Which Anti-virus/Firewall do you use?
Sunday, November 5, 2006 by sophiesboy | Discussion: Windows XP
I was curious to find out which anti-virus/firewall programs people liked and used.
Over time I have tried a couple of different programs, and never been extremeley happy with them for various reasons.
I used Symantec/Norton for a while, and it had a tendency to crash my machine every time an update came out, requiring reverification with the company, unloading/reloading the program, etc.
At the moment I am using the McAfee Security Center Suite, and while it works reasonably well, it manages to chew up about 137MB of RAM according to the Processes window in the Task Manager. For a system that has a typical resting usage of about 350 to 400MB that seems like an awful lot to me.
A friend of mine recommended switching to the Grisoft AVG antivirus/firewall, which he said uses far less memory and catches quite a bit more than McAfee. I downloaded a free version and ran it once. It managed to detect three Trojans which McAfee had missed over months of use.
So the question is, for those of us who are just competent enough to unwittingly destroy our machines, but not so competent that we can delve into the minutiae of these programs, what would your recommendation be?
Ideally this would be a single source of programs designed to work together (the biggest selling point for the McAfee suite in my case), not a multi-sourced collection that may or may not work together depending on my ability to dig in and tweak drivers/settings/codes.
I await the collective wisdom with anticipation.
Over time I have tried a couple of different programs, and never been extremeley happy with them for various reasons.
I used Symantec/Norton for a while, and it had a tendency to crash my machine every time an update came out, requiring reverification with the company, unloading/reloading the program, etc.
At the moment I am using the McAfee Security Center Suite, and while it works reasonably well, it manages to chew up about 137MB of RAM according to the Processes window in the Task Manager. For a system that has a typical resting usage of about 350 to 400MB that seems like an awful lot to me.
A friend of mine recommended switching to the Grisoft AVG antivirus/firewall, which he said uses far less memory and catches quite a bit more than McAfee. I downloaded a free version and ran it once. It managed to detect three Trojans which McAfee had missed over months of use.
So the question is, for those of us who are just competent enough to unwittingly destroy our machines, but not so competent that we can delve into the minutiae of these programs, what would your recommendation be?
Ideally this would be a single source of programs designed to work together (the biggest selling point for the McAfee suite in my case), not a multi-sourced collection that may or may not work together depending on my ability to dig in and tweak drivers/settings/codes.
I await the collective wisdom with anticipation.
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Corky_O
Reply #22 Monday, November 6, 2006 2:05 PM
Let's see here.
One can legally use any number of the free versions available, or use an illegally cracked version?
Seems like a no-brainer to me.
Reply #22 Monday, November 6, 2006 2:05 PM
| All of you ppl suck... Use da best software combo ever... ZoneAlarm Pro [easy to crack] Eset NOD 32 [easily 'almost crackable'] |
Let's see here.
One can legally use any number of the free versions available, or use an illegally cracked version?
Seems like a no-brainer to me.
sophiesboy
Reply #23 Monday, November 6, 2006 9:15 PM
Reply #23 Monday, November 6, 2006 9:15 PM
Interesting.
Out of all the posts do far, mine is the only one that mentions McAfee. That tells me something.
I neglected to mention that I do run Ad-Aware and Spybot (although the goal I assume is one day not to need all these separate programs).
In any case, I have a bunch of names to check and programs to evaluate. With a little luck I will be able to ditch McAfee and reclaim some of my memory sometime soon.
Thanks to everyone who responded. All of it was quite helpful indeed.
Out of all the posts do far, mine is the only one that mentions McAfee. That tells me something.
I neglected to mention that I do run Ad-Aware and Spybot (although the goal I assume is one day not to need all these separate programs).
In any case, I have a bunch of names to check and programs to evaluate. With a little luck I will be able to ditch McAfee and reclaim some of my memory sometime soon.
Thanks to everyone who responded. All of it was quite helpful indeed.
kona0197
Reply #24 Monday, November 6, 2006 9:22 PM
Corky - Why would you want to use and/or pay for software from MS to fix or defend thier buggy OS? That's like me paying Dell to run a software patch when in fact it was Dell's fault that the patch was needed.
sophiesboy - I use Mcafee only because it's free to Comcast customers.
Reply #24 Monday, November 6, 2006 9:22 PM
| I am running Windows OneCare Live (beta 1.5) - which is free for 180 days, and then is priced at $49.95 for a 3 computer license (although you can find it on sale for around $29.99). |
Corky - Why would you want to use and/or pay for software from MS to fix or defend thier buggy OS? That's like me paying Dell to run a software patch when in fact it was Dell's fault that the patch was needed.
sophiesboy - I use Mcafee only because it's free to Comcast customers.
Skinhit
Reply #25 Monday, November 6, 2006 10:16 PM
ok
aawww....aren't you sweet
Reply #25 Monday, November 6, 2006 10:16 PM
| Holla Back... |
ok
| All of you ppl suck... |
aawww....aren't you sweet
Skinhit
Reply #26 Monday, November 6, 2006 10:17 PM
you smoke too much crackable
Reply #26 Monday, November 6, 2006 10:17 PM
| [easy to crack] |
| [easily 'almost crackable'] |
you smoke too much crackable
zorven
Reply #27 Monday, November 6, 2006 10:31 PM
Reply #27 Monday, November 6, 2006 10:31 PM
I used to use Norton for years, but switched to Eset NOD32. Probably the best in the wild detection, daily updates, uses only 22MB of RAM.
For firewall, I use my Linksys Router.
For adware/spyware I use Webroot SpySweeper. I have only had it about a month so not much experience yet, but it seems to be highly rated by the various magazines.
For firewall, I use my Linksys Router.
For adware/spyware I use Webroot SpySweeper. I have only had it about a month so not much experience yet, but it seems to be highly rated by the various magazines.
Corky_O
Reply #28 Monday, November 6, 2006 10:41 PM
Kona,
Nice to converse with you again.
The simple answer to your question is: "It is nothing fancy, and it just works".
On a more detailed note:
I have no real issue with XP Pro. It does what I need it to do, and I build my own desktops, and have modified my notebook (a Dell - BTW). I like things basic, simple, and efficient. With OneCare Live, I do not have to do anything but set a couple of schedule options for back-ups and tune-ups and I am done.
With my ISP being Comcast, I can rely (with relative comfort) on a combination of the Comcast spam filters, and the filters in Outlook 2003.
Because I use IE7 exclusively for my browser, I enable the anti-phishing filter, which rounds out a good security package (along with common sense in online activities).
When Vista comes out, both machines are capable of running it (especially the newly built desktop), so I look forward to running Microsoft products for some time to come.
Reply #28 Monday, November 6, 2006 10:41 PM
| Corky - Why would you want to use and/or pay for software from MS to fix or defend thier buggy OS? |
Kona,
Nice to converse with you again.
The simple answer to your question is: "It is nothing fancy, and it just works".
On a more detailed note:
I have no real issue with XP Pro. It does what I need it to do, and I build my own desktops, and have modified my notebook (a Dell - BTW). I like things basic, simple, and efficient. With OneCare Live, I do not have to do anything but set a couple of schedule options for back-ups and tune-ups and I am done.
With my ISP being Comcast, I can rely (with relative comfort) on a combination of the Comcast spam filters, and the filters in Outlook 2003.
Because I use IE7 exclusively for my browser, I enable the anti-phishing filter, which rounds out a good security package (along with common sense in online activities).
When Vista comes out, both machines are capable of running it (especially the newly built desktop), so I look forward to running Microsoft products for some time to come.
kona0197
Reply #29 Monday, November 6, 2006 10:44 PM
Reply #29 Monday, November 6, 2006 10:44 PM
I can't wait for Vista to come out just to say told you so. It's gonna be worse than XP I bet. Only time will tell. Nice to see you again Corky.
Xythe
Reply #31 Tuesday, November 7, 2006 2:13 AM
I love MS products for the better part. Its not so hard to see why they run so well under Windows
I'm glad to hear that you found OneCare valuable. Ive been thinking to shell out the few bucks for it.
Its about time MS developed a decent "security" app.
Thanx!
Reply #31 Tuesday, November 7, 2006 2:13 AM
| When Vista comes out, both machines are capable of running it (especially the newly built desktop), so I look forward to running Microsoft products for some time to come. |
I love MS products for the better part. Its not so hard to see why they run so well under Windows
I'm glad to hear that you found OneCare valuable. Ive been thinking to shell out the few bucks for it.
Its about time MS developed a decent "security" app.
Thanx!
Xythe
Reply #32 Tuesday, November 7, 2006 2:17 AM
Honestly, I beat the crap out of my XP installation. Its been running strong now over a year, and Ive experience very little in the way of buggyness.
Come to think of it, it runs pretty darn well with all my current hard/software.
I dual-bool SuSE 10.1. Someday it may work with all the same as well...I hope.
Reply #32 Tuesday, November 7, 2006 2:17 AM
| Why would you want to use and/or pay for software from MS to fix or defend thier buggy OS? |
Honestly, I beat the crap out of my XP installation. Its been running strong now over a year, and Ive experience very little in the way of buggyness.
Come to think of it, it runs pretty darn well with all my current hard/software.
I dual-bool SuSE 10.1. Someday it may work with all the same as well...I hope.
kona0197
Reply #33 Tuesday, November 7, 2006 4:04 AM
Yeah if I can find a way to make WC show it bigger next to my name. I'll fix it soon.
Reply #33 Tuesday, November 7, 2006 4:04 AM
| kona, can we see your avatar in a bigger size? |
Yeah if I can find a way to make WC show it bigger next to my name. I'll fix it soon.
Jafo
Reply #34 Tuesday, November 7, 2006 9:00 AM
Reply #34 Tuesday, November 7, 2006 9:00 AM
| ZoneAlarm Pro [easy to crack] Eset NOD 32 [easily 'almost crackable'] State-of-the-art Software... you'll never miss a virus or an intrusion with these...!!! |
Probably the one, true, sure-fire way to expose yourself to spyware/data-miners/key-loggers/etc.
As the quote in Aliens goes....
You're "on a one-way rollercoaster to hell....going down....."...
seldomseen
Reply #37 Friday, November 24, 2006 12:17 AM
Reply #37 Friday, November 24, 2006 12:17 AM
Desktop PC:
McAfee Security Center/firewall,AV,etc.
Runs o.k. and updates often. Seems to stop a lot of junk and bugs.
I like their "trace this event" feature, makes me think I can know who pings my addy or scratches on the "shield".
Trying Site Advisor, even though they list us WC as a "yellow" site instead of green.
Also running AdAware/Adwatch Plus simultaneously, both for years, now, w/o a major infestation.
Laptop:
Norton Security Suite(pre-installed), with TrendMicro filter (also pre-installed, by Sony). I guess they run o.k. No bugs or junk...yet.
Bottom line: Both are spendy. Seem to get the job done. Haven't checked CPU or RAM load for either yet.
McAfee Security Center/firewall,AV,etc.
Runs o.k. and updates often. Seems to stop a lot of junk and bugs.
I like their "trace this event" feature, makes me think I can know who pings my addy or scratches on the "shield".
Trying Site Advisor, even though they list us WC as a "yellow" site instead of green.
Also running AdAware/Adwatch Plus simultaneously, both for years, now, w/o a major infestation.
Laptop:
Norton Security Suite(pre-installed), with TrendMicro filter (also pre-installed, by Sony). I guess they run o.k. No bugs or junk...yet.
Bottom line: Both are spendy. Seem to get the job done. Haven't checked CPU or RAM load for either yet.
NinjaG
Reply #38 Tuesday, November 28, 2006 5:39 PM
Reply #38 Tuesday, November 28, 2006 5:39 PM
I am currently using
AVG AntiVirus 7.5
Sygate Personal Firewall
AVG Anti-Spyware
Lavsoft Ad-Aware SE Personal
AVG AntiVirus 7.5
Sygate Personal Firewall
AVG Anti-Spyware
Lavsoft Ad-Aware SE Personal
Rebel1488
Reply #39 Thursday, February 1, 2007 7:17 PM
Reply #39 Thursday, February 1, 2007 7:17 PM
Firewall = Sygate
Anti-Virus = ESET N0d 32
Anti-Spyware = Webroot Spysweeper
Anti-Virus = ESET N0d 32
Anti-Spyware = Webroot Spysweeper
barsinister
Reply #40 Thursday, February 1, 2007 7:23 PM
Reply #40 Thursday, February 1, 2007 7:23 PM
I use the Windows XP firewall (it has always found everything)
I have Avast!4 Home Edition (and it is free from Alwil Software)
I have Avast!4 Home Edition (and it is free from Alwil Software)
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Reply #21 Monday, November 6, 2006 1:49 PM
I never trust a stranger...