Ok so I want my computer to be protected from everything. I have XP pro and i check for updates constantly. Basically i want it to run as quick as possible and be safe from everything (don't we all). So here is a list of programs I run at least once a week, PLEASE let me know which i should keep or get rid of, and also i need to know if I can get some other programs, any input is welcome ok here they are:

1.Main virus protection - Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition (By the way i keep all these updated ASAP)
2.Windows Defender
3.Spybot - Search & Destroy
4.Spyware Terminator
5.Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal
6.CCleaner
7.TREND MICRO HouseCall 6.5-Free online virus scan, at least once a week, with Java 7.0 and their Kernel one which they provide.
8.Ultimate Startup Manager
9.SpywareBlaster
10.Also I clean temp files, cookies, Internet history, prefetch, Java Cache, Ect... With ATF-Cleaner, Disk Cleanup, and Defragment.

Thats about it, I also post my HijackThis log once every couple weeks. So I want to know should i keep using all these programs, or get rid of a couple to speed things up, or change settings on them, or add some other programs to help I basically want to get the best out of my computer and keep it safe, just like the rest of you so please put in your input, thank you very much !

A couple of good free anti-spyware programmes are:

Superantispyware
AVG Antispyware

Does your Symantec include a firewall? If not then you should get one.

I assume that the Symantec is a "paid for one ". If not you might want to consider to remove it and use AVG Free ( Check the link in my sig)
What needs some attanetion is the fact that all these programs have real time scanning. ( Adaware/Spyware Warrior/Windows Defender) By having them running simultaneously you might slow down your computer. I would also follow the suggestion from Budapest as far as Super Anhtispyware and AVG.

A good and free firewall is Zone Alarm( please check my sig)

I recommend you "Secunia Software Inspector."

First, there is no 100 per cent protection for your PC, no matter how many applications you have and no matter how careful you are about your downloading and surfing habits.
I think one needs to keep a balance between protective applications and computer functionality. A good firewall, one AV, and perhaps three AS applications will be, with user caution, enough to cover 80 or more per cent of malware instances. I see that you also on occasion use on-line scanners to double check---a very good idea.
Regards,
John

My firewall is just the windows one that comes with the OS. Ive noticed that Spyware Terminator has realtime scanning, like you were talking about fozzie, sofar the program hast ever found anyhting and it is the slowest scanner of them all, so my question on that is should i get rid of it?
Thank you Budapest & HIPPO1023 for those suggested programs, ill get right on that
one more question should i get rid of any other of the programs that I listed? or will they not affect the speed of the computer?

Thanks again

The windows firewall is only half a firewall because it only checks incoming traffic. You should get a better one. There are good free ones available. There are some recommendations in the following link.

Freeware Replacements For Common Commercial Apps

Be aware that the Windows firewall only scans incoming packets; you should use a firewall that also scans OUTGOING packets, preventing malware from "calling home" or infecting other computers on the internet.
Regards,
John

avg anti-spyware is a super programme, but i can't keep it out of my start menu. i am somewhat a newbie, and would like to keep this programme installed. i have no problem with adaware, spybot and superantispyware. i would like to use avg the same way. does anyone know of a way to keep avg anti-spyware installed without it reappearing in the startup menu after bootup?

To stop the resident shield do this:

Disabling the Resident Shield:

* Click the Shield icon at the top and under "Resident shield is..." - click active.
* This should now change to inactive.

To keep it from loading at boot, and I'm working from memory here, right click on the icon in the system tray. You will see an option "Start with windows" uncheck that or something like that and it will no longer load at boot-up.

Orange Blossom

What are your resources? RAM, Hard drive, processor? If you have the RAM and the procesor to handle the programs there will be little issue. One thing most users over look is caution on the net. You can have every security program available but if you are careless or do not be selective of what you downlaod or access you will still become infected.
IMO

I used Avast for along time.
And Ad-Aware works great too.
Im using BitDefender now, seems to work well.
Remember that some can interfere with each other too.

I use NOD32, Windows XP Firewall and common sense when using the internet, that's it. This combination has worked well for me, since installing NOD32 I have been able to eliminate, one by one, the other security programs I had been using for adware/spyware detection and removal. NOD32 is more than just an antivirus system, it's an anti-threat system. Now, my computer is faster and more responsive, I no longer have compatability or system performance issues with "other" security software. This setup made a big difference on my system performance, I also feel well protected and comfortable with my current security setup. Your mileage may vary... it's all in what you feel comfortable with, your surfing habits and security needs.

orange blossom,
my fault. i should have been more specific, and said the free version 7.5 was what i meant. i have it downloaded now and when i click "shield", it says "no resident shield in the free version".
there is no tray icon either. there is one on the desktop, but nothing i do will get me anything similar to the wording "start with windows".
it's probably no big deal that it starts up anyway, since it's basically dormant, like adaware and spybot. if i can scan with it in safe mode, it is well worth the bother. thanks again, Ed James

Hello ejames82:

Actually, I had thought you were still in the trial period of the free version. Now I am confused. In what way is it starting when you boot? I have the free version too, but I see no indication of it starting when I boot, now that I am well past the introductory period.

In order to see the phrase "start with windows," which at this point would be grayed out anyway, you would need to start the application, then right click on the icon that appears in the system tray.

Orange Blossom

orange blossom,
nope, the trial period has passed quite a while ago, but my apologies to you, the programme is working exactly the way i want it to now. i scanned with it in safe mode, then i went to msconfig and unchecked the box in the startup and rebooted. the box remained unchecked, which was the problem before. i don't know what i did differently. i've tried this numerous times. i'm dumbfounded, yet very happy too. thanks again, Ed James

No need for apologies. I'm glad you've got it working the way you want. The only thing I can figure is that you never disabled the program start-up from within the program while it was still in trial mode. I'm just guessing though, as I disabled the start-up of the program long before the trial period ended, so I don't know what would have happened had I not done so.

Orange Blossom

I've been using Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus and the Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite to protect my PC. It seems to be working out just fine... mind you both you have to pay for. For free protetion, I'd go with the following:

AntiVirus:
-----------------

-Avast!


Firewall:
------------------
Zone Alarm


Antispyware:
------------------

+ Spybot Search & Destroy
+ Lavasoft AdAware SE Personal
+ Super AntiSpyware Free Edition


The above should protect your PC. In the end, which programs you choose is up to you. You can take the paid route like I did, or go for the freebies.

Best of luck,
Jesse

Download Mozilla Firefox for your browser. That alone can eliminate a lot of spyware since so much of it is still used to attack the Explorer browser. (You can still get spyware with Firefox but it does help to reduce it)

Like others suggested, make sure you have a firewall that blocks incoming AND outgoing traffic. (A "two-way" firewall)

I've read (somewhere) that it's a good idea to not let your computer stay running all night if you have DSL. Turn the comptuer off, and even unplug it at night when you're not using it. (maybe that's a little paranoid, but these days, I suppose being overly paranoid about internet security is a good thing)

I use McAfee (the paid version) because it has a (two-way) firewall, anti-spam, anti-spyware, anti-virus, and it even enables Windows Updates automatically along with updating it's other programs automatically.

I used to use Zone Alarm and AVG anti-virus free editions on my old computer. They worked pretty well. Ediwo Anti-Spyware free edition is now AVG Anti-Spyware. That works pretty well.

I also use SpywareBlaster, and A-Squared, and Ad-Aware. (all free editions) All work well. You want to make sure you have something that scans for key loggers as well, not just dialers, etc. Personally, I think keyloggers are one of the biggest internet threats right now since they can capture screen shots of whatever screen you're visiting and get passwords and account numbers.

You can never have enough anti-spyware programs because not all of them are the same and they all scan for different things. One anti-spyware program will catch something, while another might miss it. The nice thing about anti-spyware programs is you can have several since they don't interact with each other too much unlike anti-virus programs or firewalls which can interfer with each other if you have more then one. I've found that the free versions of many anti-spyware programs are just as good as some paid versions.

Make sure to visit this website on a regular basis for updates on new internet security programs. This site has been very helpful to me.

Also, one other thing, and I can't stress this enough. CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS ON A REGULAR BASIS. Especially to your email accounts, credit card accounts, online bank accounts. This is VERY important. Do it at least once a month. I know it's a pain, but it will be worth it. Make your passwords more complicated and long. Write them down and keep them in a safe place so that you don't forget them. Keeping the same password for long periods of time opens you up to having it stolen eventually. (I know this, because it happened to me once awhile back and then I had to create all new email accounts) Create more then one email account. Keep one email account for more sensitive information (like emails from your bank) and the others for general internet surfing.

Update your Instant Messenger programs. I've heard recently on the internet (somewhere) that IM programs are becoming favorites for new hackers since we sometimes accidently devulge personal info on there without thinking.

You can't protect your computer 100%, but just a few extra steps like these can help to cut down on stuff quite a bit. We've had our new computer almost a year now, and have only gotten ONE trojan virus in our computer the entire time because I'm vigilant about updating and upgrading on a regular basis.

Anyway, good luck to you! This site is a great resource for help if you have more questions in the future. (and it's free!)

nikita,
i definitely agree with scanning with many programmes. i scan with all the programmes that i have downloaded on the computer, in safe mode. i also scan with numerous others in normal mode. all i need to do is pause protection with my kaspersky av. i learned how to do this early on. like you, i have been on-line for about a year. i paid a whopping $50 for this computer, and i want to make sure i get my money's worth. when i see the results of the scan say "nothing detected", it still feels good.