I have a laptop using Windows XP2 which I use regularly at random networks from a fraternity house, in college classes, to my home. Needless to say, I am not sure how secure the networks are:
These programs run at system start up:
Total Security: Paid Norton Security Center
AntiVirus: Free AVG AntiVirus
Firewall: Free Zonelabs Zone Alarm
These programs run once a week:
AntiSpyware: Windows Defender Beta, LavaSoft AdAware, and Spybot Search & Destroy
I run Limewire for P2P now and then. I browse the internet with FireFox. I update regularly for windows, firefox and all of my security. I also game regularly online.
My question is: does this sound safe? What else can I do? I dont want too many intrusive programs taking up tons of RAM, but I would like to be secure, as this new laptop is my only computer. Are there any free programs out there for college kids that are good for protection? Or do I have enough stuff running to protect me?
Thanks all.

I can suggest a couple of websites which will test the vulnerability of your system online. These sites basically test your firewall, any open ports on your system and visiblity of your system to the the hackers.
The urls are as follows:
http://scan.sygate.com/
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
Spyware, Adware, Trojans, Malware, Dialers, Popups:http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaw…http://www.ewido.net/en/download/…http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareb…http://www.download.com/Bazooka-Adware-a…http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownlo…http://www.safer-networking.org/http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-…http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/down…
Online Scanners:http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products…http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virus…http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/ac…http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.htmlhttp://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan…http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscannerhttp://www.spywareguide.com/onlinescan.p…http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/
Spyware, Adware, Trojans, Malware, Dialers, Popups List:http://www.softpedia.com/catList/104
Antivirus:http://www.grisoft.com/http://www.avast.com/
Antivirus Lists:http://www.softpedia.com/catList/1
Firewall:http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/co…
Firewall Lists:http://www.softpedia.com/catList/97
IP Blocker:http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/peerg…
System Cleaner:http://www.ccleaner.com/
System Cleaning List:http://www.softpedia.com/catList/98
System Info:http://www.softpedia.com/catList/92
go to the following sites:
pc world
zd new
webmasterfree
kimkommando.com
Hopefully there is a bunch of help there for you!
Now for my question!!!! How do I determine if or what kind of virus & spyware protection I have on my PC at the present time? Do I have firewall? Please reply soon!!
Thanks so much.
Ginny Knarr
ginny_knarr@yahoo.com