Security etc.

[Angelstardust]

I know that from time to time the people in this group who risk all to test programs change their view of what is currently the best software to use for differing uses, particularly security.

What is the latest, best?

[ken]

Super AntiSpyware for everyday use, MalwareBytes AntiMalware for the heavy stuff and Spyware Blaster for background protection. They are still the best. Now that Flash cookie spawners are all the rage, C Cleaner should be run more often. Although C Cleaner isn't anti anything, it does clean out the caches where the Flash cookie spawners abide.

[elvisuk]

Super AntiSpyware, MalwareBytes AntiMalware, C Cleaner the best ones for me unless you are using Linux then you need none of them ;D

[buzzy]

I also us the programs suggested on this thread.

[mikkh]

There doesn't appear to be any new kids on the block - apart from Microsoft trying to persuade us that 'defender' and 'security essentials' is what you really need. I've no doubt that combination works for some people, but they both feel like better than nothing, rather than good solid protection.

Avira is a decent lightweight alternative to Avast if you don't need POP email protection - i.e if you only use IMAP based email like Hotmail, Yahoo or Googlemail

[ken]

I got a warning from Action Centre a couple of months or so ago, about running Defender with Avast, it said they conflicted. I turned Defender back on a couple of days ago to see what happens, so far no warnings. I have had no proof its doing anything either, it's certainly not found anything.

[ken]

Here is a good little stand alone Flash cookie remover from Softpedia.
www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Secure-cleaning/Flash-Cookies-Cleaner.shtml

Just download it to the desktop, it doesn't install.

[Angelstardust]

You did mean speedingupmypc didn't you?

[elvisuk]

H! KC i have just tried it it found two things and i deleted them and then rebooted and all seems OK, handy little program

[jojo]

Angel.

I got caught out by that as well.

The speedupmypc is an advert.

When you click Download now on the first page, the second page has two sites listed in blue. One from the US the other a mirror.

Download from there.

the program is only about 95kb and it's just deleted over 200 flash cookies form mine

[ken]

Thanks Jojo.

Yeah you need to be careful on these download pages and only click on the main thing. It says Flash Cookies Cleaner 1.2 at the top, with a discription and downloader under an obvious advert. I couldn't find a clean page, Softpedia is the only place I could find it.

[Angelstardust]

OK
Do we have the correct links in the utilities section of CIT?

I got caught that way with C Cleaner; got a version that asked me to pay. Fortunately, my son put me in the direction of the right one and I'm doing better already.
He also told me about a defragger from www.piriform.com
I have all my email online, as I prefer it; I presume Avira would suit me, but do I need to uninstall Avast before starting it?

[ken]

If you want to change to Avira, you should download it and not install it until you have taken Avast off. I dont know if they have changed it, but Avira didn't auto-update. So you have to remember to keep it updated, or its worthless. I personally think that Avast is the best of the free antiviruses and wouldn't change it. I also like the Avast screensaver, that way my computer gets scanned at any time I'm not using it for more than 15 minutes. Thats what mine is set at, but you can set the kickin time to whatever you like.

[Angelstardust]

I didn't know about the screensaver.