Security Software for PC

[Jenga]

I've just removed PC Norton after it was about to expire from my pc and installed some free software from my Virgin Broadband. It comes up with "Make sure 4 security essentials are ticked. Well I got 4:
1/ Firewall 2/ Automatic Updating 3/ Spyware and other malware protection 4/ Other security settings. Then there is another which says Malware Protection - Windows did not find anti-virus sw on this computer. It mentions malware on number 3 but mentions Malware separately again and suggests I download it from the internet but warns I should't have two running at the same time as it can conflict? Confused or what? Should I get another one?

[VHG]

What is the software you installed from Virgin, is it PC Guard? (I am also on Virgin).

Never installed PC Guard so not sure what is in it.

I am a little confused by your question, but will try to answer.

Malware / Spyware are pretty much the same thing, but they are NOT viruses.

So you need one product to look for viruses, and another to look for spyware/ malware.

If you need an anti virus product there are a few around like AVG or Avast that are free, and you must only have one AV product on your machine at a time.

You also need one or more spyware / malware products, and Malwarebytes is my current favorite, but I also use Adaware (both free).

The Windows security centre is worth looking at (in the Control Panel) as it will tell you what you have on your machine (that may be what the 1, 2, 3 and 4 are displayed from above, it is not clear from your description).

[Jenga]

I re-read it and realised what it is talking about. I do not have Malware anti spy software. They are not offering that free. I only have Anti-Virus and a Firewall.

It states Anti-Spyware is inactive
Pop-up blocker is inactive
Privacy Manager is inactive

Not much good is it?

[Jenga]

Thanks for the tip VHG, just looked at my control panel like you suggested and it says:
Firewall is ON
Automatic Updating is ON
Virus Protection is ON
Malware is ON

If I look at the Virgin info it just states what I said above that anti-spy software is inactive, pop-up blocker is inactive and privacy manager is inactive.

[Huderon]

From what I remember of PC Guard, there is an options screen which lets you set various things on and set a password so other people can't come along and change the settings.

If the version you have isn't offering anti-spyware, ID theft detection and parental control, you've got the standard version. If you are on the L or XL package (up to 10Mb and 20 Mb respectively) PC Guard Total is available to you free.

These days I use a firewall (Comodo), occasionally run Adaware and Malwarebytes anti-malware, and a couple of times a year I'll download AVG or Avast! and run a full scan, then remove them. Yes, I know that sounds idiotic, but then in 18 years on the net I've had an infection of some sort once every couple of years, and one of those came from a supposedly protected work PC, so I reckon I'm still ahead

[Jenga]

Yes it is the standard free version. Probably not much good. I am confused now as to what will go with it as to not clash. I should of spent �30 and got a new PC Norton as someone like me who is not over technical is confused by all this.

[Huderon]

Go with VHG's suggestions with regard to the malware programs. The version of PC Guard you have is providing the firewall and anti-virus for you, so you don't need another anti-virus program.

If you download and install Adaware and Malwarebytes anti-malware (Google them to get places wheye you can download them from) and run a scan with each of them every week or so, you should be fairly well covered. Just make sure you check for and download the latest updates before running scans, and run them ovenight or when you don't need the 'puter, as full scans can take a while to run.

My laissez faire approach is not something I'd recommend to everyone. I get away with it because these days I don't go poking around in the dodgier areas of the net, use a throwaway email address for sites and people I'm not sure about and have trained the kids not to mess with this machine - they can do what they like on the other machines which do have anti-virus programs installed and running.