Virus protection
Every computer needs to have virus protection (especially computers on the internet). A virus can be caught from email, certain websites, and any other time files are transferred between computers. The effects of a virus can range from minor to full system failure. The two biggest commercial antivirus companies are McAfee Internet Security Suite and Norton Internet Security. Both are good products. However, they are not free. There are also very good free (for home use) antivirus programs. The two best ones are AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0 and Avira AntiVir Personal Edition Classic. In my opinion, most home users should use AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0 instead of McAfee and Norton because it is free and provides the same level of virus protection. However, with AVG Free you will have to install additional security software like: a firewall, rootkit protection, and possibly additional spyware protection (the good news is that all of these are free as well).
Virus |
Spyware Protection |
Firewall |
Rootkit Detection |
Price |
|
| AVG Free 8.0 | yes |
yes |
no |
no |
Free |
| AVG 8.0 | yes |
yes |
no |
yes |
$34.99 |
| McAfee VirusScan Plus | yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
$39.99 |
| Norton AntiVirus | yes |
yes |
no |
yes |
$39.99 |
| AVG Internet Security | yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
$54.99 |
| McAfee Internet Security | yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
$49.99 |
| Norton Internet Security | yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
$59.99 |
Rootkits
Rootkits are an extremely stealthy form of malware. Virus and spyware scans from within a running operating system, like Windows, will often not be able to detect rootkits. Rootkits often integrate themselves into the operating system or into drivers. Rootkits avoid detection from conventional scans by manipulating the output from the operating system. For example, during a normal virus scan the virus scanner will ask the operating system for a list of files on your system which will then be scanned by the virus scanner. However, a rootkit can intercept the list of files reported by the operating system and remove itself from the list so the virus scanner will not even know the file exists. Commercial virus scanners like AVG 8.0 and Norton AntiVirus can provide some protection against rootkits by doing a very low level scan of your hard drive and comparing the data to the files reported by the operating system. There are also plenty of free anti-rootkit software that run from within Windows and can detect and remove many rootkits. AVG Anti-Rootkit, F-Secure Blacklight, Sophos Anti-Rootkit are all free anti-rootkit detection and removal programs. Rootkit removal is only recommended for advanced users that are capable of using the Windows Recovery Console or some other tool that allows file manipulation (copying, renaming, moving,...) on a system that fails to boot (examples are: BartPE and UBCD). The reason rootkit removal should only be performed by advanced users is that they are often integrated into important parts of the operating system and removing them can damage the operating system. It is perfectly safe for inexperienced users to scan for their presence, then if some are found contact a professional for removal (if you live in the Cary, Raleigh, Durham area I can help you with rootkit removal: email RahulPatharkar@computer-help-center.com or phone 919-809-7756). Rootkit detection programs that run from within Windows (all of the above listed programs) are not foolproof in any way because more advanced rootkits could manipulate Windows to hide themselves from any rootkit detection program that runs from within Windows. The only foolproof way to detect any rootkit is to boot your system with an with a rescue CD or USB drive like BartPE or UBCD and run a virus and spyware scan. This method is effective because your system is running with a clean operating system that is not being manipulated by any active rootkits and inactive rootkits are easy to detect because their hiding mechanism is not running.
Setting up AVG Free
Real easy. Download AVG Free 8.0. Basically click "Next", "Accept", or "Finish" for the initial installation. Optionally you can decide whether to install the "AVG Security Toolbar". I personally don't really like toolbars because they waste some of your screen space but this one does have a small security benefit. Then, for the "First Run" you can click next all the way through the installation.
Using AVG Free
If you set up AVG as described above, AVG should update itself over the internet (if you are connected) and scan your computer daily. There is no real need to do anything else, though it might be good to check if it actually does scan you computer. If you would like use AVG manually, please see the link below.
Videos
Using AVG Free 8.0
Using AVG Free 7.5