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Anti Virus Software

scruffyduck

scruffyduck

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Rant Start :(

Should not be without it - however I have just spent a couple of hours looking for the reason that a scanner I am working on is running like a snail. It is reading up to 10,000 files and, of course my virus scanner wants to check each one before it lets my program read it :rolleyes:

Rant Over :)
 
Thanks Paul I will certainly take a look :)
 
Jon, does your antivirus have an exception list, or alternatively setting to scan only certain types of files.

For example, you can pretty safely exclude FSX Scenery directories

You can exclude .bgl file types and textures

Or get it only to scan executables in Realtime (dll, jar, exe etc) and save the other stuff for a full scan.

or

disable the Scan When File is Opened option, and leave the scan when file is created activated.

All depending on which scanner you are using.
 
Last edited:
hcornea said:
Jon, does your antivirus have an exception list, or alternatively setting to scan only certain types of files.

For example, you can pretty safely exclude FSX Scenery directories

You can exclude .bgl file types and textures

Or get it only to scan executables in Realtime (dll, jar, exe etc) and save the other stuff for a full scan.

or

disable the Scan When File is Openend option, and leave the scan when file is created activated.

All depending on which scanner you are using.
Click to expand...

I use AVG Free 2011. I have never really looked at setting exceptions :o
 
Rant on

Personally, I don't think any of them work worth a darn. I know, I know, if I would just stay away from certain sites... But I had to go to a Ukulele site to order parts when I caught one virus. I've cleaned plenty of computers that had pay versions of Norton or MacAffe. I think that if computer manufacturers and OS suppliers and browsers want us to use their products, they should provide GOOD FREE AV.

RANT off.

I kind of like AVAST because I can make it talk pirate.

Bob
 
Me, I've used Norton since 2004 and will continue to do so. No infections, no trouble and it's speedy, efficient and unobtrusive. Maybe I'm just a vintage piece of orthogonal geometry, but I have no complaints.

(that's old square in plain english...)
 
Really interesting Tom ... my observation of Norton was exactly the opposite.

Invasive, tendrils into every part of the O/S
Computer slowed down to the point of frustration
Every now and then it would fall over, and the uninstaller wouldn't remove it, requiring some complex "removal tool" and procedure from Symantec.

Eventually I gave it the boot, 4 years ago

At home, I switched to !avast (following the AVG itunes debacle of a few years ago). The new interface and engine are good (now that they got rid of that silly car-radio GUI)

At work I have Trend's PCCillin - mainly because the extra features allow me to limit how the internet is accessed by staff.

12 years, no infections
probably about 5 or 6 email intercepts.

I don't open attachments in email, and certainly don't follow strange links in email I get. That habit alone, is worth two antivirus programs.
 
Sorry to hear of your frustration, ScruffyDuck...

My experience: I've never had much success with McAfee nor Norton. Both cause conflicts with legitimate files and programs plus seriously bogged down any system I every put them on, much like the bloated programs HP installs with every printer. They were both extremely difficult to uninstall and I never knew if I actually had rid that PC of these since I gave up and just wiped the drives...

I then went to AVG, and was a huge proponent of them, until their major upgraded in 2009 when they too became a "Norton System Works" and nearly rendered my PC inoperable...

Since then I've been with Avira. Low impact, excellent protection and relatively simplistic configurations and options, even with the minimalist free version. I do go to seedy, unsafe places and have not had a single issue... although I still do not just click on anything. I also use a few other programs to scan and clean my PC of any potential "issues", as well as bi-monthly full system scans.

My gaming rig, which is becoming my primary scenery development platform, has absolutely no protection software whatsoever. It also is not used for anything online except for multiplayer in FS9, Need for Speed and communications via TeamSpeak. I don't even allow it to update Windows without me at the keyboard!
 
khaos_56k said:
Since then I've been with Avira. Low impact, excellent protection and relatively simplistic configurations and options, even with the minimalist free version.
Click to expand...

Another convert from AVG to Avira. One of the major updates to AVG took away the ability to completely shut it down, if I so desired. That type of approach doesn't sit well with me. Tried Comodo, didn't like it too much. Found Avira and other than one popup a day wanting to get me to buy the "enhanced" version it has done well. Able to exclude files, folders, HDs. Sort of what AVG was, a long time ago.

I'll evaluate again when I transition from XP to Win7 for the main computer, but the "backup system" will stay on XP and Avira as long as it's free! :D
 
I have as a first line of defense, a solid hardware firewall. I wouldn't dream of being net connected without it.

All of the computers on my network are protected by MS Security Essentials.
 
Thanks guys. I have now excluded the FS stock folders etc so things should be better. I am also evaluating the other apps as suggested :) AVG does seem to have gotten rather bloated over the past release or so.
 
hcornea said:
Really interesting Tom ... my observation of Norton was exactly the opposite.

Invasive, tendrils into every part of the O/S
Computer slowed down to the point of frustration
Every now and then it would fall over, and the uninstaller wouldn't remove it, requiring some complex "removal tool" and procedure from Symantec.

Eventually I gave it the boot, 4 years ago...
Click to expand...

I too found Norton increasingly sluggish until about three years ago, when it went on a crash diet, lost a couple of hundred pounds and retreated to the background processes.

You wouldn't recognise it now compared to then, but I appreciate how hard it is to get over a poor reputation.
 
n4gix said:
I have as a first line of defense, a solid hardware firewall...
Click to expand...

I'll... third that! I guess my hardware firewall is whatever a Linksys router is capable of so maybe that's helped me as well...

Sounds like Symantec heard all the screaming from its customers and made positive changes...

With all that stuff excluded now, ScruffyDuck, you should find fewer situations of frustration. Well, with your anti-virus program...
 
hcornea said:
Oh goodness ... yes .. that is an absolute GIVEN.
Click to expand...

File Sharing:
Au-MaV said:
Ahh but have you checked it lately :)
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
also check out your DNS server and router stability as well
https://www.grc.com/dns/dns.htm
Wozza
Click to expand...

I've used Gibson RC for several years. I test at least once per month:
Your Internet port 139 does not appear to exist!
One or more ports on this system are operating in FULL STEALTH MODE! Standard Internet behavior requires port connection attempts to be answered with a success or refusal response. Therefore, only an attempt to connect to a nonexistent computer results in no response of either kind. But YOUR computer has DELIBERATELY CHOSEN NOT TO RESPOND (that's very cool!) which represents advanced computer and port stealthing capabilities. A machine configured in this fashion is well hardened to Internet NetBIOS attack and intrusion.

Unable to connect with NetBIOS to your computer.All attempts to get any information from your computer have FAILED. (This is very uncommon for a Windows networking-based PC.) Relative to vulnerabilities from Windows networking, this computer appears to be VERY SECURE since it is NOT exposing ANY of its internal NetBIOS networking protocol over the Internet.
Click to expand...

Common Ports (ditto for all ports test)
Your system has achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single packet — solicited or otherwise — was received from your system as a result of our security probing tests. Your system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing probes of any hacker, this machine does not exist on the Internet. Some questionable personal security systems expose their users by attempting to "counter-probe the prober", thus revealing themselves. But your system wisely remained silent in every way. Very nice.
Click to expand...

SUMMARY (mine):
My system is secured tighter than a medieval princess's tw.., er "private parts" with an Iron Maiden Chastity System. :rotfl:
 
A standard NAT firewall with SPI will pass all the GRC tests unless you have specifically opened ports. Even with uPnP enabled.

That doesn't make your computers behind it safe, necessarily. It just stops direct attacks by port probing and exploiting Windows many useful vulnerabilities.

Why it should change from month to month if you have not reconfigured your router .... I have no idea.
 
My router gets a clean bill of health also - but then I would hope it does ;)
 
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