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Q I am running Spybot, Avast and PC Firewall. Do I need any additional protection for my laptop?
A It depends on what you do with the laptop. These free programs are all fine but they are not integrated so viruses and spyware can slip between the cracks. My tip for 2010 is to buy a fully integrated internet security suite like AVG 9.0 or Norton Internet Security. In my opinion the risks are now too great to rely on freeware security programs if you plan to do internet banking or pay your bills online.
Q I have been using AVG 8, Spybot, CleanUp and, occasionally, CCleaner without problems. I took my PC tower for a clean and service and the company removed AVG 8 and installed an Avast anti-virus program. They also reinstalled Spybot, deleting Tea Timer. Their reasoning for the AVG 8 change was that "it hasn't been any good since December and doesn't remove all the viruses". Is there any truth to this?
A There are so many myths out there and most are based on personal preference or bias, not experience. Please refer to the previous question on freeware virus and spyware. I think AVG 9 is one of the best and the free version is certainly more fully featured than most other free programs but it's not enough to cover all contingencies.
Q My wife and I are about to embark on a caravan trip around Australia and would like your advice on the cheapest and most efficient means of keeping in touch via email. Public libraries are useful but are often booked out.
A The best answer, though not the cheapest, is to get a Telstra NextG smartphone that allows tethering (connecting to a PC or laptop via USB) and buy a data pack from Telstra. You can get 150Mb per month for $10 and it will work in most places and should cover monthly email access unless you are sending lots of photos. You don't need to buy a top-end smartphone to get tethering. If you have WiFi in your notebook you can also use it at net cafes but be sure to have a full internet security suite like AVG 9.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26556584-8362,00.html
