Guest CdLsRN Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 I have free Avast virus scanner, a hard firewall with Linksys router and Windows Vista firewall. Do I need to or can I download the free E-trust firewall and/or virus scanner from the cable company, for my new Dell XPS 420 desktop computer? (I run Spy Bot, Ad Aware, Spyware Blaster,SuperAntiSpyware free edition,and Avast, free edition). Thanks . Ginny Quote
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 CdLsRN wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > I have free Avast virus scanner, a hard firewall with Linksys router and > Windows Vista firewall. Do I need to or can I download the free E-trust > firewall and/or virus scanner from the cable company, for my new Dell > XPS 420 desktop computer? (I run Spy Bot, Ad Aware, Spyware > Blaster,SuperAntiSpyware free edition,and Avast, free edition). Thanks . > Ginny</span> Can you? Certainly, if that's what you want to do: replace your existing (and perfectly good) set of security applications with those (of unknown quality/reliability, as they're unidentified) provided by your ISP. Should you? Impossible to say without knowing what specific products will be provided by the ISP. If they're Symantec, Norton, or McAfee products, the answer would be a very loud "NO;" your existing security apps are superior. Perhaps most importantly, there is definitely no need for you to do so. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot Quote
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Bruce Chambers wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > CdLsRN wrote:<span style="color:green"> >> I have free Avast virus scanner, a hard firewall with Linksys router >> and Windows Vista firewall. Do I need to or can I download the free >> E-trust firewall and/or virus scanner from the cable company, for my >> new Dell XPS 420 desktop computer? (I run Spy Bot, Ad Aware, Spyware >> Blaster,SuperAntiSpyware free edition,and Avast, free edition). Thanks . >> Ginny</span> > > > Can you? Certainly, if that's what you want to do: replace your > existing (and perfectly good) set of security applications with those > (of unknown quality/reliability, as they're unidentified) provided by > your ISP. > > Should you? Impossible to say without knowing what specific > products will be provided by the ISP. If they're Symantec, Norton, or > McAfee products, the answer would be a very loud "NO;" your existing > security apps are superior. > </span> Oops! Just noticed the mention of E-Trust. My advice would be to stick with what you've got; it's just as good, if not better, and will prove to be a whole easier to configure and use, with a much smaller drain on system resources. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot Quote
Guest Milo Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 I'll put in a simple manner: 1. Free things usually comes with limited capability esp. In the greater sense of security. 2. Not one Anti-malware in the world can say they are the ultimate or even in combination. 3. Pick good Security application who has 1 - good review, 2- less false positive, 3 - easy access support 4. - can get the job done a combination of 1 anti-virus and 1 anti-spyware from 2 different company would go a possible job. 4. By the way Security Application must have a good heuristics, since today malware span like mushrooms lately. 5. Increase your awareness.......... computing security starts with the user. "CdLsRN" <Ginnyrn@optonlinenospam.com> wrote in message news:OFnbXvv4IHA.4392@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...<span style="color:blue"> > I have free Avast virus scanner, a hard firewall with Linksys router and > Windows Vista firewall. Do I need to or can I download the free E-trust > firewall and/or virus scanner from the cable company, for my new Dell XPS > 420 desktop computer? (I run Spy Bot, Ad Aware, Spyware > Blaster,SuperAntiSpyware free edition,and Avast, free edition). Thanks . > Ginny </span> Quote
Guest CdLsRN Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Computer Associates, Internet Security, E-Trust. My question was should I use the Computer Associates Virus Scanner instead of Avast free, or perhaps I should upgrade my Avast. And, what would be the downside to adding Computer Associates firewall to Vista and leave Vista's firewall running. Sorry I wasn't clear. I thought everyone knew what E-Trust was. Thank you. "Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message news:ukBHZcw4IHA.4988@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...<span style="color:blue"> > Bruce Chambers wrote:<span style="color:green"> >> CdLsRN wrote:<span style="color:darkred"> >>> I have free Avast virus scanner, a hard firewall with Linksys router and >>> Windows Vista firewall. Do I need to or can I download the free E-trust >>> firewall and/or virus scanner from the cable company, for my new Dell >>> XPS 420 desktop computer? (I run Spy Bot, Ad Aware, Spyware >>> Blaster,SuperAntiSpyware free edition,and Avast, free edition). Thanks >>> . >>> Ginny</span> >> >> >> Can you? Certainly, if that's what you want to do: replace your >> existing (and perfectly good) set of security applications with those (of >> unknown quality/reliability, as they're unidentified) provided by your >> ISP. >> >> Should you? Impossible to say without knowing what specific products >> will be provided by the ISP. If they're Symantec, Norton, or McAfee >> products, the answer would be a very loud "NO;" your existing security >> apps are superior. >></span> > > Oops! Just noticed the mention of E-Trust. My advice would be to stick > with what you've got; it's just as good, if not better, and will prove to > be a whole easier to configure and use, with a much smaller drain on > system resources. > > > > -- > > Bruce Chambers > > Help us help you: > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html > > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 > > They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary > safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin > > Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand > Russell > > The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has > killed a great many philosophers. > ~ Denis Diderot </span> Quote
Guest Nonny Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:14:02 -0400, "CdLsRN" <Ginnyrn@optonlinenospam.com> wrote: <span style="color:blue"> >I have free Avast virus scanner, a hard firewall with Linksys router and >Windows Vista firewall. Do I need to or can I download the free E-trust >firewall and/or virus scanner from the cable company, for my new Dell XPS >420 desktop computer? (I run Spy Bot, Ad Aware, Spyware >Blaster,SuperAntiSpyware free edition,and Avast, free edition). Thanks . >Ginny </span> You don't need Windows firewall or any other software-based firewall. Your router has a hardware firewall. Quote
Guest Mick Murphy Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Use the Vista Firewall; it's as good or better than CA's. And in CA's Anti-virus, you are not allowed much freedom to work with it. I have used both Avast & CA over the years,( at different times, lol), and Avast Anti-virus is superior (Free Edition) You use more than I do, and I have no probs. Mine: Avast Anti-virus Spybot Search & Destroy SpywareBlaster Vista Firewall. -- Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia "CdLsRN" wrote: <span style="color:blue"> > I have free Avast virus scanner, a hard firewall with Linksys router and > Windows Vista firewall. Do I need to or can I download the free E-trust > firewall and/or virus scanner from the cable company, for my new Dell XPS > 420 desktop computer? (I run Spy Bot, Ad Aware, Spyware > Blaster,SuperAntiSpyware free edition,and Avast, free edition). Thanks . > Ginny > > </span> Quote
Guest Ken Blake, MVP Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:14:02 -0400, "CdLsRN" <Ginnyrn@optonlinenospam.com> wrote: <span style="color:blue"> > I have free Avast virus scanner, a hard firewall with Linksys router and > Windows Vista firewall.</span> Good. <span style="color:blue"> > Do I need to or can I download the free E-trust > firewall and/or virus scanner from the cable company, for my new Dell XPS > 420 desktop computer? </span> No. You should run only a single software firewall. More than one provides no additional security, exposes you to the risk of conflicts between them, and just uses more resources. The same is true of an anti-virus program. Although you can have more than one installed and use each at different times to do scans, do not have both running at once. I would personally just keep Avast, which is a good product, and not use what your ISP provides. <span style="color:blue"> > (I run Spy Bot, Ad Aware, Spyware > Blaster,SuperAntiSpyware free edition,and Avast, free edition). </span> Good. It sound like you are well protected, from a software standpoint. -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Please Reply to the Newsgroup Quote
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 Nonny wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > > > You don't need Windows firewall or any other software-based firewall. > Your router has a hardware firewall.</span> Very bad advice. If one uses a router with NAT, it's still a very good idea to use a software firewall that can monitor out-going traffic. Despite the common confusion in terms, NAT-capable routers are NOT firewalls, and do nothing to protect the user from him/herself (or any "curious," over-confident teenagers in the home). Again -- and I cannot emphasize this enough -- almost all spyware and many Trojans and worms are downloaded and installed deliberately (albeit unknowingly) by the user. So a software firewall, such as Vista's native firewall, Comodo, Sygate or ZoneAlarm, that can detect and warn the user of unauthorized out-going traffic is an important element of protecting one's privacy and security, by alerting you to an unwanted malware application's activity. It obviously does nothing additional to prevent a malware infestation, but it will certainly help identify many different infestations. (Remember: Most antivirus applications do not even scan for or protect you from adware/spyware, because, after all, you've installed them yourself, so you must want them there, right?) When I ran WinXP, I used both a router with NAT and Sygate Personal Firewall, even though I generally know better than to install scumware. Now that I'm using Vista, I still use a software firewall (Vista's) in addition to my router. When it comes to computer security and protecting my privacy, I prefer the old "belt and suspenders" approach. In the professional IT community, this is also known as a "layered defense." Basically, it comes down to never, ever "putting all of your eggs in one basket." Having said that, it's important to remember that firewalls and anti-virus applications, which should always be used and should always be running, while important components of "safe hex," cannot, and should not be expected to, protect the computer user from him/herself. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon each and every computer user to learn how to secure his/her own computer. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot Quote
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 CdLsRN wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > Computer Associates, Internet Security, E-Trust. My question was should I > use the Computer Associates Virus Scanner instead of Avast free, or perhaps > I should upgrade my Avast. > > And, what would be the downside to adding Computer Associates firewall to > Vista and leave Vista's firewall running. > > Sorry I wasn't clear. I thought everyone knew what E-Trust was. Thank you. > </span> No need for you to apologize, it was my mistake. I didn't notice the "E-Trust" on my first reading, and hit send before I'd proof-read my initial response. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot Quote
Guest CdLsRN Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 Thank you Bruce. Ginny "Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message news:eB7AZ174IHA.1196@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...<span style="color:blue"> > CdLsRN wrote:<span style="color:green"> >> Computer Associates, Internet Security, E-Trust. My question was should I >> use the Computer Associates Virus Scanner instead of Avast free, or >> perhaps >> I should upgrade my Avast. >> >> And, what would be the downside to adding Computer Associates firewall to >> Vista and leave Vista's firewall running. >> >> Sorry I wasn't clear. I thought everyone knew what E-Trust was. Thank >> you. >></span> > > > No need for you to apologize, it was my mistake. I didn't notice the > "E-Trust" on my first reading, and hit send before I'd proof-read my > initial response. > > > -- > > Bruce Chambers > > Help us help you: > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html > > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 > > They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary > safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin > > Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand > Russell > > The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has > killed a great many philosophers. > ~ Denis Diderot </span> Quote
Guest FromTheRafters Posted July 12, 2008 Posted July 12, 2008 "Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message news:%23C0ee074IHA.1196@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... <span style="color:blue"> > Despite the common confusion in terms, NAT-capable routers are NOT > firewalls,</span> They may not be firewall applications, but they are indeed firewalls if they can drop incoming init packets. In fact, forget the packets, if the device isolates one network from another when it is de-energized it is a firewall. If a network worm is discovered on a LAN, and you can de-energize the router fast enough, you isolate the problem to that LAN - this is firewalling. Quote
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