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What type of Anti Virus/Spyware...etc is needed?

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PCtech:

--- Quote from: SteveJ34 on February 27, 2006, 01:39:52 am ---If you want to use a wireless NIC in order to have the capacity to attach your game cab to the household network, simply disable the nic card in network settings when not in use.

A few mouse clicks can have it enabled again whenever you wish to move files.

Problem solved.



--- End quote ---
Are you talking about doing this without Anti-Virus/Anti-Spy software.  Doing the above without these software packages, will leave you open to attack.

Here is what I did:

1) Install Anti-virus/Anti-spy software before connecting to the internet, if possible (download programs from protected PC, get a disk...etc)
2) Connect to internet, download, all patched/updates.
3) disable network card, as described above.
4) Un-install Anti-virus/Anti-spy software

Uninstalling Anti-virus/Anti spy software, will free tons of resources, and you won't need them as long as you are not connected.

As far as I know (and I work on PC's for a living) this is the best method....any other is going to leave you open to attack, or eat resources, that could be used by the games.

Althogh this method is a pain in the ass, it is the most efficient, and safest way to do it IMHO

Good Luck!

SteveJ34:

--- Quote from: PCtech on February 27, 2006, 09:56:24 am ---
--- Quote from: SteveJ34 on February 27, 2006, 01:39:52 am ---If you want to use a wireless NIC in order to have the capacity to attach your game cab to the household network, simply disable the nic card in network settings when not in use.

A few mouse clicks can have it enabled again whenever you wish to move files.

Problem solved.



--- End quote ---
Are you talking about doing this without Anti-Virus/Anti-Spy software.  Doing the above without these software packages, will leave you open to attack.

Here is what I did:

1) Install Anti-virus/Anti-spy software before connecting to the internet, if possible (download programs from protected PC, get a disk...etc)
2) Connect to internet, download, all patched/updates.
3) disable network card, as described above.
4) Un-install Anti-virus/Anti-spy software

Althogh this method is a pain in the ass, it is the most efficient, and safest way to do it IMHO

Good Luck!

--- End quote ---

It was my understanding the original poster did not intend to use this system to browse the internet per say...rather, just wanted an occasional link to home network for moving files, etc.

I fully understand the need to be protected in todays world.

The method you outline certainly won't harm anything.

gonzobrian:
Thanks for all the input.  I am behind a router/firewall.  I do not intend to use the computers to surf but would like to occasionally download updates to the fe I use and to move files around, etc. So what I am hearing is that I do need to run anti virus etc as long as the computer is online.  At this time I will use PCtech's advice and install this stuff while I'm on line and then uninstall it when I'm done. 

subcriminal:
Slight case of over the top paranoia! If you really want to fix the problem install Linux on it. That'll cure all it's ills. As for hackers who the hell would want to hack a windows based arcade maching?! ???

dax:
#1  Don't use wireless.  It's as simple as that.  If you use wireless, you are a hundred times more vulnerable in every aspect over regular net connections.  It doesn't matter if you're using encryption or any of that crap, wireless is insecure.

#2  Always run Windows Update and make sure your system is fully patched.  Alternatively, check out BigFix.com, which is an alternative to Windows Update.

#3  I second someone else's suggestion of AVGFree.  It's a great program that is not a resource hog and is standard equipment on all my systems now.

#4  Get Ad-Aware.  I used to recommend Spybot, but that software doesn't seem to be well-supported anymore so it's not that useful.

#5  Get Startup Control Panel and Startup Monitor from http://www.mlin.net/ - this is a great set of utilities to monitor and prevent programs from auto-installing on your PC.

#6  As everyone says, use a router/firewall.  You should *never* have a PC with a publicly-accessible IP address.  It should always be a VPN via DHCP from something like a LinkSys cable/dsl router plugged into your broadband modem.

#7  DO NOT USE IE.  Again, do NOT use Internet Explorer.  You have been warned.  DO NOT USE OUTLOOK either.  Both of these programs are responsible for the vast majority of worm/virus infections on PCs and are riddled with vulnerabilities.  Download Firefox (http://mozilla.org/) and Eudora (http://eudora.com/) - far better alternatives.  It also doesn't hurt to disable microsoft's preview pane in whatever e-mail client you use.  Personally, I disable all html e-mail so spammers can't track me.

#8  Disable a bunch of dangerous Windows services.  If you are running XP, chances are there are a ton of services and settings in your machine which are making you vulnerable.  Get TweakUI from Microsoft and fine-tune settings that are otherwise not easy to get from a standard installation.  Go into the control panel and look at services and system settings and disable the remote assistance "feature" (aka "security nightmare").

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