What is your security setup?

[Taurus]

Revo may uninstall PCT Firewall cleanly, or it may not. I would use the Avast 5 uninstall utility after uninstalling Avast with Revo, as again, Revo may or may not get everything. The Avast Uninstall Utility will get all of the registry entries associated with Avast 5.

If Panda Cloud Antivirus Free goes away for whatever reason, my personal choice for a free av\am would then be Microsoft Security Essentials.

Glad to help out.

[the king]

I think may Avast may be Avast accessing my hard disk all the time trying to update does that make sense ?

I have high disk activity maybe Firefox dont know

[Anupam]

Originally Posted by the king

I think may Avast may be Avast accessing my hard disk all the time trying to update does that make sense ?

I have high disk activity maybe Firefox dont know

Frequency of Avast update by default is every 2 hours. So I don't think the hard disk activity is caused by Avast trying to update itself.

Firefox is known to cause quite a lot of hard disk activity. Please look at this post to minimize it :

http://www.techsupportalert.com/free...y-firefox.html

Also, if you have a query, it would be better if you start a new thread. It will keep things in order, avoid confusion, and you will also be able to get proper responses in a new thread. For example, this thread is just to post your security setup. But, in case you have questions about how you should set up security on your own PC, then it would be better to start a new thread, and get opinions.

[Matapan1969]

Originally Posted by Matapan1969

My latest:

Windows XP SP3 Pro

Real Time:

1. Avira Antivir Free
2. Windows XP firewall
3. WinPatrol Plus ($ 0,99 )
4. Sandboxie Free(100% browsing)

On Demand:
MBAM Free
Hitman Pro 3.5 Free
Returnil 2008 Free (to test new SW)

Just tested my setup with Comodo Leak Test: 40/340

Then I ran CLT sandboxed with limited rights: 200/340

I changed my account from Admin to Limited and ran CLT without Sandboxie: 250/340

Finally Limited Account + Sandboxie with limited rights: 200/340

It's not a scientific test of course, but it seems that the simple LUA in XP is acting as a good HIPS without pop-ups and resources usage.

I'm considering to replace Sandboxie and WinPatrol real time (I would keep WP anyway on demand) with a Limited Account + SuRun....

Any feedback about LUA in XP for daily use?

[Taurus]

Originally Posted by Matapan1969

Any feedback about LUA in XP for daily use?

I run a LUA most of the time and I find it very effective. I haven't had any infections from malicious software or virus in many years. If I need to remove or install software or perform other admin. jobs I simply log out of the LUA and log in as Admin. via fast user switching. It's a piece of cake. The LUA is isolated from the core of the operating system so that a good share of malicious software can't install. LUA is the most effective and efficient way to put a barrier between your operating system and threats from the internet.

I use PrivateFirewall which has a hips component built into it, but after a few days in training mode PrivateFirewall is very quiet with few warnings. My Antivirus is Panda Cloud Antivirus and I use Winpatrol Plus as a system monitor. All are very light on system resources and do not slow down FF for web browsing. Bootups and shutdowns are very fast.

But if I choose to run with nothing but a software firewall, LUA, and an on-demand av\am scanner, I still would feel very well protected.

[Matapan1969]

Originally Posted by Taurus

I run a LUA most of the time and I find it very effective. I haven't had any infections from malicious software or virus in many years. If I need to remove or install software or perform other admin. jobs I simply log out of the LUA and log in as Admin. via fast user switching. It's a piece of cake. The LUA is isolated from the core of the operating system so that a good share of malicious software can't install. LUA is the most effective and efficient way to put a barrier between your operating system and threats from the internet.

Taurus, thanks for the feedback!

I'm also considering to install SuRun to manage the LUA like Sudo for Linux. And maybe I would try also Software Restriction Policy to make the OS stronger....

[Taurus]

Originally Posted by Matapan1969

Taurus, thanks for the feedback!

I'm also considering to install SuRun to manage the LUA like Sudo for Linux. And maybe I would try also Software Restriction Policy to make the OS stronger....

Again, SRP and or SuRun do not place much, if any, demand on system resources. LUA, SRP or Surun put up a very strong defense just by configuring and protecting the OS in a way it was intended to be used.

[WES]

Shadow Defender+Panda Cloud+Drag'n'Crypt+Firefox with FlashBlock and LastPass.
Windows XP SP3 Firewall ( no exceptions, whatever that means )
Router + Firewall

[Watasha]

Originally Posted by Matapan1969

Just tested my setup with Comodo Leak Test: 40/340

Then I ran CLT sandboxed with limited rights: 200/340

I changed my account from Admin to Limited and ran CLT without Sandboxie: 250/340

Finally Limited Account + Sandboxie with limited rights: 200/340

It's not a scientific test of course, but it seems that the simple LUA in XP is acting as a good HIPS without pop-ups and resources usage.

I'm considering to replace Sandboxie and WinPatrol real time (I would keep WP anyway on demand) with a Limited Account + SuRun....

Any feedback about LUA in XP for daily use?

You need to change your firewall. I'm running 340/340 with no effort at all.

[WES]

I think I will stick with this security setup for a longer period of time.
Wish me luck.
Malware Defender
Shadow Defender
Zemana