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[Pembo]

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[TheDisneyTraveler06]

We have Firefox & Internet Explorer. I prefer Firefox.

The best anti-virus IMO is the Panda Titanium 2006.

Hope this helps.

 

[JudicialTyranny]

For example, should I switch to Firefox?

It's free, so it doesn't hurt to try it. I prefer IE, others prefer Firefox, others prefer Opera, for various reasons - some think Firefox is more secure (debatable), some are Microsoft haters, etc. Whatever - to some it is religious zealotry, to me it is just a computer.

What is the best spyware to download?

Generally, you want to avoid downloading spyware.

But I assume you mean anti-spyware software. Don't go for just one - it never hurts to have multiple programs that scan (and remember to use them to scan periodically and download their updates).

I run Microsoft Defender from www.microsoft.com, which is free and runs constantly to watch for spyware.

I periodically scan with Adaware and Spybot Search & Destory.

I'm not saying these are the only ones or the "best", but they've been good for me.

If I have an external drive, can I just hook it up to the new computer and all my stuff transfers?

Not automatically, unless you want to leave the files on the external drive. You would need to copy them over to the internal hard drive if you want them there.

Note that you will need to re-install any applications on the new computer, even if you installed them to the external drive. Most applications store settings in the Windows registry and possibly other places on the C: drive, so you usually cannot move an application over to a new system without reinstalling it from the original media (or original download).

What about my added memory card to the old computer, can I move it to the new one?

It depends on how old the old computer was. Memory comes in various sizes and speeds, so "old" memory may be too slow for a new faster computer.

 

[Pembo]

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[ktulu]

Firefox IS more secure than IE, but that is only because of market share. The hackers know they can target IE, since that is what most people use. Firefox has tabbed browsing (IE 7 will have it, but still Beta), and other extensions. You can get a IE tab for FF, I'm told it works very well.

I use norton a/v, never had a problem. I get it free though. I don't use any sort of firewall other than the microsoft one. As far as spyware goes, I just use Ad-aware, it has been good to me so far, but I also don't have many problems with stuff like that. I do internet security stuff for a living, so I know when something doesn't look right and I move on. If something is suspect I'll check it out with my linux box or my mac.

darren

 

[JudicialTyranny]

Firefox IS more secure than IE, but that is only because of market share.

Debatable - both have their share of flaws.

Just a few days ago, a security update was released for Firefox that included 12 fixes, seven of which were rated "critical".

http://www.betanews.com/article/Critical_Flaws_Patched_in_Firefox/1154036042

Personally (again, just me, and it's not my religion) I don't tell people one or the other is "secure" or "more secure" because just when you say that, some exploit is found. If I tell someone that XYZ browser is "secure" or "more secure", I feel it is giving them a false sense of security and they may let their guard down thinking that they are 100% safe. That's never true.

I can't say with certainty to anyone that one is "more secure" than the other - sure you might be able to go by statistics, where ABC browser has fewer bugs reported than XYZ browser, but all it takes is one of those bugs to be exploited to cause trouble for a particular user - and then they don't give a hoot that the browser had fewer bug reports than another - they got nailed and that's the only one that counts to them.

 

[crazelion]

I like firefox because of the tab browsing and more secure than IE. By that mean firefox does not shut down on as IE does. I really love the tab browsing on firefox.
I have IE, Netscape, Firefox and Opera on my computer.

Anti-spyware that is free:
Ad-Ware SE Personal editon. www.lavasoft.com
Spydoctor
Spybot Search and Destory
Windows Defender

Paid version of Spy Sweeper

Anti-virsus Nortorn Anti-virsus

I have Norton Internet Secuity Edtion. I like.

 

[cherylp3]

Antivirus firewall - zone alarm with antivirus $19.95

Spyware - spysweeper by webroot - you can get a free year
http://www.komando.com/ and click the webroot link.

-Cheryl