Best internet security software.


Recommended Posts

Would you settle for two free programmes that would cover anti-virus and firewall? (All Internet Security is really is a combined application that has both an anti-virus and firewall)

Anti-Virus: Avira AntiVir, Avast or Microsoft Security Essentials (choose one)

Firewall: Comodo Free

Both of those should cover you.

I'd also suggest adding Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, for extra protection against malware.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anymore the Windows Firewall is actually very good. (however, it will not pad a log file with all of the "attacks" it has blocked.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Personally I find that MSE does a good job as far as a free Anti-Virus product goes and then I run Comodo Internet Security (free) alongside it as a Firewall solution. I also have Malwarebytes installed which I update and run a full scan with on a monthly basis as an added safety precaution.

I have never been infected by a Virus, Malware, Adware, Spyware etc. etc. whilst running the products listed above. Unfortunately I can't say the same for my clients though...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You're welcome and good luck!

If anyone else has any other suggestions, I'm sure they will also post a reply. It's always good to sample a few different alternatives until you find the one that you like or works best for your needs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Run Avast free. Windows firewall.

Then monthly - Malwarebytes (& if anything found - Kaspersky Antivirus removal tool).

IMO don't touch microsoft antivirus due to not a good detection rate.

If you could pay then Antivir premium (less than ?17 per year) & windows firewall.

I've only known 3rd party firewalls to stop outbound traffic. Useless if already infected or stopping pirated software.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

See this poll if it makes any difference:

post-440840-0-29590700-1334668822.jpg

FYI, Comodo handles inbound and outbound network traffic and also includes Defense+ for real-time scanning of executables etc. (which also has a Sandbox function too). It is also highly customisable and has many advanced features too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My first choice would be Linux and common sense! Ha ha OK, OK...... all the fans of Windows relax, just joking! :)

I recommend Avast, Comodo or Zone Alarm and agree with the poster who recommends that you also use Malwarebytes.

The other thing that I always install for clients (without telling them most of the time) is a really cool piece of software called Spyware Blaster made by Javacool Software that basically runs in the background attached to whatever browsers you have installed on the PC and is an excellent little piece of free software. This software is preventative and not a repair tool! It has to be updated manually every now and again.

Good luck with your choices.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ok, so which one will be better: MSE, Avast or Comodo ?

I like Avast better than MSE, I think it has better detection rates.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think at the end of the day, it will come down to personal preference, BUT I would recommend running both an Anti-Virus product and a dedicated Firewall product.

Who uses optical media nowadays anyway :p

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just curious guys (so please don't attack me for it :p); I've always used AVG, and always recommended it to people needing AV... but judging from the replies here (and in particular the screenshot of the poll), how come less and less people are using AVG nowadays?

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think AVG is still too much of a system resource hog (compared to other products), it slows down boot times (can add up to 20 seconds in some cases) and has a tendency to report many safe programs as false-positives.

Haha I was teasing :D Some companies still use floppy disks...!!

Well good luck with that combo anyway and stay *safe* :shifty:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

See this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Defender

Or moreover, this line from the article:

"On Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, Windows Defender is superseded by Microsoft Security Essentials, an antimalware product from Microsoft. Upon installation, Microsoft Security Essentials disables Windows Defender and takes over its duty."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Run Avast free. Windows firewall.

Then monthly - Malwarebytes (& if anything found - Kaspersky Antivirus removal tool).

IMO don't touch microsoft antivirus due to not a good detection rate.

If you could pay then Antivir premium (less than ?17 per year) & windows firewall.

I've only known 3rd party firewalls to stop outbound traffic. Useless if already infected or stopping pirated software.

Unfortunately Avast paired with either Windows Firewall or Comodo and possibly others renders the firewall useless on Windows 7 systems.

To test this block Firefox using Comodo, meaning you shouldn't be able to run Firefox, but you will find that Firefox will load perfectly.

Now turn off Avasts webshield and you will find that Firefox is now correctly blocked.

I will stress that this isn't an Avast or Comodo issue it is a Windows 7 issue.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unfortunately Avast paired with either Windows Firewall or Comodo and possibly others renders the firewall useless on Windows 7 systems.

To test this block Firefox using Comodo, meaning you shouldn't be able to run Firefox, but you will find that Firefox will load perfectly.

Now turn off Avasts webshield and you will find that Firefox is now correctly blocked.

I will stress that this isn't an Avast or Comodo issue it is a Windows 7 issue.

Interesting, I'll check it out. Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

With most software clashing with each other causing connectivity issues in a lot of applications, it's always best to get an AIO solution. They cost less, are well integrated and are more secure and hassle free.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.