Need Advice: firewall, anti-virus, spyware

harryt · 16th December 2008

Hey there.

I just repaired my Windows XP. I've had some hardware issues earlier.

I'm wanting to get a good list of what "anti-virus, firewall and spyware" programs I should use.

I had Norton anti-virus in the past, but found it to be a resource hog and it slowed my pc down. I moved to AVG and it was better resource wise.

For my firewall I've used Zonealarm, but it also lagged my PC, so I left it.

For my spyware software.. I used spyware doctor, but am thinking of moving on to something else.

I need some suggestions, as my PC needs a REAL good cleaning. I've heard good things about Kaspersky, which has an anti-virus and firewall in one.

Anyways, please throw your suggestions and experiences this way.

Thanks.

**wildfire** · 16th December 2008

How are you connecting to the internet?

If direct the you may consider using a router even if you only use one system. With a router using NAT you have a natural firewall.

As far as software goes AVAST is a good AV package, Spybot S&D is good for anti spyware and Comodo for a firewall. Those are my recommendations (and all free

) and no doubt you'll have several others but the best advice is try a few and decide what you're happy with.

Above all though practice safe surfing, think about where you are and look at links you're going to (the status bar at the bottom not what you see on the website).

**TeMerc** · 16th December 2008

Some suggestions:Choose one of the free av products from below to stay secure:

Avira AntiVir
avast!
ClamWin Anti-Virus
PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition
AVG Free Anti Virus <<<--be sure not to be tricked into installing the extra toolbar which is default ticked

Choose from this list of free firewalls to install and stay fully protected.

COMODO
Outpost
ZoneAlarm<<<--be sure not to be tricked into installing the extra toolbar which is default ticked
Online Armour Free

Anti-Spyware apps: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Other things you can do to be secure, tho most important is what was already mentioned, stay smart when surfing.

And either of the two following hosts file databases will keep an even stronger layer of defense:

The latter contains more sites as they tend to include domains\IPs which are involved in even the slightest way with malware distribution or sites involved in any other sort of salacious activities. Basically, lay with dogs, get fleas type of thing.

To manage your hosts file we recommend using HostsXpert. With this tool, you can download the latest updates, merge them with another hosts file, edit entries and much more. It's freeware and works very well on all systems

And to prevent unknown applications from being installed on your machine install WinPatrol 2008 v15. WinPatrol is also great at controlling which applications start with Windows. It's even got a nifty 'delay' feature.

Another thing I would suggest, is to install SiteAdvisor or SiteHound. Each provide similar protection, tho SiteAdvisor also rates sites on business practices and spam. SiteHound will offer some content advice as well as security alerts on known rogue sites.

FastTracker · 16th December 2008

TeMerc has some very good suggestions. The part that I like about WinPatrol is the cookie selection. Keep the ones you want and delete the rest. Used to use Comodo Firewall and Avira AntiVir. Both are good choices. I now use Comodo Internet Security(AV and firewall).

harryt · 19th December 2008

Thanks guys.

I got WinPatrol and it's amazing!

I also go MalwareBytes and it's helped my PC. I had some Trojans on here and it's cleaned them up.

The only thing left now is a "firewall and anti-virus".

I'm looking at the Comodo Internet Security or Kaspersky. I haven't decided yet.

FastTracker · 19th December 2008

I used to use Comodo firewall with Avira AntiVir, but now use Comodo Internet Security. Firewall and AV in one sweet package.

harryt · 19th December 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastTracker

I used to use Comodo firewall with Avira AntiVir, but now use Comodo Internet Security. Firewall and AV in one sweet package.

are you using the comodo internet security pro version?

harryt · 19th December 2008

UPDATE: I've installed Kaspersky Internet Security and Anti-Virus... seems to be looking good so far.

partanonymous · 1st January 2009

I posted this here:
Antivirus/PC Security software - advice and opinions needed

Quote:

Originally Posted by partanonymous

I use eEye Digital Security's Blink Personal. You get 1-year free subscription that includes all the essentials: system firewall, application firewall, and anti-virus. Sounds alright, but what really hooked me in is that the software is designed from a hacker's perspective.

The antivirus is behavioral-- in that when it scans files, it runs them in a "sandbox" and examines them for malicious behavior (in addition to looking for known signatures like your typical Symantec or McAfee AV will do). This pretty much 'future-proofs' the antivirus in case a new virus emerges and there are no virus definitions for it.

Another feature is what they call missing patch and "zero-day" protection. Let's say you forget to update your word processing application or you have a program installed that doesn't automatically update. It has protection that will STOP someone from exploiting a security flaw. It also has an Intrusion Prevention System that stops incoming and outgoing attacks and a vulnerability scanner that looks for versions of applications that contain security flaws.

Bad thing is that my system did at times take a performance hit, so I moved to ZoneAlarm and AVG, ZoneAlarm and NOD32, but after running virus scans and installing programs, malware and unknown applications would sneek by the protection. So I stopped using my computer-- just kidding.

I later found out after uninstalling Blink that the slowdown was because it monitors so many known channels that the bad guys use for attacks. I guess it could be said that it was TOO secure. I was fed up with things getting through Symantec, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, etc, so installed the new version of Blink and things have been great so far.

On a Core 2 Duo 2ghz, a full AV scan of my system took about 25 minutes. I have about 25gigs used on a 300gb hard drive, so the results are pretty good. The firewall is similar to others, it has a learn mode and a silent mode. Learn mode can be a tad annoying at times, but once it is setup it runs smoothly. They have this option, "allow for this application instance", that allows you to temporary allow an application for as long as it is open; which means that you don't have to click the Allow button 3 zillion times-- kinda nice

.

This link will give you an overview of it:
http://www.eeye.com/html/consumer/pr...ink/index.html

You can get support from their forums at (everyone, including their developers, are pretty responsive, and /keyword/ receptive to any problems):
http://forums.eeye.com/

Found this link from one of their vulnerability info newsletters (VERSA), its pretty ingenious

James · 2nd January 2009

Kaspersky is a top-notch program and you should have no issues with it installed. My wife and I use McAfee Internet security and find it does the job for us.

GordyBoy05 · 11th January 2009

I tried Comodo but got irked over the prompts, every single program needed two separate acknowledgments and I had gone thru and tried most of them but in a couple of cases it corupted the program because it was waiting for more Data and Comodo was still asking if it was okay to run.

It seems to me that all the antiVirus and Firewalls that are free have built in delays.Maybe this is just my cynical mind at work though

harryt · 12th January 2009

I recommend you invent in a paid option. So far Kaspersky has been amazing for me.

bdmoh · 9th February 2009

From my experience, Kaspersky is the best of them, also nod32 is an excellent but I prefer Kaspersky more