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#63139 03/02/10 07:21 PM
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Where can I find a good Virus/Malware software? My Mcafee expired yesterday, Thanks.

Trax

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I’m using the free version of AVG on all of our machines for a number of years now and I’ve had no problems at all. Another excellent free antivirus/anti spyware program is Avast. These two free versions can be hard to find but they are available at their respective web sites. If you need/want help with AVG just ask.

Good luck and remember that excellent antivirus/spyware programs don’t need to cost you money.


Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.

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Ditto to AVG. I just went ahead and got the paid version though to make sure that it is kept in force all the time. I think that Best Buy may be recommending Kaspersky now. Seems I may have used that some years back. I've had no problems while using AVG.

Stan


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Suggest Avast! with a periodic scan using antimalware from malwarebytes for hidden threats


I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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also avast is free and highly recommended.

www.avast.com

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Another vote for Avast! here.

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Avast also - available from filehippo.com.

Ian


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I've used Panda (protection not 100%) and Symantec (heavy load on system)
In 2008 I used the free edition of Avast on all our Windows systems. Runs smooth and never had any issues with the program or protection level. After the first year I decided that Avast is the best AV/Malware protection for our systems, so I upgraded to the pro-version.

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I have Norton Internet Security on one machine (works fine/is unrecogniseably lighter than the earlier Norton products) and BitDefender on 2 others (works fine/easy to use, although I have not yet updated to the 2010 version: + user support excellent)

I remain slightly suspicious of the free products, on the "you-get-what-you pay-for" principle.

The freebies are tremendously good at creating good press on the web, but then, they would be. What do you do when it all goes wrong/customer support dries up etc. You have no claim whatsoever on the supplier as you have not made a purchase.

+ do the maths and you will find that the difference in price is hardly worth mentioning.

BitDefender IS 2010 is 120 USD for 3 years' coverage of 3 machines (many of us have at least 3 PCs I believe - or the spare key can be used by another family member).

13 USD/year to protect a PC. I rest my case.

With Protection software I have a feeling its not so much the choice of product that is important as user practice.
whatever the choice, the user must:
- remain careful when visiting unfamiliar sites
- not open unknown attachments in emails
- be suspicious of any portable storage device
- run regular scans with other external AV + anti adware products
- etc.

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The new Avast version 5 has everything
1. antivirus
2. anti malware
3. 0 day threat protection
All in real time and with scanning.

I no longer use Windows though. I use Linux were nothing but a firewall is required.


John
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"I use Linux were nothing but a firewall is required."

I really wish you wouldn't perpetuate that myth..

According to CERT (US computer emergency readiness team) -
"Phalanx, which dates back to 2005, is a self-injecting kernel rootkit designed for the Linux 2.6 branch. It allows an attacker to hide files, processes and sockets and includes a tty sniffer, a tty connectback-backdoor, and auto injection on boot.

Details on the attacks — and targets — remain scarce but it’s a safe bet this is linked to the Debian random number generator flaw that surfaced earlier this year. A working exploit for that vulnerability is publicly available."


Just one of many ..Phalanx2 is out now, even the repositories have been hacked. Fedora had to do a complete rebuild for Red Hat repository a couple years ago. If you trust the Linux community (hundreds of thousands of users) you'll be fine , except for passing along windows virii inadvertantly.

Until you get targeted. If someone wants in bad enough they will get in, and your browser will read a redirect just as fast as any other if it is hidden correctly.

I would give more examples, but they would be techy and include the known exploits which are best not publicly discussed. A little research at the CERT site will reveal recent exploits.
..the more ya know ..

Last edited by rharv; 03/03/10 05:39 AM.

I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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I meant no anti-Virus programs or anti- malware programs. I do use noscript. I also include a link to the big cheese. Enjoy the reading. I think you will conclude that for the average user damage is self inflicted.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=510812


John
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At a certain point, these kind of OS arguments are quite like when civilian pilots start discussing which is the "safest" small airplane. <oxymoron alert!>

It ain't the aircraft.

Its the *pilot*.


--Mac

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No, it is whether someone decides to target you or not, and as linux gets more popular it will be targeted more. Of course user error is a contibutor, but not necessary.
Like I said, the exploits are there if someone wants to run them.

The kernal has exploits as do some of the OS files. Research at CERT if you want to learn John. The first sentence of the article you linked to is a disclaimer about not being a security professional. Trust the professionals more than a blog..

Last edited by rharv; 03/03/10 05:45 AM.

I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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One of the kernal2.6 expolits is aimed at VOIP packets and I know people on this forum use that.

Be careful, just trying to help.


I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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US-CERT is aware of active attacks against linux-based computing infrastructures using compromised SSH keys. The attack appears to initially use stolen SSH keys to gain access to a system, and then uses local kernel exploits to gain root access. Once root access has been obtained, a rootkit known as "phalanx2" is installed.

Of course be careful. Nothing is imuned. The issue you mention RHARV is aimed at SSH based servers. The average home user does not have this.

To me there's a big difference between a virus ( swine flu ) that spreads willy nilly to everyone, and me deciding, based on observation that RHARV has a lot of nice stuff at his house so I'm gonna find a way to go there and steal it.


John
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www.wintertexaninfo.com/BANDS/JohnnyD.php
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CERT is aware of quite few exploits, and this is one of the larger ones.

Many smaller ones include causing buffer overruns (including the Gimp exploit and hacked ISDN packet exploits).
There are many more than you care to admit, so I guess I'll just leave it at that. If you want to run around with only a firewall I have no complaint. But telling others that is all they need is not responsible IMO.

Linux is indeed 'safer' no argument there. It is a lot more user controlled, and many people switch to it every day. They need to know it is not bulletproof.

Last edited by rharv; 03/03/10 07:04 AM.

I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Well I'm certainly no expert in this field nor am I that experienced a user. All I really did was regurgitate what was told to me.
" As long as you use safe practice's there should be no problems" I guess servers are another issue.


John
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If you're using Windows, check out Microsoft's Security Essentials. Protects against Virus, Spyware and Malware. I use it and, so far, no problems. And it's free.

http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

R

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I am one of the Linux users on this forum and I run Avast anti-virus for Linux.
Why? Even though I am running Linux, it is still possible for me to pick up Windows mal-ware and then unknowingly send it on the my Windows using friends.
By running regular scans of my Linux system, I can avoid this happening.


tony
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