Best Anti-Virus & Firewall

[Big Tone]

Hi, I'm sure this will have been discussed somewhere on here before but I'm not having much sucess.

I am using Avast 4 Home and Nvidea firewall (which I think came with my motherboard) at the minute which seems to work well but just to be sure I thought I would ask you guys about the best security products.

Thanks

Tony

[Kuch]

Tony – There is no “best.” Everyone on this site uses different configurations of different programs with differing degrees to success; but I doubt anyone will tell you theirs is the “best”. Having said that, the general consensus (again, this is just generalized thinking) is that multiple spyware/adaware programs, a decent freeware antivirus, and a simple firewall should be more than adequate. There are already several threads on what spyware programs are preferred, so feel free to look those up. Personally, I use AVG Antivirus, spy-bot, ad-aware, spywareblaster, Windows Defender, and XP SP2 firewall behind a router, and I’ve never has an issue. Most people will tell you to stay away from Norton’s and other bundled programs because of their enormous footprint on your system’s performance.

[Big Tone]

Cheers Kuch!

[XenaWP]

Well the more threads on security the merrier.

On my old PC I use Trend Micro PC-cillin. It came with the PC and I just kept renewing the license.

On my own build (new PC), I use Avast anti-virus and Win. firewall with a router. I have a password on the Admin account. I run Spyware blaster and Spybot around once/week. It all seems to work very well, on both units.

[john ranger]

The best I've found so far is NOD32 for Virus. Nod is a small program that does not clog your pc like Norton and Mcafee. Small but powerful

I also use Spybot it's free and Spyblaster also free. Hyjack this is a must have as well also free....

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by Kuch Tony – There is no “best.” Everyone on this site uses different configurations of different programs with differing degrees to success; but I doubt anyone will tell you theirs is the “best”.

Excellent post Kuch.

This issue of what's best is most contraversial but you say it right when you say there is no best.
There are many combos that work well together but no anti-malware application or suite that I
know of is totally effective.

My preference is AVG or NOOD32 for antivirus, combined with SuperAntiSpyware and Spybot
for antispyware. Put them behind a router firewall and Windows firewall for a novice user.
More advanced users can opt for a 2 way firewall such as ZoneAlarm.

Combine all the above with some safe surfing habits you will reman clean.

---pete---

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Petef56 My preference is AVG or NOOD32 for antivirus, combined with SuperAntiSpyware and Spybot for antispyware.

I've never heard of SuperAntiSpyware before...is it legit and if it is, is it good? Got any links to reviews or information?

Cricket

[Ahura]

Sound really suspicious to me. I use AVG AV, Ad-Aware, A-Squared, WIndow Firewall and those are pretty much is. I heard that AVG has free Firwwall too, but is it any good?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Cricket I've never heard of SuperAntiSpyware before...is it legit and if it is, is it good? Got any links to reviews or information?

Well, I looked into SuperAntiSpyware and it's a legitimate antispyware program that seems to work fairly well. But while looking into SuperAntiSpyware I found another security program that looks even more promising...it's called Spyware Terminator and the folks over at Spyware Checker seem to think it's pretty good. Might give this one a try.

Cricket

[Kuch]

Originally Posted by Cricket Well, I looked into SuperAntiSpyware and it's a legitimate antispyware program that seems to work fairly well. But while looking into SuperAntiSpyware I found another security program that looks even more promising...it's called Spyware Terminator and the folks over at Spyware Checker seem to think it's pretty good. Might give this one a try. Cricket

Sounds like I just found 2 more tools for my toolbox. Thanks Cricket.

I got this link from TwoRails when I was acquiring about Spyware Terminator just a week or so ago, the review was not too good. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2167808,00.asp

[kev7555]

There are two applications named Spyware Terminator. The one which appears to be legit is from crawler.com.

www.spywarewarrior.com is the most reliable place to check for a program's legitimacy or not.

-Kev

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by Cricket I've never heard of SuperAntiSpyware before...is it legit and if it is, is it good? Got any links to reviews or information? Cricket

Absolutely legitimate.
I'm involved with a group of professional PC techs and within the last year or so
we've switched from various malware scanners to SuperAntiSpyware (SAS).
One such tech by the name of Seth, has done extensive comparative tests and
we all have had great success in our businesses cleaning severely infected PCs by
using SAS along with other malware cleaners. Each one of us uses our own favorite
combo of anti-virus & anti-spyware software but we all have added SAS to our
arsenal of malware detectors.

SAS home page...
http://www.superantispyware.com/

Here's a recent comparative test of SAS Vs AVG Antivirus/Anti-spyware combo.
http://www.kickenhardware.net/forum/...ead.php?t=9250

All I can say is try it and see how it compares to your current scheme of
malware protection/cleaners. I'd be interesting in hearing how you make out.

---pete---

[Negeva]

Thanks for the SAS link - never heard of it before. Be able to give it a good test this weekend as bound to get a nicely infested malware machine from a client.

[mikeL]

besides running the usual AV & Anti-spyware programs, I also use a modified host file which keeps a lot of the spyware, and other crap off my computer. http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

[Captn]

I use NOD32 for anti-virus http://www.eset.com/


Im trying out this firewall Jetico http://www.jetico.com/

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by Negeva Thanks for the SAS link - never heard of it before. Be able to give it a good test this weekend as bound to get a nicely infested malware machine from a client.

Ok, great. For the past several years I've been using AVG, NOD32, Spybot, Adaware, and
Hijackthis to clean infected PCs. SAS is something I've added in the past year which has
out performed both Spybot and Adaware for spyware.

As you probably know, over the past year or so, Spybot and Adaware have fallen back a
bit in their abilities to detect and clean malware, so I've mostly replaced Adaware with SAS.
However, in recent months, I've noticed that Spybot is detecting thngs that SAS has missed.
It gave me the impression that Spybot has had a come back. Then I visited the Spybot
site and discovered they indeed had made some recent imporvements and have released
a new 1.5 version in Sept 2007. The improvements also effect version 1.4 and evidently
that's what I've been seeing.

Bottom line, no single anti-malware product has ever done a complete job and it's
wise to use multiple anti-malware products as kind of a check and balance on each
other. Things are constantly changing in the malware detection world.

In recent months I'm noticing that Spybot has improved and SAS fell back a bit.
I hate to say it, but in recent months, Norton seems to be detecting a lot more
malware then it has in past years. The NIS version is still a big bloated package but
it seems to be keepng systems clean that I've recently come across. I can't
say much about Adaware v1.06r1 because I'm not using it that much lately.

Oh yeah, one last thing... ESET/NOD32 had recently come out with an online
scanner.. http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/

---pete---

[glc]

I've noticed lately that Spybot is doing a great job. I've also noticed that Ad-Aware 2007 is a bloated pig that doesn't find squat. I've been relying on Spybot and AVG Antispyware lately, I think I'll replace Ad-Aware with SAS.

[Cricket]

I installed both SuperAntiSpyware and Spyware Terminator yesterday. The user interface for both programs are very different from one another...SAS is very spartan and business-like while ST is "prettier" and much nicer to look at. I ran scans and they both came up clean, but then I haven't been hit with anything in ages so I wasn't really surprised.

SuperAntiSpyware is a little lighter on the footprint but it gives you a little more control over most settings if you like to tinker. Real-Time Protection and Scheduled Scanning are available if you upgrade to the Professional version.

Spyware Terminator is a nice package that includes Real-Time Protection but I have that disabled for now...will mess with that later. It even lets you manually scan your cookies and favorites list and has an Immunize feature but I think it's different from Spybot's Immunize. I haven't tried that yet either. You can even schedule a scan or a update and scan. And it gives you the option to install Clam AntiVirus if you don't already have an AV.

Currently I have AntiVir, AVG Anti-Spyware, AVG Anti-Rootkit, Ad-Aware SE, Spybot: S&D, SpywareBlaster, Cookie Wall, IE Spyad, a modified HOSTS file, CoolWebShredder, BlackLight, SuperAntiSpyware and Spyware Terminator installed on this computer...I'm sure it's more than enough protection.

Cricket

[john ranger]

Hi Cricket

I'm trying this new SuperAntiSpyware and I like it a lot. One thing tho I'm getting this weird sript thing check att. Could this be a font problem?? It happens on another program as well.

Is there a way to go to a defaulth font? Notice on the right side the sript is missing....

Thanks

[glc]

Are you using large screen fonts?

[john ranger]

Originally Posted by glc Are you using large screen fonts?

Not sure. Where would I find that out?

[glc]

Display properties.

[john ranger]

Nope

[glc]

Wrong place - advanced, general.

[john ranger]

Got it. It's on Normal

[Kuch]

John - They have a "contact us" button on their site. Drop them a line and see what they say. Post their response here so we can all learn.

[Jaggannath]

This has been an interesting discussion... I've also noticed AdAware really dropped off since I was last on the internet (about 2 years) on my computers, but Spybot seems a good deal. SAS as a name sounds so dodgy, but I'm glad it's actually effective, might have to give it a try. As for antivirus, AVG is still doing the job for me, although it seems to require updates a lot more regularly than I remember.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by john ranger Got it. It's on Normal

It's not that one either.

Right click on the desktop and then click on Properties. Hit the Settings tab and then click the Advanced button. Make sure you're looking at the General tab and check to see what the Display DPI setting is set at.

Originally Posted by Jaggannath As for antivirus, AVG is still doing the job for me, although it seems to require updates a lot more regularly than I remember.

That's actually a good thing...you wouldn't want them to not provide updates with current definitions on the latest viruses in a timely manner.

Cricket

[john ranger]

Sheesh finely got it right