does my anit virus configuration look good or am i lacking something

Discussion in 'Software' started by red death68, Oct 26, 2009.

  1. red death68

    red death68 Command Sergeant Major

    I have cis and MBAM free edition on my computer the cis is used primarly for detection problems with files on open where as the MBAM is used for self initiated scanning of my system since cis was almost freezing with my 256mb of RAM.

    I dont know if this sounds like a complete setup for antivirus I am beggining to wonder if I am missing anything. not because of any system problems(other than outdated hardware) but just because it feels like im missing something for my anti virus.

    I do have severl anti virus installers on a flash drive but have yet to use any of them on my system so let me know if this set up of antivirus software is enough to protect my system or if I need more

    I would however like to avoid AVG as I had that once it stopped working woulnt let me update and it let a nasty virus in that trashed my whole system and forced me to change to a new harddrive and wipe the old one (sadly i did not get to my files befor the wipe because i had nothing to hold them all)

    PS: sytem is a win xp pro SP3, 2002 edition that is always hooked to the internet.
     
    red death68, Oct 26, 2009
    #1
  2. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Have a link? I like to know three things: who is behind the testing (some "independent" tests are paid for by security companies), what OS or OSes was the test run on and what versions of the programs were used.
    I don't want to assume v4 is great when the test was done using v3.

    As far as MS Security Essentials, I was pointed to a site today with "independent" test results concluding that the updates may be as much as 6 days out of date and the end user will not know.
    So for every product out there, someone is testing and proving it doesn't work well. ;)
     
    plodr, Oct 26, 2009
    #2
  3. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Thanks for the link. I've looked at that site for testing results in the past.

    Me, I'd be happy if some of the seniors I help were only behind 6 days in virus signatures!

    As far as research, it is getting harder and harder to sift "independent" results.
    My unofficial research is to google, check out sites where hijack logs are posted to see what malware is detected and what security is in use and how up to date it is.

    Link for you:
    Code:
    http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Microsoft-anti-virus-software-dawdles-over-updates-838203.html
    I don't know the credibility of the site. The person that posted lives in Europe so it might be familiar to Europeans.
     
    plodr, Oct 27, 2009
    #3
  4. red death68

    red death68 Command Sergeant Major

    i already figured that domluc but im wondering not if i need a replacement for the current software as much as do i need suppliment software for semi total protection on my system

    and for the ram issue thats why i started scanning with MBAM
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 28, 2009
    red death68, Oct 27, 2009
    #4
  5. SWario

    SWario Sergeant

    I think DomLuc was saying that you need to put more RAM in your system. Running any system on 256MB is hardly recommended with modern software memory requirements. Running Windows XP on 256MB? That's practically suicide. A copy of Windows XP Pro SP3 that I have in front of me hits about 70MB booting into Safe Mode (it will be MUCH higher than that when booting into Normal Mode), and CIS states that it requires 64MB of RAM. That's already 134MB, and this isn't even taking into account you running other programs. Any email client is another 40+MB. A media player, 20+MB. An IM client, 20+MB. That's 214MB of RAM. And if you're actually browsing the Internet for anything other than just text, you're looking at 100+MB right there. Firefox regularly hits several hundreds of megabytes of RAM when I'm using it.


    tl;dr: If your system supports more RAM being installed, do it.
     
    SWario, Oct 28, 2009
    #5
  6. red death68

    red death68 Command Sergeant Major

    yes i knew that but when you aint got no money your systems made of whatever was given to you

    (18GB hd,256 RAM,NVIDA TNT64 video card that circa 1998)
     
    red death68, Oct 28, 2009
    #6
  7. red death68

    red death68 Command Sergeant Major

    lol my parents use free cycle all the time no parts have come their way they are always checking.....

    and anyways i got a friend whos finally giving me their old build which makes mine look like a dinosaur
     
    red death68, Oct 28, 2009
    #7
  8. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    I would agree with the above and the other posts, your security seems fine and the main area as Digital Locksmith poited out is YOU and more so what you download and where from, its always wise to stear clear of P2P and only download of recognised safe sites and the usual dont accept files of users you dont know in email or instant messengers.




    On the test results from AV, the Microsoft listing is likely to be OneCare and not Microsoft Security Essentials as it wasnt fully released until September 2009 ( and anyone who tests a beta if they did is not offing true performance) as MSE iirc in some early tests score of 98.4% or thereabouts, for the link junkies http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=4512 BUT I would take the early results and any test results with pinch of salt as NO antivirus will keep you fully safe and test should never be relied on as a perforance indicator outside the lab/test scenario, the real world is different.

    MSE as a FYI is based on MSFTs enterprise AV in Forefront.
     
    DavidGP, Oct 28, 2009
    #8
  9. red death68

    red death68 Command Sergeant Major

    i know it was a helpful suggestion im sorry if i came off mean in my responce, and my parents are always looking for computer stuff for free on sites like freecycle since my dads a self taught geek

    and your lucky there is always stuff coming on rofl we get nothing where we are half the people here im suprised know how to check email let alone anything else(except the kids of course)
     
    red death68, Oct 28, 2009
    #9

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