not-for-profit charitable entity use (excluding governmental entities and educational institutions).

http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp
link is on the right hand side of the page

http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/free/1025_update/zaSetup_en.exe - stub that downloads the rest

P. Breathnach

Thanks, guys, for the feedback.

It's probably too late to use the Norton Removal Tool. I thought I could use Vista's own remove program option because I had never activated Norton, and all bits of the program do indeed seem to be gone. The remaining shortcuts show only with a search, and they don't do anything -- but will not delete. It's probably no more harm than a slight irritation to somebody who, like me, wants to run as clean a computer as possible. If it's more than an irritation, please warn me.

I read that ZoneAlarm does not work with Vista. That seems to have changed with version 7.1. So I'm about to download.

P. Breathnach

Hmm.

ZoneAlarm seems to have changed its protocols. I could not download an installer, only install directly. I wasn't sure it was a good idea to install another firewall when Vista's firewall was in operation, but I didn't want to operate without a firewall. So I set out to try it, and got my first Vista BSOD! It took three restarts before Vista recovered, and I don't have ZoneAlarm.

So that makes two failed efforts to install a third-party firewall.

Back to my earlier question: can I trust Vista's firewall?

Deliverance XXV

I am using Vista's firewall on both my desktop and laptop and have had no problems whatsoever. So far.
Just make sure you are running adequate protection in all other areas of computer security and you avoid dodgy sites.

P. Breathnach

Thanks, KN. Okay, I'll go with Vista unless somebody tells me that it's a bad idea (and how to do better).

Pity about having to stay away from dodgy sites, though. What's the internet for?

IncredibleHulk

P. Breathnach wrote: »

Thanks, KN. Okay, I'll go with Vista unless somebody tells me that it's a bad idea

I have ZoneAlarm free version 7.1.078.000 and it works OK with Vista firewall turned offf