Internet Security Suite !

[swaoamit]

Hi Guys,

Well it's my first thread on the forum; so don't be shy to advice me about anything.

Practically I am not either a computer freak nor a net savvy. So, I am pretty much novice as compared to many Moderators on the forum.


I have following questions about Internet Security Suite -

1] Pure Internet Security Suite -
If, I have to purchase latest Internet Security Suite, which one I choose ? I have chosen these (as per my 'novice' knowledge) -

Norton Internet Security Suite 2011
Kaspersky Internet Security Suite 2011
Webroot Internet Security Complete 2011

2] Hybrid Internet Security Suite -
How about these combination -

Norton AV 2011 + Comodo Firewall / Zone Alarm Firewall
Webroot AntiVirus with Spy Sweeper 2011 + Comodo Firewall / Zone Alarm Firewall.
PC Tools Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 2011 + Comodo Firewall / Zone Alarm Firewall.

3] Custom Made Internet Security Suite (only from FREE Versions) -

avast 5 + Sandboxie + Zone Alarm Firewall + ThrearFire/Prevx + Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware/SUPERAntiSpyware .
Comodo Internet Security + ThrearFire/Prevx + Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware/SUPERAntiSpyware .
avira + Sandboxie + Zone Alarm Firewall + ThrearFire/Prevx + Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware/SUPERAntiSpyware .

Ya, I know it's confusing...........but my point is - Why I should pay for something, which is available for free ?

As far as my activities are concerned, well
1. I spend almost 3-4 hours daily on internet
2. I am not DOWNLOAD FREAK but do download some software, games etc. occasionally; say 1 or 2 times a week.
3.Net Banking - much rarely.
4. No shop online.
And...............
..................... that's it !

I am expecting some decent 'n' professional advice......

Thanks !

[MidnightCowboy]

Please appreciate that we will not allow the promotional discussion of any commercial products here.

From my own experience you get little or no benefit from paying for something which is easily obtained elsewhere for free. Even support which was a big selling point for commercial products at one point now seems to be sadly lacking with many of them. You can often obtain a faster and more constructive response to queries via one of the freeware forums such as Avira, Avast! or Comodo.

[MidnightCowboy]

Windows security can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.

There never has and never will be a program, suite or otherwise, that will fully “protect” you despite what the various vendors might say. Even a top proactive multi-engine commercial like TrustPort won't help you any more than Avast! will so why pay for the privilege?

Checking out the monthly test results isn't much help either because the results fluctuate every time you look.

Varying degrees of protection are possible though depending on your common sense and surfing habits, both of which are free. In other words, there's no need to protect at all against risks you do not take. If you surf p0rn, torrent and non verified download sites then forget realtime AV protection full stop. Use something like Sandboxie or Bufferzone instead and try to catch anything you inadvertently let out of the safe zone with HitmanPro and Malwarebytes. There's no point in burdening down your system with high maintenance software which has little chance of providing high risk protection.

Third party firewalls do nothing for your network traffic that can't be accomplished with Windows own firewall except bombarding you with popups you won't know how to answer and offering an auto learning mode so your existing collection of installed malware can set their own rules to phone home with impunity

Currently I think an ideal setup would be Windows firewall, MSE, WinPatrol and BufferZone (while the pro version is being offered for free) together with the two aforementioned scanners. BufferZone is not exactly install and forget though so you'll need to learn about what it does and how to set it up.

[swaoamit]

Thanks for Reply !

Originally Posted by MidnightCowboy

You can often obtain a faster and more constructive response to queries via one of the freeware forums such as Avira, Avast! or Comodo.

Well, I did not post this thread in any of freeware forums u mentioned above b'cause I want to known which option I would choose? I don't known which one is good n which one is worthless? That's why I post it here.

Please appreciate that we will not allow the promotional discussion of any commercial products here.

From my own experience you get little or no benefit from paying for something which is easily obtained elsewhere for free. Even support which was a big selling point for commercial products at one point now seems to be sadly lacking with many of them.

Let me explain something - I am not here to market any of paid products.
As far as discussion is concerned, well it won't happen again and as I say

Well it's my first thread on the forum; so don't be shy to advice me about anything.

[swaoamit]

Originally Posted by MidnightCowboy

Currently I think an ideal setup would be Windows firewall, MSE, WinPatrol and BufferZone (while the pro version is being offered for free) together with the two aforementioned scanners

BufferZone is not exactly install and forget though so you'll need to learn about what it does and how to set it up.

1] As far as I known Windows Firewall is only one way traffic (inbound) in Windows XP.

2] Microsoft Security Essential is very good product for both detection & removal but it did not cover HIPS (zero day malwares).

3] WinPatrol is the powerful system monitor; but why should I monitor my system when I want to surf on internet ? I mean how many guys monitor their system when they r online; I want protection soft while I am on internet not monitoring soft.

4] BufferZone or Sandboxie - An Excellent Choice.

[MidnightCowboy]

Having said this in your first post....

"Practically I am not either a computer freak nor a net savvy. So, I am pretty much novice...."

...I put together a suggestion that I thought would be both useful and manageable for your ability level.

HIPS of any type are not for novice users. Similarly, firewalls which prompt for outbound alerts are only of any use to those who can determine that the program making the request is genuine and that the ports being used are appropriate for such a request. To this end a knowledge of Windows services/components such as svchost is required. If you really must have a third party firewall for XP and are prepared to learn what it takes to set it up then IMO Sygate is still unbeatable. Just delete everything apart from svchost out of the initial programs display and remember to disable all "act as server" entries as new ones get added.

WinPatrol advises against the installation of BHO's, ActiveX components and toolbars so is very relevant for when you are online.

[Av_Crazy]

I would suggest avast free [ 5.1 beta is out and behavior shield is almost ready and it is the most complete free av ] + prevx free [ safe online version ] + winpatrol [light hips but a must needed xxxxnal] + sandboxie [ personally i dont like sandboxie but it is very useful] + online armor [ detailed popups and whitelist and my personal favourite ] or Privatefirewall [ will be recommended by many coz it has great anomaly sumthng :P ] or comodo [ if d+ is enabled then get ready for aspirins or if d+ is disabled then just the firewall also is rock solid ] and i would not recommend zone alarm as the above 3 are very much better than it + hitmanpro , mbam , sas and emsisoft emergency stick for on demand scans
free and powerful

this is my setup except the great sandboxie

[bo.elam]

Originally Posted by swaoamit

1] As far as I known Windows Firewall is only one way traffic (inbound) in Windows XP.

2] Microsoft Security Essential is very good product for both detection & removal but it did not cover HIPS (zero day malwares).

3] WinPatrol is the powerful system monitor; but why should I monitor my system when I want to surf on internet ? I mean how many guys monitor their system when they r online; I want protection soft while I am on internet not monitoring soft.

4] BufferZone or Sandboxie - An Excellent Choice.

swaoamit, after you come here for a few days you ll realize that MCs advice
its worth more than gold. It only took me about 25 seconds, after reading
one post written by him, to realize that.
You brush aside his suggestions but my own set up is exactly as you have it
above, except that I don't use Win Patrol or any HIPS. That set up will keep
you clean if you learn how to use Sandboxie properly.
I rather use my slim set up that works perfectly with no scanners needed
than the set up you looking for with 10 pop ups a day and 7 scans a week.

Bo

[Av_Crazy]

Mc i didnt understand
acc to u windows firewall is all that we need ..no need of third party firewalls ??
i dont thnik third party firewall just alert for inbound and outbound
what about stealthing ports ... the hips part ?

[bo.elam]

Originally Posted by Av_Crazy

Mc i didnt understand
acc to u windows firewall is all that we need ..no need of third party firewalls ??
i dont thnik third party firewall just alert for inbound and outbound
what about stealthing ports ... the hips part ?

I think MCs advice was tailor made for swaoamit. It does not mean that its
for everybody. MC please correct me if I am wrong.

Bo