ALL-ROUND SECURITY, ANTI-SPY. ANTI-VIRUS

Hello to all,

A question: My Sophos Anti-virus etc. expired two days ago, and I decided to install something else instead. I was told that Zone-ALarm was a very reliable tool in all points (ALL-ROUND SECURITY, ANTI-SPY. ANTI-VIRUS, Firewall...), but it seems rather expensive, at least to/for me: 69, 95 Euro. Any suggestions about some other software? Maybe even free - but still good? Your answers will be highly appreciated.

Thanks, Atnes :unsure:

Hello to all,

A question: My Sophos Anti-virus etc. expired two days ago, and I decided to install something else instead. I was told that Zone-ALarm was a very reliable tool in all points (ALL-ROUND SECURITY, ANTI-SPY. ANTI-VIRUS, Firewall...), but it seems rather expensive, at least to/for me: 69, 95 Euro. Any suggestions about some other software? Maybe even free - but still good? Your answers will be highly appreciated.

Thanks, Atnes :unsure:

I use the following (not at the same time) :

AVG 8.0 Free, Spybot 1.6 beta, AVG Anti-Rootkit (now discontinued, but I go to alot of "less-frequented" sites, and am unwilling to pay for net-security to get the AVG Security bundle, whatever it's called), Lavasoft Ad-Aware 2008, and am using F-Secure's firewall. I am not paying a cent, and haven't got anything worse than a tracking cookie in the last 6 months. (note : I am also a frequent downloader, and put myself at risk, so that should say something).

Hope this helps.

I use the following (not at the same time) :

AVG 8.0 Free, Spybot 1.6 beta, AVG Anti-Rootkit (now discontinued, but I go to alot of "less-frequented" sites, and am unwilling to pay for net-security to get the AVG Security bundle, whatever it's called), Lavasoft Ad-Aware 2008, and am using F-Secure's firewall. I am not paying a cent, and haven't got anything worse than a tracking cookie in the last 6 months. (note : I am also a frequent downloader, and put myself at risk, so that should say something).

Hope this helps.

A lot, thanks, it helps a lot! But is combining different protection systems really 'safe'? I was told that one shoud be cautious with using different protection tools at the same time ? :blink:

Best,Atnes

A lot, thanks, it helps a lot! But is combining different protection systems really 'safe'? I was told that one shoud be cautious with using different protection tools at the same time ? :blink:

Its called Layered Defence

I use Windows Defender and WinPatrol

I also use avast! Home Free anti virus.

They all work well together.

A lot, thanks, it helps a lot! But is combining different protection systems really 'safe'? I was told that one shoud be cautious with using different protection tools at the same time ? :blink:

Best,Atnes

I've heard the same thing, so I generally have only the firewall on at any given time. To do scans, I load them up individually, rather than have them running real-time. It saves me precious RAM, and gives me something to do with time I don't consider worth doing anything else with ^_^

So, generally, if you have them on auto start-up, they -might- cause conflict, but, again, I'm not against having to run the executable myself.

I've heard the same thing, so I generally have only the firewall on at any given time. To do scans, I load them up individually, rather than have them running real-time. It saves me precious RAM, and gives me something to do with time I don't consider worth doing anything else with ^_^

So, generally, if you have them on auto start-up, they -might- cause conflict, but, again, I'm not against having to run the executable myself.

Thank you! :)

atnes

Its called Layered Defence

I use MBAM, Windows Defender and WinPatrol

I also use avast! Home Free anti virus.

They all work well together.

Very interesting and helpful. Layered defence. I think I shall try this one :D

Thanks again. Atnes

I've heard the same thing, so I generally have only the firewall on at any given time. To do scans, I load them up individually, rather than have them running real-time. It saves me precious RAM, and gives me something to do with time I don't consider worth doing anything else with ^_^

So, generally, if you have them on auto start-up, they -might- cause conflict, but, again, I'm not against having to run the executable myself.

An honest man,an honest man!!!

Now, I know where to go to find one. :P I appreciate that.

:) davey

A layered defence might mean, for example, a hardware firewall/router, a software firewall to monitor and control outbound, some kind of blocker for known bad sites, like a Hosts file, an AV, a malware scanner or two (or three, for plenty second opinions), some kind of behaviour blocker (for zero day threats), some kind of application (or personal protocol) to (1) clean out unwanted files, (2) check all applications are plugged/up to date.

I've found that Avast AV works well with a lot of other software, Threatfire ditto, Comodo Firewall ditto (once it's trained), SAS and MBAM and A2 great for second opinions (and should a bit of cleaning actually be needed), MVPS Hosts file a useful blocker - which also prevents a lot of ads, and disabling scripts on the browser/running adblock plus (a Firefox extesion) caps it off nicely.

There are many applications from different vendors that work well together. And probably a few that don't. You need to try a few combos out, with variations, if you want to go that route. Check that all the holes (as much as practically possible) are covered, no conflictions/lockups occur, resource use is reasonable.

Much fun. 'Bit addictive.

Or you could grab yourself a nice suite, from, say, Kaspersky, or Avira. Possible (but slim) risk from that is if you get some malware that targets the brand you get, and is actually able to shut it down, you're coozed. (To quote a highly tech term.)

A layered defence might mean, for example, a hardware firewall/router, a software firewall to monitor and control outbound, some kind of blocker for known bad sites, like a Hosts file, an AV, a malware scanner or two (or three, for plenty second opinions), some kind of behaviour blocker (for zero day threats), some kind of application (or personal protocol) to (1) clean out unwanted files, (2) check all applications are plugged/up to date.

I've found that Avast AV works well with a lot of other software, Threatfire ditto, Comodo Firewall ditto (once it's trained), SAS and MBAM and A2 great for second opinions (and should a bit of cleaning actually be needed), MVPS Hosts file a useful blocker - which also prevents a lot of ads, and disabling scripts on the browser/running adblock plus (a Firefox extesion) caps it off nicely.

There are many applications from different vendors that work well together. And probably a few that don't. You need to try a few combos out, with variations, if you want to go that route. Check that all the holes (as much as practically possible) are covered, no conflictions/lockups occur, resource use is reasonable.

Much fun. 'Bit addictive.

Or you could grab yourself a nice suite, from, say, Kaspersky, or Avira. Possible (but slim) risk from that is if you get some malware that targets the brand you get, and is actually able to shut it down, you're coozed. (To quote a highly tech term.)

Wow! Thanks. 'Bit frightening - smell after a lot of work & computer knowledge. I think a nice all-in-one package my be better for me and my capacity, after all.

Atnes

Hope I haven't put you off the idea of putting together your own "suite", it's not actually that difficult, and usually there'll be a user around (found via Google search) that has the same setup you're thinking of using, and who has commented on the setup.Here is a search example of the sort of thing I mean.

Of course, the price is often right, too!

Hope I haven't put you off the idea of putting together your own "suite", it's not actually that difficult, and usually there'll be a user around (found via Google search) that has the same setup you're thinking of using, and who has commented on the setup.Here is a search example of the sort of thing I mean.

Of course, the price is often right, too!

Dear Tarq57,

Well, you did not put me off exactly, though you did frighten me a bit, hahaha, but this isn't too bad; a healthy 'stage fright' is much better than thoughtless courage and enthusiasm, I suppose. Thanks for the link, though, a lot of useful conversation, priceless tips etc. It seems to me, however, that compared to me everybody else is an expert in the field :blink: - and that I really might produce a perfect AV-tools-jam in my PC.. I still haven't decided what to do. At the moment, I am tersting the ZOne Alarm for free - 12 days trial left - but I am definitely not going to purchase it. It's too expensive. ... Best AV protection seems to be a never-ending dilemma (or trilemma, for that matter, hehehe), right? No wonder...

Thanks again, Atnes

Best AV protection seems to be a never-ending dilemma (or trilemma, for that matter, hehehe), right? No wonder...

What I use

I would recommend:

  • avast Anti-Virus
  • Comodo Firewall Pro (Firewall ONLY)
  • Windows Defender for free resident protection or Malwarebytes Anti-Malware if you'd like to support this excellent program.
  • SpywareBlaster to protect your browsers
  • Firefox

I do not use a software based firewall as my ISP supplied DSL modem has a built in hardware firewall and a software based firewall slowed down my browser too much.

I'm starting to like Avant browser a lot:

http://www.avantbrowser.com

Also read Dynamic Security Protection: Reviewing IE7 Security Enhancements:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community...gmt/sm0306.mspx

IE7 with IE7Pro has more features than bare bones Firefox that requires security vulnerable and memory hungry add-ins and extensions to equal IE7Pro.

IMHO security starts with the users brains, then second, using a secure operating system. That isnt XP....Vista, Linux, BSD etcetc is.

I use a nat router, Vista firewall, Windows Defender and seem to bounce around between Avast, Antivir etcetc. Im using Firefox 3 RC3 as current builds of IE8 are unstable and not ready for public beta. Though I will probably goto IE8 when I can as FF3 does not have the reduced permissions mode that IE has without using something like sandboxie.

I would recommend:

* Kaspersky AV

* Zone alarm pro

* Superantispyware

* SpywareBlaster to protect your browsers

* Firefox

I do not use a software based firewall as my ISP supplied DSL modem has a built in hardware firewall and a software based firewall slowed down my browser too much.

I'm starting to like Avant browser a lot:

http://www.avantbrowser.com

Also read Dynamic Security Protection: Reviewing IE7 Security Enhancements:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community...gmt/sm0306.mspx

IE7 with IE7Pro has more features than bare bones Firefox that requires security vulnerable and memory hungry add-ins and extensions to equal IE7Pro.

Thank you, YoKenny! Great links!

Atnes

I would recommend:

* Kaspersky AV

* Zone alarm pro

* Superantispyware

* SpywareBlaster to protect your browsers

* Firefox

Hi, Soulja, how much did you have to pay for all this? ZoneAlarm pro is not free, is it? What about Kaspersky? And why Firefox? I dropped Firefox and am back to IE again.

Greetings, Atnes

I would recommend:

  • avast Anti-Virus

  • Comodo Firewall Pro (Firewall ONLY)

  • Windows Defender for free resident protection or Malwarebytes Anti-Malware if you'd like to support this excellent program.

  • SpywareBlaster to protect your browsers

  • Firefox

Thanks, Tarun. Why Firefox?

Best, Atnes