is free antivirus software adequate for a pretty normal net user

synchro

im using this womputer just for surfin very high security sites like yahoo.com yahoo.com and other such well respected sites is free anti virus software adequate?

if so wat one wood u recommend?

Johnny_the_fox

yes.

avg.


p.s. also get a firewall -> zonealarm

bye.

Capt'n Midnight

have a search through the forums for opinions on free antivirus.
as long as you don't leave yahoo you should be ok - but if you use it as a search engine then you aren't in Kansas anymore Toto.

Firewall recomended too.

galwaydude18

in general I would say ya but you cant beat having a firewall and antispyware such as spybot search and destroy etc. check out the sticky about the freeware and trail stuff that contains a lot of info and links!

synchro

galwaydude18 wrote:

in general I would say ya but you cant beat having a firewall and antispyware such as spybot search and destroy etc. check out the sticky about the freeware and trail stuff that contains a lot of info and links!

spybot only runs on demand, maybe i should get a spyware detecting software tat runs in the backround any ideas?

Zombienosh

Ad-aware SE. tbh.

rsynnott

synchro wrote:

im using this womputer just for surfin very high security sites like yahoo.com yahoo.com and other such well respected sites is free anti virus software adequate?

if so wat one wood u recommend?

Consider using Firefox as well. And don't open email attachments you're not expecting.

ElNino

synchro wrote:

spybot only runs on demand, maybe i should get a spyware detecting software tat runs in the backround any ideas?

Microsoft Anti Spyware Beta is surprisingly good and runs in the background. It has found stuff for me on a couple of PCs that Adaware or Spybot didn't.

Lump

I have Microsoft Anti Spyware, Ada-ware SE, AVG, Zone alarm and spybot installed. I don't think I can get more protected. Oh I also have a hardware firewall that blocks obscure ports etc.

John

Dr_MalPractice

i'm using avast, and avg, both free, house mate is using sophos, all behind a hardware firewall. i've found avg to pick up things that sophos missed, and i use avast to perform a boot scan on startup.

zone alarm is a good free personal firewall, which provides a decent level of protection, without being unnecessarily complicated.

using firefox is definately a better idea than internet explorer, as it's less prone to vulnerabilities. one thing to be aware of with firefox tho, is that some scams, particularly phishing scams, rely on tricking the user into entering their account information, (usually banking data or identity info) in what appears to be a genuine site (looks authentic, URL seems correct).

firefox has updated character sets for foriegn languages which IE is lacking. phishers have been using these character sets allow them to create more convincing fakes.

i know i've started to babble off topic at this stage (sorry bout that), moral of the story?
information keeps us safe.

Dempsey

I have AVG, Kerio Personal Firewall, MS Antispyware, Spybot S&D, Ad-aware Personal and I use Firefox. No spyware or trojans like i was having with IE and no firewall/windows firewall.

Its adequate only if the software is kept updated otherwise it becomes useless

David19

Is a free firewall good enough? I have zone alarm pro which is about to expire. I've heard the free zone alarm firewall is rubbish. Should I renew or not? Im an average user but I search the internet a lot.

Lump

I find Zone alarm fine. Picks up anything net connections I do. Can be odd if you have a network and use VNC, but once it's set up, it works a treat.


John

Devion

AVG Free is the best anti-vrius program out.
It beats any crap that comes out of the norton company :P

I use windows antispyware and to be honest its great! (probably cuz they bought it from Giant) And it has been reported that it finds more spyware than any other, Althought its in beta and has been wanring you about legitmate programs. (they say this is fixed)

Zonealarm isnt a good firewall, It sits in your system tray, and a smart hacker thats all he needs to get to compromise your system. Its also only a service, so your not protected untill it starts up. (and on some machines that could be a minute!)

Windows firewall, Its a bit more secure than the zonealarm as it sits right by the windows OS. (bassicly on the first layer) But its lack of controlablility is its downfall. (it only deals with outbound)

The ONLY true way to have a firewall protect you is 3 ways.
1) Hardware Firewall (doesnt even reach your pc)
2) IPSEC (ip security, this sits between windows and your network card and starts up before windows so you protected as soon as you power up)
3) Wait for the new windows firewall which gives you more control, and it starts up before windows. (its bassicly a better ipsec gui)

To be honest, If you dont go surfing porn/warez anything illegal or download/run programs you do not know you are safe.

If you get an email with an attachement and you run it, no matter how much protection you have, you have bassicly let the hacker in as they can bypass all other applications.

Like most things, Be sensible and your not going to have a problem.