Safe computing - Always use protection.

[GMan 2112]

Giant antispyware is good - so good m$ bought them.
www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Be carefull when selecting security software, its not all
kosher (all mentioned above are imho).
Check www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#trustworthy
to see the good,bad & ugly

You can also visit sites like www.grc.com to test your system

[deckster]

I would go with Kerio Personal Firewall rather than Zone Alarm - still free, just as easy to use but is more configurable if you want (ie you can filter on port number as well as IP address). And - importantly if marketing bollox annoys you as much as it does me - they don't spam you every week trying to get you to upgrade.

[Plotloss]

arcturus said:

Plotloss said: Urban myth. Well sort of. I have never successfully used the Office update site whilst using Firefox. I always have to switch to IE in order to make the downloads available.

Strange, I did this just the other night without issue...

[agent006]

Add Microsoft's anti spyware to the list. It's in beta testing at the monet so is free and seems to be OK.

As for MS pages not working in non ms browsers, Outlook web access won't work in opera, neitehr will the auto update sites. I assume it's down to them being programmed specifically for IE rather than in proper HTML.

[simpo two]

thebullettrain said:

I am going to install AVG anti virus, which is free from the net, together with Norton Anti Virus. I'm also looking at getting some sort of a (free) firewall and ad and spyware blockers.

AV: I moved from Norton to AVG and IMO it's better - and free. So no regrets there.
Firewall: ZA (free version)
Antispyware: following a problem with some recently, I use Microsoft 'Giant' which seems highly regarded, HiJack This and AdawareSE. However, the latter now freezes after about 40,000 files, despite reinstalling - any ideas on this one chaps?
It seems that no one antispyware program gets it all, so you need to run 2 or 3 to be sure.

[docevi1]

deckster said:

I would go with Kerio Personal Firewall rather than Zone Alarm - still free, just as easy to use but is more configurable if you want (ie you can filter on port number as well as IP address). And - importantly if marketing bollox annoys you as much as it does me - they don't spam you every week trying to get you to upgrade.

I had Kerio on my system until recently and thought it was decent, but had to switch the "this program is starting this one up" and had an absolute nightmare will full screen games accessing the Internet. In the end it's ultra configurable ideal got the better of it and it was un-installed.