Avast! Antivirus

[Savin]

IMO this works great in conjunction with AVG. from what i can tell there is no interference between them. it works great for detecting malware, spyware, or anything else. immediately upon installing it detected 14 viruses alone that were apart on Norton Antivirus. its a free trial period thing but you can always turn back the clock on your computer or just re-install it. all in all, Avast!, AVG, and Spybot search and destroy work exellent in conjunction with each other.

[Flyer]

Avast is free anyways...

[Savin]

well i must have an old version then, even with the updates mine still has that little countdown for experation. oh well, as long as it works, right?

[Flyer]

According to the Avast site, Avast 4 Home edition should be free. Are you sure you are up to date?

I cannot even run antiviral software on my pentesting machine because it identifies all my tools as harmful and/or viral in nature...sticking with ghosting the computer each time

[Savin]

wow, mine is version 4.7, who woulda guessed my computer did something right for once, downloading the latest version of something. i can sorta relate, for 2 years i had no antivirus protection...had to manually find the infected files and delete them...not too fun but i learned alot about computers browsing in em

[SuperK]

I used to use Avast! Antivirus along with Comodo Firewall and Firefox.

However, now I am behind a hardware firewall (my router) and that's all the firewall I really need.

Now I only use firefox. I get no adware, I get no spyware, I get no viruses.

The firewall filters all the DDOS and other attacks that could possibly happen.

My computer is COMPLETELY clean.

I am able to do this, because I know what website I am going to. If it's shifty, I don't go to it.

I don't download pirated or possibly infected programs, so I am always running clean

It's AMAZING how much faster my computer goes without antivirus and software firewall, ect.

But I recommend firewall and antivirus and anti spyware to anyone else, because apparently, most people don't know how to not infect their computers :S

[infiniGTR]

I am running FireFox in conjunction with the following Add-ons:
Adblock Plus
Adblock Filterset.G Updater
NoScript
WOT (Web Of Trust - Alerts you to potentially malicious websites)
Customize Google (Lets you block ad's in Google's various pages (mail, search, etc) and you can disable Google cookie and click tracking)

I never see ad banners, I never get pop-ups, and no scripts run that I don't want running.

I also run Spybot Search&Destroy to get rid of any Spyware that makes it through (very minimal, usually just tracking cookies). I have it setup to run a scan automatically everyday. If you keep it updated and re-immunize after every update you will be fine. I use the TeaTimer and SD Resident plug-ins that come with it. Anytime something tries to change your registry or add itself to your startup you are alerted and you can deny the changes. Also, S&D is very good at removing items from your startup list (available if you are in advanced mode).

I never have any problems now with Spyware or viruses. If you use Firfox with the Add-ons I mentioned and a good spyware program like Spybot and use common sense in your everyday browsing and downloading (The WOT plugin helps with this) you will have a pleasant browsing experience.

[Savin]

SuperK, I like the way you think, using the router as your protection, however i dont have one. Same as you, I like the whole keeping the computer clean thing, but this is a family computer, I can't keep track of what everyone does on it. Mainly my sister, haha. She's gotta get her music one way or another... lemoncord if you get what i'm saying.

[Dark_Rider2k3]

using a router is definitely the best protection you can have, even if it's just the OS'es firewall.

But it's always nice to have a backup like spybot or ad-aware that can help in case you do something accidentally.

[Nd4SpdSe]

Avast is great, I run it, but it's not perfect. My CarPC is infected (though my thumbdrive) because Avast didn't/hasn't picked up on it being infected.

using a router is definitely the best protection you can have, even if it's just the OS'es firewall.

But it's always nice to have a backup like spybot or ad-aware that can help in case you do something accidentally.

A router isn't a firewall, it's 2 different things, but in a sence they do the same thing. If you're running a router, there's no need for a firewall since your computer(s) are hiding behind it, so there's no way for anything to directly infect them through vulnerabilities.

Spybot and Ad-Aware are programs that focus on spyware and adware. They don't really infect in a way that a firewall would prevent it. Viruses use that router, or a virus can have spyware attached.

[mitmaks]

DId hiJackthis scan and this came up

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.0 (BETA)
Scan saved at 4:54:48 PM, on 1/2/2010
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\PC Tools\sMonitor\StartManSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nikon\Monitor\NkMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\NETGEAR WG311v2 Adapter\wlancfg5.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Max\Desktop\HiJackThis_v2.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: Groove GFS Browser Helper - {72853161-30C5-4D22-B7F9-0BBC1D38A37E} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\GRA8E1~1.DLL
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Nikon Transfer Monitor] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nikon\Monitor\NkMonitor.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GrooveMonitor] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\GrooveMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RegistryMechanic] C:\Program Files\Registry Mechanic\RegMech.exe /H
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\RunOnce: [_nltide_2] regsvr32 /s /n /i:U shell32 (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\RunOnce: [_nltide_2] regsvr32 /s /n /i:U shell32 (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-1645522239-507921405-682003330-500\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe (User 'Administrator')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-1645522239-507921405-682003330-500\..\RunOnce: [_nltide_2] regsvr32 /s /n /i:U shell32 (User 'Administrator')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\RunOnce: [_nltide_2] regsvr32 /s /n /i:U shell32 (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\RunOnce: [_nltide_2] regsvr32 /s /n /i:U shell32 (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: scandisk.dll
O4 - Startup: scandisk.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: NETGEAR WG311v2 Smart Configuration.lnk = C:\Program Files\NETGEAR WG311v2 Adapter\wlancfg5.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: ICQ Lite - {B863453A-26C3-4e1f-A54D-A2CD196348E9} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ICQ Lite - {B863453A-26C3-4e1f-A54D-A2CD196348E9} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O18 - Protocol: grooveLocalGWS - {88FED34C-F0CA-4636-A375-3CB6248B04CD} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\GR99D3~1.DLL
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: PC Tools Startup and Shutdown Monitor service (PCToolsSSDMonitorSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\PC Tools\sMonitor\StartManSvc.exe

--
Which should I get rid of? Comp is running slow, I know I have trojans according to Spybot S&D

[Daninski]

Ah ya right. I like Malwarebytes. I had a computer that kept restarting and Malwarebytes fixed the problem by getting rid of the cause. I do on line banking and have always been concerned with spyware. I'd use my router but I'm a little leary as I'm unfamiliar with how they do the job.

[MrMazda92]

Ah ya right. I like Malwarebytes. I had a computer that kept restarting and Malwarebytes fixed the problem by getting rid of the cause. I do on line banking and have always been concerned with spyware. I'd use my router but I'm a little leary as I'm unfamiliar with how they do the job.

I know this is old, but I have a suggestion. Use something made by crapple for your online banking It's rare to find a person who will take the time to make a virus for their computers. Not that they need it... They're "obsolete" within 6 months of original sale, so it's hardly a surprise people don't bother messing with them.