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Argos bargain - Norton Internet Security 2012

Discussion in 'Technology Advice' started by aposhark, Feb 16, 2012.

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  1. aposhark
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    aposhark Well-Known Member Lifetime Member

    Useful info there. Howerd.
    Thanks :like:
    aposhark, Feb 18, 2012
    #21
  2. oss
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    oss Somewhere Staff Member

    Have a read of this Howerd, in particular the point that the scanning engine in MSE is the same as that in Forefront (this is true)

    http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/microsoft-vs-mcafee-how-free-antivirus-outperformed-paid/2614

    All AV software will miss some threats, the MSE offering is expectationally good in that it is as good as and often better than other free and paid for AV products and as that article points out catches stuff that McAfee missed.

    I have read numerous AV comparison review and MSE does not perform badly in any of them.

    Another point is that more experienced users don't actually need better anti virus and malware protection as we are the ones more likely to spot threats in emails and when browsing, In all the years I have been using AV software I have never once opened an email and found the AV program telling me there was a problem, the reason? I can spot anything dodgy miles away and if I do step on a dodgy site (only ever happened a couple of times) I know what to do :)

    The real threats to people like me are the sophisticated silent attacks and stuff aimed at PLC's (programmable logic controllers) like Stuxnet, also attacks on open ports on self hosted services are a possible big problem for me, but conventional attacks, seriously I could live without AV protection given the number of times I have ever had a threat detected by any of the paid for products.
    oss, Feb 18, 2012
    #22
  3. Howerd
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    Howerd Well-Known Member Trusted Member Lifetime Member

    I agree oss, it is far better to exclude viruses before they even reach your anti-virus software. Nothing is perfect, so a multi-layered approach seems the best idea; far better to never land on a dodgy web-site rather than deal with the consequences when you do. Far better to have a great e-mail spam filter that will, most likely, put virus-containing e-mails in your spam box. I suspect the real reason a lot of people get viruses is simply because they decide to ignore warnings and visit websites or open e-mail attachments anyway, believing that their anti-virus will protect will always protect them.

    Another free 'tool' that I now use is OpenDNS. It is a replacement for your own ISP's DNS. It will warn if the site you visit is a known bad site and also provides optional content filtering. Talktalk's HOMESAFE performs similar functions but HOMESAFE and OpenDNS happily work together to help ensure I don't visit malware-infested sites, with little or no overhead. Add to this Malwarebytes, that filters out suspect third-party content on otherwise legitimate sites and you have additional layers before your AV is even tested.

    I also use Comodo's firewall which has a fairly basic 'sandbox'. If it spots anything suspicious it will run it in the sandbox with limited privileges. 'Sandboxing' does appear to be one of the best ways to stop infection reaching your machine; with a good sandbox (such as 'sandboxie') that virtualises key components of your PC's operating system, getting rid of viruses become trivial - you simply delete the sandbox should infection occur.

    Browsers can also use 'sandboxing' - this seems to be particularly well implemented in Google Chrome, followed closely by Internet Explorer (as long as 'protected' mode is on) but the other popular browser, Firefox, has no sandboxing at all (that is why I never use it).

    Ultimately, though, if your PC does become infected, be the good workman and never blame your tools!
    Howerd, Feb 18, 2012
    #23
  4. Kuya
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    Kuya The Geeky One Staff Member

    One of the biggies for me is the browser that I use. I use Google Chrome and I only use Google as a search engine (most of the time) and I will be damned if any third party program alters any settings on it (as I have seen all too often here in the Philippines), this way I know if I land on a dodgy website then there is a very good chance Google will block it - never mind the Kaspersky!

    It is very true what oss has written about more knowledgeable users. Though, for me the issue comes with sites like Facebook and Twitter. Twitter especially as hackers have been known to target accounts and if hacked, tweet out a message with a shortened URL with it (the norm on Twitter) to a dodgy site. So that is why I also rely on internet security software to help me avoid those sites..
    Kuya, Feb 18, 2012
    #24
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