Free comprehensive PC security software

[wemorgan]

I've read recent IT threads with interest, especially those relating to viruses and malware. Now having just reinstalled Windows XP I'm keen to install appropriate security software. What's the forum's view on my current setup:

Firewall: Router and Windows XP default
Antivirus: Avira
Spyware: Spybot Search and destroy, IObit 360 Security, Malwarebytes

Is this suitable and enough?

Any advice much appreciated as always.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Firewall: ZoneAlarm
AntiVirus: AVG

Never had any major problems...

 

[ririsko]

My combo is not free, but suitable for me

XP:
Firewall: Kerio Personal Firewall
Antivirus: NOD32
Anti-Spyware: Ad-Aware by Lavasoft

Vista:
Firewall: Windows built-in
Antivirus: NOD32
AntiSpyware: Windows Defender

 

[grober]

AFAIK Windows XP firewall is one way i.e. stops nasties getting in BUT if they do slip past does nothing about stopping illict malware traffic on the way out?? Zone alarm do a free basic 2 way firewall and used to be one of the best out there. Don't know about now? Before installing any firewall make a system restore point in case there's a problem with any future programme functionality. Make sure it doesn't clash with any other security package running since that can adversely affect any of these these programmes performance ZoneAlarm by Check Point - Award winning PC Protection, Antivirus, Firewall, Anti-Spyware, Identity Protection, and much more.

 

[Wizeng]

I've had zone alarm & avg and had very few problems.

 

[azaman]

Firewall: ZoneAlarm
AntiVirus: AVG

Never had any major problems...

Same combo works well for me too.

 

[Sp!ke]

Actually I dont really rate any of the AV companies at the moment.

I certainly wouldnt pay for one as none of the paid for ones have anything on offer anything that actually works any better than the free ones. You only have to glance at the web to see millions of people having to upload Hijack This logs to manually diagnose virus/spyware issues despite having supposedly been shielded by all manner of AV/Spyware software.

But something is better than nothing so Avira or AVG do a half sensible job for free.

Steer clear of any add-on firewall package unless you actually understand what you are telling the firewall to do. All too often people install firewall products and then get bombarded by questions by the firewall asking whether certain processes or services should be blocked or not. Depending on the answers you provide you could be doing more damage than any threat you might have had. This is all too often the root cause of instability and no end of glitches and problems and sometimes these actions can never be ondone, not even after completely uninstalling the product.

ZoneAlarm is the devil incarnate imho and I suspect that it has wasted at least 1000 hours of my life over the years. I am now very reluctant to touch any machine that has any trace of ever having ZoneAlarm installed as It'll likely need rebuilding from scratch to get it fully stable.

So, unless you're an expert, keep it simple and stick with the Windows firewall (combined with a properly password protected and NAT'd router with WPA2 configured for its wireless)

As for spyware, Spybot used to be the killer app as did AD-Aware before it. Neither are effective any more and nor is Windows Defender.

My advice (for the moment) would be to keep it simple, Avira or AVG, Windows Firewall + (NAT'd router). On top of this I'd perform regular updates and scans using Malwareytes. Next month the rule book could be re-written and it'll be all change once more to different products.

The key thing though is to stop and think before doing things. Ask yourself, is that email genuine? Is that hyperlink really taking me to where it says? Is that pop-up really my AV product or a Windows system message or is it somethng that looks similar? If it looks at all suspicious, close it using task manager.

 

[Dryce]

Steer clear of any add-on firewall package unless you actually understand what you are telling the firewall to do. All too often people install firewall products and then get bombarded by questions by the firewall asking whether certain processes or services should be blocked or not. Depending on the answers you provide you could be doing more damage than any threat you might have had. This is all too often the root cause of instability and no end of glitches and problems and sometimes these actions can never be ondone, not even after completely uninstalling the product.

So, unless you're an expert, keep it simple and stick with the Windows firewall (combined with a properly password protected and NAT'd router with WPA2 configured for its wireless)

Agree with this.

 

[flango]

I think that is absolute cracking advice from Sp!ke I too have wasted endless ours on zone alarm and zone alarm pro one of the biggest piles of c*ap out there

Windows firewall + AVG & A Nat'd secure router is the way. Although must admit I am currently running PC Tools firewall on my daughters laptop at the moment and am pretty impressed with that. But running malwarebytes regular is a must.

Keep it simple but secure

 

[stevesey]

Avira + Malwarebytes/Spybot, no firewalls on the desktop PC's here - sat behind a server with virus scanning firewall. None of the resident bits of Malwarebytes/Spybot enabled either - just scheduled scans.

AVG8 seems very bloated - gave up and switched to Avira instead.

Regularly end up disinfecting friends/family (and kids friends) PC's, (although my son is well trained now, when he's not at Uni I can delegate ). Malwarebytes is pretty much THE killer app for me at the moment. Only time it's failed to clean up a PC was my sister-in-laws in the states (accesed via VNC) when my son didn't kill of any rouge looking processes before trying to install it and the install got messed up by one of the infections.

 

[wemorgan]

Thanks all.

I know little about setting up my router (Netgear DG834G). Have I done the right thing in:

SSID - not broadcast
WEP - securirt enabled & 64 bit
NAT - enabled
Firewall - no rules (?)

Does this mean infact my Firewall is not on?


Thanks.

 

[del320]

A timely topic for me too.

Had my present PC (quad-core 2200Mhz, 4GB RAM etc) for a year and the installed Norton 360 is hounding me to renew the sub. Now, I know all the negative views about power-hungry Norton, but it gets a good writeup in the PC mags.

But, rather than fork out 50 odd squids, could I get away with the existing built in Vista firewall and Defender along with my Malwarebytes, CCleaner and something called Rapport which came with my banking stuff?

I have to say my web-browsing is not very adventurous. - and I'm not wireless.

 

[Frank O' Phile]

+1 for the AVG - ZA combo for XP.

then just AVG with defender on Vista \ W7.

wemorgan, you should configure your router from WEP to WPA2 for better security.

I'm currently running Ubuntu on my laptop with no security at all. Do I need it? What's available?

 

[verytalldave]

Malwarebytes in its free version is not a resident anti-malware scanner. Malware can still find its way onto your machine if you are unlucky - or visit iffy sites. And you need to manually activate the scanner and recieve updates.
To get the full resident version you must subscribe - you will then be properly protected at all times.
Its less than £20 so its good value as it actually works..................

 

[blondebier]

Which version of the DG834G are you running? It will be worth updating the firmware from Netgear when you get a minute.

If you can, I'd also change from WEP to WPA2-PSK encryption if the wireless devices on your network will support it.

I'm pretty sure the firewall is enabled by default. The default configuration would close all ports, which should make you fairly safe from most forms of attack.

Here is a Knowledge base article showing step by step how to configure specific rules in your firewall if you need to.

Answer

The Netgear website has loads of how to articles that are quite useful. Good luck!

 

[Gareth]

Firewall: Router and Windows XP default
Antivirus: AVG
Spyware: Avast, Windows Defender

No Problems.

 

[Sp!ke]

Thanks all.

I know little about setting up my router (Netgear DG834G). Have I done the right thing in:

SSID - not broadcast
WEP - securirt enabled & 64 bit
NAT - enabled
Firewall - no rules (?)

Does this mean infact my Firewall is not on?


Thanks.

I would up your security to WPA, preferably WPA2. WEP is crackable in a few minutes now with no specialist knowledge required.

Dont worry about firewall rules. These are exceptions to the rules so if everything works, dont worry, your firewall is ok. Double check you havn't defined any of your IP's to be in the DMZ on your router though.

You didnt mention your router password - is it strong and have you turned off the ability to remotely access your router in its config?

 

[wemorgan]

But, rather than fork out 50 odd squids, could I get away with the existing built in Vista firewall and Defender along with my Malwarebytes, CCleaner and something called Rapport which came with my banking stuff?

I think and could well be wrong here, but Malwarebytes will not stop malware infecting your PC, but simply scan for it and remove it.

I too would be interesting to hear which software is best for stopping malware infecting the PC in the first place.

I use 'Spybot search and destroy' and 'Iobit 360' as resident shields. I've no idea if they are any good though.

 

[Sp!ke]

could I get away with the existing built in Vista firewall and Defender along with my Malwarebytes, CCleaner and something called Rapport which came with my banking stuff?

I cant see any AV software there at all?

Use AGV or Avira instead of Defender. CC cleaner is more of a tune up tool - Never heard of Rapport?

 

[verytalldave]

I think and could well be wrong here, but Malwarebytes will not stop malware infecting your PC, but simply scan for it and remove it.

I too would be interesting to hear which software is best for stopping malware infecting the PC in the first place.

I use 'Spybot search and destroy' and 'Iobit 360' as resident shields. I've no idea if they are any good though.

If you subscribe to Malwarebytes - and not just use the free version - it becomes a resident program and WILL actively prevent the download of Malware as you surf.