Firefox
AVG
Spybot immunization (manually update about every 3 months)
Spyblaster immunization (manually update about every 3 months)
XP Auto updates
XP Firewall
Gmail or Yahoo email, instead of desktop email client
Auto clear on exit for Firefox history, cookies, & caches
Limited user accounts for daily use

I implemented these tools and policies on all family members’ PCs, including a teenager’s and a 90+ senior’s. Since doing the above, infections went from great frequency to zero (yes, zero). When anyone wants to install new software, they have to go into the administrator account via a password on the Welcome screen.

For my own PC, I added the NoScript extension to Firefox, plus the Returnil Virtual System for when I’m testing freeware or browsing known areas of web infection drive-bys. I use an anonymization service that pretty makes my PC invisible, according to Gibson’s Shields Up. For those apps that dislike LUA’s, I use the freeware Raise My Rights to great affect.

Once you get used to limited user accounts and the constant flushing of history and cookies, it’s not an annoyance, nor hindrance. In this mode, I’ve learned to rely more on frequent bookmarking, printing web pages to PDFs, and then desktop search tools to find what I need. (I also use Thunderbird to download old email about every 2 months.)

I really appreciate hearing from a highly skilled geek like you, that I am not over reacting by testing so frequently.

I can now tell my geeky friends to “get stuffed”.

You’ve made my day. Gracias Amigo!!

Bill

Hell no! I test and test and test some more! You can never be 2 sure! I use netStat habitually and also love ZoneAlarm for its ease of use and non-Microsoftness…

You just know MS lets there crap phone home!

” Ohh I am being used in a not so legit way…Help me Mr. Gates… “Or hey look at me here is my IP, I am a pirate… Arrrrrr!!

Windows Firewall has never been a particular favorite of mine; but that may well be predicated on my view that MS writes buggy apps. This is a personal view only and there are many who are satisfied with the effectiveness and efficiency of Windows Firewall.

Just like you, I’m always a little suspicious of applications that just sit there and are short on communication skills – I find I want to yell “tell me something”. Using a small diagnostic application like CurrPorts and/or Windows Netstat gives me a reasonable indication of the strength and effectiveness of my firewall’s operations and forces the system to “tell me something”. Since I am a security freak, I test my Firewall 2/3 times a day; and yes I know many would consider this overkill.

Another great tool is Steve Gibson’s ShieldsUp; a popular, reliable, and trusted, free Firewall testing site. Any questions concerning a Firewall’s settings and effectiveness can easily be settled by visiting this site.

On June 1, Makeuseof.com covered the Netstat command and 2 free port analyzers CurrPorts and Process and Port Analyzer, any one of which can act as a reasonable test of your Firewall’s effectiveness.

I’ve not heard of updating problems with this application, although I have noticed that updates seem to be slower than some other free program sites. On the other hand, my experience this last year has been, that many free antimalware programs/suites have been slower in updating than in previous years.

It could be that speedier updates are one more incentive for updating to the paid edition. Personally, I’ll wait through the frustrating experience of the slooow update, and hang onto my money.

Bill

Avira Premium Security Suite and Spyware Terminator are both good choices and should offer you the protection you require. As you say, SnoopFree Privacy Shield is not available for Vista which is unfortunate.

I’m always more than a little surprised at the percentage of applications (on install), that ask for keyboard and screen privilages – SnoopFree picks them up instantly. Generally I refuse access, and I have rarely come across an application that would not install, or run, despite being refused access.

Thanks for your comment.

Bill

I have to admit, like you I find SP SE a pain on startup and shutdown. You might want to checkout Commodo Firewall Pro (it’s free for both home and commercial use), since outbound traffic control is an issue that requires careful consideration.

Thanks for your comment.

Bill

Good question – surpriseingly even with those apps running in the background and surfing on FF 3, total memory usage rarely exceeds 160 Meg.

Bill

Spyware Doctor SE is great for on-demand scanning, but it’s real time protection is probably the most memory consuming thing I’ve ever come across. It doesn’t even turn off conveniently, taking ages to do so. And the next time you start it for a full scan, it’ll take another era to activate.

Right now, my only security tools are avast! home edition (which provides spyware protection as well), Windows firewall (ridiculous, but it’s still very light and effectively guards inbound traffic) and SiteAdvisor.