Help needed

[Mizjazzi]

Hi there,

I would appreciate advice on securing my laptop.

I have windows 7 with IE8

I surf,shop,but do not game.

I am not yet up on technology,but am getting there,willing desperate to learn more.

What is the safest browser Firefox or Chrome?

What is the best anti virus,preferably free,but not if it causes problems?

I have malbytes free on recomendation

Background;

After many years and no problems with xp and avg free, I upgraded to a laptop with windows 7 home premium.

I opted for essentials after my bulldog trail as I thought that if all was microsoft, it would be a good idea.

Not so,I did aciure a blaster virus of some sot.

As i have not been keeping up with tech stuff, I took it to a computer guy and paid for a fix. He said avg free was better so installed it, but due to consrant crashes and then a hardware fault, I have re-installed all software and am starting again myself.in the process I foun a corrupted driver which is now sotred.

I would rather sort it myself now and know what is what.

With many thanks in advance,

Mizjazzi

[goldhound]

Hello Mizjazzi,

Speaking as an everyday user with many years of no malware/virus problems, my own personal recommendations would be.

FireFox browser with "noscript" and Adblock+" as addons. Chrome is good and quite safe also, as is IE9.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a very good free AV from Microsoft. Combine that with MBAM pro, real time protection that works alongside your AV. $24.95 for a LIFETIME single computer personal license and IMO you would be well protected.

Regarding the recommendations you have requested, the answers could fill a book.

Best regards

[Mizjazzi]

Hello Mizjazzi,

Speaking as an everyday user with many years of no malware/virus problems, my own personal recommendations would be.

FireFox browser with "noscript" and Adblock+" as addons. Chrome is good and quite safe also, as is IE9.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a very good free AV from Microsoft. Combine that with MBAM pro, real time protection that works alongside your AV. $24.95 for a LIFETIME single computer personal license and IMO you would be well protected.

Regarding the recommendations you have requested, the answers could fill a book.

Best regards

Thanks for both the welcome and the advice,

I decided on continuing with firefox (I had major promblems when I upgraded to IE9 from 8 before my re-install), as I used it before on my old computer. Will however download the additions you mentioned.

At present my av is avg internet security trail version and I still have a few weeks,Would those add ons clash?

I am trying the get my computer sorted and then will change my av.

Still a bit unsure about what though! I did pick up 'a nasty' when I had essentails installed,but at that time I did not have the malwarebytes?I will upgrade my Malwarebytes though.

I'm going try to go through all the self help stuff and see if I can clean out all the rubbish that came preloaded, and sort out some issues.( Lost my god mode and some use of taskbar when I deleted something after the malwarebyte scan!)

No doubt I will have more questions on the forum, as I go through my tech learning process.

You are right about the book of advice though, it is a lot.

Regards,

Mizjazzi

[Mystery]

Welcome to the forums Mizjazzi

Noscript and Adblock Plus shouldn't cause any issues with any antivirus software as far as I know. I would also recommend them, I personally couldn't live without them anymore.

I've been using Avast! free for a long time now, and am happy with it. But the choice of antivirus software is always also a question of personal preference. There are several vendors with good antivirus products (MSE, Avira, Avast!, Kaspersky etc.).

Like goldhound, I also think that MBAM Pro as a second layer of security is very much worth it.

If you decide to purchase a license for the full version of MBAM, please make sure that you add the exclusions in your antivirus program and MBAM accordingly in order to prevent any problems:

http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=10138

Also remember that you as the user also play a very important role concerning avoiding infections, e.g.: Make sure you keep your Windows updated as well as your software. Secunia can help you identify programs that need to be updated: http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online

You can learn more in the following article posted on this forums: http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=9365

[Mizjazzi]

Welcome to the forums Mizjazzi

Noscript and Adblock Plus shouldn't cause any issues with any antivirus software as far as I know. I would also recommend them, I personally couldn't live without them anymore.

I've been using Avast! free for a long time now, and am happy with it. But the choice of antivirus software is always also a question of personal preference. There are several vendors with good antivirus products (MSE, Avira, Avast!, Kaspersky etc.).

Like goldhound, I also think that MBAM Pro as a second layer of security is very much worth it.

If you decide to purchase a license for the full version of MBAM, please make sure that you add the exclusions in your antivirus program and MBAM accordingly in order to prevent any problems:

http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=10138

Also remember that you as the user also play a very important role concerning avoiding infections, e.g.: Make sure you keep your Windows updated as well as your software. Secunia can help you identify programs that need to be updated: http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online

You can learn more in the following article posted on this forums: http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=9365

Thank you for all the advice and links,

I will be going through it all soonest. I will get MBAM upgraded as it did find a 'nasty' (rouge control centre) that was missed by the avg scan.

Altough it deleted my 'godmode' and affected my notification and task bar, I have managed to recreate the shortcut.

When I did that it also sorted my notification and taskbar problems.

MBAM support was very helpfull with that issue.

I am in the process of checking all my security settings on IE and also the firefox that I am now using, All my windows updates are set to notify me on a daily basis so I can keep updated.

Because I am useing AVG I have not got them on automatic as AVG told me that some of the windows security and firewalls will clash with AvG/

Again Thanks,

I learn something every day,it's great.

Mizjazzi