[Danaconda]

Ok, so I've been reading a lot of stuff and am more confused than ever.

My wife got a new laptop (HP Pavillion) for her schoolwork. I need to get it secured (should probably redo our desktop security too), but like I said, I've been reading about computer security and I'm still not sure exactly what I need.

What I'm confused about is do I need a separate antivirus, spyware program, malware program, and so on? I keep reading things about people running several of the same things (like spyware), each from different companies. Is this necessary, or would one program for each be fine?

On our desktop I have AVG, ZoneAlarm and Ad-Aware, plus I run CCleaner and Secunia PSI. Everything goes through a Linksys wireless router (the desktop is wired, laptop is wireless). Is there anything that I should add to this and would this be fine to run on the new computer, or are there better programs out there? I'd prefer freeware, but I'd consider paying for an "all in one" security program.

Thanks, and sorry for confusing anyone with my lack of computer-speak and knowledge.

Dan

[flavallee]

Dan:

I don't use wireless, but I know enough to tell you that you need to configure that laptop connection so it's secure and it can't be tapped into by outside users.

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I personally use Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.5.409 for antivirus protection and use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.40 and SUPERAntiSpyware 4.27.0.1002 for malware/spyware protection - which are all free.

I personally don't use ZoneAlarm, CCleaner, and Secunia PSI.

Different users have different opinions on what they use and recommend, so I'm sure you'll get that here.

One thing that I'll strongly recommend that you don't do is to install and use registry cleaners, boosters, optimizers, etc.. They'll do nothing to improve performance and speed, and they'll eventually cause you grief.

And don't load your computer with a bunch of utilities, toolbars, and other useless and dangerous crap.

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[Danaconda]

Thanks a lot. I did secure the wireless connection. It took me about a half an hour to figure out how to connect to it.

I haven't had any problems with ZoneAlarm on my desktop, but for some reason I couldn't get it to download onto my wife's laptop.

The only thing that I don't use on CCleaner is the registry cleaner. I've read so many thing, both for and against registry cleaners, that I'd rather not take my chances.

I'll check into those malware/spyware protection programs.

My wife is pretty much just using the computer for schoolwork, so she won't be installing a bunch of things on it.

Thanks again for the help.

Dan

[lunarlander]

Some people prefer a 'best of breed' approach when buying security software, so they install different vendors' tools. I, for example, like Kaspersky's antivirus and Webroot's antispyware.

There are many security suites out there, Norton, Eset, Kaspersky ... Go to PC Magazine and read some reviews.

[Phasers]

I've been using CCleaner for a couple of years now and I have never had a problem using the reg cleaner. In my opinion it is one of the safest registry cleaners around. One of the first security tools I use after I reformat and install my Anti-Virus, I install SpywareBlaster. It's free. It adds known malicious sites to the restricted zone of your internet explorer. I too use MalwareBytes plus, I have Lavasoft AdAware and SuperAntiSpyware. It's a good policy to have at least 3 anti-spyware/malware programs on your system. Keep them updated. The reasoning is if one program can't get rid of the garbage then one of the other two might. You don't have all 3 loaded at once of course. For my anit-virus I'm using Norton Internet Security 2009 and Norton finally got back to what they do best. Protect your system. Norton went downhill for a couple of years by adding all kinds of bloatware(useless programs and services running in the background) that really slowed down and in alot of cases messed your system up to a point of reformatting. I'm very impressed by how they have fixed all of those annoyances by getting rid of them.