This is the main reason I use the following products on my machine.
1) Symantec Anti-Virus 2002 (doesn't have any of the described fatware that was added to the newer versions. Works great with low CPU utilization.).
2) BlackICE PC Protection v3.6 (Intrusion detection software. Very easy to install, configure and use. It automatically detects hacker attacks and blocks all traffic from them. Again, no problems and low CPU utilization).
3) AdSubtract Proxy server v3.0 (Special software that can block pop-ups, banner adds, contextual ads, ad-server and profiling cookies, windows messenger pop-ups, animations, background sounds, flash, and external JavaScript. It also seems to thwart some html basked viruses and spyware as a result).
4) A hardware firewall (the more protection the better, I say).
There are also some corrections to be made to the comments thus far.
Microsoft's SP2 security features are designed for 3rd party applications like anti-virus, firewall, etc. software to be able to turn off and on. That is a Microsoft feature. Unfortunately it also allows viruses and spyware to do the same thing. This is the main reason I wouldn't recommend relying on Microsoft's SP2 security feature to protect you.
One other note: I don't personally believe that firewall software that monitors programs running on your machine and prompt you if they should be accessing the internet are very secure or reliable. The problem with them is that they rely on the user to make this decision, "should this program or that be allowed to access the internet?" The problem with this is most users cannot answer that question if they are unfamiliar with the program in question. Worst yet, most users would just answer yes thinking that must be a part of the program I'm currently using.
In order for these firewall programs to be reliable, they really need to have a list of programs that should be blocked and that list needs to be constantly updated, just like virus lists for anti-virus programs.
"Dan" wrote in message ...
You are most welcome. Please feel free to share the stories with others and
warn them of the dangers of McAfee, Symantec, AOL and other programs that
disregard Windows by installing a bunch of unneeded junk to the computers as
well as trashing the registry. As I have tried to show here, it is not
always Microsoft who is responsible. Sometimes it is the fault of other
companies. Have a great night!
"mattlubic" wrote in message
...
: Dan! Thank you, thank you, thank you! ! !
:
: I was experiencing so many problems I was about to trash my machine and
load
: a disk-shaped hand grenade into the CD slot! Figured out it was Symantec's
: stuff causing it all! Unloaded all their stuff and now everything runs
great!
:
: Thanks for the tip!
:
: "Dan" wrote:
:
: Yahoo's tech Tuesday has some interesting stuff and here it is:
:
:
http://news.yahoo.com/techtuesday/
:
:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...0&sid=96089681
:
: Microsoft Window users need to apply latest patches due to hackers taking
: advantage of released information in above article.
:
:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...1740&ncid=1729
:
: Microsoft Window users need to be aware that McAfee and Symantec (aka
Norton)
: products can disable advanced security features of XP SP2. I advise
users to
: rid their operating systems of these terrible products and use other
means to
: protect themselves in the on-line world.
:
:
: