 How do I get anti-virus without going online? |
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 Mar 21 2005, 08:39 PM
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 New Member  Group: Members Posts: 14 Joined: 21-March 05 Member No.: 15,031  |
 I know the first two things to do are install a firewall and anti-virus. My new computer will have XP with SP 2 already installed, so a firewall is not a concern. And I know I'm supposed to burn a free AV program to a CD on my old computer and install it on the new computer. And then transfer my existing AV subscription to the new computer. But where exactly do I find the free AV software? Mod Edit: This will be moved to a more appropriate Forum. This post has been edited by scarlett: Mar 22 2005, 12:23 PM |
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Mar 21 2005, 10:29 PM
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#2
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 Senior Member  Group: Banned Posts: 449 Joined: 21-March 05 Member No.: 15,032 |
Well see that is a common misconception. Theres not 24 hour viruses and hackers that sit their and pinpoint computers on the net without antivirus software.
To avoid wasting valuable data disks and floppy's my advice: Just go to where you need to go to install the software on the internet and enable it when you get it. This could be their website to get your free copy Or an ftp server where you uploaded the files. It all depends ____________________________ But in the end it all comes down to what makes you more comfortable. If you wanna burn the files to a disk and then install it. That works to This post has been edited by Techsomething.net: Mar 21 2005, 10:30 PM -------------------- =(*)(*)=Home Of The TEB=(*)(*)=
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Mar 21 2005, 10:36 PM
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#3
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 Forum Addict Group: Global Moderator Posts: 20,843 Joined: 11-April 04 From: Chicago, Il. Member No.: 113 |
You can find a free AV application from AVG: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1 .
If you are extremely careful, and install an AV immediately after getting on-line the first time, you do not need to pre-install one; most viruses are received through Email attachments, so avoiding Email applications alltogether before you install your AV, will keep you safe enough. I would also strongly advise NOT relying on MS's strange version of a firewall for very long, as it only works with incomming and NOT outgoing packets. Regards, John This post has been edited by jgweed: Mar 21 2005, 10:37 PM -------------------- Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one should be silent.
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Mar 21 2005, 10:43 PM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Banned Posts: 449 Joined: 21-March 05 Member No.: 15,032 |
QUOTE(jgweed @ Mar 21 2005, 10:36 PM) You can find a free AV application from AVG: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1 . If you are extremely careful, and install an AV immediately after getting on-line the first time, you do not need to pre-install one; most viruses are received through Email attachments, so avoiding Email applications alltogether before you install your AV, will keep you safe enough. I would also strongly advise NOT relying on MS's strange version of a firewall for very long, as it only works with incomming and NOT outgoing packets. Regards, John Thats not true, viruses can be recived any way. Theres no "Most" Believe me, ive done many tests from running brand new computers on the internet and junky computers on the internet with no security software whatsoever and purposely trying to mess up the system and get viruses. The testing computer lasted 5 hours and 10 minutes. And thats when we tried to mess it up If your careful and install the software when you can, itll be all fine. -------------------- =(*)(*)=Home Of The TEB=(*)(*)=
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Mar 22 2005, 08:36 AM
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#5
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 Voted most likely Group: Members Posts: 3,677 Joined: 19-September 04 From: Collingwood, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 2,883 |
QUOTE Theres not 24 hour viruses and hackers that sit their and pinpoint computers on the net without antivirus software. All viruses work twenty four hours a day and 365 days a year. Also many trojans are placed in computers that then seek out other computers to infect by doing port scans automatically and reporting their findings back to websites and irc channels. I have a log file from an ftp32 nesebot that was doing exactly that. It was scanning 200 computers a minute looking for vunerable ones to infect. I pulled that from an XP machine I cleaned that had been on the internet for some time with no anti-virus or firewall other than the XP one. I recently reprogrammed an XP computer that was programmed with XP Home with SP1A and then immediately connected to the internet. When I got to it it had over 360 virues identified by AVG and over 60 incidents of malware identified by AdAware after about 30 minutes on the net. To answer the original posters question I always recommend that after loading your operating system you install an anti-virus program that you have burned to a CD then do the same with a firewall. The first thing you do when connecting to the net is to go to Windows Update and install all recommended updates, and update the anti-virus. This post has been edited by Leurgy: Mar 22 2005, 08:41 AM -------------------- **** We use our powers for good, not evil **** When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to resemble a nail. Abraham Maslo |
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Mar 22 2005, 11:35 AM
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#6
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New Member Group: Members Posts: 14 Joined: 21-March 05 Member No.: 15,031 |
QUOTE(Leurgy @ Mar 22 2005, 08:36 AM) To answer the original posters question I always recommend that after loading your operating system you install an anti-virus program that you have burned to a CD then do the same with a firewall. The first thing you do when connecting to the net is to go to Windows Update and install all recommended updates, and update the anti-virus. Thanks, guys. Leurgy, my new computer is coming with XP & SP 2 already installed. I'd like to hear your thoughts on my strategy (as it currently exists): 1. Turn on the firewall that comes with XP 2. Have my brother burn the free version of Avast or AVG Anti-virus to a CD on his laptop and then install that on my new computer. 3. Go online 4. Go to Microsoft and download all the security patches I need. 5. Go to Computer Associates and download the eTrust Anti-virus, Firewall, and PestPatrol (that's anti-spyware.) I have the Computer Associates stuff now and I like it. Once that's in place, I can relax a little as I download: Firefox 1.0.1 SpywareBlaster Spybot S&D Ad-Aware SE. Do you see any major flaws in that strategy? |
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Mar 22 2005, 11:59 AM
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#7
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Voted most likely Group: Members Posts: 3,677 Joined: 19-September 04 From: Collingwood, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 2,883 |
QUOTE 1. Turn on the firewall that comes with XP That is turned on by default. Sounds like a great plan but why not skip step two and instead get your brother to burn the eTrust free trial version? If you have a registered copy that you pay for all you have to do is reregister when you get online. That will save the hassle of installing/uninstalling the AVG or Avast. Most programs leave entries behind in your registry even after you uninstall to indicate to the vendors that you have had it before, version info etc. and some leave a lot behind. It would be a shame to mess up that nice clean registry on a brand new machine. 
-------------------- **** We use our powers for good, not evil **** When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to resemble a nail. Abraham Maslo |
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Mar 22 2005, 12:09 PM
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#8
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 Bleeping GloDiva Group: Members Posts: 7,479 Joined: 25-April 04 From: As always I'm beside myself ;) Member No.: 228 |
Shouldn't the XP Firewall be disabled before (or is it after?) the install of the new firewall?
One does not need both running, correct? This post has been edited by scarlett: Mar 22 2005, 12:10 PM --------------------  |
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Mar 22 2005, 12:23 PM
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#9
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Voted most likely Group: Members Posts: 3,677 Joined: 19-September 04 From: Collingwood, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 2,883 |
Good call scarlett. Two firewalls aren't really neccessary and the eTrust one (really its ZoneAlarm) provides alerts to outgoing activity which the XP one doesn't. I'd disable it after.
BTW, you dropped your egg. 
-------------------- **** We use our powers for good, not evil **** When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to resemble a nail. Abraham Maslo |
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Mar 22 2005, 12:29 PM
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#10
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Bleeping GloDiva Group: Members Posts: 7,479 Joined: 25-April 04 From: As always I'm beside myself ;) Member No.: 228 |
QUOTE(Leurgy @ Mar 22 2005, 11:23 AM) Good call scarlett. Two firewalls aren't really neccessary and the eTrust one (really its ZoneAlarm) provides alerts to outgoing activity which the XP one doesn't. I'd disable it after. BTW, you dropped your egg. Thanks Leurgy Yes I have learned that an OS Firewall (In this situation XP's) only alerts to incoming activity. So why use it. To me that makes it almost completly worthless.  When one can have both outgoing and incoming activity monitored. Lol Up for some scrambled eggs? 
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Mar 22 2005, 12:36 PM
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#11
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 Bleep Bleep! Group: Admin Posts: 29,873 Joined: 24-January 04 From: USA Member No.: 3 |
Snow scorpion that sounds like a good plan. Btw we have a tutorial on this situation:
Steps to take when connecting a new computer to the Internet The reality is that if you connect an unpatched/unfirewalled computer to the net you will be compromised in some manner within 24 hours..usually much much sooner. On the other hand, if you have a patched computer, and a password on your account and no firewall or antivirus, simply connecting the computer to the net will not hurt (i dont advise this though). As stated, turn on xp firewall, connect internet, download and install all updates, install av software, install better firewall, disable xp firewall, and you will be fine. -------------------- Lawrence
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Mar 23 2005, 02:24 PM
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#12
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New Member Group: Members Posts: 14 Joined: 21-March 05 Member No.: 15,031 |
QUOTE(Leurgy @ Mar 22 2005, 11:59 AM) QUOTE 1. Turn on the firewall that comes with XP That is turned on by default. Sounds like a great plan but why not skip step two and instead get your brother to burn the eTrust free trial version? If you have a registered copy that you pay for all you have to do is reregister when you get online. That will save the hassle of installing/uninstalling the AVG or Avast. Most programs leave entries behind in your registry even after you uninstall to indicate to the vendors that you have had it before, version info etc. and some leave a lot behind. It would be a shame to mess up that nice clean registry on a brand new machine. Excellent! I didn't know eTrust had a free 30 day version. Thank you, Leurgy. You made my life a little easier. Quick point: My brother won't have to install eTrust's 30 day version. All he has to do is download it to his desktop, burn it to a CD, and then delete it from his computer. Or do I have that wrong?  Scarlett, QUOTE Shouldn't the XP Firewall be disabled before (or is it after?) the install of the new firewall? One does not need both running, correct? I assume when I try to install the eTrust firewall I'm going to get a message saying something like "The Windows XP firewall is already running; please disable it so eTrust's firewall can be installed." Grinler, Thanks for tutorial. I've printed it out and am studying it carefully. I'd appreciate it you three wise ones would keep an eye on this thread as I am something of a cyber-idiot and will probably have another question or two (or three) before the new computer is up and running smoothly. Thanks again to all three of you. |
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Mar 23 2005, 02:31 PM
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#13
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Bleeping GloDiva Group: Members Posts: 7,479 Joined: 25-April 04 From: As always I'm beside myself ;) Member No.: 228 |
QUOTE snow scorpion ~ I assume when I try to install the eTrust firewall I'm going to get a message saying something like "The Windows XP firewall is already running; please disable it so eTrust's firewall can be installed." YVW This explains it all.  QUOTE(Grinler @ Mar 22 2005, 11:36 AM) As stated, turn on xp firewall, connect internet, download and install all updates, install av software, install better firewall, disable xp firewall, and you will be fine. BTW A very cool name.  No pun intended. 
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Mar 23 2005, 06:44 PM
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#14
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Voted most likely Group: Members Posts: 3,677 Joined: 19-September 04 From: Collingwood, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 2,883 |
QUOTE Quick point: My brother won't have to install eTrust's 30 day version. All he has to do is download it to his desktop, burn it to a CD, and then delete it from his computer. Or do I have that wrong? No, thats not wrong. In fact it would be useless to you if he installed it and then you copied the installation (program folder) to your computer. When you install a program it is "integrated" into your system and won't run if you don't actually install it as opposed to copying it. QUOTE I assume when I try to install the eTrust firewall I'm going to get a message saying something like "The Windows XP firewall is already running; please disable it so eTrust's firewall can be installed." It may or may not. When I installed it the program detected a previous installation of ZA that I had to remove before it would install. The thing was I had uninstalled ZA and eTrust firewall (which is essentially the same thing) had detected those leftover registry entries that I mentioned earlier and I had to manually edit the registry to get rid of them before I could install eTrust. This post has been edited by Leurgy: Mar 23 2005, 06:56 PM -------------------- **** We use our powers for good, not evil **** When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to resemble a nail. Abraham Maslo |
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Mar 23 2005, 11:18 PM
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#15
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Bleep Bleep! Group: Admin Posts: 29,873 Joined: 24-January 04 From: USA Member No.: 3 |
As long as you put the XP firewall on first though, you should be able to just download the software, with the firewall running. Then when you have all the software downloaded, unplug the ethernet cable, and disable the xp firewall and install all the other software. May save you a step but both methods work
-------------------- Lawrence
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