Topic: Opinions needed...

[Centurus]

I'm putting the finishing touches on a computer for a friend of my mother's.

The system is already up and running, so hardware opinions are not needed.

What I need are opinions for a firewall/antivirus package.

What do you guys think are the best ones available within a $75 price range.

The system runs fast, and has enough system resources, so I'm not too concerned with how the programs will affect overall system performance, but more concerned with the best security and protection possible.

Please post thoughts.

[The Bar-Abbas Anomaly]

 
My honest opinion is that the built-in Windows XP firewall is very good, simple, easy to configure and use and free.

I would also recommend AVG v7.5 which is still a free product and is comparable with Symantec, TrendMicro and McAfee products.

All the big PC Security companies are bloating their software these days trying to one-up each other...  You must have an A/V-Anti-Spyware product, but that's all you really need it to do.  Don't re-invent the wheel and replace the perfectly good built-in firewall.  Don't add on all these extra 'features' (McAfee is up to what... 10 or 12 seperate processes running these days?!?) that I don't want or need which make my computer run like crap.

Seriously, just stick with the basics.  All that extra bloatware won't protect someone who deliberately invites a virus or spyware in by doing something stupid anyway.

[Pestalence_XC]

Agreed.. XP or Vista Firewall is just fine that is unless you have a router.. router hardware firewall is much better.. but for the basics.. the OS firewall is just fine.

I also agree with Grisoft AVG anti-virus.. it is free, protects the web browser, scans incoming files, and scans email.. just set the heuristics to high and you should be just fine.

Adding software like Norton or Macafee will slow your system down to 1/3 it's speed because it installs all over your system and it invades your system much like a virus does.

Other security that I would put in is Ad-Aware 2007 and Spybot Search and Destroy..

Ad-Aware will clear out some unused files and also find tracking cookies..

Spybot is good at finding key loggers and browser hijacks...

also if you are familiar with system operating files, then I would also look into Hijack This and get the last version that was free.. the guy who made it designed it for manual removal of hijackers that other stuff like Ad-Aware and Spybot can't get rid of, however you have to know what you are removing since it gives you a file by file breakdown of what is running on your system.. Hijack This is to be used with extreme care..

McAfee now owns Hijack This, but the last free version is a merlin.org..

Hope that this helps.

[Dracho]

I like McAfee for "friend's" PC's because you can install it from online, have it update itself, and never bother you again.

[Rod ONeal]

I use AVG 7.5 and Comodo firewall. Both are free and work.

[Centurus]

Any other opinions?

I've been thinking about AVG myself.  It's already got Ad Aware and Windows Defender installed.  I tend to use those programs myself and I don't have problems.  Spybot, of the several times I used it, gave me nothing but problems, so I swore I'd never use it again.  And the built in firewall for XP, in my opinion, is utter trash.  That's why I asked for recommendations for a firewall. 

I'll look into Comodo and see how that is. 

And I haven't used McAfee for a very long time.  How does it compare these days, and how much does it run?

[Dracho]

I have McAfee's security center, which conains AV, a firewall, and a bunch of other junk.  I play $50 a year for a 3 PC license.

Here's a link to all the "stuff" in their products

http://us.mcafee.com/root/landingpages/affLandPage.asp?affid=0&lpname=14229&cid=39235


My work PC uses Sophos, but I have no idea of the cost.

[Bonk]

I've been using Clamwin on my flash drive. I'm rather disturbed by AVGs licensing model changes recently. 7.5 will be the last free version from what I can tell. I might just go with Clamwin on my main machine as it suits my style, low overhead, scans when I tell it to.

If you are going to pay then NOD32 and Sophos both come highly recommended.

Software firewalls are evil (never run two - never). That said... um I was going to recommend Blackice, but it seems they're killing it next year.

Whatever you do, do not use Norton's firewall, it is truly evil - when the subscription expires it will not allow you to connect to anything on the web except Nortons subscription renewal site... enter your visa number please... I'm still amazed that they're allowed to get away with such extortion. I discovered this ugly fact on my stepfather's system - I recommended he backup, format and reinstall and never touch Norton again - he caved and paid them - I was disgusted. That is the ultimate Trojan.

The best firewall is user education.

[The Bar-Abbas Anomaly]

 

I've seen a number of really odd behaviors from several different Norton/Symantec products after their license expired...  For instance Norton Anti-Virus 2006 (which included a firewall which wasn't called 'firewall' but 'worm protection'...) expired and suddenly the user could no longer connect to their POP3 mail server.   

Symantec Corporate A/V used to be the way to go if you could get your hands on it, but that's being phased out now in favor of Endpoint Protection - Which sucks so far, for all the reasons I mentioned in my first post.  Maybe MR2 will fix it when it's available in two weeks, but I doubt it...

[Don Karnage]

well ca is a good antivirus and work fine, windows recongniese it and seem good, for a firewall well maybe the one with win xp but i don't use one.

right now no internet at home untill i can pay for one last bill was 400$ because of unpayd bills

[Centurus]

I've been using Clamwin on my flash drive. I'm rather disturbed by AVGs licensing model changes recently. 7.5 will be the last free version from what I can tell. I might just go with Clamwin on my main machine as it suits my style, low overhead, scans when I tell it to.

If you are going to pay then NOD32 and Sophos both come highly recommended.

Software firewalls are evil (never run two - never). That said... um I was going to recommend Blackice, but it seems they're killing it next year.

Whatever you do, do not use Norton's firewall, it is truly evil - when the subscription expires it will not allow you to connect to anything on the web except Nortons subscription renewal site... enter your visa number please... I'm still amazed that they're allowed to get away with such extortion. I discovered this ugly fact on my stepfather's system - I recommended he backup, format and reinstall and never touch Norton again - he caved and paid them - I was disgusted. That is the ultimate Trojan.

The best firewall is user education.

I still use Norton for my firewall and antivirus.  I just don't want to have to pay the money for another copy for this machine my mom is gonna give her friend.

I've never heard of the problems you're describing.  Not too long ago I spent 2 weeks carefully surfing the net cause I was waiting to get the money I needed to get my subscription renewed for my Norton, and during that time, I had no problems surfing the web or accessing e-mail.

Only person I've ever met whose internet didn't work and had an expired Norton program was another friend of my mom's, and it turns out their ISP service was down in the entire area.  Norton is still expired, but they have no problems with surfing the net.

[Centurus]

well ca is a good antivirus and work fine, windows recongniese it and seem good, for a firewall well maybe the one with win xp but i don't use one.

right now no internet at home untill i can pay for one last bill was 400$ because of unpayd bills

Got a link for the antivirus?

[Pestalence_XC]

the question is why pay for Anti-virus.. AVG is free, you also don't have to have a 400 MB install when AVG is only a 39 Mb install.. less system invasive, as well as making sure you are getting full system speed, and so far I have had no errors with patching programs with AVG while it is running with full Heuristics enabled..

Norton has a bad habit of corrupting files.

[Beeblebrox]

I use Avira AntiVir.  The free home version is nice and strong and it updates itself every day with no action required on your part.  The professional version is pretty cheap (Sorry, I can't remember exactly how much it is off-hand.) and it takes care of spy/malware in addition to viruses.  You can get both versions over at www.download.com

[Javora]

Any other opinions?

Spybot, of the several times I used it, gave me nothing but problems, so I swore I'd never use it again.

Have you ever tried a-squared then?

[Age]

I still have ghost of Norton in my system and used the systmac removal tool and it is still there and can get viruses in to no matter what.I use AVG as well.You could also get ZoneAlarm as firewall and antivirus.I would never get Nortan or Mcafee.

[Centurus]

the question is why pay for Anti-virus.. AVG is free, you also don't have to have a 400 MB install when AVG is only a 39 Mb install.. less system invasive, as well as making sure you are getting full system speed, and so far I have had no errors with patching programs with AVG while it is running with full Heuristics enabled..

Norton has a bad habit of corrupting files.

Like I said, I'm not concerned with overall system performance, but with the best protection I can get.

[Centurus]

Ok, I've been reading up on all the recommendations listed here.

AVG offers great antivirus protection, as does Avast!

Comodo and Zone Alarm seem to have comparable firewall protection, and seem to beat out most other programs as well in terms of security.

And I've already installed Ad Aware on the machine in question, since that's what I use and even to this day it still gets good reviews and is still very strong.

Also, I've read some articles on Threatfire.  Any info/thoughts on Threatfire?

My mom's friend isn't as computer oriented as most others I know, so I want to make sure this system has the best protection it can possibly get.

[The Bar-Abbas Anomaly]

 

You're really over-analyzing things here, Pesty... 

 

[Centurus]

You're really over-analyzing things here, Pesty... 

 

He has a very analytical mind, so it's within his nature.  Nothing wrong with that.