My security - is it overkill?

[Dazeon]

Hey,

I've been running the following configuration for a while now, and it has served me well, however, I would just like to know whether it is overkill or not?

Here's the list:

Microsoft Security Essentials (Ongoing beta)
PC Tools ThreatFire
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (with protection module)
Spybot - Search & Destroy
SpywareBlaster
OpenDNS with custom filtering
mvps.org HOSTS file
Firefox 3.6 Beta 5 with Adblock Plus
Windows Firewall
Router Firewall (locked down fairly tight, see pic.)


Those with an automatic update feature are updated daily, the rest I tend to do on an 'every other day' basis.

I also perform daily scans with MSE and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.

I'm pretty careful myself and I make sure I know where I am going, however, my mum, sister, and her partner are a nightmare. Especially with facebook, eBay, ordering crazy stuff from China, internet offers etc.

So, is this overkill, or am I doing the right thing?

I was debating whether to drop Spybot - Search & Destroy, and possibly Spywareblaster. Spybot 2.0 rapidly seems to be turning into vapourware, and I'm not convinced Spywareblaster is keeping up to date with Firefox releases.

What do all you security experts think?

 

[Dinesh]

Hi, you can remove spybot and threatfire from the list. Rest everything is wonderful.

 

[Mercurial]

its over kill for the system not for malicious ebilness !

just follow what he said XD

and it'll be all fine.

 

[Dazeon]

So away with Spybot and ThreatFire...
That's basically what I was hoping for, getting rid of some of the resident programs.

It's a shame about Spybot, but I get the feeling that we're going to be waiting a very long time for a new version, and I hate the fact that it always has to be ran as an administrator to be able to update.

I thought ThreatFire was pretty good, even if the UI was awful and child-like, as with all PC Tools stuff.

So thanks Dinesh, as always.

Yeah Mercurial, totally agreed, whilst it's always good to be secure, it does tend to give you a noticable performance hit.

Saying that, MSE is fantastic and lite.

What does everyone else use, do you guys use SpywareBlaster? I tried the latest Avast 5 beta on my XP machine, and it rocks, the UI is superb and it's nice and smooth, with a little footprint. However, I am one of those people with bad O.C.D. and I like using stuff from the same company. Hence Windows 7 and MCE!

Any other advice or suggestions?

 

[Dinesh]

I use avast 5 beta with malwarebytes and spyware blaster. That's it.

 

[TheIgster]

Avast 5 Beta and Prevx paid here...windows firewall and a built-in firewall in my router. Everything works just fine. Occasionally I do a scan with Malwarebytes, but it never finds anything.

 

[Mercurial]

eset ,UAC, windows firewall + router firewall on all systems.

haven't formatted since Installed windows 7 rtm. like months ago!

its effective yet lightweight even on my old Pent4 512mb Win7 pc ;D!


I let eset handle the incomming malicious files... UAC incase something gets in... firewall so it cant download / send stuff

heres my collection

 

[Digi]

i use avira antivir , comodo firewall, spybot search & destroy and malware bite......everything work like a charm