Essential Free Security Tools List revised 2012

[Kassie]

Thank You so much. Mike. Glad to see someone stays up on this type of thing.

[MoodyLou]

Originally Posted by MikeN.

Would like to thank everyone that contributed to helping keep that Cnet information up front in the old sticky and for providing good clean links for the new sticky.

Would also like to thank KerryWS for getting things fixed so quickly for us all to include guests and members

MMFELL,Yorkshire Lass, Acer, BB( I hope you ran Mbamthank you...

Special thanks to Judy for her great help in providing help behind the scenes to help me get this put together so quickly

So, if I have programs from CNET, should I uninstall and get the others on your list? I been MIA and just saw all of this.....

[jholland1964]

Originally Posted by MoodyLou

So, if I have programs from CNET, should I uninstall and get the others on your list? I been MIA and just saw all of this.....

Actually would depend how long ago you downloaded these. This just came to light probably sometime in early November. If you have downloaded from them since then, I would probably recommend that you Uninstall and use the links from this sticky. But definitely avoid them from now on.

[MikeN.]

Originally Posted by MoodyLou

So, if I have programs from CNET, should I uninstall and get the others on your list? I been MIA and just saw all of this.....

This thread was posted on Jan 9th. http://forum.worldstart.com/showthread.php?t=157919

From the article linked in the thread notice its date. The problem must have started with Cnet then around early Dec

Download.com Caught Adding Malware to Nmap & Other Software
Last Update: December 17, 2011—see the updates section

Dec 5: Gerald Combs, project leader for the popular Wireshark protocol analyzer, sent a cease-and-desist letter to CNET and they removed the rogue installer (only for his software). He's the one who notified Fyodor about this rogue CNET behavior in the first place.

[MoodyLou]

ok I am good, but just last month I set up my mom and dad's laptops with protection, and it may have been from CNET. will have to look next time I am over there.

Going to start a new thread related to MY laptop.
Thanks
Sherri

[jholland1964]

Originally Posted by MikeN.

Dec 5: Gerald Combs, project leader for the popular Wireshark protocol analyzer, sent a cease-and-desist letter to CNET and they removed the rogue installer (only for his software). He's the one who notified Fyodor about this rogue CNET behavior in the first place.

You are right Mike, I mis-spoke when I said it came to light in early November. But if that's when it was "found" or proven...how many weeks had it been going on before it was finally discovered? Really makes you wonder doesn't it? Of course the experts likely tracked these down fairly quickly so it wouldn't have been long months or years but probably several weeks at least.

[lindastutts]

Below is what you have on the website for Essential Tools - what I wanted to know is on the critical settings for AVAST it is for version 5, so if I download version 6 will the settings still be ok, or are there new ones for the version 6?

AVAST Antivirus

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivir...-Edition.shtml


Manual update link for Avast http://www.avast.com/eng/updates.html

CRITICAL SETTINGS FOR AVAST Antivirus

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?qfjnl0n4q46kot5 New settings for Avast version 5.

[MikeN.]

Originally Posted by lindastutts

Below is what you have on the website for Essential Tools - what I wanted to know is on the critical settings for AVAST it is for version 5, so if I download version 6 will the settings still be ok, or are there new ones for the version 6?

AVAST Antivirus

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivir...-Edition.shtml


Manual update link for Avast http://www.avast.com/eng/updates.html

CRITICAL SETTINGS FOR AVAST Antivirus

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?qfjnl0n4q46kot5 New settings for Avast version 5.

The settings link for version 5 came from a member very familiar with Avast and no longer posts here.One reason I dont have a link for version 6 settings.
I personally am not familiar with Avast and if those settings will be the same or not to be perfectly honest. It might be a good idea to start a thread about that question and hopefully somebody that has Avast and is very familiar with it can answer that question for all of us.

[Phil]

Originally Posted by lindastutts

Below is what you have on the website for Essential Tools - what I wanted to know is on the critical settings for AVAST it is for version 5, so if I download version 6 will the settings still be ok, or are there new ones for the version 6?

AVAST Antivirus

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivir...-Edition.shtml


Manual update link for Avast http://www.avast.com/eng/updates.html

CRITICAL SETTINGS FOR AVAST Antivirus

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?qfjnl0n4q46kot5 New settings for Avast version 5.

I have Avast 6.0.137. None of the links you posted lead me to something about Critical Settings. I have always just used the default settings and they have kept me safe.

[MikeN.]

Originally Posted by Phil

I have Avast 6.0.137. None of the links you posted lead me to something about Critical Settings. I have always just used the default settings and they have kept me safe.

Look what you quoted, right there at the bottom

CRITICAL SETTINGS FOR AVAST Antivirus with a link below it. That link takes you to a zip file that Harley created a while back with settings changes he recommended for Avast

[Candida]

Originally Posted by Phil

I have Avast 6.0.137. None of the links you posted lead me to something about Critical Settings. I have always just used the default settings and they have kept me safe.

I have Avast 6.0.1367 and Avast has kept me safe to.

Avast says I am up to date but I have a differen't number than Phil

[MikeN.]

Originally Posted by Candida

I have Avast 6.0.1367 and Avast has kept me safe to.

Avast says I am up to date but I have a differen't number than Phil

all the other numbers are the same, he must have just missed adding the 6

[Candida]

Originally Posted by MikeN.

all the other numbers are the same, he must have just missed adding the 6

Thanks Mike
That's what I thought to