Is my Laptop protected enough ?

[antharr]

+1 for SAS ( SUPERAntiSpyware.com | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware! ). Works great.

Won't having both of them make conflictions ?

I've always been told not to have 2 anti-viruses etc.

SAS and Malwarebytes are scanners. They do not conflict with MSE. You can even run Avast and MSE together. They have been tested together. Question is whether that makes sense.

That has always been overkill IMO and tends to slow your machine down. I have 4 GB of RAM and can feel the impact of running more than one real time app. BUT...there again, it is whatever works for a particular user.

 

[SevenNerd]

I use no antivirus, no firewall, (I have router) and no windows defender. The best protection starts and the keyboard and mouse of the user in my opinion and if I have to get rid of some malware/virus, which I havent goten in over a year now I will only use MBAM.

 

[antharr]

I use no antivirus, no firewall, (I have router) and no windows defender. The best protection starts and the keyboard and mouse of the user in my opinion and if I have to get rid of some malware/virus, which I havent goten in over a year now I will only use MBAM.

You are absolutely right in that assessment but some users are not comfortable running bare like that. I can and have but I feel more comfortable with my apps installed. Besides if my wife uses my laptop I like that extra layer of protection there. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Petey7]

You are either extremely lucky, or have a lot of rootkits, bots, and other dangerous Malware.

 

[whs]

Speaking of best protection: I suggest everybody use imaging. I take an automatic image every morning at boot time. That protects me better than anything because I can always bail myself out. I happen to use free Macrium, but there are more good options.

 

[antharr]

You are either extremely lucky, or have a lot of rootkits, bots, and other dangerous Malware.

This all depends on the user's experience and what the machine is actually used for. It can be done. I wouldn't recommend it by any means but not impossible.

 

[antharr]

Speaking of best protection: I suggest everybody use imaging. I take an automatic image every morning at boot time. That protects me better than anything because I can always bail myself out. I happen to use free Macrium, but there are more good options.

And I always agree with you on this. Macirum could very well be my favorite piece of freeware out there.

 

[Petey7]

Speaking of best protection: I suggest everybody use imaging. I take an automatic image every morning at boot time. That protects me better than anything because I can always bail myself out. I happen to use free Macrium, but there are more good options.

I was just coming here to say something about this. I, personally, don't use imaging (I've heard claims that it can back-up viruses like system restore does), but I have spent a lot of time backing up all my personal files, my themes, the installers for my drivers, the user data for my browser (history, add-ons, themes, bookmarks, etc.) and the installers for my AV programs. I even have an image of my 7 DVD on my external HDD just in case. Having to reinstall or having a HDD fail on me (had a drive replaced a month ago, reinstalled night before last) hardly phases me when it takes an hour after install to get everything exactly as it was before. Really, its up to the user how they back-up their stuff. What matters is actually doing it. It saves a lot of time when something goes wrong and nothing gets rid of malware like a clean install.

 

[richc46]

Try Win Patrol. It makes an image. Get a virus etc. It notifies and you can tell it to go back via the image. It does not make a copy of the virus, unless you approve the change.

http://www.winpatrol.com/

 

[whs]

Try Win Patrol. It makes an image. Get a virus etc. It notifies and you can tell it to go back via the image. It does not make a copy of the virus, unless you approve the change.

BillP Studios - WinPatrol 18

Rich, how does WinPatrol make an image. I know you can backup the settings to Program files (x86) > BillP Studios folder. But I wonder where I find the imaging. I have WinPatrol Pro.

 

[antharr]

Speaking of best protection: I suggest everybody use imaging. I take an automatic image every morning at boot time. That protects me better than anything because I can always bail myself out. I happen to use free Macrium, but there are more good options.

I was just coming here to say something about this. I, personally, don't use imaging (I've heard claims that it can back-up viruses like system restore does), but I have spent a lot of time backing up all my personal files, my themes, the installers for my drivers, the user data for my browser (history, add-ons, themes, bookmarks, etc.) and the installers for my AV programs. I even have an image of my 7 DVD on my external HDD just in case. Having to reinstall or having a HDD fail on me (had a drive replaced a month ago, reinstalled night before last) hardly phases me when it takes an hour after install to get everything exactly as it was before. Really, its up to the user how they back-up their stuff. What matters is actually doing it. It saves a lot of time when something goes wrong and nothing gets rid of malware like a clean install.

1.Clean install
2.Configure everything the way you like it
3.Back up with Macrium

Faster than a complete install if you ever need to start anew.

 

[AussieGuy92]

+ 1 on making a system image i learned that the hard way when windows would not boot and start up repair did nothing.

also is it worth switching from avast to MSE?

 

[Petey7]

also is it worth switching from avast to MSE?

It depends on the person. I didn't care for Avast but it comes down to what you like. I'd recommend uninstalling avast and trying MSE for a week or so. Then you can decide for yourself.

 

[AussieGuy92]

might give it a go hope it auto updates

 

[aaronmiller2010]

Thanks richc46,
I am now using both MSE & Malwarebytes and my laptop is running fine!!.

 

[malexous]

I use no antivirus, no firewall, (I have router) and no windows defender. The best protection starts and the keyboard and mouse of the user in my opinion and if I have to get rid of some malware/virus, which I havent goten in over a year now I will only use MBAM.

Does personal/sensitive data ever touch your machine? (e.g. credit card number)

 

[gautam7]

Beside runing a real time AV and a couple of ondimand scanner i also use spywareblaster for added precausion. u also can give it a try. it has a free version also.SpywareBlaster® | Prevent spyware and malware. Free download.

 

[freaky88]

theres no realtime for spyware blaster

 

[gautam7]

theres no realtime for spyware blaster

Yes freaky88, there is no realtime protection and it is in no way a replacement for any AV and any Antimalware. Spywareblaster approaches the security in a different way. SpywareBlaster blocks the installation of most ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers and other unwanted programs from the user's computer. SpywareBlaster works by blacklisting the CLSID of known malware programs, effectively preventing them from infecting a protected computer. This approach differs from many other anti-spyware programs, which typically offer the user a possibility to "scan" the memory and hard drive of the computer and remove the unwanted software, after it has been installed. SpywareBlaster also allows the user to prevent privacy hazards such as tracking cookies. Another feature is the ability to restrict the actions of websites known to distribute adware and spyware. SpywareBlaster supports several web browsers, including Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla and Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Seamonkey, and Flock. Spywareblasters mainly focuses on prevention. Another advantage of having it is SpywareBlaster does not need to remain running in the background to enable protection, which means there are no extra processes running and using up your computer's memory and processor.