Free anti-virus and firewall software

[dr_ml422]

Oh ok. Well if I'm stuck then maybe I'll post part that I can't make out. Thnx.

It's good that you took to researching the Viruses more and their programs as after a while we all need something new and a bit more interesting to get into. This for sure is a much needed piece of info and makes for a valuable tool of knowledge as it's a vital part of the whole industry.

Great tool here. Really dissected the whole computer. Everything fine. Brought Avira as unknown, but prolly because I deactivated it thinking this was a Anti-Virus app.. It also brought up the hosts section as red or w/e. I think though it most likely was connections to the server for Avira and others n maybe some cookies. Too much stuff to go through as you posted. I ran Avira, Malware Bytes and Spybot n everything's clean.

[dazuk1972]

Personally

if u have norton then ur safe

I have a router with a built in firewall - it rules! no slow in connection at all in anyway and if there was (which usually never is) i just use webcache from my ISP

You're joking. Norton has the weakest software going. The Anti-Virus doesn't scan all the files and folders and it skips the System Volume Information folder for a start and viruses can enter there easy and the Firewall has weak spots. Sometimes it goes wrong and blocks the internet when it's supposed to block hackers.

Not to mention the update folders corrupt at times so that you can't update the different softwares anymore until you fix it and when you check their help pages they suggest this 'n that that make matters worse.

[Chewy]

With the latest round of rootkit(TDSS variants) eg Skyhook I have been using a program called RootRepeal


Many times your AV is totally blocked and even MBAM won't run.

http://rootrepeal.googlepages.com/

http://rootrepeal.googlepages.com/RootRepeal.zip

Just use the file tab at the bottom, scan and paste the report into a reply here please

Hidden/Locked Files
-------------------
Path: C:\hiberfil.sys
Status: Locked to the Windows API!

Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\UACcspejepqlpicdam.dll
Status: Invisible to the Windows API!

Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\UAChqoutbkivknbhsj.dll
Status: Invisible to the Windows API!

Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\uacinit.dll
Status: Invisible to the Windows API!

Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\UACnpumfowaycqmust.log
Status: Invisible to the Windows API!

Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\UACrslysgmccmpxbam.dll
Status: Invisible to the Windows API!

Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\UACvsdgryahwayjmuv.dll
Status: Invisible to the Windows API!

Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\UACwinlaqllrykmihl.dll
Status: Invisible to the Windows API!

Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\UACwispkhxllkieexu.dat
Status: Invisible to the Windows API!

Path: C:\Program Files\Sandlot\Cake Mania\cakemania.exe:{CC93F282-9F98-EEBA-1D94-B379F02AE5B6}
Status: Visible to the Windows API, but not on disk.

Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\UACpaswvgkuowyjawn.sysStatus: Invisible to the Windows API!

Path: C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\UAC6e67.tmp
Status: Invisible to the Windows API!

Highlighting the core rootkit file and rightclicking and choosing wipe file then immediately rebooting allows to run MBAM and remove the infection.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=12709

[Samson.Real5]

Antivirus problems

Yes I know it happens only antivirus program but check that full version sometimes fails to scan infected email to delete so this kind of problem comes so try for other antivirus and check if it works.

Kirstein

[salionmelisa]

i'm using kaspersky, but its update is too slowly to use. so, thanks for your share.

[smackaddict]

reply and post

i'm a computer tech, and am familiar with many good, free s/w sites but like this new one.
also I had a message to post a debug log report and now don't know where it goes so here it is

[admin]

i'm a computer tech, and am familiar with many good, free s/w sites but like this new one.
also I had a message to post a debug log report and now don't know where it goes so here it is

Sorry, can't talk about DVD ripping on this forum anymore, please refer to the rules, thanks:

http://forum.digital-digest.com/faq.php?faq=vb_faq#faq_new_faq_item

[dr_ml422]

M$ Free Essentials pretty good so far I have to admit. Very fast too. They came well prepared M$ did this time. I have to give them their props.

[gonwk]

Hi folks,

I am hoping that besides my regular Pals ... Chewy can chime in on this one since he deals with this stuff on a daily basis ...

FYI, I have Vista Home Prem., SP1, 64-Bit (SP1 but have installed ALL the updates) on my Gateway laptop.

I am currently running Avira (Free) + Comodo Firewall (Free) as my active AV programs.

Here is what I stumbled upon by accident ... I noticed that my Windows Defender was Turned-Off ... while I tried to turn the Windows Defender on ... I also noticed that Windows Firewall was ON in addition to my Comodo Firewall ...

So, now I have couple of questions ...

Q1: With Avira running should I have Windows Defender "ON" also!?!? Would Defender conflict with Avira!?!?

Q2: With Comodo Firewall running ... should I leave the Windows Firewall "ON" also!?!? Would Windows Firewall conflict with Comodo!?!?

But here is the funny part ... I have NOT had any problems so far with this set-up. BUT, my understsanding is that ALL the EXPERTS suggest to have ONLY one AV and one Firewall running. If I have to choose I would go with Avira for my AV and Comodo for my Firewall.

Thanks,

G!

[dr_ml422]

gonwk, old friend how's it going? Hope holiday's are treating you and yours fine. Yes turn off Defender, and Windows Firewall. You have both covered already w/what you posted, and yes maybe 1 day you might have conflicts w/the Avira and Defender. Always 1 AV at a time unless 1 is always off and used as is, like w/mambam. I just use M$ Essentials now because I was getting conflicts w/Avira. So far so good. It's really fast and it updates quick and on schedule.

M$ went all out this time. Have to give them props.

You still playing w/that Gateway n Vista huh? Lol...

[gonwk]

Hi dr_ml,

THANKS a bunch for well wishes for me and the family ... Dude, what do you think "Money" grows on the Tree ... my poor little Gateway still chugging along ... is fast enough for my need.

BTW ... I think I will take your advice on turning off Win Defender and Win Firewall ...

I wonder what has happened to Chewy and Blu ... no Sight of them lately!

G!

[doctorhardware]

I have a special money tree that all I have to do is to shake it. I get the money and it will magically appear in my wallet.

[dr_ml422]

I sent my daughter my money tree. She still doesn't know how it works. I told her I'll give her the secret once she starts saving on her new job. Lol...

[dr_ml422]

So what's the story w/the AV proggies that are out there today? I mean they all seem to do more or less the same w/some catching hits other miss and so forth. I would like to brush up a bit on security.

MS Essentials has been good. I also am careful on the web. I did however install Malwarebytes today cause I thought I had something running around. It found 2 hits that may or may not have been that bad. 1 so called adware and the other a Hijack Display thingy. This latter one was also on my other build. Outside of that everything pretty good.

I considered 1 of those suites, but really are they going to be that much better and have to pay as well? also I no way would want a resource hog weighing down my builds.

Any suggestions/inputs/ideas/experience just post away. Thnx.

[MilesAhead]

Everyone has their own philosophy with av, but my thinking is I don't want to run any real-time shield trying to decide on the fly what's good and what's bad. Too much interference with the system.

I think most stuff tries to get in through the browser. I have multiple image backups and have Sandboxie, which once loaded, your browser runs as fast as normal. I do the occasional manual scan with stuff like malwarebytes. Also I use restore points when I'm installing anything I haven't already used before so I can back off any drivers or whatever the new program installed.

To me, running with av in the background all the time is paying too much of a penalty. No matter which av shield you use, somebody can show you a test where it missed some nasty malware. So how many can you run concurrently? No screen is going to catch all the stuff. The Sanboxie approach is simpler since it mostly relies on redirecting the HD access.