Chris Pirillo » anti-virus

Norton 360 Special Offer

Chris — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:04:26 +0000

Norton 360 Special Offer is a post from Chris Pirillo

Norton 360 Version 2.0 delivers industry leading protection and performance in an easy to use all-in-one solution. With a single subscription up to three PCs are protected, safeguarding your family by verifying trusted Web sites, blocking fake ones, and securely managing user names and passwords so that they can safely shop, bank, or browse online. Norton 360 V2.0 also helps keep your PCs running at peak performance and protects your data by making it easy to automatically back up and restore files locally or to a secured online storage service.

For a limited time, for every copy you buy of Norton 360, you will receive a copy completely free!

What AntiVirus Do You Use?

Chris — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:41:56 +0000

What AntiVirus Do You Use? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Do you use an AntiVirus program? If so, what one do you run? You do realize that that may not always be enough to keep you completely protected, right? Your best bet is layers of protection. I came across the above video, and used it to ask others what they use to keep their computers safe.

At work: Norton AntiVirus 2008, at home: AVG Free – Haggis (Sean)

My Mac ;) – Andru Edwards

Mac. Plus my Windows-on-VMware i just reuse a clean snapshot. – Glenn Batuyong

I’m on PC. I’m not using any. Was using NOD32, but opted to not renew. – Jason Shultz

Avast! The Pirate Approved Antivirus Tool! – Stephen Pierzchala

ClamAv on 1, Avast on another but usually I don’t run any antivirus – tsudohnimh

At home: AVG Free and Microsoft Defender – Alex Scoble CISSP

Nod32 on both rigs… – Live4Soccer

OS X – Brian roy

OS X. – Paul W. Swansen

Avira Antivir – Nicholas Kreidberg

Avira Antivirus, free for personal use and IMHO the best low-resource and good detection AV going. – cmiper

Currently trying NOD32 on XP Pro x64 – Jaemi Kehoe

Avast! – Molly, the Muse

None! I use a Mac with OS 10.5.5 all updated just today with the big 136MB Java iteration. Nothing installs without my password. – Siddharth Deb

Not using antivirus — haven’t had one in years. I’m just savvy enough not to open weird email attachments or IM links – JungleG

AVG – Kevin Bondelli

AVG on the laptop; Avira on the PC – Jasmin Smith

OS X. Never had one virus. – Brad Waller

Avast! – Rah(sheen)™

Brad, that you know of. – Alex Scoble CISSP

+1 Alex. And the thing of it is that AV alone isn’t enough. *shrug* Video was interesting but I’m definitely not in their target audience. – Jennifer Leggio

I am a big fan of trend micro’s products – Peter Ghosh

Symantec Corporate Edition /IBM laptop – work system – Susan Beebe

AVG works well for me. – Jason Huebel

AVG works very good for me – Joshua Smith

AVG for me as well. – Alex Vernon

ESET SmartSecurity – ChangeForge | Ken Stewart

Im just running with Windows Defender and good web viewing habits – Chacha

The reason why I use Avast! is because it’s audible and tells you when it’s updated and it warns you with a noise if you get a virus. – Molly, the Muse

So… what do you use? Are your files and data well-protected? Do you back them up regularly?

Are there any Free Web-Based Virus Scanners?

Chris — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 05:00:46 +0000

Are there any Free Web-Based Virus Scanners? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

What is more stupid… running your face alongside a cheese grater, or running Limewire? I argue that it’s far healthier to run your face on the cheese grater. What can you do if you don’t run an anti-virus on your desktop? Or what if you download something but want to be 100% sure it’s not a malicious file before you install or run it? Is there any other way to protect yourself?

P2P programs are a breeding ground for malware of all types. That’s why I always recommend you stay away from programs like that, not counting the fact that much of what you would download is illegal. I’m just talking about the viruses, trojans, rootkits and spyware that can and will infest your machine.

Anyway, if you come across a file that you’re just not sure of, you may run it through your desktop client. We all know that desktop solutions can have false positives, or totally miss something it really shouldn’t. How can you be sure it’s safe then?

Well, there are a couple of excellent places online where you can test single files. The first of these is VirusTotal. Virustotal is a free service that will run a file through 32 separate anti-virus programs. Afterwards, it will give you a report. The report will contain the results from each AV, the date of the last update of each AV.

There are two blogs found on Lockergnome that you can always count on to keep you up-to-date with the latest information on what Security products are good, what’s in, what’s out and what to stay away from. One is written by Kat. Both of them are Microsoft MVPs. Ron’s MVP award area is in Windows Desktop Experience, and Kat’s award is in Consumer Security. Both are well known in their fields, and know what they’re talking about.

If your program reports something as bad that you aren’t sure is… why not take an extra moment to run the file through VirusTotal? What are your thoughts on P2P programs, and even computer security programs?

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

How to Unbox and Set Up a New Computer

Chris — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:27:00 +0000

How to Unbox and Set Up a New Computer is a post from Chris Pirillo

I recently received an email from Emmanuel. He has watched friends and family members receive a new computer many times, and then promptly do something to inadvertently harm it. Or worse… they don’t properly set the machine up! He asked me to pass along his email, in the hopes it may help you get started once you receive your next machine.

First of all, unpack carefully. How many times have I heard about people having issues with a new product? Then they have to do all these sorts of things and in the process, end up damaging the computer? I’ve heard it enough times, believe me. So please, unpack with caution. Also, wait until you are in a quiet, safe spot for opening and unpacking your computer — like your desk, or your normal computing place. Bad things are possible with all of the confusion that could happen with people running around and pulling power cables or accidentally spilling something on the computer or its peripherals and documentation. So wait for the best time to unpack.
Next, when you turn on the computer, follow any directions the computer tells you. It may ask you to set the language, time, etc. Once you complete such a course, you will hopefully be greeted by the desktop. Now this is where the fun begins.
Next, remove all the pre-installed crapware. Crapware is basically trial or crippled software that gets factory installed by the manufacturer. On a Mac, usually you would get iLife, which is a great suite of creative applications that are pretty awesome and are the only things pre-installed usually. On a Linux computer, you will see a lot of pre-installed software, however, they actually are not trial or crippled software either. On a Windows computer, well, that is not usually the case. So go to the Add/Remove feature in Windows in remove everything that is unnecessary, except the trial anti-virus that comes with the computer usually. You will need some way to protect yourself until you get a decent anti-virus. Then, get your computer updated as soon as possible. Once you are done, we move on.
Next, get your favorite anti-virus software and remove the old one. Nod32 is about the best anti-virus software there is. For a free anti-virus, use AVG Free Edition.
Next, get your favorite applications, as well as hardware drivers installed. Firefox and OpenOffice are wonderful examples, and plus they are FREE! So check those out. Get your driver discs, software discs, etc. Install what you need. This is important — the less unnecessary software you have, the faster your computer will be. Trust me.
Finally, restore your documents from a backup or transfer from your previous computer. And then you are done! In the end, you will have a nice, fast, new computer that has been tweaked to suit your needs.

Firewall and Computer Security

Chris — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:58:18 +0000

Firewall and Computer Security is a post from Chris Pirillo

Chris | Live Tech Support | Video Help | Add to iTunes

http://live.pirillo.com/ – The round table discusses the free Comodo Firewall, and other Security programs for your Windows machine.

Four of my friends joined me for this discussion: Kat, SC_Thor, Wirelesspacket, and last but certainly not least… Datalore.

Kat started this discussion off, based on a comment she received to her blog post with her recommendations for Windows Protection Software. Someone wrote in, claiming that the free Comodo firewall is not as good as what people think. As I pointed out, Comodo IS a very good firewall. It is easy on system resources, and it just plain works.

Regardless of your product choice, always make sure to use a firewall. Keep yourself protected, no matter how good you think you are. A combination of a hardware AND software firewall is best. Always have an Anti-Virus program running, and possibly even an Anti-Spyware one, as well. Layers of protection like this will help keep your computer safe from all the nasties that are out there.

Want to embed this video in your blog? Use this code:

<param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/rXBFpr039ps”></param><param name=”wmode” value=”transparent”></param></object><br /><a href=”http://chris.pirillo.com/”>Chris</a> | <a href=”http://live.pirillo.com/”>Live Tech Support</a> | <a href=”http://media.pirillo.com/”>Video Help</a> | <a href=”http://feeds.pirillo.com/ChrisPirilloShow”>Add to iTunes</a>

Are Symantec and McAfee the only choices?

Chris — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 19:16:27 +0000

Are Symantec and McAfee the only choices? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Chris | Live Tech Support | Video Help | Add to iTunes

http://live.pirillo.com/ – Users are tired of having Anti-Virus programs that drain their system resources, and cost an arm and a leg. What other alternatives are out there?

Symantec and McAfee have become entirely bloated. They charge you a bunch of money, use up your system resources, then sell you programs to speed up your computer. I call this “selling you the disease and the cure”. I hate this. I think it’s just plain wrong.

There are several alternatives. If you want paid protection, try Kaspersky or nod32. Both are excellent protection programs that are easy on your computer’s resources.

If you want to go the free route… which I always recommend when possible… take a look at one of these:

When suggesting an Anti-Virus, I also must suggest a firewall. There is an excellent free firewall named Comodo. This thing really works well, and has won several awards. Why pay for protection you can get for free?

I want to remind you all that if you run Windows, it really is critical to run these protection programs. Malware isn’t only installed on your system these days by visiting porn sites or opening email attachments. MANY innocent appearing sites can be “drive by downloaders” for Malware. You don’t always have to click something. On a drive by site, you simply open the site… let’s say from Google after searching for something… and bam. You’re infected. That’s all it takes, folks. I don’t care how “smart” of a computer user you are, it just makes sense to protect yourself. Be smart. Know what is going in and out of your computer, protect it, and protect yourself.

Want to embed this video in your blog? Use this code:

Formats Available: MPEG4 Video (.mp4) Flash Video (.flv) MP3 Audio (.mp3)

How to Handle Remote Tech Support

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMT

Using GoToAssist is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party.

Network Tools for Windows

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. SolarWinds ipMonitor: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. Download your free trial today. Or, try their totally free tools! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase ipMonitor 9.0.

Get Your Own Web Site

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

Starting at just $3.99/month, web hosting from GoDaddy includes 99.9% uptime, 24/7 support and free access to GoDaddy Hosting Connection, THE place to install over 30 FREE applications sure to help you get the most from your hosting plan and Web site. Enter code CP2 at checkout, and save an additional 10% on any order.

Plus, as a friend of Chris Pirillo, enter code CHRIS7, that's C-H-R-I-S and the number 7, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com.

VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either Parallels or VMware (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with VMware and/or Parallels.

Coupons for Online Shopping

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMT

This feed is fueled by Lockergnome Online Shopping and Coupon Codes

Before you shop next time, see if we have a coupon first.