New To Broadband, Spyware Recommendations Please

Question

Hello Dellsters, I finally sprung for DSL.  I do not stay connected unless I am using it. I am running Win XP Home SP2, Norton System Works and Norton Personal Firewall on a Dimension 8200 built in 12/01. I do not use XP's built in firewall. I used 'Spykiller' with my dial up, but have not purchased anything for the DSL setup yet. Am I more vulnerable now that I am using broadband? I would like something that is effective, but won't slow my download speed down, which is on the high end of what is promised for residential DSL, so of course I am thrilled with it. My Net usage is very plain vanilla, no P2P file swapping or,  the vast majority of the sites I visit are quite trustworthy. If it makes any difference, I do listen to two radio stations frequently, and download MP3's of one of these shows programs. One station is 'pay to play', even to just listen to. The other is completely free to listen to, but offers no downloads. Other than these two radio stations, there is nothing 'exotic' about my Net usage. (if it makes any difference...) I am not bothered by pop ups or spam, as I have been very judicious about circulating my email addy. I don't mind dropping some extra $$ to be as safe as is possible while I listen to my stations...    Thanks in advance for any feedback, JJO.

msgale · Answer

I have been running broadband (DSL) since 1999.  Since 2002 I have been behind a router.  I use Symantec AV which is not free, Spybot S & D, which is free,  Ad-Aware, which is also free, and the Google Toolbar which also includes a popup blocker, which is another free product.  I use no firewalls.  I have never had any problems that the above could not habdle.

joe53 · Answer

Hi:

I have used broadband (cable) for over 4 years now, and have remained virus/malware-free.
In addition to what msgale suggests, I also use the free 'SpywareBlaster', and the free
version of ZoneAlarm's firewall (no router), both of which come highly recommended by
many regulars here.

pskelley · Answer

Hi JJO,

I have never used the product, but here is one review I located via a www.google.com search on Spykiller:

http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/000024.html

Here are three link thanks Tony Klein, Texruss and ChrisRLG that I offer to folks who have a clean HijackThis log on their computer. Some info might duplicate itself, but it is all good. Also a couple of links about SP2. I hope this helps...pskelley

http://forums.net-integration.net/index.php?showtopic=3051
http://russelltexas.com/malware/allclear.htm
http://www.cjwd.demon.co.uk/compsafetyonline.html

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=windowsxpsp2

josterberg · Answer

To All Who Replied, Many thanks. It is great to see some of the software that is most highly recommended is free. I had no problems with 'Spykiller', but as I mentioned, that was with dial up. Everything is working so well right now, I don't want to add an unnecessary program that will drag down the performance. Too bad the Net has to be such a dangerous place...      JJO

Virus & Spyware

New To Broadband, Spyware Recommendations Please

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