MyDoom writers threaten Antivirus industries!

[alexander]

Worm writers are threatening to attack antivirus companies F-Secure, Symantec, Trend Micro and McAfee.
In the latest version of MyDoom--MyDoom.AE--the authors embedded a message ridiculing rival worm Netsky and promising to attack the antivirus companies.
for more info go to: http://asia.cnet.com/news/security/0...9197911,00.htm

[Tormod]

alexander, sorry for stealing your thread but do you happen to know what's up with Norton Internet Security 2005? I just upgraded from the 2004 version and my computer is so slow it almost stalls...I am considering deleting the whole darn thing and getting something else.

It seems Symantec's idea of virus protection is to make sure you can't use your computer so that you can't get infected. But that's kind of not what I need right now.

What are good alternatives for anti-virus software (on a budget)?

[Freethinker]

Frankly, I don't know what the pricing differences are, but we have found the only anti-virus software to use is Trend Micro.

And of course to stop using M/soft products that are most directly attacked by viruses, like IE and Outlook/Express.

If you use Netscape/ Mozilla/ Opera/ ... you elimate perhaps 75% of the attacks and bring it down to almost having to intentionally do something to get your system infected.

[alexander]

It seems Symantec's idea of virus protection is to make sure you can't use your computer so that you can't get infected. But that's kind of not what I need right now.

lol

What are good alternatives for anti-virus software (on a budget)?

Use Linux! Unless your budget is negative, this alternative is probably the cheapest, its FREE!

I just upgraded from the 2004 version and my computer is so slow it almost stalls...I am considering deleting the whole darn thing and getting something else.

have you gone to symantecs website? it could be an incompatibility issue, what do you run on your PC, do you run XP with SP2, another firewall???
alternatives:
McAffee
AVG - Free unless you need PRO - http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/

[Tormod]

Yes, I use Firefox but both Yvonne and I still use Outlook Express (phasing it out, though).

There is also a built-in firewall in our DSL router but I still get an occasional warning that someone is pinging our computer (probably IP swipes or something).

I'll look at Trend Micro.

[alexander]

And of course to stop using M/soft products that are most directly attacked by viruses, like IE and Outlook/Express

Noone should use IE anyways
Here is a way to describe Internet browser security
Picture your system as being like a building, your internet browser being like the door, because the Browser is like the access to the outside world. Now, a pair of metal doors with strong guards outside with weapons guarding it, is like Mozilla Firefox browser. Finally picture a rusty screen door hanging by one hinge with a fat guard leaning back, sleeping outside in a chair; thats IE!

[Tormod]

Sadly, Linux is not an option as I own a lot of PC-only software for music production and web design...

[Tormod]

..and by "PC only" I mean Microsoft Windows...

[alexander]

as i said your alternatives are:

McAffee
AVG - Free unless you need PRO - http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/

Now there are others like DrWeb, Panda, AntiVir, AVP, Trend Micro, VCatch, Surfin Guard and many others...
Or be your own virus protection... there are many holes that windows has that you can close, luckily there are other users out there that already did it and are willing to share their results

[geko]

Partition your HD. Use only linux for the web and XP for the other stuff. That way your HD stays clean, apart from when you connect to the web through XP to upload some (say) media