Could I please get some protection advice

Red8

Honorable
Jul 21, 2013
41
0
10,580
So recently today I went to a page and Microsoft came up with an automated page speaking and saying I have malware/spyware and it had a number to call and a whole page of stuff I instantly clicked out of it scared it was fake and a threat ski decided to run malware bytes, Norton, and kasperkey labs. And to my surprise I found 11 threats on malware yes one being a hacktool.agent so I quarantined and deleted them and restarted and still found the hack agent so repeated now it's gone plus had a few tracking cookies I deleted and that Norton blocked a flash flash update 2. So I was wondering since I seem to be pretty threat prone tonight if there are any sites or applications you guys could recommend so I know my system is clean and none of the threats are hidden from my current safety nets. All help is appreciated thanks! =)
 
Solution
I've had spotty results with AdBlock (both regular and pro). I'd recommend the free AdGuard extension in Chrome over AdBlock any day.

Anyone else have similar results with AB?

Cats869

Estimable
Aug 16, 2014
3
0
4,520
Kaspersky and Malwarebytes are pretty much very good to run already. What browser are you running? I recommend a safe browser like Google Chrome and you should also make sure to keep your Adobe Flash and Java up to date.

Last thing is to get CCleaner. It won't necessarily help you with viruses but it does a good job at cleaning up your PC if you haven't cleaned up some junk files for awhile.
 

Skylyne

Estimable
Sep 7, 2014
405
0
5,010
Chrome can be pretty safe when it's modified into Aviator, or Iron. Java sucks, so don't bother installing it unless your absolutely need to have it. The security patches in Java are atrocious, from what I've seen. Flash is a somewhat necessary evil, so keep that up to date.

If you want a security suite, Comodo is the best free one I've come across. It isn't the greatest software in the world, but it beats everything else that is free. For a free AV software, I'd go with Bitdefender (not necessary if you get Comodo). If you're paying, I would recommend Bitdefender, Kaspersky or Emisoft (a combo of Emisoft and one of the others isn't bad, but will get expensive). There's also Webroot, which keeps getting high reviews. If you need something free, go with Comodo or Bitdefender; just know that Comodo uses a lot more resources as it's a full suite, though you can install just certain parts if desired. Make sure to run a quality browser, use quality extensions that prevent ads (I don't like AdBlock, so I go with AdGuard), block most/all cookies, do regular temp/cookie cleaning... there's a lot of things you can do to help keep your system clean.

Just remember that a 100% clean computer is unrealistic. There are plenty of exploits being used that aren't public knowledge yet, but the severity of them can range (some are just surveillance exploits that are kept quiet by private companies, while others might be potentially harmful). We can only do so much to keep a PC clean, and it's getting harder as more exploits keep being brought up. Not trying to scare you, just trying to keep things realistic.
 

Red8

Honorable
Jul 21, 2013
41
0
10,580
Wow thanks guys you out are all awesome! This input is great but still I have one more question what broswer should I get I only have ie and Mozilla, I had chrome but it forbids most sites I try to use but I'm sure I can get around it
 

Skylyne

Estimable
Sep 7, 2014
405
0
5,010
I've had spotty results with AdBlock (both regular and pro). I'd recommend the free AdGuard extension in Chrome over AdBlock any day.

Anyone else have similar results with AB?
 
Solution

Red8

Honorable
Jul 21, 2013
41
0
10,580
Sweet ill check those out! Also if that hack agent was on my PC possibly during the time I was doing my sensitive work stuff could they've seen it or anything?
 

Skylyne

Estimable
Sep 7, 2014
405
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5,010
That depends on what tool it was, really. A good way to prevent anyone from getting usernames/passwords from keylogging is to use a keychain (practically all browsers include them). Use that, and you won't have to worry so much about that. Some tools will take screenshots every so often; some are keyloggers; some stream the compromised computer's activities live; some give remote access... unless we know which one was on your computer, we can't tell you what they might have. It could also have been a false positive, or even a blank (not all malware and trojans actually do anything).
 

Red8

Honorable
Jul 21, 2013
41
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10,580

That's scary, I have no idea how to check what kind was. It caught my attention to scan when my internet dropped to 6.8 kbs, yes 6.8kbs...
 

Skylyne

Estimable
Sep 7, 2014
405
0
5,010
The reality behind computer security is pretty unnerving for many; but it's the reality. I wish my computer was much safer than it is now, but there isn't much anyone can do beyond installing AV software, and hoping the good guys find more exploits before they are used maliciously.
 

Red8

Honorable
Jul 21, 2013
41
0
10,580


Yeah me too, now I'm just having connection problems again but that is another story I won't bother you with, but I'd like to let you know that I apprciate all the help. It has been more useful than anything else I've found on the web and has help me a lot. So again I thank you!