What In Your Opinion Is The Best Program To Use To Defend Outselves Against Malicious Attacks

I think just about everything has been covered now regarding which security software to install.
My own preferences are,
Comodo firewall.
Avast anti-virus.
Malwarebytes anti-malware.
Superantispyware, specifically against general spyware that tracks what you do on the net.
Spywareblaster, this protects your browser to some extent.

Firstly the term "Malware" is a join up of "malevolent software" and this term now covers all the different types of computer threat softwares. These are virus, trojan, worm, rootkit, spywares, and keyloggers, plus any other types I may have missed.

A virus is probably the first type of Malware to be created, originally created as a practical joke by a complete computer geek and was a form of software that once it had installed itself did crazy things to your computer, messing up the operating system, making silly things happen and in general leaving the computer user or owner frustrated. This bringing great laughter from the perpetrator as is the case with those who play practical jokes in any other form.
The ability to invade and install this sort of thing quickly became known around the world, and it wasn't long before the criminal minds realised they could benefit from this sort of invasion of other folks computers. Worms, trojans, and keyloggers all very quickly became created and known as the criminal classes were more than ready to find and pay the geek to create them. Sometimes the geek himself became the criminal when he realised how easy it was to get into some one else's computer and steal passwords and bank account details.
By this time software manufacturers had latched on and created the first ant-virus softwares, some companies setting up specifically for that purpose. Once the other types of malware were becoming prevalent the companies had to diversify in order to try and keep up.
Again companies were set up to deal with individual problems at first but later started taking on the task to defeat as many different types of malware as possible.
It is against that background that today's various companies are now working and even now are still behind, more and more malware is being created or existing types are modified, to beat the anti-malwares being created to stop them. It is a continuous battle and there is no chance of it ever ending I don't think.
So where do we the general computer user start?
It helps a little to understand a bit about what we face, the old adage of "Know your enemy" still stands, so what are we facing?
I Think it is fare to say that a virus is still a type of software designed to mess around with the workings of your computer, it may no longer be of a practical joke sort of nature and is usually a bit more serious than that, as these things now incorporate the workings of other types with them. One type of virus to be considered and I think of it as a virus is a sub item called ransomeware. It gets in, then prevents you from doing something, accessing important files or documents etc. unless you pay a ransom fee.
I will also include here the so called rogue security softwares. These are the things that get in and tell you you have a rake of virus, trojans, or other malware when you actually don't, then demand you download and install their program and of course pay for it to fix these so called issues.
In all these cases, though perhaps not true virus as such, they behave that way as they mess up your system.

The next problem is really all forms of trojans worms and spywares, these seldom mess up your system if at all, they are designed to get in there and secretly set up software to either download other malware or to set up your computer so it will do what someone else tells it to do. Botnets are set up this way, where your computer, along with several thousand more, become an attacking army to create denial of service attacks, which in turn can close down some major company on the internet.

Trojans and their offspring, worms, keyloggers, and other general spyware they are designed to find and then send back to their controller all your personal details, most importantly banking details and even credit or debit card details from when you buy something on line.

What do you actually need to at least try to prevent any of these malware from being a part of your life?
First off is a decent firewall, this is there to prevent a direct attack from outside, a good firewall will work both ways, so that if something has got in that shouldn't, the firewall will prevent it sending details out.
Next is a good antivirus, this will help protect you from the virus type of infections, and should remove them if they have got in.
Ideally the next should be a good anti-spyware, at least one is recommended and they will protect you against all types of malware designed to spy on your work and details.
Go back to the top and you will see the security software I use and have installed. My personal view is that as well as a firewall, anti-virus such as Avast, the microsoft MSE, Avira, or any one of the other well known and recommended anti-virus is essential.
Also essential is Malwarebytes, and at present there isn't much out there that does a similar job, Spywareblaster S&D, used to be up there but in real terms is falling back a bit now.
I also have the Superantispyware installed as I find this finds and removes quite a lot of what are called tracking cookies, these are small bits of software installed to target adverts at you, and are a darned nuisance best got rid of. Malwarebytes and other software doesn't always catch them.
Nev.

 

You have me confused with somebody else

 

noooooooo, I don't!!!!!

 

Plastic Nev:

When we think we have covered it all someone will come along with something new an we are back to square one. Oh well this is why we have sites like CHF. I've got little dibs an dabs of all sorts of things that are now very very obsolete.

Thanks
Wildman

 

Thanks Wildman, but that is why I wrote that rather long essay, to give folks an idea of just what is going on, both for and against us the ordinary computer users.
We just want to get on with doing whatever we want to be doing without finding we are loaded down with all sorts of nasties, and the best way to do that is to be wise to what is out there, and careful about what and how we do it.
Remember, you may have the best possible security software, but that click on something without thinking about it, can invite the enemy right into your living room.
Nev.

 

I can think of an instance when someone who should have known better did that, and because it was from someone trusted I didn't check it when it was sent to me, I ended up doing a re-install, after phoning him, he had to sort out 15 or 20 clients computers.

even the best of us can be caught out in a seconds lapse of concentration

 

Ya Think? ​

 

Yes I was thinking the same Starbuck.

Long before post 40.

 

OK as were moving on, could someone answer me a simple question?

what is the meaning of life, the universe and everything?

:snckr:

 

Life is just a phase you're going through, Match. You'll get over it.

 

'Tis true ..but I remember when I was searching for the best security protections, for the meaning of life, the Universe and everything (42 is the answer BTW), I couldn't read enough threads/posts like this one. Even though the question is has been asked many times over the years, security programs change or get updated and people always want to read about the latest versions. So I think threads like this one that appear over and over again on the Internet, still need to do that in order to talk about the current versions. I sometimes search for (for instance) 'security product opinions reviews 2011' to avoid bringing up older reviews or forum threads. A long thread for sure but a useful one for seekers of information.

 

Useful yes, but it has been fully covered and is Starbuck has pointed out, there is no real answer.

 

Douglas Adams answered that question, and it was 42, this thread has definitely gone way past 42. Time to lock it methinks.

 

Afraid so! But thanks to all who contributed!