What is the best "standard build" for security software

[Canuck]

ThreatFire has been given the nod by our experts and is now part of our Software Picks. Thanks tallin.

[tallin]

ThreatFire has been given the nod by our experts and is now part of our Software Picks. Thanks tallin.

Good, it was already added to my Preventative Maintenance link earlier in this thread. I did not have any doubts it would be approved.

[nitrofish]

Terrific series of posts from you all. Many thanks!!

The only problem with offering such good advice is that it makes me think of all the other less-scary but annoying things I need to fix. However if I make now make a pest of myself in "Computer Help" it may be a different bunch of gurus who spring to the rescue, so freeing the Spyware Superheroes to concentrate on more urgent posts!

Thanks again!

[tallin]

Just post away Nitrofish, you are very welcome.

I just posted a problem of my own, so you may have the answer to it.

[nitrofish]

Now let's move on to the Java files. Open "control panel >settings and find "java plug-in" and click on temporary internet files >settings >delete files >enable Applications and Applets, and Trace and Log file > okay.

Now while we have it open, let's adjust the size from 'unlimited' down to "maximum 4 MB" and you will be ready to go.

Not sure I've figured out this quote lark.....

Anyway. Quick question. I'm being a bit thick but.... if I go into the Control Panel, where is "Settings"? Is it an icon (I can't see it) or an option on a drop-down somewhere?

[tallin]

Hi Nitrofish,

I am running XPSP3 in Classic Start, so there is a setting there.

• Right Click on a free part of your taskbar
• Properties
• Start Menu
• Customize
• Advanced
• Under Control Panel > Display as Menu
• OK
• Then enable Classic Start Menu
• Customize
• Enable 'Expand Control Panel'

Doing the above is how 'settings' needs to be included in my instructions.

For you

• It maybe 'start'
• Control Panel
• Scroll to Java
• Temporary Internet files
• Settings
• Delete files
• Enable and Applets/Trace and Log Files
• OK>OK>OK

To adjust the size of your systems Restore as suggested in the Maintenance Program:

• Right Click on My Computer on your Desktop
• Properties
• System Restore
• Highlight C:\Drive
• Settings
• Adjust the slider to show 1% (1095MB)
• If you have more than one Drive, repeat with each.

I also have E:\Drive that is external, soley for my Ghost Image Backup. I have Systems Restore turned off on it as there is no need to double dip in restoring it when I already have the incremental backup if there is more than 500MB installed, and every Sunday morning a complete System Backup of the entire C:\Drive.

I am sorry if the above looks complicated, but with the Classic view the step by step is slightly different.

Best regards,

[nitrofish]

Thanks for that...I think I have completed all the steps, although I'm not sure why in some cases! I have changed to classic view so that I can follow any future recommendations until I get on top of this stuff. (BTW I am XPProSP3.)

You mentioned your approach to backup. Backup. Can you point me at a H2G thread that offers novice advice on best practice for mere mortals? What you do sounds great but, just as with my original query on security tools, some of us are driven to buy (and then struggle with) commercial tools that offer to do what we don't understand (but you do and can weave on your own using system software and freeware).

Hence my use of System Mechanic for performance optimisation, Zone Internet Suite for Firewall etc and (just recently in my case) Genie Backup Manger Pro V8 for...well... backup. I don't expect advice from you on these tools. After all I paid real money so that I could access the vendor's support services (pause for hollow laugh).

I'd welcome opinions from others, but I think my situation may be typical of small businesses, who don't have access to IT experts and so rely on buying category-specific tools based on magazine reviews and then trying to get a bit more informed by turning to things like H2G.

I know this is turning into a more general debate but I think it makes sense to point out where commodity-priced commercial software has a place alongside freeware. For me the key criteria is not functionality (if it's good enough and simple to use, it doesn't have to be the best) but support. If I can talk to someone brilliant, if they have a user/support forum that reacts quickly that's good, if they have an e-mail query service that returns standard FAQ replies I have wasted my money. (e.g 10/10 Logitech ; 0/10 Iolo System Mechanic).

Just thoughts and discussion points. I am dead happy with the H2G advice I've had!

[tallin]

Hello again,

I did have a good search for a post regarding backups here on Help2Go and while I found some of my posts, none were what I would call customized in the correct way to reply to you Nitrofish, so here is what I feel could guide you at this present time.

Genie Backup Manger Pro V8 for...well... backup.

I know naught about this product, are you using it for your backup at present? If so is it working for you? You paid money for it you said which concerns me if it is not performing for you.

Let me assume the above is not to your satisfaction. Please take a look here as although I have never backup in this fashion, it maybe something you could consider to get you over a hump as it were at this present time.

My situation is home user, I have two computers, one a Laptop with Acronis 10 installed backing up to an external Hard Drive. Not a difficult thing to do to install it and set a weekly image backup. Yes, it costs $$$ for the software and the external hard drive, but is a sound investment if you value your work on your running hard drive. No incremental backups on the Laptop, I do run it once a week to update all definitions of Spyware, Firewall, Windows Updates, etc, but incremental backups are not necessary for it.

My PC is imaged once a week with Ghost 12 image software again a full backup once a week onto an external hard drive, but with the incremental backups if more than 500MB is installed at any one time.

None of this is a chore once installed and time set to backup, as both Acronis and Ghost work automatically as long as you have your computer turned on at the time of the total image backups.

Just a thought, have you got an IT shop you respect near to where you live to have a chat to the working Technician about either or both of these software packages. They take no time to install, so if you were to choose one or the other to buy from him, including the external hard drive I am sure if you take your computer to him he would install for free. Half an hour at the most.

The good thing about both Acronis and Ghost, I can recommend them to you as I have had cause to use both since purchase, the PC as a trial to see if the image onto a new hard drive did actually work, and in real life Acronis as I had problems with installing SP3 onto the Laptop and in the end used the image to test that it was installed correctly.

I hope this post assists you, please post back with more questions if need be.

Best regards,

[nitrofish]

Thanks for the help and quick response. Actually I am perfectly happy to invest in an external hard drive to host my backups. Can you recommend a good one?

I'll probably try and work through my problems with Genie as it was recommended to me as being particularly good at backing up (and restoring!) Outlook Express files, which is something I have strguggeld with in the past.

The problem I have with Genie is a failure to hand off cleanly to Roxio RecordNow 10, which is the CD burner package I use. Haven't establsihed which package is the guilty party. The hard disc route would get me round that problem and be much quicker I imagine.

Do you rely exclusively on this hard disc or do you then "back-up the back-up" in some way.

Finally, I assume there is no reason why I shouldn't use this device to maintain back-up images for all of the three systems I want to protect?

Thanks again.

[tallin]

The last time I purchased a Hard Drive it was a Seagate Barracuda with a 5 year warranty. If I needed one today, I would research again, but would stay with Seagate unless I found a better one during the research.

You can backup your Outlook Express here

Do you rely exclusively on this hard disc or do you then "back-up the back-up" in some way.

Yes, one could go on and on backing up one upon the other, trust the external is my moto, but that decision is a personal one. I have not been let down yet on either computers. What I do however is image to a new hard drive about once in two years whether needed or not so the working hard drive is new.

Finally, I assume there is no reason why I shouldn't use this device to maintain back-up images for all of the three systems I want to protect?

If you are referring to Ghost or Acronis, you would need to purchase one package per computer for home use, I am not privy to backing up several systems at a time other than with Ghost or Acronis for home use. You could research the links I gave you for both Acronis and Ghost as there would be licences to backup small networks, or several office computers I would imagine.