Home computers targeted by hackers '50 times a day'

The Daily Mail ^ | October 9, 2006 | Staff

[goldstategop]

Intel's new Duo Core processors should be able to handle both with enough horsepower left over.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Constantine XIII]

Love your quote, btw. :D

[Echo Talon]

Gimp suxors really badly.

[Dallas59]

They can't through my router or firewall.

[quesney]

"It's not worth it. Use Linux."

You are one smart man, MadIvan. On geopolitics and computers. I look forward to some combination of Linux-Google-Mozilla promoting itself to ordinary consumers as an alternative to the Microsoft Windows operating system. That bloatware, riddled with holes, has run its course.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

bookmark

[Outland]

I use a firewall in front of my proxy server and always keep my AV and antispam software up to date. After 10 years, no hacks, no infections. And I use Windows!

Of course, it also helps to not open attachments to unsolicited emails. And stay away from those porn & h4x0r sites unless you use a secure browser.

[Fairview]

Why does this happen to other people and not to me? I have a broadband connection and the 'puter stays on 24-7. I have McAfee but it never reports catching any viruses or hack attacks. My kid got a new computer a few years ago, was ordered to install anti-virus and firewall software and never did. She never had any attacks either after running bare for three years. Are we just so stupid they don't bother with us, or is the problem less serious than advertised, or what?

[TomGuy]

I suggest Zone Alarm(free), AVG FREE Anti-Virus and Spybot S&D(Free), Adaware personal(free),

In the spring, I had to reformat and reinstall everything (WinXP). I dumped the biggie virus programs because they became glutware and consumed too much system resources. I went with AVG FREE. It has been great.

More recently I dumped Zone Alarm (free). The last version had some glitches (again -- many ZA releases actually cause problems with other software). I went with Comodo Firewall. I had used their back-up program and like it. I have been content with the Comodo Firewall, and it has received great reviews from some of the computer magazines, etc.

I also run the Ad-Aware (free) periodically.

Another program I've found useful, especially for web exploration, is Sandboxie. It creates a 'sandbox' or separate container on your hard drive. Anything from outside that goes into the sandbox, stays there. If you get a problem (other than memory), you can delete the sandbox files without harming your regular files/programs. I run my browser through Sandboxie, especially when I do any web exploring.

[2ndClassCitizen]

Is there a software program which would follow a hacker back to his computer and infect it, or otherwise destroy the hacker's computer?

[ASA Vet]

I've recently upgraded from my old VIC-20 to this fancy C-64. Do I need to be concerned?

[Tribune7]

Or buy a Mac.

[Gvl_M3]

CompUSA is practically giving away Kaspersky right now.

Cost after rebate is only $9.99.

It always ranks as one of the tops for virus detection.

This includes virus, spam, spyware, and hacker protection.

Here is the link

Here is an Anti-Virus study

[angkor]

"I've been online for 10 years with Windows based machines. I run a NAT router with a firewall and standard virus checking software on my PC's"

A 5 year old Linksys home router ($60 these days), NAT (192.168.1.x) on the home network machines, Norton FW and AV, and Sessionwall (freebie) to watch the attacks against the Internet side of the Linksys, just for fun (I'm probably scanned/attacked 100+ times per day). Occasional scans with Spybot and Ad-Aware.

Over 6 years on DSL, and I've never once been successfully attacked, not even an email virus. I have downloaded a couple pieces of bogus software, but it was readily detected and removed.

Home computer security is not rocket science.

[savedbygrace]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFAJDbV9Vfs&NR

Warning: Contains some brief profanity

Note: This is a spoof (in a series of spoofs)

[bcsco]

Use a router and software firewall, Anti-virus and an anti-apyware programs I suggest Zone Alarm(free), AVG FREE Anti-Virus and Spybot S&D(Free), Adaware personal(free), Windows Defender(free), whatever router you want D-Link...

Hey! How'd you get my PC? Oops, sorry, I'm using my laptop and my tower is still next to me.

You're right, though. I've used all these for some years with great success. And they're free. Well, except for the D-Link WBR-1310 router, but it's not expensive.

[Recall]

I think I will get a new computer next year, in our family it's my turn to get a new one. :)

I like desktops, I have a really nice LCD TV monitor to go with whatever I get.

Years ago I installed Red Hat on a separate partition. That is when I learned you could delete your whole Windows C drive from the Linux side with a click of the mouse. No warning, no "this is a system file"..nothing. And, on top of that what I clicked to delete was one of two C drives it was showing. My mouth dropped open. I was speechless! Just a click and I wiped
out windows!

Anyway, if you don't mind I would like to give you a yell if I get Linux. What to buy and what is most user friendly that handles heavy graphic/video files. Unless what I have now dies
it will be probably be 4-6 months from now before I start looking. I guess I would have to get a bare bone system and add my own OS. I did put my foot down on XP and have continued to run Win98SE all of this time.

Btw, thanks for your help.

[Katya]

What programs does everyone around here recommend? My PC has slowed to a snails pace over the last year. I have McAfee installed, Spy sweeper, Ad aware, spybot, and window washer. Should I have less programs, or more? It seems to me there are quite a few processes running on my pc, but i'm unfamiliar with their merit or names.

[goldstategop]

Less is more. I recommend just installing Zone Alarm Anti-Virus, which comes bundled with the firewall along with Ewido Anti-Spyware to take care of Trojans and spyware. Also install Windows Defender as a backup anti-spyware program. You should be protected against almost all known threats.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[hc87]

Take a look at this guy's recommendations:

http://computeradvice.mikebinns.net/index.php

I use Adaware, Spybot and CCleaner for cleanups, ZoneAlarm for Firewall and and AVG for anti-virus. All are free. I also have tried and like the Windows Defender beta.