Protecting my new laptop

AWdeV

Duke

• Dec 23, 2014

• #1

as title says. I haven't been on the internet proper yet and I was wondering how to best protect it and what programmes do I need. Which browser is safest? Malwarebytes, is that worth paying for? McAfee? Avast? Do they work together or interfere with one another? Is regularily using ccleaner a good idea?

 

Pharaoh Llandy

Duke

Honour Guard

• Dec 23, 2014

• #2

I don't know about Malwarebytes, but this AV is definitely worth paying for. I've had it for several years now and had no problems with it interfering with any other software, plus it's great at catching/identifying threats:

http://www.eset.co.uk/Download/Software/Product/EAVH

I especially like gamer mode, which disables pesky popups (like auto-update notifications) when you're gaming.

 

Arvenski

Count

Old Guard

• Dec 23, 2014

• #3

AWdeV said:

Is regularily using ccleaner a good idea?

Click to expand...

Yep, IMO.

 

havoc

Marquis

• Dec 24, 2014

• #4

I might be one of the few, but I use nothing more than Windows Defender. I haven't had a virus in years, which I put partially down to potential threats being somewhat obvious a lot of the time, and I'm quite causes about what I click. I guess it all depends on the kinds of things you do. Basically, if it lots dodgy it probably is, so don't click it.

CCleaner is good though.

 

Lerber

• Dec 24, 2014

• #5

I use avast and spybot as well as keeping malwarebytes around in case I want a better scan than avast.

 

Arvenski

Count

Old Guard

• Dec 24, 2014

• #6

Havoc said:

I might be one of the few, but I use nothing more than Windows Defender. I haven't had a virus in years, which I put partially down to potential threats being somewhat obvious a lot of the time, and I'm quite causes about what I click. I guess it all depends on the kinds of things you do. Basically, if it lots dodgy it probably is, so don't click it.

Click to expand...

I hear what you're saying, but since I go to less-than-saintly file sites from time to time (to download mods and such) and I go porn hunting pretty frequently, I myself like to have strong firewall/scanning programs around.

 

Phonemelter

Marquis

Old Guard

• Dec 24, 2014

• #7

Not sure what browser is safest, but I use Firefox with Adblock Plus, Disconnect, HTTPS-Everywhere, and NoScript - have not had any virus that I can remember since I got this computer three and a half years ago. For antivirus programs, the laptop came with Symantec (which I have no idea if is any good), but I run scans with SuperAntiSpyware every so often and occasionally Malwarebytes (though I am not currently using it).

 

Jace

Captain Codeine

Duke

Old Guard

• Dec 24, 2014

• #8

I haven't had any kind of a resident virus protection in the last decade or so, still virus free. Though I do run Trendmicro HouseCall every other month. And if I download something I presume might be a bit dodgy, I'll give it a scan with that before clicking on anything.

On firewall side, COMODO (the free version) has kept me going for years now, with some PeerBlock on the side to easily and quickly filter out IP addresses/ranges. Having blocked pretty much all of China and Korea on that helps. :3

If something (even if little) ever gets through, I've been able to get rid of it with HouseCall and HiJackThis!.

 

AWdeV

Duke

• Dec 24, 2014

• #9

Sweet, thanks everybody. That's a lot of ideas to work with.

 

havoc

Marquis

• Dec 24, 2014

• #10

Remember! The best protection is intelligence and a bit of computer knowhow.

 

Jhessail

Panzervixen

Grandmaster Knight

Old Guard

• Dec 26, 2014

• #11

I used to be paranoid about this, but for few years now Windows Firewall and Windows Security Essentials/Defender has worked well enough. Of course, it helps that I'm not a retard who clicks flashy ads about hot singles in my area or winning ipads. Adblock+ is a great addon for any browser.

Once a week or so, I run both CCleaner and Malwarebytes - free versions - and that's it.