Which to install first with new PC?

[Ripley]

Finally upgraded and have a new PC with Windows SP2 pre-installed, to be connected to the net soon.
Plan is to download & install Avast, Counterspy, ZoneAlarm, and some additional scanners like AdAware, Spybot, & Ewido.
Here's the rub.  I'm on a REAL slow dial-up, less than half speed, usually 2400bps thanks to my stellar phone lines here.

Reading this:
"Connect an unprotected Windows-based PC to the Internet and it will, on average, attract some form of unwelcome advance within 23 minutes. That figure, published this month by the SANS Institute's Internet Storm Center, reveals a troubling issue. In less time than it takes to download and install all the various fixes and patches to secure Windows, your PC can fall victim to a malicious worm, virus, or other form of malware. It's an Internet-era Catch-22."

I'm trying to figure out how to sequence my downloads for security protection when I connect.  I'm thinking get the high priority Windows updates first, then Counterspy, Avast, then ZoneAlarm?

Any tips on a better sequence?  Or shouldn't I be so concerned if I limited my internet usage to trusted sites until I can get all these downloaded and configured?

[GR@PH;<'S]

ripley,

I'm trying to figure out how to sequence my downloads for security protection when I connect.  I'm thinking get the high priority Windows updates first, then Counterspy, Avast, then ZoneAlarm?

Looks to me like you are doing just fine


GR@PH;<'S   :breakkie:

[mitch]

just a idea


do you know anyone with highspeed? they can burn the programs to a cd in nothing flat ;-)
xpsp2 has a "ok for now" firewall
so i would get a a/v then update xp to be current ,
then install ZA,
then you can disable the xp firewall and have a good working firewall and working a/v

then you can install the anti-crap stuff in any order you want ;-)

NOTE: xp firewall works one way ( incoming) you need a firewall working as you will get everyone into your system
before you get all the software !! i remember reading a year ago a system new out of the box was good for 20 min till it got hacked ! (no firewall/av)

so my theory is you get a good working a/v to protect you, then get za and you can drop the one way firewall

as far as the anti-scumware....well just get it on from safe site and no trouble ;-)

[Eric the Red]

You are caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea. However, as you are on dial up (and presumably you will have a dynamically assigned IP address) you are less likely to be targetted than a broadband user with a static IP address. Less likely, rather than not likely.

You may want to try downloading with a download app such as "GetRight" - such apps alllow you to start a download, stop it part way through, log off, log on with a different IP address and continue the download. I you feel that you are online for too long and may be attracting attention this is an option.  :breakkie:

[GR@PH;<'S]

ripley,
I agree with Eric the Red about you trying a Download manager.
but thought I would may be interested to know that there are some free ones that you can use IE:Fresh Download

Fresh Download is an easy-to-use and very fast download manager that turbo charges downloading files from the Internet, such as your favorite freeware and shareware, mp3 files, movie files, picture collections, etc. Unlike any other similar utilities, this software is 100% free, no charges, no banners (which steal your bandwidth), no spyware inside it.

GR@PH;<'S   :breakkie:

[Skittles]

I had the same problem when I was working on a friends computer.  An extremely slow dial up.  I did the Download Manager altho I really didn't notice much of a difference.  It did however allow the continuation of the download if the dial up connection was lost during the download, which can happen alot.  So for that reason it was much better.

I agree with the others suggestion about having someone burn a CD with all of the "goodies" that you want.  I had a friend in the US who did that for me and then mailed it to me, before I moved here to Sweden.  I have used it a ton of times.

Where are you from?  Maybe we can find someone for ya who might be able to mail a disc with all of those.

[Ripley]

Ok, download mgr app, then a/v, firewall and stuff for crapware.
Will see if I can get some high speed buddy to burn a CD...otherwise I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Somehow I think it will probably end up to be...a hurry up and wait situation.
At least I know if I get infected, it'll be a Terminator thing for me.
Ya know..."I'll be back."

Thnx for the links on the download mgrs.

[GR@PH;<'S]

ripley,

it'll be a Terminator thing for me

:hysterical:
Well at least you know where to come

GR@PH;<'S   :breakkie:

[Skittles]

Riply you had pm'd me saying that you didn't know how to quote someone here in a post.  Well there are a couple of ways but the easiest I think is to just click the small quote button/icon at the top right corner of the persons post that you want to quote.

I am very glad that you found someone to burn a cd for you.  It will really speed things up for ya.

Which programs did you decide to have him/her download? 

[Skittles]

Oh and I forgot to add when quoting someone.  After clicking the quote, you can then select which part you want to keep and delete the rest but you MUST keep the beginning coding which will show quote (with the persons name you are quoting) and /quote in the brackets [] that is at the end of the quote.

[GR@PH;<'S]

skittlespc,
:thumbsup:
GR@PH;<'S   :breakkie:

[Ripley]

Riply

I am very glad that you found someone to burn a cd for you.  It will really speed things up for ya.

Which programs did you decide to have him/her download? 

The install from the cd was slick and fast  :boat:
So far, I only have Counterspy, Spybot, and AdAware installed.  It's actually MY new computer that I'm getting primed for jumping on the net.  Went to install Avast first, but found out McAfee Anti-Virus & McAfee Personal Firewall are preinstalled & active.  Didn't order it, didn't notice that I get a trial of it, and don't want it, but it's going to serve my purposes for now.  Which is to go online and get my updates and other security downloads w/ McAfee active, and then uninstall McAfee and switch to Avast & ZoneAlarm.

I'm noticing all kinds of compatibility issues w/ Avast & ZoneAlarm at the Avast forum, but it appears to be w/ older program versions and the most current versions are working side by side w/ no problems.  I hope so, since that is my plan.

[Skittles]

Great job Ripley on doing a "quote"!!   :thumbsup:

Your words of uninstalling McAfee were like music to my ears!  LOL  hehehe As you will find many of us, except a few whom I will deny that I know (the few who do like them) hehehe do not like McAfee and Norton.  :hysterical:

Usually I don't care if I have a trial or not, I get rid of it right away.  lol

As for the compatibility issues with ZoneAlarm and Avast, I cannot help ya there.  Altho I keep telling myself that I am going to try out Avast, I can't seem to let go of AVG. hehehe I am also very new to Zone Alarm so I am no help there either.  I have not worked with it enough to know the ins and outs of it yet.

Another one that I strongly recommend is Ewido.  I only recently started to use it and I just LOVE it.

Oh and I also recommend that you run a web based AV scan from time to time to back up your Avast or whichever AV program you get.  I usually use either Panda or Housecall.  It is just a good double check from time to time.  Same with running a web based trojan scan from time to time as well.

[Ripley]

skittlespc,
Ewido is on my "to do" list.  As well as others, just working on the basics now and learning this XP from using Win98 for many years.  There were so many good security programs that I couldn't have on the Win98...I thought it was time for an upgrade.  Was planning on waiting for Longhorn, or Vista as I guess it's called now, but couldn't wait any longer.

Yeah, I learned the quote thing and what BBCode is...now to figure out how to insert a picture.  Always something to learn.

[Eric the Red]

Yeah, I learned the quote thing and what BBCode is...now to figure out how to insert a picture.  Always something to learn.

ripley,

You may wish to have a look at this link for BBcode in relation to posting images.  :wink: