Re: Security and Virus programs

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

Amy17 wrote:
What is the best software download for security and viruses for Windows Vista Home 1 32bits thats free?


You'll get nearly as many differing opinions as you will responses.

I'll start by saying that I don't think any security "suite" is a good choice. It'd be better to use smaller, less-resource-draining stand-alone products. And, having had personal experience with Verizon's business practices, I certainly wouldn't trust anything they offer. Even if the product/service itself is fine, there'll be hidden costs and "unadvertised" conditions and limitations associated with it.

I used, and recommended, Norton Antivirus and then Norton Internet Security, for many years, on Win98, WinNT, Win2K, and WinXP, all without any significant problems. I had used McAfee prior to that. But it's been several years since I've been tempted to try McAfee products. Their quality seemed to take a steep nose-dive after they were acquired by Network Associates.

However, when my subscription to Symantec's updates for Norton Internet Security 2002 came up for renewal (at a cost substantially higher than the preceding year's subscription), I decided to try less expensive solutions. I downloaded and installed the free version of GriSoft's AVG (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php ). It proved to be easily installed, easy to use, and quite effective. Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised to see a small but very noticeable improvement in my PC's performance, once I'd replaced the Symantec product. Another free (for personal use) anti-virus product is AVAST! 4 Home Edition (http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html), which is what I've used without problems on both WinXP Pro and Vista Business.

For a recent comparison of anti-virus products:

Retrospective / ProActive Test
http://www.av-comparatives.org/

Vista's built-in firewall is perfectly adequate for most people. While it's not quite up to the ease-of-use standards of Kerio or ZoneAlarm, it has been noticeably improved over WinXP's version.

There are two interfaces for Vistas built-in firewall:

1) A simplified one accessed through the Control Panel that is the only one most people see. To further supplement this view, Sphinx's Vista Firewall Control http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/) is a piece of freeware that makes the Vista Firewall much more easily manageable to the average user.

2) And the more advanced "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security (WF.msc), accessed via the Start Menu's Administrative Tools folder, for the experienced user who wants more granular control.

To find and/or deal with issues caused by any sort of "adware" and/or "spyware," such as Gator, Comet Cursors, Xupiter, Bonzai Buddy, or KaZaA, and their remnants, that you've deliberately (but without understanding the consequences) installed, two products that are quite effective (at finding and removing this type of scumware) are Ad-Aware SE from www.lavasoft.de and SpyBot Search & Destroy from www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions. It's even possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your system against most future intrusions.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Whats a good security suite for Vista 64 home premium?
    ... However, when my subscription to Symantec's updates for Norton Internet Security 2002 came up for renewal, I decided to try less expensive solutions. ... Vista's built-in firewall is perfectly adequate for most people. ... Sphinx's Vista Firewall Control http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/) is a piece of freeware that makes the Vista Firewall much more easily manageable to the average user. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.security)
  • Re: Comparison of antiVirus/antiSpyware/Firewall Software
    ... I had used, and recommended, Norton Antivirus and then Norton Internet Security, for many years, on Win98, WinNT, Win2K, and WinXP, all without any significant problems. ... However, when my subscription to Symantec's updates for Norton Internet Security 2002 came up for renewal, I decided to try less expensive solutions. ... Vista's built-in firewall is perfectly adequate for most people. ... Sphinx's Vista Firewall Control http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/) is a piece of freeware that makes the Vista Firewall much more easily manageable to the average user. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.general)
  • Re: Vista Firewall is worse than independent Firewall or not?
    ... wondering if the Vista firewall is worse than independent firewall, ... I don't see any reports from vista firewall, ... A simplified one accessed through the Control Panel that is the only ... it is incumbent upon each and every computer user to learn ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.security)
  • Re: Firewall Problem
    ... Vista's built-in firewall is perfectly adequate for most people. ... Sphinx's Vista Firewall Control http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/) is a piece of freeware that makes the Vista Firewall much more easily manageable to the average user. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.security)
  • Re: Firewall settings?
    ... Vista's built-in firewall is superior to that of WinXP, and intended to meet the simpler needs of most home consumers. ... And the more advanced "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security," accessed via the Start Menu's Administrative Tools folder, for the experienced user who wants better control. ... One 3rd-party add-on (Sphinx's Vista Firewall Control http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/) can make the Vista Firewall a bit more easily configurable. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.security)