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Anti Virus, Internet Security Application

Scottie_ukScottie_uk
edited July 2008 in Chit chat
Can someone reccomend me a good anti-virus / internet security solution?

I was just about to buy Norton IS 2007 then I read the reviews on Amazon. Looks like I'm going to steer away from using that one.

Anybody got any reccomendations free or otherwise?

Scottie_UK
Post edited by Scottie_uk on
Calling all ASCII Art Architects Visit the WOS Wall of Text and contribute: https://www.yourworldoftext.com/wos

Comments

  • The StargliderThe Starglider
    edited October 2007
    Antivirus - AVG Free (http://www.grisoft.com)
    Firewall - Get a router
    Spyware - Spybot Search And Destroy and Adaware (get both).
  • psj3809psj3809
    edited October 2007
    Read some bad reports about McAfee but i've used it for about 6 years and its been fine.

    I've got McAfee virus checker and Firewall.

    Also use Spybot and Ad-Aware to scan
  • TriadDevelopmentsTriadDevelopments
    edited October 2007
    The Starglider wrote: »
    Antivirus - AVG Free

    Or Comodo (very good - though takes a while to "train"):).
    The Starglider wrote: »
    Spyware - Spybot Search

    And make use of the "Teatimer":D

    Also.... Run ccleaner occasionally.
  • Scottie_ukScottie_uk
    edited October 2007
    I'm almost thinking about bying Kasper Spy, Amazon has 82 reviews and almost all are very positive as opposed the reviews of CA-antivirus and Norton where nearly all reviews are negative.

    Anyone had expreience with Kasperspy?


    Scottie_UK
    Calling all ASCII Art Architects Visit the WOS Wall of Text and contribute: https://www.yourworldoftext.com/wos
  • The StargliderThe Starglider
    edited October 2007
    Scottie_uk wrote: »
    Anyone had expreience with Kasperspy?

    Nope, too busy using very good free software! :p
  • LaserLaser
    edited October 2007
    I removed the demo of Norton/Symantec that came with my machine because it was a total PITA. Restricting what the user is able to do (and incidentally slowing the machine and eating half the memory) is not the way to make your computer "safer". (A classic one was dynamically removing words like "ad" and "banner" from any HTML page... :roll:) ZoneAlarm used to be OK, but since ZoneLabs got bought out, it turned into a crash-prone mess. :evil:

    Be wary of expensive commercial virus scanners and anti-spyware programs that claim to detect more than anyone else's. There's more than a few conspiracy theories that suggest these "find" stuff that isn't there just to make you feel you've spent your money wisely. And several expensive ones have tested as worse performing than cheap/free ones.

    Don't forget, few of these things prevent the virus/spyware getting on your machine in the first place, they just tell you about it after the fact or limit the damage. Nothing can replace good practices to prevent problems.

    I second Starglider's suggestions (particularly get a decent router with a firewall) of free solutions. You can also still use a software firewall to have better control of outgoing traffic.

    I personally use:

    Virus scanner: AVG free.
    Anti-spyware: Spybot & MS Defender.
    Firewalls: Router & Comodo.

    I hardly ever run scans and I've not had a problem... Yet.
  • Scottie_ukScottie_uk
    edited October 2007
    Thankyou for your advice,

    I have read the reviews on the Web and I'm going to go with KasperSpy 7.0

    I got three Licences for ?25 wich aint bad. I plan to use two licences on a dual boot machine I am soon to build and the other on my laptop.

    As for a Firewall, I use a NetGear router/asdl modem combo which seems pretty good a stopping the crap getting in. But mybe I sould also install Comodo.

    Thanks,

    Scottie_UK
    Calling all ASCII Art Architects Visit the WOS Wall of Text and contribute: https://www.yourworldoftext.com/wos
  • FRGT/10FRGT/10
    edited October 2007
    The Starglider wrote: »
    Antivirus - AVG Free (http://www.grisoft.com)
    I used AVG until I installed Avast which found a few more viruses AVG didn't even catch
    Firewall - Get a router
    I use Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall, but I guess router is better
    Spyware - Spybot Search And Destroy and Adaware (get both).
    I second that :)
  • The StargliderThe Starglider
    edited October 2007
    Scottie_uk wrote: »
    Thankyou for your advice,As for a Firewall, I use a NetGear router/asdl modem combo which seems pretty good a stopping the crap getting in. But mybe I sould also install Comodo.

    It's generally not a good idea to have two firewalls running at the same time. I have my router set up nicely from my Netgear router and have no troubles at all.
  • ArjunArjun
    edited July 2008
    Having installed a netgear router with firewall turned on, do I really need Comodo personal edition to be also running in the background? I read somewhere that a combination of h/w and s/w firewall is best form of defense.

    However, having just put my router firewall through Shields Up! and finding that it has passed all the test with flying colours, I wonder if I can drop Comodo entirely. Any suggestions?
    Zero - A modern Spectrum emulator for Windows.
    Bytes:Chuntey - Spectrum tech blog.
  • mel the bellmel the bell
    edited July 2008
    contrary to what SG said you can use two firewalls without difficulty its AV's that you should only have 1 running of

    i have comodo running but find it way too strict and cant seem to add my utorrent to it so it blocks most of the traffic, so when im running utorrent i close comodo and have M$ firewall running so i get better traffic, although ive recently started getting a problem thats scuppered that plan :(
    now when i close comodo and run utorrent, my connection freezes up after a time

    i really really do need to reinstall windows, but cant be arsed tbh :(
    Professional Mel-the-Bell Simulator................"So realistic, I found myself reaching for the Kleenex King-Size!" - Richard Darling
  • zx1zx1
    edited July 2008
    I've been using AVG for about 18 months now and 've had no major problems. I used to use Norton when i first got my computer but i had 3 or 4 major virus attacks. Plus it was restricting what sites i could access and was also stopping me playing various games so i got rid of it. AVG is much better, very easy to use and set up.
    I also use another application called Crap Cleaner which gets rid of all the unused files lying around the hard drive. It's a really handy application that everyone should use.
    The trouble with tribbles is.......
  • MattLambMattLamb
    edited July 2008
    I use Avast! antivirus, McAfee Personal Firewall, and Lamasoft Adaware to keep spyware down. Touch wood I've never had a problem with any of these, although Adaware will confuse Avast! for spyware during some scans, but I think this is quite common for other spyware apps.
  • chop983chop983
    edited July 2008
    When I signed up with Sky as my ISP I got McAfee Internet security free with it, it was great I was so secure I couldn't get on the internet
  • Bermondsey BobBermondsey Bob
    edited July 2008
    Scottie_uk wrote: »
    I was just about to buy Norton IS 2007 then I read the reviews on Amazon. Looks like I'm going to steer away from using that one.


    I've been using Norton for a few years now, but I'd say to stay away from it. It's a massive system drain, plus, it's just let a moterfucker of a virus through that has made my old pc useless to the point where I have had to take it in to get lookd at professionally. Norton was set to it's highest settings too :(
  • WinstonWinston
    edited July 2008
    No virus checker. Practise safe computing instead.

    At work, virus checkers have done more damage than they've actually prevented. On two occasions, Symantec has quarantined bits of the W2K3 Server Resource Kit - it's a good job we weren't using those parts as part of an internal script. Symantec has also quarantined Windows system files in the Chinese version of Windows, causing machines to be unbootable.

    The only virus infection we've seen wasn't even detected by Symantec. It happened in the days before we had W2K3 server for the desktops and group policy, and someone connected their laptop directly to the internet (something that group policy now prevents). Symantec couldn't detect this particular one until a good week after it happened.

    So it's been worse than useless. Keep your system updated, don't download random crap, when you download non-random crap verify it's really coming from who you think it's coming from, don't use Outlook Express, turn off HTML email, and run a firewall. Don't run as administrator.
  • robert@fmrobert@fm
    edited July 2008
    Scottie_uk wrote: »
    Anyone had expreience with Kasperspy?

    ITYM Kaspersky. :p

    It's the one my email provider uses to scan mail (Full and Enhanced accounts only, sadly)...
    I never make misteaks mistrakes misyales errurs — oh, sod it.
  • robert@fmrobert@fm
    edited July 2008
    AVG Free was good -- until it was upgraded to version 8. :( In this version, the automatic scan scheduling is disabled, which to my mind defeats the purpose of having antivirus software. :x

    I think I might upgrade to Avast...
    I never make misteaks mistrakes misyales errurs — oh, sod it.
  • RNDRND
    edited July 2008
    give nod32 trial a go and see what you think. its very light and very good at catching them.
    Facebook @nick.swarfega Twitter: @sw4rfega
  • Steve(spt)Steve(spt)
    edited July 2008
    I now use one of these on my Windows system, a Yoggie

    I don't have any AV/Spyware software installed now its all in a hardware USB linux computer. Its increased the speed of the system by around 25% - 30%.

    Theres always a down side,... uploading very large files 32Meg - upwards, can be a bit slower.

    The best part is you can unplug it when you don't use the net, or use another machine take to yoggie with you.
  • WinstonWinston
    edited July 2008
    aowen wrote: »
    That won't protect you from MS Office based malware unless you've got Auto Update set to forced for every installed PC though.

    Or you don't run MS Office. MS Office is far too 'featureful' and expensive for home use. Even though we can get a home license based on work for about 17 quid, I'd rather use OO since it does everything I need it to do and runs on my desktop system (which Office will not, without farting around with Wine).
  • ewgfewgf
    edited July 2008
    Antivirus: AVG or WinClam (both are very good),
    Antispyware: SuperAntiSpyware,
    Firewall: Zone Alarm

    also, whilst you're downloading, you might want to consider downloading at:

    Irfanview: best graphics viewer ever,
    Firefox: (I love it, some people prefer Opera, you choose, but don't use Internet Explorer),
    Mail Washer: Detects and deletes spam e-mail,
    VLC Media Player: To play all video formats - I prefer Zoom Player, but VLC playes everything I've ever seen,
    MP3Gain: Equalises the volume level of your mp3 files,
    WinAMP: You've probably got this already, but if not the you should get it, it's a very good mp3/wma/etc music player,
    Foldersort: Sorts the music on an mp3 player into alphabetical order.

    Everything in this post ifs freeware, so it won't cost you a penny to try.
  • Dave FountainDave Fountain
    edited July 2008
    Round of applause again for CCLEANER... not only does it clear an awful lot of crud off your system, it cures your registry and stops the wife from seeing all the porn you've looked at... so I hear....
  • mermanmerman
    edited July 2008
    People should be on the lookout for "Vista Antivirus 2008", it's actually a virus that attacks Windows XP (and is an updated variant of "XP Antivirus 2008")
  • zx1zx1
    edited July 2008
    whats the difference between adware and malware? Does anyone know?
    The trouble with tribbles is.......
  • mermanmerman
    edited July 2008
    zx1 wrote: »
    whats the difference between adware and malware? Does anyone know?

    Adware usually just sends you pop-ups
    Malware is malicious, actually modifying your system (like the Vista Antivirus 2008 one above, which messes with your Security Centre in XP...)
  • rich_chandlerrich_chandler
    edited July 2008
    Winston wrote: »
    No virus checker. Practise safe computing instead.
    Wheres the fun in that?
    I wanna tell you a story 'bout a woman I know...
  • ArjunArjun
    edited July 2008
    How about somebody answering my query from 2 pages ago??! You vicious bastards*!




    * Fawlty Towers anyone?
    Zero - A modern Spectrum emulator for Windows.
    Bytes:Chuntey - Spectrum tech blog.
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