malware attack?

[Deleted member 138839]

I recently have had 2 attacks via duplicated emails on my internet site, rendering my hard drive useless, i use Mcfee and i have a malware provider for protection. This cost me dearly, can anyone recommend a company that provides good virus and malware protection all round?

thanks
stressman

 

[seoswat]

In my experience, the best is always the free when it comes to virus and malware.

Download malware bytes

It is free and VERY GOOD

Also download Ccleaner and run it and fix all registry issues with it

Finally, ditch Mcafee and download something like AVG free.

 

[JElder]

Avast is not bad. Used to use AVG, but more recent versions seem to hog more memory.

However, the best defence is wetware - the human bit. don;t open emails with dodgy subject lines - turn off auto preview if needed. Don't click links in email, don't reply to spam.

I'm glad you at least tried to protect your PC as some don't. Also look at backup systems, and consider changing email client, browser or even operating system.

One last thing, if you use windows do not run as Admin. Create a basic level user acount and use that - it's a bit of a pain at times, but it provides better protection.

 

[mit74]

As mentioned Avast Free as your main with MalwareBytes and SuperAntiSpyware as standalone scans when you need it. But the big quesiton is why the are you opening email attachments?... don't do it!

 

[chip_y2kuk]

In my experience, the best is always the free when it comes to virus and malware.

Download malware bytes

It is free and VERY GOOD

Also download Ccleaner and run it and fix all registry issues with it

Finally, ditch Mcafee and download something like AVG free.

are you for real?

"Free" is free for a reason!

Avast Free - lack's some of the feature's benefits of pro/IS
AVG Free - is serverly limited and you can't customize alot of it without paying.

"Free" version's of Anti-virus software are for review and very light users only.

let's be honest Iwill (the maker's of avast) Grisoft (the makers of AVG) and Avira (i dont know who makes them) are Profit making companies (businesses)

Would you give away "Free" version's of your software (if you where a software developer? NO (you make no money on free stuff!)

joe

 

[seoswat]

You are aware that the virus protection and prevention side of most of these software are exactly the same whether they are free or paid?

Its the other features that make the cost.

are you for real?

"Free" is free for a reason!

Avast Free - lack's some of the feature's benefits of pro/IS
AVG Free - is serverly limited and you can't customize alot of it without paying.

"Free" version's of Anti-virus software are for review and very light users only.

let's be honest Iwill (the maker's of avast) Grisoft (the makers of AVG) and Avira (i dont know who makes them) are Profit making companies (businesses)

Would you give away "Free" version's of your software (if you where a software developer? NO (you make no money on free stuff!)

joe

 

[chip_y2kuk]

You are aware that the virus protection and prevention side of most of these software are exactly the same whether they are free or paid?

Its the other features that make the cost.

really?

AVG used to only allow you to scan set filetypes(and still does according to the link below!) (unless you paid to scan all files)

Avast free - misses the sandbox mode, misses all of the phishing protection offered in pro/IS, you can customise all scanning functionality.

http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

http://www.avg-antivirus.com.au/servicenote-sales7.htm (read the AVG Free bit)

so if you don't get the advanced virus protection/prevention or can't change the settings to suite then i'm afraid i'd have to argue that you don't get the same"..virus protection and prevention side of most of these software are exactly the same whether they are free or paid" without paying.

also in the day and age of rootkit's i'd rather have the maximum prevention i can get because cure is very hard if your rooted (most people will just re-format and re-install)

joe

 

[RemoteTechs]

Hi stressman


I might be teaching you to suck eggs here, but we wrote a blog that might help you spot an infected e-mail : http://blog.remotetechs.co.uk/2011/08/how-to-spot-a-virus-infected-e-mail/

 

[BusyVids]

I use both Spyware Doctor from PC Tools and Malware Bytes on 3 of my systems and never had a problem with viruses or malware etc in 10 years.

 

[RAIDMEUK]

AVG Internet Security 2012 Pro
Licensed for 2. Years for 4 machines
Amazon

£20 delivered

 

[Posilan]

http://www.avg-antivirus.com.au/servicenote-sales7.htm (read the AVG Free bit)

We are AVG partners and that website is an Austrialian AVG reseller and not AVG themselves - and the content is certainly questionable, in particular the "please note the AVG Free Edition has the following limitations" section. It's pretty much all wrong.

The official comparison between the products can be found here:

http://free.avg.com/gb-en/upgrade-free-antivirus

Essentially, the basic AV element of them all are identical. You should not however use the free version in a commercial environment.

Steve

 

[chip_y2kuk]

We are AVG partners and that website is an Austrialian AVG reseller and not AVG themselves - and the content is certainly questionable, in particular the "please note the AVG Free Edition has the following limitations" section. It's pretty much all wrong.

The official comparison between the products can be found here:

http://free.avg.com/gb-en/upgrade-free-antivirus

Essentially, the basic AV element of them all are identical. You should not however use the free version in a commercial environment.

Steve

thanks steve,

what about the "tuning" in the free version, it used to be limited as i said (that site backed it up) as a reseller yourself what are the tweaking differences?

joe

 

[Posilan]

thanks steve,

what about the "tuning" in the free version, it used to be limited as i said (that site backed it up) as a reseller yourself what are the tweaking differences?

joe

It's pretty much identical to the "paid for" version - in "advanced settings" you can turn on and off any feature I can think of. I can't think of anything obvious that's missing from the free version over AVG business AV apart from the Management suite and the fact it should not be used in a commercial environment.

I think that site is either very out of date or it's skewed to try and sell the "paid for" version.

Steve

 

[lesliedocherty]

I recently have had 2 attacks via duplicated emails on my internet site, rendering my hard drive useless, i use Mcfee and i have a malware provider for protection. This cost me dearly, can anyone recommend a company that provides good virus and malware protection all round?

thanks
stressman

What did you mean by duplicated email, someone created 2 accounts with the same email ?? please explain

 

[pauldave91]

I am using AVast and it is good.

 

[eventdomain]

Having used McAfee (makes huge demands on PC's), Norton and Kaspersky -- AVG is the best I've ever seen, and its free.

 

[10032012]

Norton (symantec) used to be the worst AV out there. I used to get called out to numerous people over the year whom had a virus problem whilst using Norton. Somehow a dropper disabled the protection, downloaded about 40-50 different trojans etc. and then infected the "core" of the virus scanner. Made it impossible for the software to fix the problem.

In all cases they weren't sophisticated viruses infecting exe files etc. so at face value would be possible to remove and pretty much restore the state of the PC. Due to the resource hog and nature of the vast number of infections -with norton unable to sort it out - was simply a case of a fresh install to fix.

I am sure it has improved now.

McAfee used to be one of the best due to the AVERT team they have. Kaspersky wasn't too bad. AVG is really good and can be free with the free edition - it is now becoming bloated some people are having serious performance issues with the AV. Typically the AVG addons (linkscanner etc.) is an additional computer performance killer.

I think regular backups, strong firewall and the common sense of not trusting every file from every storage medium or of that downloaded from the internet or by email is a good move. Historically there have been exploits where viruses are executed upon opening an email - but normally its people's complete stupidity ---> Attached "image" without preview (exe file disguised as an image) --> warning, executionable file only run if your trust --> ok then... --> damn computer infected

 

[LeAnn79]

I have been using Avast for 2 years already. It offers a stable protection against viruses and spyware and ensures that all sent and received mails are clean. I haven't had any issues since I started using it

 

[Krash]

Yes, the free versions of the AV mentioned here very good - but I must emphasise what Posilan has said - using a "free" AV in a commercial environment is NOT recommended. If you do suffer an attack in which you lose data and the ICO gets involved you run the risk of them determining that you have not taken suitable steps to protect it (because you haven't paid for it...).

 

[fisicx]

And I think you will find that most freebies are not licensed for commercial use. Which means means you are stuffed if it all goes pear shaped.

 

[oceanlighthouse]

Hi, I have only joined UK Business forums this evening, so please excuse me for any inexperience in posting that may shine through.

I currently work full time for an Anti-Viurs company as a technical support engineer. I don't wish to promote them, so will not mention their name here. I am trying to start my own education, training and support company based on Internet safety and security centered around the knowledge I have gained at my current employer. Hence my reason for joining the UK Business forum.

When I saw stressman's original post I thought it would be worth adding my penny's worth to the discussion.

In a very broad sense, there are two types of virus infection: those that really are viruses and those that we class as fake programs.

Viruses of all sorts (trojans, rootkits, worms, etc) all do their best to hide their presence from the user. With out the aid of (any vendors) anti virus software, you wouldn't know your PC was infected. The virus might be part of a "botnet" where it is part of a network of thousands or perhaps even millions of PCs and used to send spam emails or attack corporate web sites such as the recent ones Sony suffered. Or it might be a data grabbing virus, intent on stealing personal and banking details.

Fake programs generally are very much "in your face". That is they make their presence highly visible, have an open window on the desktop that indicates your PC is badly infected or that your hard drive is about to fail or something similar.

These types of programs also make it look like the PC is completely broken. Desktop icons and start menu icons might have disappeared. Your web browser or other applications may not work. Their sole purpose is to get you to "purchase" the software, thereby giving the criminals your credit card details.

This type of program is actually very easy to get rid of, and the PC is usually perfectly ok afterwards. It is usually just one single executable that has been installed on your PC that starts when you start your PC. Delete it and the PC is very often perfectly OK straight away.

I apologise if this post is a bit long.

I would be interested to know what the symptoms of your attack were, stressman and if I could offer any further help or advice, I would be more than happy to do so.

 

[Posilan]

Nice first post, oceanlighthouse and welcome to UKBF

Steve