Best Anti-Virus/Internet security?

[Bob Loblaw]

Just bought a new computer and uninstalled the Norton it came and would like your recommendations for what AV/Internet security programs I should replace it with !

Preferably free or cheap? What's the goods?

 

[b4nn3d]

NOD32 > AVG > Avast!

Comodo > Zone Alarm > Kerio

 

[podunk1269]

I work in Tech support and pc/laptop sales. The new Norton will slow your pc down quicker than shit.

I highly suggest the best on the market and that is kaspersky

 

[xJonny]

IMO:

Firewall: Zone Alarm
Anti-Virus: NOD32

Suite: Kaspersky

 

[Urza]

NOD32 > Avira > AVG > Avast!

A hardware firewall > Comodo > Zone Alarm > Kerio

 

[laminaatplaat]

NOD32 > AVG > Avast!

Comodo > Zone Alarm > Kerio

i agree

Dont know about firewalls

just use the windows wall and the build in firewall in my modem. I used zonealarm in the past but it was always bitchin when installing new software that wanted to go online...

I use a helped version of nod32 as virusscanner.

 

[b4nn3d]

NOD32 > Avira > AVG > Avast!

A hardware firewall > Comodo > Zone Alarm > Kerio

Hardware firewalls can't stop all of your pirated programs from calling home.

 

[xJonny]

To be honest, I've never tried Comodo before, what is it like?

 

[b4nn3d]

It uses 3760 K of RAM and can do just about everything.

 

[TaMs]

To be honest i'm currently using only windows firewall. It's suprisingly good, doesn't take resources etc.
(the one in vista, never even bothered to try that one on xp)

I work in Tech support and pc/laptop sales. The new Norton will slow your pc down quicker than shit.

I highly suggest the best on the market and that is kaspersky

Actually the new ones are faster imo. (2007, 2008)

 

[Urza]

NOD32 > Avira > AVG > Avast!

A hardware firewall > Comodo > Zone Alarm > Kerio

Hardware firewalls can't stop all of your pirated programs from calling home.

I'm just talking in terms of security. I don't pirate PC software.

 

[Dack]

Commodo also do an antivirus. Been looking at using that instead of Avast which has shown a decidedly unfriendly syptom of *Really* slowing two machines I installed it on after a few months. (One running Vista and the other XP).

Machines got so slow I thought Norton was back

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Awesome suggestions, guys!

Looks like NOD32 is getting a lot of votes! I take it it's worth the money then?

 

[Urza]

Looks like NOD32 is getting a lot of votes! I take it it's worth the money then?

In my opinion, definitely.

I've purchased three two-year licenses and have been using it on all my Windows systems for a few months now.

 

[xJonny]

And it isn't a resource hog from what I remember.

 

[Jackreyes]

I like AVG myself...

 

[FAST6191]

I have not played that much with NOD32 but it is good and quite possibly deserving of the top spot.

AVG is also a good bit of AV software (I install it on all the computers I am responsible for and run it on my own). Being sensible tends to stop malware from appearing but AVG runs with few resources, gets lost when you tell it to and is free (at the cost of only one update per day and "lack of official support that the paying users get")

Firewall
hardware (via a small linux/BSD box or something if only for the logs and high degree of customisation available)> hardware (via modem/router)> komodo/comodo> zone alarm (leaks memory a bit but it works).

Oh and my "refit kit" if you wanted it (ignore the version numbers as there are a bit old (this was the only one that had some explanations and I am a bit lazy right now), none to my knowledge have had bad newer versions)

Spoiler

7z442.exe 7zip, a compression program (zip, rar etc)
94.24_forceware_winxp_international_whql.exe (nvidia drivers)
a2FreeSetup.exe (a squared free, a spyware type tool)
audacity-win-unicode-1.3.3-Vista.zip (an audio editor a la nero wave editor)
autoit-v3.2.2.0-setup.exe (auto it: a programming language)
avg75free (AVG anti virus: free)
avidemux_2.4_preview2_win32.zip (a video making program)
Avisynth_257.exe (a video editing program, very powerful)
AvsP_v1.4.0.zip (a text editor)
BonkEnc-1.0.4.zip (an audio encoder)
burrrn_package.exe (an audio CD maker)
CCCP-Insurgent-2006-01-01.exe (helps sort problems with codecs)
CFP_Setup_English_2.4.18.184.exe (firewall program)
Combined-Community-Codec-Pack-2007-02-22.exe (one of the best codec packs around)
Combined-Community-Codec-Pack-2007-07-22.exe (one of the best codec packs around, newer version)
CryptLoad7.5 (a program to automate rapidshare downloading)
dgavcdec100a5.zip (helps with HD/BD DVD)
DVDAuthorGUI_1.013.exe (helps make DVD menus and for burning)
dvdbasics (stuff to rip DVDs)
eac-0.95b4.zip (stuff to rip CDs)
eclipse.EXE (allows you to have a switch to turn you screen off, may be identified as a virus but it is not)
electronics (some basic electronics stuff)
FAVC_101.zip (makes DVDs from AVI/mpg/mkv...... files, needs AVIsynth)
Firefox Setup 2.0.0.4.exe (firefox, get a plugin called adblock)
FixVTS1.602.zip (helps fix broken DVDs that are not spec compliant)
foxitreader_setup.exe (a very good PDF reader)
FreePrimo32Setup.exe (helps "print" to a PDF file)
gaim-1.5.0.exe (chat program, trillian is also good)
gimp-2.2.15-i586-setup-1.exe (photoshop grade image editing)
GrabIt171b.exe (usenet downloader)
gtk+-2.10.11-setup.exe (needed for gimp and gaim as well as a few other apps)
gtk+-2.10.6-1-setup.zip (as above)
ImagoMPEG-Muxer.zip (for DVDs it helps a bit)
ImgBurn-2.3.2.0.zip (used to burn to CD/DVD, possibly the best around)
info.txt (this file)
moonshell171_with_dpgtools13.zip (helps make videos for the DS)
muxman_0_15R.zip (much like DVDAuthor GUI)
ofview.zip (open files viewer: tells what you have open on your system)
OOo_2.2.0_Win32Intel_install_wJRE_en-US.exe (free office software: smaller (perhaps 200Mbytes) and a fine replacement for MS Office)
QuEnc072.exe (encodes all sorts of video inlcuding PSP)
quicktimealt181lite.exe (alternative to quick time: if you want quick time use it)
realalt152lite.exe (alternative to real player: if you want real video/audio use it)
RegToy.7z (windows tweaker)
Ripit4me (helps rip new DVDs that are corrupted as a form of protection, also automates the process to an extent)
RipIt4Me.zip
Sequoia1.3Install.zip (displays the contents of your drive as a mesh of squares, good for hunting big files you forgot you had)
Sequoia1_3XPInstall.exe
shexview.zip (shell extension viewer: use to tweak stuff you do not need, quite advanced but go it anyway)
SoundOut-1.0.0.zip (plugin for avisynth, allows you to encode audio directly from avisynth)
SpinRite.iso (helps fix corrupt drives)
Spinrite_v6.00_Release1_Retail_Final.zip
spybotsd14.exe (spybot, used to detect spyware and the like)
TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe (windows tweaker)
tweakxputility.exe
utorrent.exe
vsfilter_20051125.7z
Wavosaur.1.0.0.7000.zip
wireshark-setup-0.99.5.exe
xp-AntiSpy_en.exe
YencPowerPostA&A11b.zip

 

[xJonny]

I didn't particularly like AVG when I used it - although I was using the free version.

 

[test84]

I'm using NOD32 and ZoneAlarm for years and I'm happy with both.
The only problem I have is big updates of ZoneAlarm which is notable for dial up users and I assume you are not.
Recently I dont like ZoneAlarm that much of before, its getting heavier with each update and I dont like that but I dont trust others to swtich.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Excellent refit kit Fast!

After updating with the SP1, two of the first things I grabbed were IMGBurn and Grabit 1.7.1

I decided to go ahead and grab the 30 day trial of NOD32 and it is working smooth and integrated perfectly with windows so I think after 30 days I will buy a year or two of it

Thanks again for all the suggestions, guys!