Anti-virus and anti-spyware and firewalls, oh my!

So, my custom HP DVT6 with Vista 64-bit will be arriving soon and I am trying to figure out what I am going to do for security... I am not looking to spend any money on this, so I will be using all free programs...

To start things off, I will be installing the free version of Avast! Home Edition 4.8... I see that it has anti-spyware and anti-rootkit built in... So, do I need to install a seperate anti-spyware / rootkit? Would it hurt if I did, because I know that you can not have two anti-virus programs running at the same time...

What about a firewall though? I know that right now all I have on my desktop for a firewall is the Windows Firewall... I am assuming that this will also be on my laptop, but how does it stack up to say the free verion of Comodo?

Are there any other things which I should be concerned about? I will be installing CCleaner and Windows Defender as well...

 

Vista comes with Windows Defender built in. You could also install SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes, the two best for antimalware. Windows Firewall is good enough.

 

So I will be good with:

• Avast! Free Home Edition 4.8
  .
• SuperAntiSpyware
• MalwareBytes
• Windows Defender
  .
• Windows Firewall

And then CCleaner to keep junk from piling up?

 

I would list a super combos for you.

Security Suite FREE(combination of free security software):
Avira Antivir Personal 9(this is the most light resources and strongest detection rate FREE antivirus currently)
SpywareBlaster(Passive protection on your Internet Browser which doesn't uses any RAM and Processor speed even an ancient computer can handle this software like smoothly)
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware(this is crazy detection rate on-demand-scanner if you're using FREE edition of it)
SUPERAntispyware(about the same with Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware + SUPERAntispyware = No Spyware in your laptop)
Windows Firewall(turn on and every windows have it. I don't like 3rd party Firewall especially the standalone firewall)
Windows Defender(turn it on and every windows vista and 7 have it)
Human Instinct(basically, do not go to website)

System Maintenance FREE:
CCleaner(fix system registry like GODLIKE. Scan your system everyday)
Defraggler(defrag your HDD awesomely)
Services.msc(every windows have this, disable useless services from starting up this may speed up your system but do not disable important 1)
Msconfig(every windows have this, disable useless startup programs which can lead to faster system and lower RAM and Processor usage)
Windows Update(turn on if you're using genuine Windows)
Human Instinct(basically, update your driver especially GPU)

 

Yes, that is what I have. I had tried before Comodo Firewall, SpywareBlaster (good if you use IE), Threatfire, Spybot, A-Squared, AVG, and plenty of others but I just use this:

• Avira or Avast best free anti-viruses, but I am forced to use Symantic Endpoint Protection @ U of Pittsburgh
• Malwarebytes
• SuperAntispyware
• Windows Defender and Windows Firewall

Plus CCleaner for junk. Also, Avast 5 is coming soon, looks like it could give Avira (my fav free AV) a run for its money.

 

I have almost exactly the same security setup as you, the only difference being I still run Spywareblaster in addition to the ones you mention.

 

Okay, I will add in Spyware Blaster to the mix... And about Defraggler, is it really that much better than the Windows defragger?

 

Windows Firewall + Avast + Spyware Blaster

cheers ...

 

Use your brain when browsing the internet. That's the best anti-virus solution.

 

Just adding a small note to the wonderful post from DarkSilver, to the OP - take care when fooling around with services.msc. Follow BlackViper' beautiful site and information on the services.

+1 for Han.

 

Buy yourself kaspersky of ebay, cheap and one of the best around all round solutions. I have it and it seems ok.

http://internet-security-suite-review.toptenreviews.com/

Kaspersky comes in 3rd in that list but is as good as the top two, and is cheap on ebay.

 

So I installed Avast! today... How long does the startup scan usually last?