Shocking security advice

[shrimply]

Umm not sure if this belongs here but anyway.

 

I'm going off to uni in a few weeks and have been reading Edinburgh's advice on computer security. This is what they reccommend. As far as I can see it pretty much contradicts what I've read on here.

 

Security

 

 

• Anti-Virus Software
  In the University environment it is essential that you use an anti-virus product and that it be kept up-to-date with new virus data. The University has a site-license for McAfee VirusScan Enterprise that allows staff, matriculated students and Honorary Fellows to use it on their own machines - it can be downloaded inside the University. For other users our recommendation is to either use the free version of the Grisoft AVG package or another commercial anti-virus product. Please note that any antivirus that came with your machine is likely to be a limited time evaluation version.
  
• Anti-Spyware Software
  Windows Vista comes with Microsoft Windows Defender included, so there is some protection against spyware already installed. However, no spyware product has a 100% detection rate and it is always a good idea to regularly scan with other products in case Defender is missing anything. Two such packages known to work with Vista are LavaSoft Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy.
  

I think I'll be sticking with what I've already got installed.

[Dalo Harkin]

Shrimply that was probably wrote 2 years + ago and someone has just added the Vista part in - stick with what we say - we do this day in day out!

[maynardvdm]

Hi Shrimply

 

Those are old programs. They were good a few years back, but nowadays not very affective.

[RandyL]

I agree with maynardvdm and Dalo Harkin.

 

AVG is not good enough. Why do you think the staff uses Mcafee?

 

Windows Defender is an active spyware blocker and scanner that ships with Vista but I also suggest not to rely on that alone.

 

Spybot and Adaware might be good for backup scanners but they are not top of the line anymore. SuperAntiSpyware will catch more.

[Seth]

Edinburgh is way behind the times and obviously doesn't repair computers or remove malware for a living.

[Seth]

Just to elaborate on my previous post:

 

I don't think that Avira or Avast is any better or worse than AVG when it comes to detection and removal ability. The main difference is that the latter is highly targeted.

 

In regards to AntiSpyware, both SAS and MB are far superior in detection and removal ability than SB and AA.

 

In all fairness however, Edinburgh may have written that advice many years ago.