PC Security - Recommendations?

[CaptainClark23]

I am setting up for myself a new PC to replace my old POS. Obviously, I'm looking to maximise the integrity of the system.

Can anyone give recommendations for software/hardware to deal with spyware, anti-virus, encryption, etc.?

Any suggestions appreciated.

I thank you in advance.

[frylock]

1. get yourself a residential gateway..

load up Norton Internet Security with Norton AV, install Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D, and the Google Toolbar for pop-ups.

[trotsky]

2. Got broadband?

Get a hardware firewall/router. Best $50 you can spend to protect your PC. I recommend the D-Link DI-604, if they still sell it. Nice little box.

[mark11727]

3. Security

Try these (free) downloads:
ZoneAlarm
SpyBot (I think there's another called SpyCleaner)
MailWasher (scubs SPAM at the server level, so it never even hits your computer)

For antivirus I use Norton Antivirus (subscription for virus updates) and at work we use MacAffee Antivirus -- both seem to work pretty well.


To protect your PC's port, log onto www.grc.com and run a Shields Up test of your PC (it's also free, and this fella knows his stuff).

Hope this helps.

[Woodstock]

4. Get a Mac

Best thing I ever did.

Reviews for G5:

http://www.apple.com/powermac/reaction/

You can also get a much lower priced imac if your budget is tight.

[Deja Q]

5. Yeah, but a 'much lower priced imac' will become obselete 3 years ago

:eyes:

I built a PC that will cremate many Macs for $700 (though I doubt it'd compete with a dal-G5, who the heck has $3000 to waste for two G5 processors and substandard video technology with half the amount of RAM I should be getting for that price?)

Not to forget, Macs are NOT immune to viruses. They're just not juicy enough targets to be taken seriously. Heck, even Linux gets attacked more because IT IS POPULAR.

[Woodstock]

6. Yadda yadda yadda

:eyes:

[DS1]

9. yeah yeah yeah

Poor little macs get slaughtered in value-point performance tests and all you can do is click the shiny buttons and move on.

:eyes:

[CaptainClark23]

7. Its a PC I want to secure.

And its software and hardware I'm asking about. Not platform. Thanks all the same.

[CaptainClark23]

8. Thanks all

I have something to work with now.

Can anyone tell me about PGP?

[kalian]

10. Install Linux on it....

;)

[ConsAreLiars]

11. Use Mozilla open source packages

Use the Firefox browser and Thunderbird emailer instead of IE and Outlook. In addition to some nice features in terms of usability, they offer security advantages like pop-up blockers, user-definable spam filtering, and provide a less common target for malicious attacks.

[CaptainClark23]

12. will look at that, thanks

[ConsAreLiars]

13. One detail

The default settings on both are pretty optimal, although you might want to add a few additional things like a print button to the toolbars. The one exception is that in the Tools/Options/Advanced you should check "Block loading of remote images in mail messages" since this function is used by spammers to confirm the validity of email addresses.