AVG Antivirus was removed before I recently installed Vista SP1 on a Home
Premium, HP Pavilion dv6253cl laptop. Now when I check Malware Protection
in Security Center I have a green light with the message "Norton Internet
Security reports that it is up to date and virus scanning is on" under
"Virus Protection". I haven't knowingly installed any Norton products and
can't find any trace of any on the system except as noted above. I don't
believe there is any downloading of virus definitions taking place.
Do I have antivirus protection?
"AVG Antivirus was removed..."
"I haven't knowingly installed any Norton products..."
Probably not
The laptop is about a year old and came from HP via Costco with Vista Home
Premium installed.
I'd say that your HP came installed with a trial version of Norton AV and
you may have overlooked its presence
Try this:
http://service1.symantec.com/suppor...5033108162039?OpenDocument&seg=hm&lg=en&ct=us
Or:
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Norton_Removal_Tool_for_Windows_2000XPVista/1169144666/1
A couple of quality AV apps:
Avira AntiVir® PersonalEdition Classic - Free
http://www.free-av.com/antivirus/allinonen.html
You may wish to consider removing the 'AntiVir Nagscreen'
http://www.elitekiller.com/files/disable_antivir_nag.htm
*or*
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
It includes ANTI-SPYWARE protection, certified by the West Coast Labs
Checkmark process, and ANTI-ROOTKIT DETECTION based on the best-in class
GMER technology.
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
(Choose Custom Installation and under Resident
Protection, uncheck: Internet Mail and Outlook/Exchange.)
Moreover, you may wish to consider the following as well...
The best defenses are:
1. Do not work in elevated level; Day-to-day work should be
performed while the User Account Control (UAC) is enabled. Turning
off UAC reduces the security of your computer and may expose you to
increased risk from malicious software.
2. Familiarize yourself with "Services Hardening in Windows Vista".
3. Keep your operating (OS) system (and all software on it)
updated/patched.
4. Reconsider the usage of IE.
5. Review your installed 3rd party software applications/utilities;
Remove clutter.
6. Don't expose services to public networks.
7. Activate the build-in firewall and tack together its advanced
configuration settings.
7a.If on high-speed internet use a router as well.
8. Routinely practice safe-hex.
9. Regularly back-up data/files.
10.Familiarize yourself with crash recovery tools and with
re-installing your operating system (OS).
11.Utilize a real-time anti-virus application and vital system
monitoring utilities/applications.
12.Keep abreast of the latest developments - Sh!t happens...you know.
The least preferred defenses are:
Myriads of popular anti-whatever applications and staying ignorant.
Peez of pith, really
