do i need a firewall/antivirus?

[darkside]

i do already have a firewall built into the router im using but do i need a software one aswell?

as far as AV goes im not using one ATM (just reformatted) which one is the best (doesnt use a lot of resources)? cost doesnt really bother me but keep it resonable !!

Thanks in advance for any replys (hopefully ill get some!)

Nathan

[Raskolnikov]

In that case you don't really need a software one especially if you are using Xp with sp2 on top of that. But if you do want use one i can recommend : Computer associates - Trendmicro or Panda. They wont eat up resources like norton does.

[doctorgonzo]

Yes, you absolutely need an antivirus program. I use AVG antivirus, it works well and it is free.

[darkside]

whats AVG like when it comes to resources? i used to use NAV and it took AGES for the comp to get itself into a useable state coz NAV+NIS took ages to load emselves at startup ;/

[doctorgonzo]

I haven't noticed any long slowdowns with AVG, but I do keep my computer on all the time so I rarely restart.

[darkside]

ok im downloading the trial version now, ill have a look and see what its like, thats for the reccomendation

[kev7555]

AVG is (IMHO) the best free anti-virus program on the net. I install it on all customer machines and mine as well. You'll love it. Self updating, totally configurable, easy to use, NOT a resource hog (like NAV MacAfee, etc.)

Stick with it.

-Kev.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by kev7555 AVG is (IMHO) the best free anti-virus program on the net. I install it on all customer machines and mine as well. You'll love it. Self updating, totally configurable, easy to use, NOT a resource hog (like NAV MacAfee, etc.) Stick with it. -Kev.

Another vote for AVG for the same reasons. All my customers love it too.

[RJS2]

Originally Posted by darkside ok im downloading the trial version now, ill have a look and see what its like, thats for the reccomendation

AVG isnt a resource hog like Norton and its free the trial version your talking about is probably the pro you downloaded you will have to pay to keep it,but the free version will let you update it whenever for as long as its for private use.

Free AVG

[DragonNOA1]

AVG works wonders! Plus, you need a virus scanner more than you need a firewall. Get it now!

[Cricket]

Besides a firewall and antivirus, having good spyware blockers installed (along with spyware scanners like Ad-Aware SE, Spybot: Search & Destroy and Microsoft's spyware scanner) is essential to keeping your system crap free. Blockers like SpywareBlaster, SpywareGuard, IE Spyad, a HOSTs file and a Block List file are good additions to your computer if you're serious about security.

Cricket

[darkside]

i use ad-aware SE and that seems to work well, far better than microsofts antispyaware imo

edit: I seem to have dowlonded the trail of the pro version here (wasnt aware it was free) whats better in the pro version over the free version? and also....if i download and install the free version should i un-install the trial first?

[Panama Red]

Yes, uninstall the trial version and download the free version. Adaware is a great product but it doesn't BLOCK any spyware. MS's as well as the ones that Cricket has listed are Blockers that prevent the stuff from even getting on your computer. With Adaware, it has to get on first before you can remove it.

[kev7555]

Spywareblaster for blocking spyware objects.
Spybot Search and Destroy and AdAware SE for scanning out anything that gets past Spywareblaster.

-Kev