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Or my pc at home is full of viruses and spyware and even using several different anti spyware and antiviruses I still have several I can't get rid of. Was wondering whats one of the best protection out there. Also since I am going to reinstall my operating systyem I was wondering if I should use Linus instead of windows. How much difference will linux be from windows and will the programs that run on windows such as WoW also run on Linux.

Linux has near zero viruses, although most games wont work on it without an emulator (dont know if WoW will).
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The great tools and utils thread.

sticky at the top of the sub forum has some very good ones, I would recomend:
Lavasoft Adaware, AVG free & (if you want to pay money) Spyware doctor 3.2.

What OS and protection do you have? What do you use (what Firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware and browser)?

Argosh wrote:What OS and protection do you have? What do you use (what Firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware and browser)?

Windows xp I also use symantec firewall and norton antivirus and I used to have lavasoft adware but not anymore. Download spy sweeper trial wich allowed me to clean 98% of the crap.

Only way to be really sure is to backup your data and do a new OS install.
But if you can update your AV and anti-spyware software, pull the plug on your internet connection and boot to safe mode, then scan your harddrive.
It is possible to protect your Windows installation against the bugs if you play it safe, but its a lot of work at first.
My PC is Windows XP also. I use Symantec AntiVirus, ZoneAlarm Free, Spybot S&D TeaTimer and the occasional scan with Ad-Aware. I browse with Maxthon, and I've had no serious infections so far.
Using Linux - if you're not playing the games a lot, consider one of those Live CD-s(Ubuntu,Klax,Knoppix and so on - visit http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php to see a really big list) and you'lle see if Linux suits you.

Argosh wrote:What OS and protection do you have? What do you use (what Firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware and browser)?

Browser - Firefox
Firewall - sygate + router
Anti-virus - AVG
Anti-spyware - adaware, spybot and spyware doctor (the free version won't remove spyware, but tells you its there)

In saying this, all the spyware that has been on my computer is eaither tracking cookies (which i don't care about, but delete when spybot finds them) or tracable to use of IE.

the .303 bookworm wrote:Linux has near zero viruses

True, the anti-virus software you can buy for linux scans for windows viruses and is meant for things like mail servers

WoW will work under regular Wine (I think). Getting it to work would probably be a b*tch though.

Your best bet for WoW and other Windows games would be to try running them through Cedega. Unfortunately, it's not free, but it's pretty cheap.