What is your security setup?

[MidnightCowboy]

Hi Anupam - am I right in thinking that Avast! has dedicated support for message clients? I seem to remember this being one of their active protection modules which you could either leave enabled by default or disable if you weren't into messaging. If so I'm sure this is helping you and I hope you can remain virus free from now on!

[Lassar]

I tried norton; but norton was too much of a nanny software. "No, No, No, must not do that !"

I like security that does not take much resources.

I use Avira antivirus, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, Spyware Terminator, Ad-aware and Spybot search and destory.

I have tried avast, and avg 8 antivirus and online amour firewall; but found them too resource heavy.

-

[Anupam]

Yes Midnightcowboy, you are right, Avast has the instant messaging shield, and i have it on. So yes, maybe thats working . But, i installed yahoo messenger only after i installed a firewall on my PC. So, i still dont know whats working .
Avast has 6 shields: Web, Standard, P2P, Network, Instant Messaging and Email. I just have the email shield disabled, as i dont use any email client.

Lassar, Avast certainly isnt a resource hog. I am using it on my system.
Also, you may add SuperAntiSpyware to your list of softwares. Its a great antispyware, and it just released an updated version too.

[MidnightCowboy]

Hi Lassar - tend to agree with Anupam in that although Avast! uses more resource than Avira it certainly isn't "heavy" in the true sense of the word unless of course you scan while surfing which is guaranteed to rack up the numbers. Talking about resource use (especially memory) I think its important to realize that XP particularly is very good at self memory management. The benefits derived from installing memory optimizers are negligible at best. It's also worth trying not to be alarmed by a reducing number in your RAM display. Memory is best being used by the programs that need it to run efficiently, rather than just sitting as a big fat figure in your tray! If you do need to manipulate memory for one reason or another for your own setup then it's probably still the cheapest hard upgrade you can do so why not increase your overall capacity by getting another card? For information, depending on your motherboard, you cannot sometimes just add another card alongside an existing one or replace an existing one with another of greater capacity. Sometimes it is necessary to use two cards together of the same make and value. If this isn't clear from your PC manual or motherboard help files, usually you can find the answer online via Google. You can mess up your system big time if you get it wrong so it's worth hunting down the right information.

[louis058]

I use Avira Antivir Personal Premium (it was a free 6 month license) as antivirus, and it is backed up by SuperAntispyware and Malwarebytes' Antispyware, I use the Windows Vista Firewall because I don't think I have the need of using a proper firewall like Comodo, and I surf with Firefox, with WOT, Linkscanner Lite, AdBlock Plus, NoScript, and LastPass (for password protection) as security add-ons. That's all the security products I have, and the thing is... they were all FREE!

[wildman]

My O/S is Windows XP (SP3) and will be till this machine dies, then I will be seriously looking at Linux. These are the security programs I use (all free ware).

(1) Spyware Blaster.

(2) Spybot Search and Destroy.

(3) MalwareBytes.

(4) Super AntiSpyware.

(5) AntiVir PE.

(6) Comodo BoClean.

(7) Ashampoo Firewall.

Thanks
Wildman

[Masterchief]

I use Avast, SAS, and am using PC Tools Firewall Plus. Have not experienced any problems with it. I have tried Sunbelt-Kerio, NetVeda, Comodo, and Online Armour. I am thinking about trying Jetico, Ashampoo, the last free versions of Tiny and Sygate. Will probably give NetVeda another try.

[grimbles]

I cannot help noticing that quite a few lists here are devoid of any dedicated real time spyware protection. Some submissions mention MBAM and SAS but the freeware versions of those products do not include any real time protection and as such are being categorised somewhat incorrectly as 'anti spyware'...they are in fact 'scanner/removers'.

There will always be a diversity of opinions and favourites in this area, in reality there is very little between the top freeware anti virus products, any one of them in conjunction with real time anti spyware protection and a good firewall with HIPS component should be sufficient for most....bearing in mind that prevention should always start with a sound 'safe surfing' policy.

My current security arrangements include; Avast, Defender, Online Armor, Sandboxie, Linkscanner and Threatfire.

cheers...JIM

[Anupam]

I agree with grimbles about "safe surfing". If "safe surfing" policy is allowed, there wont be the need for real-time antispyware monitoring, or even a firewall.

For years, i have used internet, with no firewall, and no real-time antispyware monitoring, and i didn't get any serious threat, atleast from my surfing practices. I occasionally did get spywares and viruses in my system, but that came from the network, not from visiting any sites.

That's when i felt the need for a firewall, and now i have started trying out firewalls, but i still don't feel the need of a real-time antispyware.

I want to ask about Ashampoo Firewall from those who have tried it out... is it good? I might try it out, since i am reading its name so much now.

[grimbles]

Anupam - I mentioned the use of real time anti spyware protection mostly because I know a lot of people think they are being actively protected by MBAM, SAS or even Ad-Aware...the free versions of which do not include any real time protection. It is a popular misconception and one which, I feel, needs to be corrected.

I do agree with you, somewhat, about the use of anti spyware with real time protection...mostly because there are only a few free ones available and none of them do a very good job. Also, the popular free anti virus programs are now including more and more protection against various other types of malware, including spyware. It's my opinion that Avast is now leading the way in this area.

I am following your firewall experiences with interest, mainly because, in many cases, they appear to often cause more problems than they are worth. It would seem preferable for many, to choose a firewall which may be slightly less efficient but a lot less troublesome....a judicious compromise!

cheers....JIM