[John Bloggs]

Please, won't somebody help me? I don't know much about computers. I have a PC with Windows XP and I am on dial-up (I know!), and I want to put on it AVG Free, SpyBot, COMODO and Ad-Aware. As I understand, I can have one firewall (COMODO) and one anti-virus (AVG) on my computer, but more than one anti-spy or anti-malware program (I want to use free programs, by the way).

My first question is, Are these 4 programs compatible, or will they overload my old computer? and, are all 4 together a necessary or a good idea?

My second question is, Does not COMODO have an anti-virus component, and does this mean I will have a conflict with the other anti-virus program (AVG)? Thanks for your help

[Jason08]

COMODO has an antivirus.

[golferbob]

i would stick with comodo 3.8 free firewall [you can also use comodo antivirus] ,they come together but only need to install what you want, avg 8.0 free and superantispyware free. you might want to have someone on high speed to download and put them on a cd for you. to use dialup , you are talking a long time.

http://www.comodo.com/

http://www.majorgeeks.com/AVG_AntiVi...tion_d886.html

http://www.majorgeeks.com/SUPERAntiSpyware_d5116.html

[Gizzy]

But the anti-virus in comodo is an optional install so if you'd rather avg then just choose not to install the anti-virus part of comodo,

I've never used them together so I can't say anything about their compatibility but I beleive I've seen people using them together,

Also might I suggest either or both
SUPERAntiSpyware
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

[golferbob]

i use the new comodo 3.8 firewall & avg 8.0 antivirus programs together with no problems.

[Gizzy]

Thanks for confirming.

[perfume]

Dear John Bloggs,
Welcome! Iam providing a link from where you can download the free Comodo firewall pro and Comodo antispam(recommended): http://www.comodo.com/products/free_products.html

[Gizzy]

Note that comodo antispam won't help if you check your email through your web browser.

[perfume]

Dear Gizzy,
You're absolutely right.

Dear John Bloggs,
Folks in this site do not have much faith in Internet Explorer. The right browser is either Mozilla Firefox(version 3)with Noscript add-on(more on that later) or Opera. The preferred e-mail client is Mozilla Thunderbird. You may download it from here: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/
I have stopped using Internet Explorer, except for installing Microsoft updates!(a necessary nuisense).

[John Bloggs]

Thanks for your help people...

I just want to confirm that if I installed COMOMDO firewall, I would HAVE TO not install the anti-virus part of it because that would conflict with the AVG Free anti-virus? (Is this correct)

Also, if I did install COMODO (without the anti-virus conponent), and AVG Free, and SpyBot, and also Ad-Aware, would there then be any incompatibility problems? Or, any other unforeseen problems? Or would I be missing anything important, security-wise?

Also,also, I am having trouble coping with all this technical stuff, so please only recomend alternative programs if you see that I have picked something significantly bad. Thanks again...

[rainforest123]

Please provide:
Windows Version, sub type [ Home, Ultimate, etc ] & SP.
RIGHT click "computer" / "my computer"
Left click properties.

Buying a suite guarantees that the programs will play together.

AVG Free does not include rootkit detection.

AVG Internet Security provides: AV; AS; Firewall; Antispam for some email clients.
http://www.avg.com/product-avg-internet-security
Their free tech support is email based. They have phone tech support, fee based.
http://www.support.com/partner/avg?mid=SDCR31RWNLBOX

Free programs such as SuperAntiSpyware Free and MalwareBytes AntiMalware free do not provide real time protection.

Comodo FW is available without AntiVirus. Be prepared to read the Comodo FW manual BEFORE installing C FW. It provides excellent security, but I abandoned it because it monitored & interferred with the installations and updates of every program on the computer.

IE 7 is much better than IE6. Some of us use FF & IE 7.

Roger that, golfebob!


****

I just want to confirm that if I installed COMOMDO firewall, I would HAVE TO not install the anti-virus part of it because that would conflict with the AVG Free anti-virus? (Is this correct)

>>Correct

Also, if I did install COMODO (without the anti-virus conponent), and AVG Free, and SpyBot, and also Ad-Aware, would there then be any incompatibility problems? Or, any other unforeseen problems? Or would I be missing anything important, security-wise?

>>I am unaware of conflicts. Regarding "unforseen problems", I am unable to assist you.

>> "missing anything security wise"
1. Keep Windows updated.
2. Backup your hard drive regularly.
3. Go to www.secunia.com and investigate their online and installed program scanners. The online scanner checks about 100 programs, for possible update requirements. The scanner that is installed on your PC, AGAIN, a problem for dial up connections [ as is the online scan ] checks hundreds of programs on your PC.
Read this http://forums.techguy.org/general-se...w-tighten.html

and this
http://forums.techguy.org/general-se...elp-tools.html

Also,also, I am having trouble coping with all this technical stuff, so please only recomend alternative programs if you see that I have picked something significantly bad. Thanks again...
>> To what do you refer "if you see that I have picked something significantly bad"?
I do not see any scan results, and this is not the forum for placing scan results.

****
Some of us can drive an auto thousands of miles, during which we only add fuel. Some of us have learned how to check the oil and radiator fluid levels; and check tire pressure. Some of us know how to overhaul an engine or transmission. Some of us have to hire a mechanic to perform those functions. Same with computers.

RF123

[John Bloggs]

Thanks Rainforest,

I see that I should not have asked if you see any "unforeseen problems".

Someone, on a different forum, told me that SpyBot and Ad-Aware do the same thing and together would just slow my computer down (XP and dial-up). Do you agree? If so, which one should I use? And, if I used this one program together with COMODO firewall and AVG anti-virus, would all my security be covered? (apart from you other advice, e.g. updating Windows, etc.)

Also, he said that, considering I am only on dial-up on my Windows XP computer, I should not install COMODO, but just use the Windows XP firewall (even those I heard it was not good). Is he correct?

I appreciate your help. Thanks.

[rainforest123]

I disagree. SB S & D and Ad-Aware work differently. If they were identical, copyright infringement issues would be involved.

Each anti malware program has its own methods / tools of detecting malware; just as Sherlock Holmes, The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew had different methods of detecting the criminals.

If you have a relatively unusual medical / surgical problem, you will likely receive very different opinions from multiple health care providers. A physician, chiropractor and natureopath approach the same problem differently.

Same things happens with computer security issues. I know that when one is a beginner, it is difficult to evaluate information.

XP's firewall does a good job of keeping out the bad guys, but doesn't notify you if a bad guy, once on your computer, is trying to use your computer, to access the internet. That, in my opinion, is XP's detractor.

A study of computers with dial up connections was done. Of those with no firewall, 90% had been hacked into within 1 hr of connection to the internet. Most high speed internet connections provide an always on connection to the internet, so when the computer is on, an internet connection exists. With a dial up connection, the computer is probably not connected to the computer very often, assuming that the PC is running 24 hrs a day, an internet connection probably exists only 2 to 4 hrs of the day.

As I noted, above, JB:
"Be prepared to read the Comodo FW manual BEFORE installing C FW. It provides excellent security, but I abandoned it because it monitored & interferred with the installations and updates of every program on the computer."

Bottom line suggestions from me:
1. Buy AVG Internet Security. Download it on an associate's PC, using a high speed internet connection. With AVG IS, you receive Antivirus, AntiSpyware, AntiSpam & Firewall.
2. Keep Windows up to date. www.microsoft.com/updates
3. Use Secunia's updater to determine which other updates your computer needs.
4. Backup your computer. This can take many forms, and has been discussed, at length, in many threads at Tech Guy. If you ask 10 people, you will receive 15 different methods.
5. Avoid pornography & gambling sites. Some are safe, most are unsafe. 70% of free stuff on the internet is laden with malicious software.
6. Return to Tech Guy Forum frequently, to learn about computers.

RF123

[rainforest123]

Windows Version, sub type [ Home, Ultimate, etc ] & SP.
RIGHT click "computer" / "my computer"
Left click properties.

Also CPU / processor information and amount of ram.

RF123

[perfume]

Information overload!John Bloggs in cinders.