Dilibrate VIRUS Attack!

[Electrum]

Originally posted by Roanon:

quote:

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Originally posted by Thermodyne:
Just use a firewall and get an antivirus subscription. Yhen use the security settings that are included with IE6 and Outlook. You'll be fine.

Antivirus software needs time to react and update, so there is a timespan when you are vulnerable.
And you really believe that IE and Outlook do NOT have any security loopholes at the moment? Would be the first time in history. Next virus exploit followed by next patch followed by next virus exploit followed by next patch andandand will follow for sure. And you really believe that the security settings are there to help you and not just eye candy while the program continues to support spyware? BHO, anyone?
I have ceased to help people with comp probs who continue to use IE/Outlook against my advice. I just don't have that much time at hands. It's a neverending battle that can't be won.

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The main problem is that when 90% of the people are using Windows / IE / Outlook, that's where the hackers/crackers are going to target their attacks. Mac Users brag that they don't need AV, but no hacker wants to waste their time going after a mac when it's such a small percentage.
Outlook Express is another story, since it's, well, obsolete and not going to be upgraded.
I've been using Foxfire for my brousee & Thunderbird for my mail (as you can see, I'm cheap & go for free), I also use mozzilla as a secondary setup.
Av I've been using Panda 7 Platinum (if your an IT pro, you can probably get it for free). I've tried McAfee, Kaspersky, NAV (I couldn't get it off my system fast enough. And it wasn't easy to get it off! It's almost a virus in itself!). Panda, although it is lacking in the appearance of it's GUI, seems to work pretty good, and has a few nice features. If you have dial-up, like me (Alright, I'll just wait until everybody stops laughing.........), as soon as it detects that the internet is Online, it does an update. It also handles network drives. It has a built in firewall (Sygate). Now I'm sounding like a salesman, sorry. Anyways, it seems to work well for me.
I also have Spybot & Ad-Aware scheduled to run daily. I also NEVER NEVER open attachments unless it's from someone I know & I'm expecting it.

[Baron Grazic]

Thier is another option, you can add a MailSweeper program to ensure that your email program only downloads to emails you want to see.
It will also help in dealing with spam. A free one available is MailWasher
At Work we get on average 100-400 Viruses a day and and at least that many spam emails too, so our MailSweeper is a lot more advanced than MailWasher, but it seems like a good home application.

[Electrum]

[quote]Originally posted by Baron Grazic:
Thier is another option, you can add a MailSweeper program to ensure that your email program only downloads to emails you want to see.
It will also help in dealing with spam. A free one available is MailWasher
At Work we get on average 100-400 Viruses a day and and at least that many spam emails too, so our MailSweeper is a lot more advanced than MailWasher, but it seems like a good home application. [/QUOTE

for me, e-mail viruses aren't a problem. I have my e-mail address that was set up by my ISP, but I only give that address to immediate friends & family. All others get a yahoo / Hotmail address, and most of thos e-mails get deleted w/o a look. I NEVER download an attachment unless I'm expecting it. Even w/ the PBW, I have my account set up to not e-mail a file. I download it myself.

Something else of interest. M$ had it (May still have it) where they would mail you a free CD w/ all the security updates to date. I've had it setting on my desk for a couple days & just opened it. They also included a 1 year trial of CA EZ Armor LE Antivirus & firewall. I don't have a place for it now, but I'll need to check it out. Anybody ever used it?

[Electrum]

I just check Micosoft site & you can still get CD. If anyones intersested, go to:
www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

[rdouglass]

The ONLY way to TRULY protect yourself from virii/worms is to never connect and never put any disks in your computer...

I mean, even the "protector software" is vulnerable. Any one read of the recent problem with ISS's BlackIce product?

http://security.itworld.com/nl/security_strat/03302004/

Scary, eh?...

EDIT: I just wish mail server admins would turn off the "Sender Notification" of their virus checkers - they're almost always coming from spoofed / hijacked addresses anyways. They're just adding to the problem IMO.

[ March 30, 2004, 19:45: Message edited by: rdouglass ]

[Baron Grazic]

Originally posted by rdouglass:
EDIT: I just wish mail server admins would turn off the "Sender Notification" of their virus checkers - they're almost always coming from spoofed / hijacked addresses anyways. They're just adding to the problem IMO.

Agreed.
I've already done that here. The only alert emails are to our staff.