Computer Virus Protection

[webcraft]

Now my knickers are twisted . . .

Brendan,

Feel free to disagree. I'm only reporting personal experience and that of dozens of my clients and colleagues over a period of several years.

That doesn't make me an expert, but neither does it mean I am talking rubbish. Your posts do tend to display the arrogance typical of many 'IT professionals' . . . most of whom are self-taught anyway. You should learn not to talk down to people if you want them to respect your advice. Use of the acronym IMHO is an online social skill from way back, but apparently not one you ever picked up.

I will probably not post any IT advice on this forum in future, as I don't like the way you jump in instantly with your 'professional' disagreements . . . I might as well leave you to be the resident expert.

- Nick

 

[Ships_Cat]

After doing a little more looking around I discover, to my surprise, that AVG 7 does not support IMAP either (and that does not seem to be mentioned in the Help file or User Guide), which I do use from time to time.

Not a real problem for me as it is all email that is received here onto one machine by Outlook with AVG from a POP3 server and then forwarded by Outlook to another ISP's server, but Avast does seem to support IMAP so maybe I better try it.

These things are not neccessarily as straight forward as they first seem at a casual glance.

Thanks for the lead.

John

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Now my knickers are twisted . . .

Nick

The way forums work, is that people exchange opinions, yours are as good as mine. It would be a shame if you stopped posting on these topics purely because you disagree with me.

I have the convictions of having used the products I promote. I also have many years of computer use at a fairly techical level behind me. I've stated before now my qualifications, and have made no secret of the fact that I think that I'm a dabbler rather than an expert

I also do a great deal of research behing the scenes. I never post on these topics without having looked at a dozen or more websites to back up my opinion, which is why I'm fairly confident about my posts. Most posters here go on opinion. Some like Mirelle post on subjects they are expert on. This whole area of internet security is something that even security experts will disagree over

 

[BrendanS]

Webcraft seems a bit upset with me, which I never meant, and he's correct in the fact that this whole area is full of holes which most never get to grasp with

The best security policy is not to accept emails. We both know that's not an option. These subjects become so technical though, that I'm worried about worrying or scaring off the casual user, when they can benefit from advice from more experienced users.

The best advice is to have anti virus and anti spyware software and a fire wall, of any sort.

Leave the arguements as to which is best to the geeks. Just install whichever you feel is best for you. The important thing is to have anti virus, anti spyware and a firewall installed. Doesn't matter which, just download and install them. You can debate the issue of which is better once you are protected

 

[graham]

Re Ive downloaded avast

Thanks for all the advise people. As with most computer issues its a bit of a minefield for computer semi illiterarates like myself.

I have downloaded the Free Home edition of avast desk top protection.

If anyone else does this remember to turn off any spam filters on your email accounts before starting the download.(This will save a bit of piddling about) other than that very easy to do ,took about 5 minutes.

It must be working as theres a big pile of dead worms ,trojans and things on my front lawn.

PS webcraft please dont stop posting on computer technical issues.Us beginners in the game need as many viewpoints from the more experienced as possible.I tend to listen to all advise ,discount that from unknown/doubtfull sources and ponder over whats left.Your input is valued by me and others Im certain of that.

 

[Colin_S]

Re: Re Ive downloaded avast

I installed Avast last night and did a full system scan. Curiously it threw up a couple of warnings of 'signs of Win32:Trojan-gen in the system volume of one of my hard drive partitions that I use for backing up only. NAV never found anything there.

 

[BrendanS]

I'd love to know which chat room?

Chat rooms are just like forums, they shouldn't give you access to another persons computer unless they are using remote access functions, and even then, you have to by default give the other person access. If they were playing with XP remote access, PCanywhere or RealVNC, I could understand it, but not via a standard chat room?

 

[SteveGorst]

Re: Now my knickers are twisted . . .

Webcraft, for what it's worth I totally agree with you, from what I've been following I have an identical set up to you and have NEVER had a virus penetrate my security whereas my dabbling friends who are too tight to buy Norton are forever fighting viruses.

I am an IT professional not a dabbler and I remember a phrase our lecturer used to use when it comes to IT dabblers. "The amount they think they know is inversely proportional to the amount they do know" ie the more you know the more you realise you don't know. The IT trade is fragmented into different specialist areas and no IT professional would brag about being an expert in everything.

Don't worry about "resident experts" the forum would be a poorer place without your valued posts - keep posting.

Steve

 

[ShipsWoofy]

He did not gain access via the chat room, it might also have been ICQ, I dunno, it was just a medium in use to communicate, the perpetrator somehow found his friends IP and proceeded to turn off zone alarm.

I could have said they were on the telephone for all that part mattered.

 

[sailorman]

avast is very good
found 2 virus`s this week via WinMx

 

[l'escargot]

I now run ZA Security Suite and the AV element is at least as good as Norton (which I used for years) and it updates more often. I forget offhand which AV engine it runs, I think it is Trend.