Is this a good firewall/av setup (WinXP)

ShreddedHumans

I am running
ZoneAlarm 6.0.631.003
AVG AntiVirus Free Edition 7.0.338
Spybot S&D
Ad Aware

Is there anything else I should add for a secure system? Would upgrading to WinXP SP2 help? I have already downloaded all the security updates from microsoft.

Thanks

irlrobins

def install sp2!

aidan_walsh

irlrobins wrote:

def install sp2!

Throw in MS AntiSpyware as well.

angelofdeath

same setup as my own, haven't had any major problems, im on the same windows installation i started with over a year and a half ago

Tony H

you could add spyware blaster , spyware guard , both are prevention measures and free
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/downloads.html

ps

sorry about the sig i thought i got rid of that ,you can also use NoScript and adblock if you are using firefox

ShreddedHumans

fitzdragon wrote:

you could add spyware blaster , spyware guard , both are prevention measures and free
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/downloads.html

Thanks I will take extra measures, can never be too careful, fitzdragon your sig freaks me out a bit though lol.

Capt'n Midnight

analogx script blocker
keep everything up to date
use firefox instead of IE

patch Adobe Acrobat reader
keep Realplayer patched

check www.secunia.org for list of patches for your apps.

use system restore and Ntbackup

heffo9

that seems pretty good to me. my pal stoner had this set-up for a good while and never had a problem. but he changed his firewall to sygate one it is free also.
http://smb.sygate.com/free/spf_download.php

smeggle

ShreddedHumans wrote:

I am running
ZoneAlarm 6.0.631.003
AVG AntiVirus Free Edition 7.0.338
Spybot S&D
Ad Aware

Is there anything else I should add for a secure system? Would upgrading to WinXP SP2 help? I have already downloaded all the security updates from microsoft.

Thanks

Coughs

Add Firefox/Thunderbird, History Kill, Hacker Eliminator to that list and update each bit of software on a regular basis and you should have very little problems in security.

No need really for sp2 - it didn't really fix anything and ms-anti-spy hasn't been around long enough yet to be able to fully trust. (Is it even out of 'Beta' yet? while since I checked).

Don't bother with spyware blaster or spy guard, least not according to spybot, If I remember correctly both have been in spybots blacklist for a while.

btw History Kill and Hacker Eliminator are pay to use software. Only two security based products I would ever pay for, especially hacker eliminator, which is a process monitor amongst other things. If a process starts up - it will be aware of it and ask your permission for it to go ahead. Nothing is allowed to run without your express permission.

windows updates:

Be selective in how you use it. Recently an audio driver update totally messed my divx codecs up. It's a case of some you need, most you don't.

Error Reporting: Turn it off! It's not needed, neither is;
Remote Desktop
windows Firewall
Automatic updates.

Keep caches clean Internet Explorer (If you must use it) especially. Biggest reason most people get problems is because they have a month or so's worth of junk in there. Some cases can be even more extreme. They clogg your system up and if it's a persistant cookie with a 99year expiary date, it's gonna merrily connect to the internet every time you do.

The most important security step you can take on NT systems especially xp is to create a 'User' account for your internet connections. Do not use an 'Admoinistrative account. This especially applies to folk who have bought an 'Off-the-Shelf computer, taken it home and just plugged in and have used the system like that since. If you got that computer in the last 3-4 years your more than likely running xp and that default account you stated in is an Administrators account. Your just asking for trouble to continue using it in that way.

Finally don't worry about your mans sig, it's harmless - it thinks I'm in Germany LMAO - if you really want to play I'll kick my virtual server 2005 up online - man has microsoft produced an awesome bit of kit there! Not often I'll give them a pat on the back but VS2005 rocks! Just think I could make it look like I'm on anyone of windows OS's from 3.1 upwards, even though my main base OS is windows 2003 server. heh heh :ebil snigger: (You have to do it windows 2003 server first as it won't load or allow xp to be loaded, if you load from xp you can only load 3.1 upto xp. To be able to load all systems you need to be running W2003S as your base os - very nice toy )

btw I've used the above security package now for going on 4 years and apart from the odd little annoyance as I said in that other thread, I have yet to be compromised.

angelofdeath

oh yeah forgot about firefox:) also i have bits service turned off (automatic updates) and system restore on (just in case), i don't bother with sp2, the only reason atm i'd consider updating to service pack 2 is because it seems some games are starting to require sp2 as a msr, f.e.a.r. being the first i've seen requiring it

Tony H

smeggle wrote:

Don't bother with spyware blaster or spy guard, least not according to spybot, If I remember correctly both have been in spybots blacklist for a while.

i think you don't remember correctly about spyware blaster , they reccomend it on the home page of spybot search and distroy so its not on their blacklist
http://www.spybot.info/en/links/index.html
and id love to see a link where SpywareGuard is blacklisted

smeggle

fitzdragon wrote:

i think you don't remember correctly about spyware blaster , they reccomend it on the home page of spybot search and distroy so its not on their blacklist
http://www.spybot.info/en/links/index.html
and id love to see a link where SpywareGuard is blacklisted

My apoligies, has been a month or so since I checked and to be fair I was unsure if spywareguard had been listed but blaster was at one time. They must have pulled there act together.
Still it's one of the best places to check to see if something is worth using - why bother when spybot continues to be the best above all the others with the better selection of tools.

IMO a process monitor that tells you something is trying to initiate itself (Probably without your knowledge) is the foremost line of security. Tested a rake of them over the last few years but none match Hacker Eliminator, noe match up the xtra tools, like 'on the fly' ip/domain investigation, how many 'Live' connections there are to your machine + a lot more, including a a very good Trojan detector.