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Probably the Best Free Security List in the World
| Probably the Best Free Security List in the World - Page Index | ||
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25. My Choices and More
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Ako's current choices for protection Free setup (both 32-bit and 64-bit) for my friends and relatives. Here robustness and simplicity are as important as efficiency of protection:
My personal setup for Windows 7:
Scanners:
Backup:
Other security-related programs I use:
1) Use one LUA for ALL everyday use and make another LUA which is used ONLY for banking. The point is, that if the everyday LUA is infected, the infection is almost always limited to that account. (99% safety guaranteed. This of course requires, that you are not yet infected, and don't install malware with adminstrative rights in the future.) and/or 2) Use one browser only for banking and a separate browser for everything else. This gives some extra safety. Prisoners on remand (might be useful, but not recommended)
PC Tools Antivirus Free (retired)
Spyware Doctor (retired) RemoveIT Pro (too many dangerous false positives)
Winpooch (not compatible with XP SP3)
WIPS (PoC-software, very demanding)
Blue Atom, Mint Security Essentials (low detection rate AV)
Emco Malware destroyer, Mysystemexpert, Malware Eraser (low detection rate AM)
Ultrasurf (probably legitimate, but has some strange behaviour)
SpywareGuard (out-of-date)
SecureIT Free (out-of-date)
Ammyy Admin (used too much by scammers)
IObit Advanced SystemCare (All IObit programs: probable MBAM database theft)
IObit Malware Fighter (All IObit programs: probable MBAM database theft)
IObit Unlocker (All IObit programs: probable MBAM database theft)
IObit Random Password Generator (All IObit programs: probable MBAM database theft)
IObit Toolbox (All IObit programs: probable MBAM database theft)
IObit Uninstaller (All IObit programs: probable MBAM database theft)
Norton PC Checkup (False and exagerrated reports)
FSB Antivirus (Beta program with buggy/incomplete features)
BkavHome (no auto-update,outdated,bad international support) NANO (Beta,buggy features) Zoner (private beta) Moon Secure ( engine is outdated ,not under active development,buggy features) CMC Infosec (dangerous false positives) SpyCatcher Express (outdated) WormBlaster (outdated) CA antispyware (outdated ,not under active development) Doing time in jail (not recommended) NoAdware, StopZilla, SpyRemover (rogues)
This list is maintained by volunteer editors ako, J_L & vodomarProbably the Best Free Security List in the World (c) 2009-2013 Antti Koponen |
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Comments
Nice list. Some links point to finnish sites as expected, some other are outdated and other are not relevant, but overall you did a good job, thanks !
Hi!
What links are outdated? (I know there are products that are discontinued, but have included them if I find them still useful.)
Wow Amazing!! Someone can tell me why i didnt get this list by my rss subscription?
You subscribe to a Finnish site? You speak that language?
I really like comprehensiveness and this is it!
Only there are so many choices.
I'd like to know the Editor's Choice and the People's Choice (most popular) for each category. But that opens a whole other can of worms.
I wonder if Gizmo's "Top Pics" could be indicated at least.
I don't really understand the last line of your comment.Please bear in mind that this list is copied from two other sites (with full permission, natch) It gets updated sometimes, so any edits made on this page will then be lost. Have I misunderstood you. PsychEroc?
Hi!
I have tried to have a kind of order "the better more close to top", but this is of course subjective at best.
Great list!
What's the difference between UAC-control and Better UAC?
I thought it would be useful, for example, to put a star by the products that are Gizmo's Top Picks.
You are very welcome to do that, but you'll have to repeat every time the list gets update (we don't know how often that will happen).
Someone mentioned SafeSpace in a comment for another article, but it's not listed here.
It's no longer being developed, but just wondered if you are aware of it AKO?
Thanks for a comment. I decided to leave it out as there are developed alternatives, and for a (policy-based) sandbox I expect full security, which is only guaranteed by continuous development. SP may be still very valid, though.
A good example of a very valid undeveloped product is Processguard. It still blocks processes as well as ever.
Norton has a kind of whitelist included.
If you are willing to help here. we could think about this.
Maybe that's worth explaining in the Article, at the top or somewhere in the bit "This list was kindly provided...
But it's just a sentence, I think.
These are for all practical purposes Windows tools, correct?
It would be nice to see a delimiter of OS applicability...just sayin'.
Just started using Hamachi as a free VPN solution to replace Cisco's non-Vista compatible VPN client software. It ROCKS!
Thanks so much for your efforts to provide this all-encompasing list "of everthing you'll ever need"!!! Am saving it in a Folder in case of future need(s)!!
Hi,
for virtualization I and many people use VirtualPC,
you list "Microsoft" but the name of the program is actually VirtualPC, not Microsoft.
Thanks
Seems you have forgotten LastPass - my favorite pass keeper
thebluejay
Surprised to not see SNORT, or for that matter, an entire NIDS category. Still, nice list that pointed me to a new series of tolls I wasn't aware of. Thanks
This is a great list. I've been around a long time but there are plenty of items I haven't encountered before. I also found a dodgy site but only indirectly from the list. Sometimes I check out the ads! Fantastic effort.
Just a comment. I like free stuff so I can try it for a while but I make a point of buying anything I need that is really good. That way I feel I'm supporting those vendors worth supporting. Usually the paid version is worth paying for so it's a win-win.
"Surprised a program you like is not on the list" - "the list is not complete without...." - "I prefer to use (such and such)" - "Some of the links are outdated" .......... nag nag nag.... bitch...
The list is free people and someone has spent much time and effort to present it to you... that doesn't give you licence to complain.
Try giving instead of taking and complaining. Seems it's true that our value is judged by what we charge for a service.
Twister is NOT free. It has a BUY NOW button. How is that free?
Yep, first thing I noticed too. Lastpass is absolutely brilliant. It is so brilliant, I voluntarily paid money for it!
A very helpful list! Thank you for putting it together.
5*
What about Untagle? www.untangle.com
Free basic firewall to re-purpose hardware (linux-based).
I have no affiliation/investment with this group....fyi
Loki VPN Client (www.projectloki.com). "Loki Network Project is free VPN service and SSL based free VPN server. It is an opportunity to protect your private data (IP address, e-mail/FTP/HTTP passwords, web-sites visited, uploaded/downloaded files and etc...) and bypass certain Internet access limitations you may have at your location."
lloonn
I have to chuckle because this list points out my main problem with free security software -- the multitude of combinations. You have to find an optimal combination of products, avoiding functional overlap, while minimizing security holes. For example, multiple product categories offer what they call HIPS. If my firewall has HIPS, can I turn it off in my anti-malware and/or anti-virus package? Same for popup blockers, or anti-rootkit, etc., etc., etc. I've even gone through the exercise laying it all out on a spreadsheet to try and identify optimal combinations, but came to the conclusion that there's a fundamental flaw here -- these products just aren't designed to work together.
Now, if someone did some actual vulnerability testing with product combinations, I would be very interested in that. Until then, I'm willing to pay for an integrated, full-function security suite.