Blademaster! Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this topic. Today, my temporary virus protection setup on my laptop by Norton Internet security has run out. Right now, I'm relying on my laptop's windows defender to protect me. Assuming I'm not downloading anything or going onto websites known for being malicious and such, how safe is my computer and how long sould I wait to get any actual virus protection? I plan on getting an actual virus protection program soon (like two or three days), but I wanted to know how safe my computer would be until then. I don't know if this helps, but I'm using a wired connection (I can use wireless to) and I use IE for internet browsing (too lazy to get Firefox.....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Tarrasque Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Just stick to your plan and you should have nothing to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmartRutter7 Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 (edited) Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this topic. Today, my temporary virus protection setup on my laptop by Norton Internet security has run out. Right now, I'm relying on my laptop's windows defender to protect me. Assuming I'm not downloading anything or going onto websites known for being malicious and such, how safe is my computer and how long sould I wait to get any actual virus protection? I plan on getting an actual virus protection program soon (like two or three days), but I wanted to know how safe my computer would be until then. I don't know if this helps, but I'm using a wired connection (I can use wireless to) and I use IE for internet browsing (too lazy to get Firefox.....) You should be fine, i had myself a similar situation in which my norton antivirus that came with my laptop ran out. I probably had it for a week or so after it expired, and then just got Avast! Antivirus (which, might i add, works very well and i prefer it to norton). Another situation on the topic viruses that i was in; I had recently reinstalled windows xp on my desktop, didn't have any service packs, so no windows firewall. At the time i had dial-up (screw you AOL), and since my connection was slow as hell, it took be a while before i was able to get antivirus software downloaded. In that time span, with no firewall and no antivirus, i end up with random pop-ups saying to go to such and such site for registry cleaning and all that bs. I didn't visit any shady sites, or anything remotely like that. So yeah, make sure you have a firewall too. I've just been using windows firewall with avast, no problems here. If i recall correctly, Norton has its own firewall, I think it disables Windows firewall, so you may want to check the control panel for settings for that if you're not planning on installing any other firewall software. And btw, get Firefox. To quote my Intro to Film teacher (yes he's an awesome guy, knows a good deal about computers), "Internet Explorer is for the technologically illiterate, use Firefox, Opera, or Chrome". Heh, i always found that statement amusing. =P Really though, the way that Internet Explorer works is more tied into the system itself, with inherently more possibilities for problems, and being a rather common browser, hackers tend to search for vulnerabilities more in IE. And as a matter of personal opinion, i can't stand IE's layout. Edited October 15, 2009 by SmartRutter7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soviet Gregor Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Avast. I like it, it works. And it's free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolDeath Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 computer viruses are a government conspiracy to sell their spyware loaded "antivirus" programs so they can spy on you. think about it, have you ever SEEN a computer virus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademaster! Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share Posted October 15, 2009 (edited) Thanks for the help guys. Is Avast that good? I was just planing on getting Norton again since I can get a discount on it when I buy it with Microsoft word. (I have word, but I think it's a trial version. I've just been using notepad for text at the moment. computer viruses are a government conspiracy to sell their spyware loaded "antivirus" programs so they can spy on you. think about it, have you ever SEEN a computer virus? Define "SEEN." If your asking if I have ever gotten one before, then yes. The one I got made it so that if I clicked on a link brought up by a search engine like google, it transfered me to random add and porn websites. Not fun. Edited October 15, 2009 by Blademaster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Tarrasque Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 I've tried both and Avast's been better. My comp ran slow when I had Norton and it didn't detect viruses as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmartRutter7 Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 computer viruses are a government conspiracy to sell their spyware loaded "antivirus" programs so they can spy on you. think about it, have you ever SEEN a computer virus? Well, i have witnessed the effects of viruses. And by definition you can't 'see' a computer virus, since it is not something that is 'seen', but rather a series of computer instruction stored in bits of 0s and 1s. Hell, you can't see real viruses either without a tool of sorts to look at its structure and composition. Why by that logic, swine flu is a mere conspiracy... say... you might be on to something here. XP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkfest Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Another good one is Avira AntiVir. I haven't tried avast, and while AntiVir seems slower than Norton in terms of scanning speed, it also caught more. (All Norton found was some "tracking cookies" while AntiVir found some possible spyware) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 My Norton ran out earlier this year actually. It's still WORKING persay, but it's not UPDATING... I'll live... I hope... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolDeath Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 computer viruses are a government conspiracy to sell their spyware loaded "antivirus" programs so they can spy on you. think about it, have you ever SEEN a computer virus? Well, i have witnessed the effects of viruses. And by definition you can't 'see' a computer virus, since it is not something that is 'seen', but rather a series of computer instruction stored in bits of 0s and 1s. Hell, you can't see real viruses either without a tool of sorts to look at its structure and composition. Why by that logic, swine flu is a mere conspiracy... say... you might be on to something here. XP so in other words you have no proof that they exist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burning_phoneix Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Windows Firewall,Windows Defender and Avast! should be all you really need. Just keep them all updated. Norton is shit. Uninstall it right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyosua Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Enable Windows Firewall, get Firefox, Google Chrome, or Opera, windows defender, Ad-aware, Spybot search and destroy, and one of the following: Avast!, AVG, or Trend Micro. I believe I chose Avast! back when I was very concerned about internet security. Personally, I don't keep a virus scanner on my desktop, because I restrict myself about going to unknown websites on my desktop. I have virus protection on my laptop, which I use to check out sites before I deem them safe to visit on my desktop. I haven't run into any problems doing this, on top of the fact that I format my desktop often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademaster! Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share Posted October 15, 2009 Is McAfee any good? I have somekind of setup with MSN that should allow me to get it for free. In the mean time, I'm going to get Avast since everyone keeps recomending it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyosua Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 McAfee wasn't too bad in the past, but Avast! outperforms it by far nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteor Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Microsoft has a free security suite available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PostPavilion Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 I'm with everyone saying Avast! is awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmartRutter7 Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 computer viruses are a government conspiracy to sell their spyware loaded "antivirus" programs so they can spy on you. think about it, have you ever SEEN a computer virus? Well, i have witnessed the effects of viruses. And by definition you can't 'see' a computer virus, since it is not something that is 'seen', but rather a series of computer instruction stored in bits of 0s and 1s. Hell, you can't see real viruses either without a tool of sorts to look at its structure and composition. Why by that logic, swine flu is a mere conspiracy... say... you might be on to something here. XP so in other words you have no proof that they exist I was more or less joking and being sarcastic is some of that post. We know they exist through the uses of tools and observations. Sorta like how you can't see gravity either, but there is proof that it exists. You simply see the effects of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolDeath Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 computer viruses are a government conspiracy to sell their spyware loaded "antivirus" programs so they can spy on you. think about it, have you ever SEEN a computer virus? Well, i have witnessed the effects of viruses. And by definition you can't 'see' a computer virus, since it is not something that is 'seen', but rather a series of computer instruction stored in bits of 0s and 1s. Hell, you can't see real viruses either without a tool of sorts to look at its structure and composition. Why by that logic, swine flu is a mere conspiracy... say... you might be on to something here. XP so in other words you have no proof that they exist I was more or less joking and being sarcastic is some of that post. We know they exist through the uses of tools and observations. Sorta like how you can't see gravity either, but there is proof that it exists. You simply see the effects of it. but gravity is not on but for in computers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burning_phoneix Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 (edited) think about it, have you ever SEEN a computer virus? A pack of rabid computer viruses raped and sacked my poor bedouin village. Edited October 16, 2009 by burning_phoneix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmartRutter7 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 but gravity is not on but for in computers? i haven't a clue as to what the hell you're talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lolDeath Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 lolibreal media one day youll see the logic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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