I use windows firewall for my Vista OS and avast as antivirus, good enough?

Question

I've already tried Norton 360 (which I uninstalled after paying $50 - not sure if they'll restore it for me - but I DID pay for the full year) - then tried Zone Alarm - slowed down my browsing too much - then tried Avast, which lets me browse pretty quickly (as antivirus). Now I use the default Windows Firewall (I have Vista) and the Avast for the antivirus...is this enough?

Tell me what I need, guys - so many scams and free downloads that r not really free and all that BS! I know NOTHING about internet security except that https is more secure than just an http site. That's about it! I use WAP Personal for my wireless connection and I use Google Chrome as browser. I do plan to do a lot of cc transactions to pay for 3 or 4 bills and for internet banking (check posts and balances) and to buy stuff from Amazon and Fandango movie tickets, etc...how safe am I?

Answer 1

Computer safety correlates directly with computer intelligence.



If you browse lots of porn sites, they probably have some ads that try to install crap on your computer. Don't download attachments from people you don't know, etc.



I use Avast! and windows firewall on my computer as well. Going strong for a year and a half.



Credit card security depends on a few things, including

- trustworthiness of people you're doing business with

- security of connection between computer and internet (if you have encryption enabled for wireless clients on your router, youre set)

- security of connection to the website (traffic on the internet can be read if someone REALLY wanted to put in the time, unless it's encrypted. encrypted webpages begin with https)

- not getting spyware/keyloggers on your computer. this goes back to not downloading stuff you don't know/can't trust.



on the whole though, you're good. Amazon and Fandango are trustworthy, and paying bills on the internet is relatively secure.

Answer 2

I have used Norton Internet Security for yrs. with excellent results. I just installed NIS 2009 and it is faster than previous versions and all scans are in back ground, no more scheduling or running scans unless you want too. I also use the Norton fire wall and Microsoft Windows Defender together. You should never have two virus software programs installed and running at same time or you will have a conflict problem between them. Avast will not protect you from pop ups, trojans, malware.

Yes if you purchased and registered Norton you can reinstall and use it.

Answer 3

Avast will protect you from all surf the porn sites download attachment with avast it will protect you .Even scans for rootkits

spyware doctor / micro windows defender is good ..

webroot window washer

reg cure

O & O defrag



Make sure setting are all set ..

Nort macaf the worse ...Why would I want viruses in quarantine much less on my computer ...

( I get all kinds of machines that are messed up with those 2 anti viruses soft wares Yes the first thing I do is remove them Then do a scan with avast or f-secure and pull off bugs .)



http://www.makingcomputers.net/ebookm.html



if you add yourself to my myspace I have also posted my book Vista Answers on there in my blogs for my space friends



http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=367281889



http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=367281379











http://www.makingcomputers.net/

Answer 4

Hers is my recommendation how to protect your computer with freeware.



You can protect your computer very well with free programs. The best way is to use a combination of anti virus and anti spyware programs





Anti virus and firewall pro

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html



or



http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

in combination with

http://www.pctools.com/firewall/



Spywareblaster

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html





Threatfire is an anti virus, that can be installed next to any other anti virus program on the same computer

http://www.threatfire.com/





This is a very good program, that completely runs in the background

http://www.comodo.com/boclean/boclean.html



Anti spyware

http://www.spywareterminator.com/

http://en.kioskea.net/telecharger/telecharger-105-malwarebytes-anti-malware

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10401314.html





Installing these programs, will not use any extra RAM or CPU usage.