Phoenix Network Forums

This is the free scanner I use. It is probably one of the best out there.

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http://virusscan.jotti.org/

Jeed wrote:or just dont get viruses in the first place and dont piss a coder off lol


Jeed,

Why not do you not think that the coders are responsible for making an unsecure os?

btw a good protection against viruses is to be on the lookout ,you don`t even need a virus scanner:
-don`t open emails from unkown addreses
-don`t use MS Outlook Express
-don`t use MS Internet Explorer
-only download trusted programs from trusted sites

DjDarkman wrote:

Jeed wrote: or just dont get viruses in the first place and dont piss a coder off lol


Jeed,

Why not do you not think that the coders are responsible for making an unsecure os?

btw a good protection against viruses is to be on the lookout ,you don`t even need a virus scanner:
-don`t open emails from unkown addreses
-don`t use MS Outlook Express
-don`t use MS Internet Explorer
-only download trusted programs from trusted sites

How about:
1) Don't run as Administrator / Root
2) Don't use an app/os until it is secured.
3) App's and OS' should be configured for security out of the box. Reasonable / sane defaults are a must.
4) Files should not be assigned properties based on file extension; but on detection via "magic number".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_numb ... ramming%29

Just a few; off the top of my head.

1) Don't run as Administrator / Root

Windows was designed to be a single user pc without network connection and it`s user system isn`t so good compared to the unixes.And people don`t bother with things like permissions and users they`re happy if the don`t get the blue screen.

2) Don't use an app/os until it is secured.
3) App's and OS' should be configured for security out of the box. Reasonable / sane defaults are a must.

Agreed

4) Files should not be assigned properties based on file extension; but on detection via "magic number".

I know what it means but I don`t get what benefit would that have.

use sagat fairewall which is antivirus as whell

Pete wrote:

DjDarkman wrote:

Jeed wrote: or just dont get viruses in the first place and dont piss a coder off lol


Jeed,

Why not do you not think that the coders are responsible for making an unsecure os?

btw a good protection against viruses is to be on the lookout ,you don`t even need a virus scanner:
-don`t open emails from unkown addreses
-don`t use MS Outlook Express
-don`t use MS Internet Explorer
-only download trusted programs from trusted sites

How about:
1) Don't run as Administrator / Root
2) Don't use an app/os until it is secured.
3) App's and OS' should be configured for security out of the box. Reasonable / sane defaults are a must.
4) Files should not be assigned properties based on file extension; but on detection via "magic number".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_numb ... ramming%29

Just a few; off the top of my head.

Yeah thats some pretty good suggestions! However everyone that runs a Windows box should always be running a fully updated Anti-virus (the best free being AVAST and AVG according to yours truly) and a fully featured firewall.

Those who aren't are stupid! And are contributing to the harms of the internet.

A windows box is a bad thing, and Unsecured Windows box is evil.

s41ted wrote:and a fully featured firewall.

Fully featured firewalls are expensive. Not everyone has a router which he can upload a linux to. Desktop firewall is almost from no use, since it beats the purpose of a firewall (preventing possible dangerous data from intruding into the system. but if the firewall runs on that system the data always reachs it, it can only prevent further processing plus it can be modified by admin privilidged processes).

About Avast... running it currently with good detection till now. Only downside... it just doesnt like to scan my seamonkey as browser. It did once, but now again not (it still scans the disccache of course, but not the download before it goes to memory cache).

AVG is the best, well, on LimeWire, i download LimeWire PRO of limewire basics, i knew it had a virus but anyways, i try to install, AVG says. " Virus Detected On: " and shows what file and where it was based, click remove, and it deletes the virus+file+everything assosiated to that file/folder thingy.

4) Files should not be assigned properties based on file extension; but on detection via "magic number".

I know what it means but I don`t get what benefit would that have.[/quote]

You can have a file with multiple file extensions; have the icon change to something that it isn't; there by tricking the user into executing it. (not sure if it still works). The icon may not change anymore; but the file extension does trick new users.

There was a brief section of time where RIAA was uploading spyware masked as an audio file. Now that was combined with a flaw in Windows Media Player; which executed the code and installed the software.

Windows was designed to be a single user pc without network connection and it`s user system isn`t so good compared to the unixes.And people don`t bother with things like permissions and users they`re happy if the don`t get the blue screen.
RIAA/MPAA Contractor Deploys Malicious Adware Trojans
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=0 ... 1&from=rss

Spyware Floods In Through BitTorrent
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1828633,00.asp

Crackers Tune In to Windows Media Player
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=0 ... 4&from=rss

Windows was designed to be a single user pc without network connection and it`s user system isn`t so good compared to the unixes.And people don`t bother with things like permissions and users they`re happy if the don`t get the blue screen.

Yes; it did start out as a single user system and has grown into a multi-user system. It does an alright job as a muli-user system; however, the default setting are just plain scary. It also lacks fine grain controls with respect to configuration. Security has been treated as an after thought and was bolted on top of its design. Anyways, I digress.

FYI: I would take a *nix based system any day.

Regards,
Pete

De Kus wrote:

s41ted wrote:and a fully featured firewall.

Fully featured firewalls are expensive. Not everyone has a router which he can upload a linux to. Desktop firewall is almost from no use, since it beats the purpose of a firewall (preventing possible dangerous data from intruding into the system. but if the firewall runs on that system the data always reachs it, it can only prevent further processing plus it can be modified by admin privilidged processes).

Very true about the expense. But i still think a software firewall is a bare minimum. There are really good, very customable, free personal firewalls out there (zone alarm) Every windows box should be running one! It stops (in most cases) the propogation of worms and malious scripts. It manages applications access to the net, hence (having the potential to) stop malware, trojans, bots etc.

Obviously it wont save you if your a idiot! But at least its a start. The default security is enough. And i think microsoft thinks so as well, adding their shitty little firewall into SP2

DjDarkman wrote:-only download trusted programs from trusted sites

lol thats a problem for me cos im a bit of a downloadaholic

This thread is going offtopic. Share your free anti-virus scanner links please. It really doesn't matter how careful you are without a scanner. Scan everything and anything. That is the best habbit.

Rommaster wrote:Try AVG anti-virus scanner.

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

It's one of the best rated free anti-virus scanners around.

x100
AVG is a very good virus scanner for people who have no money, like me.
I have Norton, I bought it when I thought Norton was good but I guess they aren't? I should get the McAfee package or something

fishpoo: if you have an old p1 or 2 around with 128 megs of ram or so, you could implament an IPCop with copfilter or m0n0wall, though I am not sure if that supports virus scanning. Basically, my setup at home is a little p2, 350 mhz with 256 mb of ram which is running IPCop (www.ipcop.org). This is a small linux based server and firewall application that supports addons. So, once the IPCop is up, go to copfilter.org and get copfilter and install it. This addon automatically scans all http, ftp, smtp and pop traffic for viruses using CLAMBAV and, optionally f-prot which is free for home use. Since both of these are linux based, they are free, you just might have to find the hardware to run this setup on. However, once it's up, it works rather well as it stops viruses before you download them most of the time and you can configure it to update the definitions automatically. On a sidenote, copfilter also uses privoxy which blocks those anoying google or yahoo banners you see on most sites. If you don't have the hardware to make a linux router, then I would reccomend AVG or Kaspersky (not sure if that one is free).

I also agree that Avast! is the best free antivirus. I have used it for almost 2 to three years now and had absolutely no problems. However, my friend tried it and it basically required him to reformat his drive as it didnt boot right. According to Alwil, the people who make it, it is an isolated problem and is most likely already fixed.

Just my 2 cents.