Internet Security?
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- eyemistisorange
I just bought a cheap Dell to use mostly as a base station, surf, email, etc., I have a powerbook for all my design ish.
I'm finally getting rid of dial-up for dsl. What I'm wondering is if I need one of the Internet Security programs for my powerbook? Do Mac's get spyware/adware/virus as much as PC's or at all? I had tons of that ish on my old pent 2 PC, (which is pretty much gone)thats another reason why I got a new one. I just don't want to have to buy 2 versions of that Internet Security ish (for Mac and PC). What should I do?
thanks for any help!
- BZZZP0
"do macs get etc" - roundly, no.
just se up he inbuilt firewall in a sensible way, apply security patches in a timely manner (not that often) and you should have no issues
- mattyd0
you were still using dial-up?
- BZZZP0
acoustic coupling 4 eva!
- eyemistisorange0
"just se up he inbuilt firewall in a sensible way, apply security patches in a timely manner (not that often) and you should have no issues"
Powerbooks already have a built-in firewall? How do I apply security patches? (sorry I'm kind of ignorant when it comes to this type of stuff)
When I got my powerbook last year I bought Norton System Works I don't know why or if is good for anything?
mattyd; "you were still on dial-up?"
yeah man im cheap but im finally steppin it up, I had aol and i never installed that on the powerbook cause i was afraid of funkin somethin up with that.
- mattyd0
i wasn't trying to infer that you were cheap at all. i just can't imagine trying to design on a dial-up connection is all.
- BZZZP0
yeah it's under system prefs > sharing > firewall.
(in os X)
- BZZZP0
oh and you are automatically notified of new updates/patches by the software update thingamabob...
apple menu > system prefs > software update.
- eyemistisorange0
oh ok thanks BZZP 'preciate it
oh and I know you wern't mattyd I was actually stating a fact about myself haha
- ********0
using a mac since 1989 - on the internet since 1992 and not one- count it- ONE- virus ever.
My first PC I tried this new thing called Napster and got a virus in the first 7 hours I owed it.
no worries- use your firewire and save your money for your PC virus apps.
- welded0
The best thing you can do to keep any of your computers clean is to educate yourself and implement some basic best computing practices. I mean things like using an alternative to Outlook and IE, taking care when clicking OK, refrain from installing every neat little toolbar or MSN add-on you find and assuming that all email attachments are harbingers of doom (delete the ones from strangers, scan or confirm those from friends). Also, has been mentioned, regularly update your OS, virus and spyware detection software in addition to all other web apps, like mail and browsers.
Norton is a terrible product. OK, maybe not terrible, and it's certainly better than nothing. The sort of de facto standard spyware programs are AdAware and Spybot-Search & Destroy. I recommend using them both. Microsoft has, I believe, just released their own detection software that I understand works quite well, but is subscription based. Not cool. An alternative and free antivirus program you might consider is called AVG Antivirus. it's ugly, but well regarded and works very well.
OK, I'm done now.
- BZZZP0
puter, there was that retarded QT autostart worm around 97/98, though... loads of people got it, but it didn't actually -do- shit in 99.99% of situations... then there was a straight up fix for it...
- welded0
I've been able to stay really clean as well, but considering I never used any antivirus software until about a year ago, who *really* knows. ;)
The reason I got any AV at all was I reformatted right around the time MSBlast was hitting everybody and immediately after hooking up online and before I was able to run system update I got infected. Took quite a bit of trickery to work my way out from under it since it wouldn't let me use my only browser to get updates or software to fight it. Wee. Lost most of a day on that.
- ********0
anybody remember the pc virus called Form? , it was the only virus i ever had, and it was on all my DD floppy disks...
damn, that's along time ago...
Mac user ever since!
- sparker0
buy a firewall. pick a broadband router that offers protection and is scalable.
use wep at least (if it's wifi); wep is weak, but it's some protection. configure mac filtering, and make sure to set proper firewall rules.
google around for information on your model. chances are, someone has published a howto about configuring it.
nothing else, hit a newsgroup about firewalls and ask (nicely).
don't use norton. for anything.
clamav, and open-source av client has a port for windows. it's free as in beer and speech.
as for spyware. that is a windows (specifically activex) problem. mac's are pretty safe as are linux boxes.
i don't use windows, so i never worry about installing spyware tools.
if you're a diy type, and eager to learn something new, get an old pc, install linux on it, along with netfilter or iptables and build yourself a router/firewall. there are plenty of howtos online for that.
- eyemistisorange0
thanks for the help people!
ok so I Need to buy a firewall for the PC, not for the mac cause it already has one (just have to figure out the best way to configure it)
Sparker:
"buy a firewall. pick a broadband router that offers protection and is scalable."do you recommend a router? I havent herd any bad things about linksys yet?
Welded:
somebody else was tellin me about AVG too, he was sayin that its a one time charge and you don't have to pay for updates like norton and the others. Does that software include a firewall 'cause I saw online that there is a free version and a pay pro version?thanks again people !!
(my dsl modem should be here by friday or monday so hopefully i can everything i need not to much longer after that)
- gabriel20
MS actually has a freeware anti-spyware app that's as good as any I've seen: