Don't Overload Your PC with Security Software .

[majithia23]

By Rick Broida, PCWorld Sep 6, 2011 11:03 AM

Reader Steve uses a program called Vipre Premium to keep his PC secure. The suite offers anti-virus,anti-malware, anti-spyware, a firewall, e-mail protection--basically, the works.

But Steve also runs Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. And Microsoft Security Essentials (though with real-time protection turned off). Steve's question: should he turn on MSE's real-time protection and "run it concurrently with Vipre?"

Short answer: no. Definitely not. In fact, I'd say Steve is running too much security software as it is. And that's a common mistake.

For starters, the Vipre suite is more than sufficient. I can see keeping Malwarebytes Anti-Malware on hand just in case some infection sneaks through, but if you're using the Pro version--which, unlike its freebie sibling, offers real-time scanning--then it's competing with Vipre. In fact, when you overlap security products like that, they can seriously impact system performance and even falsely recognize each other as being a threat.

My advice: keep your security tools to a bare minimum. In fact, if you're running Windows 7 (which Steve is), you're already adequately equipped to handle the majority of security threats. Windows 7 offers a solid firewall, and its built-in Windows Defender should block most spyware and pop-ups.

Meanwhile, Internet Explorer 9 provides robust protection against phishing, malware, and other browser-related threats. (In fact, some tests have shown it to be the safest browser, period.) Cap that off with Microsoft Security Essentials and browser plug-in Web of Trust, and you've got yourself a nearly bulletproof PC. (I speak from experience: that's my exact configuration, and I haven't had an infection of any kind, well, ever.)

Bottom line: don't overdo the security software. Too much is not a good thing.

PCWorld

[majithia23]

By Rick Broida, PCWorld Sep 6, 2011 11:03 AM

My advice: keep your security tools to a bare minimum. In fact, if you're running Windows 7 (which Steve is), you're already adequately equipped to handle the majority of security threats. Windows 7 offers a solid firewall, and its built-in Windows Defender should block most spyware and pop-ups.

Meanwhile, Internet Explorer 9 provides robust protection against phishing, malware, and other browser-related threats. (In fact, some tests have shown it to be the safest browser, period.) Cap that off with Microsoft Security Essentials and browser plug-in Web of Trust, and you've got yourself a nearly bulletproof PC.

> he just made a PC Bullet Proof ,

just like that ....!

i just wonder what the guys at the Wilders Security Forum have been trying to do for so long ..... ? :sui:

>IE 9 is the safest browser ..!! ??? :mellow:

how can a few coders sitting in a/c rooms and writing a code which no one else knows and with no further support and extension , be better than a code which has been actively developed by who so ever wants to and any body can see what exactly is being done with fully open support and extensions .... !

>Windows Defender is a security solution !!!!!

common now ..... this is @#$@# ^%#$#% ...... :doh:

i dont even know it exists on my computer .......

>MSE can make a system bullet proof . :(

bullet proof to what ??

this is blasphemy ..... :P

we all know , there are plenty of better free options than MSE ....

this is no less a recipe to end with your feet in mouth .... :footinmouth:

if this is the level of a security expert on a tech web site ,

no wonder sites like these get hacked so easily ....... :ph34r:

seeing this article and one which said AVG is the best AV scanner m

it seems to me , that this all is a well planned and financed vendetta by the big corps who want to try and regain the market shares . :thumbsdown:

[marke68]

I'm sure for working with no internet connection the config the guy recommends probably is bulletproof,once you go online though you'll become a bullet magnet. :P

[flip2xxxx]

MSE is the biggest piece of shit ever....bet these guys that write these articles dnld porn at work cuz they want to make sure their "bullit proof" PC at home stays that way...lol

[DKT27]

I have heard good things about MSE since the time I had tried it. So I wont really say it would be that bad. But for the rest, I agree with you.

Gotta say, he could have mentioned better or other equal alternatives, but he stucked to M$ products.

The above it quite opposite of how PCWorld is though, I read their news articles everyday to say it confidently, exclude some good articles, otherwise they have sold themselves to crApple, have totally forgotten the meaning of "PC"World. I'm surprise see him not telling the guy to buy a mac instead cause it doesn't have a virus ( :P ).

[JusperX]

@flip2xxxx

Have you tried MSE? I don't think so. Don't judge something when you have no experience with it.

@majithia23

I've read an article about free AV solutions and MSE was the best (it even was better from some paid AV suites).

And now about the article.. Probably they didn't know what "new" stuff they could add to their site...

[tipo]

you`ll soon argue so badly over this article that it is going to turn into a fight over here...i wonder if the mods are going to close this thread... hmmm

:P

[flip2xxxx]

@flip2xxxx

Have you tried MSE? I don't think so. Don't judge something when you have no experience with it.

@majithia23

I've read an article about free AV solutions and MSE was the best (it even was better from some paid AV suites).

And now about the article.. Probably they didn't know what "new" stuff they could add to their site...

yep...tried it ...yep...piece of SNIP....lemme guess...you work for MS...lol

you`ll soon argue so badly over this article that it is going to turn into a fight over here...i wonder if the mods are going to close this thread... hmmm

:P

nope...fight only over important stuff...not SNIP like MSE...lol

[SnakeMasteR]

I have heard good things about MSE since the time I had tried it. So I wont really say it would be that bad. But for the rest, I agree with you.

Your avatar looks little bit like a fried chicken (i know, it`s off-topic but i have to say that). :lol: :lol:

Edit: Wow, after the 5th look i think it`s an elephant, you really tricked me. :lol:

[DKT27]

Neither. But close enough. ;)

[JusperX]

yep...tried it ...yep...piece of SNIP....lemme guess...you work for MS...lol

Would be nice, but unfortunately, I don't.

Personally, I have MSE on both my computers installed (one with Win7 SP1 and one with XP SP3).

And for about two years never had an issue.

[majithia23]

easy my friends ....

the topic is not discussing as to what is liked by whom ,

but it was just posted to show the lack of professionalism and lack of true reporting at a tech website and that too by tech reporter ...!

he just summed up and totalled the computer security fiasco with just a few tools and that too of just one vendor , in this case M$ ..

and almost everyone without a doubt would agree that this false and wrong .....

MSE is not a bad option , and neither did i say this ,

its just that there are better options available than MSE .

( on second take , i have tried MSE , on two computers ,

and i dint like it , to be true .

not because of any security concerns , but its just too bland for my taste .)

[CODYQX4]

The thing about IE9 is its only getting the more secure rating because it tries to save stupid people from themselves by identifying bad downloads via SmartScreen (which is to be baked into Win 8 and presumably cover all browsers anyway). Most users just use the internet, and some download stupid stuff but others never download. The latter have exploits to fear, and in that case Chrome is the most secure. It has that sandbox, and has survived those pwn2own contests for 3+ years.

But I see the point, there is so much built in to the OS these days. Back as a kid using XP pre SP2, (and before knowing how to get cracked software), I found you could not surf the web and not get popups and spyware. Not the real viruses but so many sites installed tracking cookie crap, and I regularly used S&D and AdAware to keep the spyware out (again, the regular crap that accumulates, not viruses). It always caught crap, even 5 minutes later, you had to DL a popup blocker and the ones I tried were unstable and uneffective. Then SP2 for XP came, baked in a Firewall (I never ran a firewall or AV in 2001 at 10 but I never got viruses/hacked. Other people used that PC and did though and I fixed it).

Fast forward to Vista SP0, and I had NIS, but would disable it and surf, then test with the tools I used at 10, because I was curious if NIS was blocking, or the OS. With or without NIS, I never got anything more than tracking cookies, whereas on pre XP2, spyware just accumulated like the plague, because the browsers did absolutely nothing to stop it.

Now I can setup my Dad's laptop with ESET, but it never needs to do anything. I had him running once on an old PC with MicroXP, no security software, we shared that PC when my laptop burned out nad I saved up for a new one. Went a whole summer, until my brother used it and had it infected in 5 minutes. Note the difference and go back to my two users comment. My brother was the latter, searching for some PSP Youtube app but googling and downloading the first thing. Even now it seems harder for malicious apps to screw up your PC once on. If XP got infected, I nuked it no questions asked. I actually have cleanly removed FakeAV on later OS, but the older stuff liked to screw your registry beyond help. I still nuke in case of Virus just to have 100% certainty that it and any damage it did is gone (because AV suck at fixing this kind of thing).