Re: Windows ME - Need Security Software
AVG 7.5 still works, but supposedly not beyond the end of the year. Grisoft
brought out AVG 8.0 - which won't work in Win Me or any other 9x version -
and planned to stop support for 7.5 - which does - on May 31st this year.
Due to grumbles of discontent support was continued. Last I heard, until Dec
31st. So, who knows, maybe it'll continue beyond then. As with much that is
no longer officially available, try oldversion.com - this is AVG 7.5:
http://download.oldversion.com/avg441a944.exe
Alternatively there is Avast! - by Alwil
(
http://www.avast.com/eng/home-registration.php) - an antivirus I have
always disliked and always found AVG superior to in performance as well as
appearance, however it may soon be the only realistic option for Windows 9x
users anyway. Either way you have to be careful what you click on.
My anti-spyware preferences are for Spybot S&D:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html (Install SDHelper but
not Tea Timer, then when installed, Update then Immunize) and
SpywareBlaster:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/downloads.html (Update, then
Enable All Protection).
Mike Burgess' HOSTS file is worth having:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
As for the firewall. you must use one. Best is a router, i.e. hardware
firewall, though a software firewall is still worth having as well, to
notify you of what is already on your computer and trying to get out, rather
than in. How well you understand firewalls pretty much determines which you
use. I use Kerio 2.1.5 (
http://download.oldversion.com/keriopf215.exe) -
which is now ancient - on everything older than Vista! But ZoneAlarm might
be more to your taste. It is so long since I used it I don't know if it no
longer supports 9x, but one that does will be on oldversion.com if not. When
whichever firewall is installed, go to
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
and test it. What ever anyone's opinion of Steve Gibson is, the Shields Up
File Sharing and All Service Ports tests are very useful for testing the
initial configuration of your firewall.
Finally, Firefox is safer than Internet Explorer
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-older.html (get the *NoScript*
Add-on
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/722/#install-56254 -
*Ad-Block*
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865 is also
good).
That's about it. Obviously you need to get all Windows Updates though they
are well out of date now.
Shane
Lynn Q wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> Well, I've successfully re-installed WinMe after I tracked down my
> back-up disk and run all the critical updates. It's running
> beautifully after this clean install, and I don't want to mess it up.
>
> I've googled and was not very successful, so now I am requesting your
> assistance. I'm looking for FREE software, i.e., antivirus,
> antispyware, antiphishing, etc. to run on this 10-year-old system.
> Anything else I need please let me know on the security side.
>
> Thank you!
>
> Lynn