Do I need all this?

[tapyeno]

I have recently upgraded to full AVG Internet Security.
I also have Spyware Doctor and Max Registry Cleaner.
Do I need all these?

Thanks.

[Kayman]

On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:23:31 -0700 (PDT), tapyeno wrote:

> I have recently upgraded to full AVG Internet Security.

Ready made Security Suites are not necessarily a good idea.
Avira AntiVir® Personal - FREE Antivirus is a better AV apps
http://www.free-av.com/
(The free version won't scan your emails.)
Why You Don't Need Your Anti-Virus Program to Scan Your E-Mail
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tuto...ning/index.htm
You may wish to consider removing the 'AntiVir Nagscreen'
http://www.elitekiller.com/files/dis...ntivir_nag.htm

> I also have Spyware Doctor

Remove from your system

> and Max Registry Cleaner.

AUMHA Discussion: Should I Use a Registry Cleaner?
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099
Note the comments from Mark Russinovich and the reference concerning ERUNT.

Why I donÿt use registry cleaners!
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html

The effectiveness of an individual A-S scanners can be wide-ranging and
oftentimes a collection of scanners is best. There isn't one software that
cleans and immunizes you against everything. That's why you need multiple
products to do the job i.e. overlap their coverage - one may catch what
another may miss, (grab'em all).

Windows Defender - Free (build-in in Vista)
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...e/default.mspx
WD monitors the start-registry and hooks registers/files to prevent spyware
and worms to install to the OS.
Interesting reading:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136195/article.html
"...Windows Defender did excel in behavior-based protection, which detects
changes to key areas of the system without having to know anything about
the actual threat."
--and--
SuperAntispyware - Free
http://www.superantispyware.com/supe...freevspro.html
--and--
Ad-Aware 2007 - Free
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html
--and-
Spybot Search & Destroy - Free
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

For the average homeuser, the Windows Firewall in XP does a fantastic job
at its core mission and is really all you need if you have an 'real-time'
anti-virus program, [another firewall on your router or] other edge
protection like SeconfigXP and practise Safe-Hex.
The windows firewall deals with inbound protection and therefore does not
give you a false sense of security. Best of all, it doesn't implement lots
of nonsense like pretending that outbound traffic needs to be monitored.

Activate and utilize the Win XP built-in Firewall; Uncheck *all* Programs
and Services under the Exception tab.

Windows XP: How to turn on your firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/com...rewall/xp.mspx

Understanding Windows Firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...2_wfintro.mspx

In conjunction with WinXP SP2 Firewall use:
Seconfig XP 1.0

Routinely practice Safe-Hex.
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html

[David H. Lipman]

From: "tapyeno" <patmahoney@btinternet.com>

| I have recently upgraded to full AVG Internet Security.
| I also have Spyware Doctor and Max Registry Cleaner.
| Do I need all these?

| Thanks.

Get rid of any Registry cleaners. Those can cause more damage than they can provide
benefit.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

[Gaz]

tapyeno wrote:
> I have recently upgraded to full AVG Internet Security.
> I also have Spyware Doctor and Max Registry Cleaner.
> Do I need all these?
>
> Thanks.

No. The avg security suite is awful, their firewall is utterly pathetic, and
a recent review of firewalls, that someone posted here, it seemed to fail
every test.

This is what you need:
i) A light anti virus, this could be AVG Free (custom install, no link
scanner), Avast free home edition or avir free anti virus
ii) A high quality anti spyware product, such as superantispyware and/or
malware bytes.
iii) A programme that makes preventative changes to your system, like
Spyware blaster
iv) A fully updated windows product, with firewall switched on, and latest
ie7
v) An alternative browser to internet explorer, such as Firefox would also
be advantagous.

You do not need registry cleaners, most are scams.

Gaz