PC-Security-Test 2005

[Guest]

I have used this security test available from;

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/PC-SECURITY-TEST.shtml

On my XP with SP2 machine I use AVG7, Zone Alarm 5.5, SpywareGuard 2.2,
SpywareBlaster 3.2, Adaware 1.05 SE, Spybot 1.4 and Microsoft Anti-Syware.
These are all reguarly updated (XP firewall disabled).

What other freeware can I use to beef up security, as the PC-Security test
results with all these measures in place is low (my settings are in the main
High on each of the applications):

10% for Anti-Hacking Protection test
50& for Anti-Virus test
25% for Anti-Spyweare test.

Regards,

trebordean
---------------------------POST VIA--------------------------------
news://nntp.xusenet.com http://www.xusenet.com
===================================================================

 

[REM]

<[email protected]> wrote:

I have used this security test available from;

On my XP with SP2 machine I use AVG7, Zone Alarm 5.5, SpywareGuard 2.2,
SpywareBlaster 3.2, Adaware 1.05 SE, Spybot 1.4 and Microsoft Anti-Syware.
These are all reguarly updated (XP firewall disabled).

XP SP2 and all critical updates.
SpywareBlaster.
Spybot.
AntiVir.
Kerio 2.1.5 and XP firewalls.

I get an immediate dialog box in French. Impossible connection for
hacking test (404) is what it appears to say. I use Kerio 2.1.5 and
the XP firewalls.

Zone Alarm is supposed to be a quality firewall. I suspect that you
might have been duped into giving permissions for ports associated
with malwares somewhere along the line. I was connected when I ran the
test. The program stalled out.

I had to run again without the hacking test to get the other two tests
to run.

AntiVir caught the virus tests.

Spybot caught the attempts to change the registry.


I ran again with Kerio in 'ask' mode and gave the program permission
to connect and the firewall tests ran. I denied each attempt to
connect and scored 100.

I scored 50 for virus protection. According to the program AntiVir did
not detect an unknown virus or one running in memory. AntiVir scans on
file reads and writes and I had heuristics set high. I still think
AntiVir rocks.

I got 25 for spyware. There are so many exploits that I suppose even
the best programs cannot get everything. Note that I don't use Adaware
or SpywareGuard and we scored the same.

10% for Anti-Hacking Protection test
50& for Anti-Virus test
25% for Anti-Spyweare test.

Review your firewall rule set. If you have the XP critical updates you
should be able to score 100 here. Maybe try enabling the XP firewall
also?

System Safety Monitor is the only thing I can think of to firm your
security. I found it cumbersome myself, but you can lock the machine
down with gusto if you feel that it is necessary:

http://maxcomputing.narod.ru/ssme.html?lang=en

 

[Aaron]

XP SP2 and all critical updates.
SpywareBlaster.
Spybot.
AntiVir.
Kerio 2.1.5 and XP firewalls.


System Safety Monitor is the only thing I can think of to firm your
security. I found it cumbersome myself, but you can lock the machine
down with gusto if you feel that it is necessary:

http://maxcomputing.narod.ru/ssme.html?lang=en

Another is PrevX Home. http://www.prevx.com/

This one monitors attempts to change certain files and directories, hosts
file and other critical system areas that malware usually affect.

So for example if you had it, it would tell you the above test is trying
to put files into c:\windows\system32 . It will monitor autostarts and a
lot more. It's has cumbersome then SSM and has to be turned off when
installing new programs unless you want to weather a blizzard of prompts.

I think the test's pretty stupid though.

 

[Guest]

Another is PrevX Home. http://www.prevx.com/

This one monitors attempts to change certain files and directories, hosts

file and other critical system areas that malware usually affect.

So for example if you had it, it would tell you the above test is trying

to put files into c:\windows\system32 . It will monitor autostarts and a

lot more. It's has cumbersome then SSM and has to be turned off when
installing new programs unless you want to weather a blizzard of prompts.

I think the test's pretty stupid though.

I'll try both programs and see what happens and I'll also try reviewing my
settings and seeing if XP Firewall will run XP and let you know the results.

Aaron, why do you think the test is stupid?
---------------------------POST VIA--------------------------------
news://nntp.xusenet.com http://www.xusenet.com
===================================================================

 

[REM]

<[email protected]> wrote:

I'll try both programs and see what happens and I'll also try reviewing my
settings and seeing if XP Firewall will run XP and let you know the results.

Note: System Safety Monitor is freeware, for now... It looks to be
timed out in May 2005. I didn't catch this until I had posted.
Hopefully, it will remain freeware and the timeout is to make certain
everyone uses newer, more debugged versions, rather than keeping older
buggy versions.

 

[Aaron]

Note: System Safety Monitor is freeware, for now... It looks to be
timed out in May 2005. I didn't catch this until I had posted.
Hopefully, it will remain freeware and the timeout is to make certain
everyone uses newer, more debugged versions, rather than keeping older
buggy versions.

Yes, but I think the author has promised somewhere to always have a
freeware version but with less features. Crippleware depending on how much
is removed.

 

[ad]

I have used this security test available from;

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/PC-SECURITY-TEST.shtml

On my XP with SP2 machine I use AVG7, Zone Alarm 5.5, SpywareGuard 2.2,
SpywareBlaster 3.2, Adaware 1.05 SE, Spybot 1.4 and Microsoft Anti-Syware.
These are all reguarly updated (XP firewall disabled).

What other freeware can I use to beef up security, as the PC-Security test
results with all these measures in place is low (my settings are in the main
High on each of the applications):

10% for Anti-Hacking Protection test
50& for Anti-Virus test
25% for Anti-Spyweare test.

MS antispyware is a pain in the neck and cause more problems than it
solve.
I think you more or less got everything covered, but you may find Avast
is better than AVG.

I expect softpedia is trying to sell you their own software, so I doubt
they will tell you the truth about your machine.

 

[Richard Steven Hack]

I have used this security test available from;

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/PC-SECURITY-TEST.shtml

On my XP with SP2 machine I use AVG7, Zone Alarm 5.5, SpywareGuard 2.2,
SpywareBlaster 3.2, Adaware 1.05 SE, Spybot 1.4 and Microsoft Anti-Syware.
These are all reguarly updated (XP firewall disabled).

What other freeware can I use to beef up security, as the PC-Security test
results with all these measures in place is low (my settings are in the main
High on each of the applications):

10% for Anti-Hacking Protection test
50& for Anti-Virus test
25% for Anti-Spyweare test.

Do they give you REASONS for your rating?

If not, the test is bogus...