Best Free Software Security

[Levis 0]

Hey guys,Over the years i have gone through paid and free security software, yet i could never satisfy myself with certain elemts of a particular program. Thats why my master system uses linux. Over the years i have found that the best software is sometimes free. Its not bundled and does not use lots of system resources. Some of my favorites include Comod Personal Firewall, AVG Free, Ad-Aware SE Personal and Spyware Blaster. Do you agree that the following solutions can provide better protection then Norton or McAfree? Or do u guys use something basic. Remember that their might be better solutions but are they easy to use. See ya

[HellFire121 0]

I personally don't use AVG but from what i've heard and discovered that it's the best free antivirus program. I have tested some other free antivirus programs such as avast and it just doesn't compare. In one case last year AVG actually detected a virus that my paid for antivirus couldn't - so that says alot.I have also used ad-aware and it detects most spyware and removes them from your computer. In some cases you might find it hangs on a screen and you need to reboot but otherwise it is a great standalone antispyware app.Right now, i'm using norton internet security 2006 and although what people say about it it's fine with me.If you are going for some free security programs i'd recommend this lineup:Antivirus - AVG freeAntispyware - Ad-Aware Firewall - Zonealarm freeThe zonealarm firewall - even the free one provides excellent protection against nearly all attacks. The paid for/subscription versions provide more features such as email filtering and IM protection-HellFire

[Kyro 0]

Compared to Norton or McAfree i would take every single one of them.But compared to other free security solutions thats another story.AVG Free anti-virus does not have the best detection system, nor does it remove infections the best.I personally believe that for the average home user AVG is fine, just set it and forget it. But the problem is that its the home users we need to protect the most and by telling them to just go and download AVG free anti-virus is just making the problem worse. You can install all the security software/hardware you like, but no matter how easy you make it for an average home user to run security software they are still going to be misguided and think they are secure when in fact it could be the complete opposite.The best anti-virus/spy ware/malware isn't a software package, nor is it a piece of hardware, though these do improve your security, they do not form a protective 'bubble' for your computer. You need to teach the users, show them just how their computer gets infected, how data can be easily captured/delete. If you teach users how it happens they learn the ways to avoid it. Exactly what happened in one of my security seminars.I held this one seminar where after 3 lectures i found that they were all of the opinion that if they go out and get *insert security package here* then they are fine and they don't need to worry. But before my next lecture i setup a simple network, that simulated the internet, a home users PC a firewall and a printer. The PC was running Norton 2005 (this was in 2005), and also was set up behind a NAT router with inbuilt firewall. At the start of the lecture i asked everyone in the class if they thought the system was secure and if so, why.90% of the class said it was secure and their reasons were all the same, it had a firewall and anti virus software. I then asked one of the student to go start up the computer and print out a few copies of the class notes i had on a USB thumb drive.This was done, and then afterwards i asked the student why he did what i told him to do. He was rather confused, i then sat at the computer that was the Internet simulation computer and turned off the computer that was simulating being the home users PC completely bypassing the security systems that were implemented. See no matter how much you spend or don't spend on a software package, it can be compromised by users who are oblivious to what could happen, imagine what companies have to go through when they set up a Computer system.I suggest you research some of the techniques that these people who write virus/Trojans/worms/spy ware use. You cant protect yourself from something you know nothing or little about. After all, if you know how something works, you also know how it doesn't work and that is the key to security.

Edited November 4, 2006 by Kyro (see edit history)

[Levis 0]

I think your wrong. If a computer has the right software and a person doesn't browse porn sites then he will be safe. I am the family computer tech and throughout my reign of terror i've struggled with one virus which was pretty scarry. If a computer is secured properly and services are disabled. Its pretty hard to get a system infected. As of right now, if i searched for one of the most infected spyware sites, i would not get affected. It just gets blocked.

[Kyro 0]

If a computer is secured properly and services are disabled.

But you see your basing it on a Home Computer which is 'looked-after' by a person who knows (well we hope he does ) what needs to be done, services/limit user accounts/etc.
However I'm talking about the average home user, who doesn't know how to lock down a computer and just thinks that purchasing *insert security package here* will solve all the problems and they can continue doing what they normally do without getting 'infected'.

[WeaponX 0]

Sometimes it's not browsing those suspicious sites that cause these infections. Even if you type an incorrect web address by mistake it can take you to a site that has some malicious script that will run once you visit it and drop files into your computer. But I do agree with Levis that with the proper software it will be safe for the most part. Nothing is guaranteed...such is life. Something new can pop up and unless these security software programs are psychics, your computer will become infected at that moment.

[Levis 0]

But you see your basing it on a Home Computer which is 'looked-after' by a person who knows (well we hope he does ) what needs to be done, services/limit user accounts/etc.
However I'm talking about the average home user, who doesn't know how to lock down a computer and just thinks that purchasing *insert security package here* will solve all the problems and they can continue doing what they normally do without getting 'infected'.

Well isn't that why we have small independent companies that provide good computer secutiy such as Zone Alarm. Even if you don't tweak the system down, you can still feel somewhat safe. Zone Alarm shuts of most maliscous code and what not. Why are their people who try to hurt regular windows users? Those darn hackers aren't hurting microsoft but the normal folk that just use their PC's to do what thy have to do. Why? That would be a nice thread to start!

[Kyro 0]

Why are their people who try to hurt regular windows users? Those darn hackers aren't hurting microsoft but the normal folk that just use their PC's to do what thy have to do. Why? That would be a nice thread to start!

Ohh i agree, it would be a rather interesting topic to start.

The reason they target the average user is because that is where the least work is involved with the greatest chance of success aka profit.
Only a very very small percentage of "attacks" are actually directed at Microsoft .

Though ZoneAlarm or one of the many other firewalls out there (tiny, Astro, etc) do their job, and do them well i might add, hell i even use some of them.
For the average home user to become, lets say "safe" (i use that very carefully) they will have to learn how it works, but then they wouldn't be average 'dumb' home users would they? They would become the average home user who knows why and how.

Note: I do believe it would be a great topic to start, this "why do black hat hackers target the average home user?". Most of us already know why (money) but isn't it a greater achievement going for the bigger fish?

[nightfox1405241487 0]

Personally, when it comes down to my computer, I just use AVG Anti-Virus and AdAware. I totally skip the firewall and use Windows XP's built in firewall. I know I probably shouldn't, but my router takes 99.9% of everything that attacks me. I've actually have been thinking about adding a hardware firewall for extra protection, just in case something made it through. But ever since I got rid of dial-up and built my network, everything works fine. I have had zero alerts from norton on the other computer about any intrusions being detected unlike the usual one per day when I had good old dial up.[N]F

[NoMore1405241533 0]

No to alli use KasperSky 2006, basic PP2 Firewall and the KasperSky 2006 spywereand Avant have its own POPUP Blokerso i think im all set :)NoMore

[Chesso 0]

II personally just use Ad-Aware, I used to use AVG aswell but it get's annoying with those background processes that have to be running or it complains of corruption and what not, I don't like it to be running 24/7.