Advice on Total PC Protection

Qwerty?

Hi, I just noticed Kapersky are doing Internet Security 2009 for €32 for 3 pcs and I was wondering would it be worth changing to it instead of the following options that I have installed:-

Work Laptop is currently using (XP Pro)

• Windows Defender.
• Symantec Antivirus. (Avenge Micro alao)
• Windows Firewall.

The Home Laptop is using:- (XP Home)

• Windows Firewall.
• AVG.

And the Home PC is using:- (Vista)

• Avast.
• Zone Alarm.

Thanks.

Edit:- Sorry this probably should have been posted in 'Computers & Tech Forum'

Cuddlesworth

Tbh, there isn't any way to completely protect a Windows pc. User error and bad browsing causes most problems.

For example, I don't run AV or a Firewall and I haven't picked up anything in over a year.

kaimera

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Tbh, there isn't any way to completely protect a Windows pc. User error and bad browsing causes most problems.

For example, I don't run AV or a Firewall and I haven't picked up anything in over a year.

I agree 100% that user error/stupidity & browsing is to blame for the vast majority of probs.

I would run a decent AV tho; just because. Never bothered with a fw myself.

Qwerty?

I'm suprised neither of ye bother with firewalls or Spyware detection.

I just thought an all in one package would be handy if it's not a drain on resourses. I have heard Nortons Suite is v heavy on resourses.

Cuddlesworth

Anti virus is very resource heavy for some, others not. All in one solutions are a gimmick.

And technically I am firewalled since I'm behind a NAT firewall on a router. The only real difference is that I have no real control over what goes out.

I don't run .exe's that the purpose is not known to me, open mail attachments that I was not accepting, go to sites that seem dodgy or download things I have not got confirmation on that they are ok. Its not that hard to do.

I also work with pc's all day, so can spot dodgy process's or network traffic that has no place on my system. And if I really need to check something but I'm not sure, I can always load a linux live distro off a usb and check it then.

_CreeD_

Kaspersky is an excellent choice. One of the top rated AV engines, a great HIPS, good Anti-Spam, HTTP Scanning, SSL Interception (the only suite I've seen that can do this) etc. and all very configurable so you have granular control over performance vs. protection, also a simple right-click/pause-protection and you can temporarily shut it down to save resources when you need to (though if you don't have a hardware firewall of some kind it's not such a good idea to disable the whole thing, Firewall included).

humaxf1

I have to agree with the other posts... Most virus/malware/spyware infections are due to user error/stupidity. Downloading music/movies/software via P2P such as limewire is asking for trouble. I know a few people who don't bother with AV because they are careful about their Internet activity.

Maybe companies are more likely to become infected due to the nature of their business even if they are careful. TBH, I think there is alot of scare-mongering about AV aimed at companies. Unless they have the latest and greatest Symantec product...they are fooked. Try running Symantec Endpoint on a slow, underspec'd server/PC --- forget it. Then you're into RAM upgrades or worst case scenario, reinstall.

I run AVG7.5 (can't be arsed going to 8) just for the sake of having it. I hardly run scans even! If you really want to be safe and your PC use is mainly web browsing/internet/IM,try your hand at linux...Ubuntu for example. Unlike Windows, it doesnt suffer "bit" rot to the extent of windows. As a result it will run like a dream for a good while.

Dartz

Kaspersky is good...

I use it at home, and it protects my brother from himself. It's pretty light on resources (Does well on a Pentium M laptop with 256mb of RAM anyway) and generally goes on about it's thing. It is pretty tight, and on that laptop, it has given me some false positives.

For one thing, on a completely fresh install off the OEM disk, it recognises what appears to be the Keyboard driver as a keylogger.

I suppose a False positive is somewhat better than No positives at all.

With Symantec, it tends to be the other way round.

Linux is OK, but not for people with no computer sense. You need a bit of knowledge to understand whats going on with it on the backend. You have to touch the metal a few times, and it can be jarring... and occasionbally irritating. Sometimes things dont work right, and you have to fix them yourself.

It can be a comfy chair, if you know how to build it.