[jocyh]

I have Mcafee, a Squared free, spybot, spyware gaurd and spyware blaster on my laptop. Is this enough security?

[HCD]

Blimey - how much is enough? I have Avast (anti-virus) + Comodo (Firewall). If I'm worried about spy/malware I run Malware Antimalwarebytes. All of them are free!! I do a huge amount over NET and these guys have kept me online for well over a year - no problems......too many programmes increase maintenance issues and also slow machine down.........your choice!

[lunarlander]

If you have Windows XP Professional, MS published an XP Security Guide v2 and tells you how to harden XP Pro. It is available here:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec...fault.mspx#ETE

If you have Vista Business or Ultimate, there is a Vista version of the Security Guide:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Hardening an OS gives the attacker a smaller attack surface by disabling unnecessary features. Windows after a fresh install is quite bloated and has a lot of places for an attacker to poke at.

Also you should seriously consider running it daily using a limited/standard user account, as that prevents some malware from working and prevents malware from making system wide changes. In the Unix world, nobody runs a machine daily using the admin account. MS acknowledges that and has made UAC for Vista to achieve the same end.

Together with running as a standard user, enable Software Restriction. That would leave malware a really limited attack space. Should your standard user account come under attack, all you have to do is create a new account and migrate your documents and photos to the new account and wipe the old account.

Here's more details about that:
http://www.mechbgon.com/build/security2.html

Also along the lines of protection and prevention, use Mcafee's Site Advisor, available here:

http://www.siteadvisor.com/

It places a site rating besides every google result and tells you about malware infested sites before you go clicking on them and instantly infecting your machine.

[RootbeaR]

Originally Posted by lunarlander

If you have Windows XP Professional, MS published an XP Security Guide v2 and tells you how to harden XP Pro. It is available here:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec...fault.mspx#ETE

If you have Vista Business or Ultimate, there is a Vista version of the Security Guide:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Hardening an OS gives the attacker a smaller attack surface by disabling unnecessary features. Windows after a fresh install is quite bloated and has a lot of places for an attacker to poke at.

Also you should seriously consider running it daily using a limited/standard user account, as that prevents some malware from working and prevents malware from making system wide changes. In the Unix world, nobody runs a machine daily using the admin account. MS acknowledges that and has made UAC for Vista to achieve the same end.

Together with running as a standard user, enable Software Restriction. That would leave malware a really limited attack space. Should your standard user account come under attack, all you have to do is create a new account and migrate your documents and photos to the new account and wipe the old account.

Here's more details about that:
http://www.mechbgon.com/build/security2.html

Also along the lines of protection and prevention, use Mcafee's Site Advisor, available here:

http://www.siteadvisor.com/

It places a site rating besides every google result and tells you about malware infested sites before you go clicking on them and instantly infecting your machine.

[HCD]

What did you say RootbeaR as it doesn't show.....I'm assuming .... damn good advice from lunarlander (as per usual!)

[RootbeaR]

Originally Posted by HCD

What did you say RootbeaR as it doesn't show.....I'm assuming .... damn good advice from lunarlander (as per usual!)

Yes.
Just a thumbs up.
Especially for the bold part of the quote.