1ST Build Success(need firewall , Ect.)

[Charlie W]

I have my new system built and need to know what anyone would suggest as antivirus, firewall, pop up, cookie blocker and so on. I have been using Lavasoft Adaware, AVG antivirus & SpyBot Search & Destroy also Zone Alarm.

I am on dial up right now as I can not get DSL at the present time. The Zone Alarm, AVG & Adaware are easy to use & that is what I would like to use on this system except maybe Zone Alarm as at times it would make my system freeze up. Most of the time I had to disable the Zone Alarm to shut the system down where it would shut down correctly.

I noticed AVG has a firewall now, free I think. On the modem I bought for this computer has Panda Antivirus Platinum on the CD. Anyone know anything about this software?

I looked at another post where Cricket had mentioned alot of programs. Could anyone give the links to these? And what you would use for security & privacy software. I will probably go ahead & use the AVG antivirus and Adaware

MY ears are open to suggestions. Thanks for feedback

[glc]

If you are on dialup, the Windows XP firewall is plenty adequate.

My standard load on customers' machines:

AVG Free antivirus
Spyware Blaster
Spybot S&D
Ad-Aware SE
Crap Cleaner

[newbuilder14]

For one I built a customer I installed:

AVG Free antivirus and Ad-Aware SE. I had Norton pre-installed for her but I haven't heard such great things about it so I removed it.

GLC, what do the customers think when they discover a nice utility named Crap Cleaner on their new PC? Haha.

[Johanna]

If you are on dialup, the Windows XP firewall is plenty adequate.

I'd like to clarify some facts about the Windows Firewall.
When Windows XP was originally shipped in 2001, the "firewall" was called the ICF "Internet Connection Firewall" and disabled by default. "Windows Firewall" is the replacement for ICF installed along with XP SP2 and is enabled by default. Drawbacks to Windows Firewall are
(1) it does not block outbound traffic
(2) it can be switched off by another application
(3) limited reconfigurability (customization) compared to third party firewalls.

Windows Vista's Firewall will have outbound packet filtering, and have advanced options not available on XP's version.

An older computer on dial up with a mature sensible user is okay with just the XP firewall.

My kids have an ancient HP that they surf, get email and IM on, and the computer has the Windows Firewall turned on (along with being behind a router). So far, so good, but they have nothing to lose. My computer is protected by Norton (I know, and I'm not crazy about it either, but I have to support it and it's easier when I run it.) My laptop has the CA suite which I'm very pleased with. (Especially since I got a deal for 3 CA licenses for free after the rebate. I see the deal has changed now, but $10 is still a bargain!)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2479557&Sku=CA07-5215
As the kids get upgraded, they will get the CA program. It's lightweight, easy to operate and effective. Norton has never let me down in 5 years, but it has its quirks. I have seen it wreak havoc on other people's computers, whether from their impatience or inexperience, or just because. Norton can be destructive enough to break XP, it is a huge resource hog and tech support is dicey, and always starts out with "uninstall, reboot, reinstall" which is only going to fix things 25% of the time, and no one wouldn't be asking for help if that solution worked, now would they? Uh-oh, didn't mean to get on my soapbox. In Norton's defense, it is highly customizable, logs all activity thoroughly, updates regularly, can be set to "idiot proof" -and then you don't give the user the password- , can boss the OS when needed, passes all stealth tests, and it has never missed anything yet for me.

I have heard that the new free AVG a/v and firewall is regarded as stable and functional on the GeekstoGo forum where I am a global moderator. That site specializes in security issues, has a lot of the top malware fighters in the world on staff, and an online training program (GeekU), so you might want to check out their expert observations for further information while you are making your initial decision, and then as your protection needs change.
Johanna
http://PrisonSupport.net/forums/images/smilies/soapbox.gif
http://prisonsupport.net/forums/images/smilies/coffeecomp.gif

[kev7555]

Crap Cleaner is called ccleaner. I highly advise everyone to use it regularly. Keeps your computer quick and snappy by deleting temporary files not deleted by XP tools and cleaning up invalid registry entries via the "issues" function.

I switched off of Norton several years ago after seeing multiple customer computers running it becoming very infected. And no, I'm not talking about failure to update or user unawareness. Fully updated Norton AV not finding sometimes hundreds of malware files that were easily detected by AVG. I switched to AVG free edition and have never looked back. I use it on all of my own and customer computers. More info on how Norton and other commercial scanners slow down your system here:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=327&tag=nl.e539

My standard anti-malware package on customer systems is exactly the same as GLC's.

-Kev

[Charlie W]

Thanks to all for feedback. I been sick, still am a liitle better now. Sorry for slow thanks on my part. Thanks again.:)

[JTH]

My standard anti-malware package on customer systems is exactly the same as GLC's.


Sorry to resurrect a thread that's a few months old but I see in your sig Kev that you actually do have one extra piece of software that GLC didn't mention in his list, AGV Anti-Spyware. Do you reckon this would be useful to have on a system as well as the others? It's just I'll be buying a new laptop soon and I want to make sure I get off to a good start and make sure it's property protected with all the best software. Thanks :)

[Charlie W]

It worked for me . I no longer have AVG anti-spyware on my system . If I remember it was wanting to charge a small fee to upgrade & I did not want to pay for that particular program

I have a DSL connection now & the programs I am using are the following : AVG free anti-virus , AVG anti-rootkit ( Beta ) from grisoft.com , SpywareBlaster from http://www.javacoolsoftware.com , Spybot-Search & Destroy from http://www.spybot.info/ , Windows Defender from http://www.microsoft.com/protect/default.mspx , Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool from http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830 , Ad-Aware SE Personal from www.lavasoft.com , CCleaner from http://www.ccleaner.com/ , McAfee SiteAdvisor I downloaded from cnet's download.com and I am using Windows XP firewall . I also use Firefox as my web browser. There is an add-on called IE Tab , you can download from Firefox , that lets you switch between IE & Firefox , by clicking the little icon that will be in the bottom right portion of the system tray if you decide to download .

I have never had any trouble with the above programs or caught any virus & such . I did have some problems from Zone Alarm & uninstalled .

I think Ad-Aware is updating their program soon . I do not know if it will be free anymore or not as I have not checked .

[kev7555]

Oh well, we all resurrect old threads once in a while, whether by choice or pure accident...

I quit using the AVG anti-spyware program. No complaints, it worked fine I just don't need it. The "big three" AdAware SE , Spybot Search and Destroy and Spywareblaster do the job for me.

I just added comodo free firewall to my system and so far I like it a lot.

-Kev

[Unforseen]

I would try nod32:
http://www.eset.com/

[law99]

To add to Charlie's post#8, I have all of that, plus Avg AntiSpyware-SpywareGuard-a2 free-SuperAntispyware-WinPatrol free.
AdAware 2007 has a free version, I didn't have a problem after one use but others went back to the old one. A lot of programs, but many only run manually.

[kev7555]

I checked out NOD32 on several computers a few years back. It was fine but support was nonexistent, and at that time there was no free version, only a 30 day trial.

-Kev