Newbe- What programs do I need

Ok, Im getting a dell 1530 laptop(should be hear on Tuesday). Im confused in what security programs I will need to protect my computer. I will be using the computer on both secured and unsecured wireless systems.
I assume I need one spy ware program, one anti virus and one firewall(not sure what a firewall really is??)
freeware wood be great but I dont mind paying for added security. Im also hoping that the programs wont slow my computer down too much.
Suggestions on good combinations would be great. Also is it worth paying for this or getting freeware.
Thanks for any advice
Deeppowder

 

Okay you (in my opinion) will need AntiVirus, AntiSpyWare, and a FireWall for security. I highly recommend these programs:

1) Avast Home- Amazing Free AntiVirus software. Have not been infected once.
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
2) If you have vista it comes with Windows Defender. Which is a great AntiSpyware tool. If not I recommend Spyware Terminator for windows XP.
http://www.spywareterminator.com/
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
3) Zone or Comodo Firewall- They are both great free firewalls. (Comodo is better though) That allow you to pick what your computer knowledge is.
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/index.html
http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp
Also a FireWall keeps out hackers. It opens and closes ports to your computer. Lets pretend your computer is a house and the windows are the ports. You open the windows to let some stuff in but then close them to keep other unwanted items out. That is what a firewall does opens and closes ports on your computer.

Another program I recommend (not for security) is:
AusLogics Defrag- It is like windows Defrag, but faster and just over all works better.
http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/download

Free Security Software Can and Does work Just As Well As Some Of the Best Payed Software.

Hope this helps.

 

It's great that you're looking into some security solutions Deeppowder so i'll give you the rundown. In order of Antispyware, Firewall, and Anti-virus. In NOD32's case, it has Anti-spyware built in so it counts as both.

Free: SUPERAntispyware, Comodo Firewall Pro, Avira Antivir

Pay: Comodo Firewall Pro(It's still free but it's the best), NOD32

 

I'd get (assuming you have Vista):

-Avira Anti-virus: use this as your primary scanner
-Avast 4.8: use as active protection and secondary scanner
-Comodo Firewall: not a fan of zone alarm at all
-A2 antispyware
-Another back-up antispyware
-Winpatrol
-SpywareBlaster

All of these are free and all together don't use up too many resources. No matter what anti-virus, firewall, and anti-spyware program you get, definitely pick up the last two.

 

I went with nod32 and comodo firewall. Comodo seems very intrusive always popping up multiple times for the same application. Anyways to fix this??
Thanks for the replies
Mike

 

Good choices! The reason you're getting so many pop ups is because it's learning your preferences, if you installed Comodo with the default settings then wait a few days for it to stop popping up.

 

Make sure you tell Comodo to remember the rule setting you chose.

 

I for one could not handle the incredible number of popups in commodo. I turned off defense + and installed threatfire.

 

I use the following on my M1530;

Eset NOD32 Antivirus (I use Kaspersky on my Desktop, both are excellent)
SuperantiSpyware
Comodo Firewall Pro (Free)
- Firewall Security Level "Safe Mode"
- Defence+Security Level "Training Mode" for about a month then "Clean PC" or "Safe Mode" (Not sure yet, get back to you on this)

I browse with Opera

Never a problem and very light on resources.

 

What?? You can do that? Never knew...

For active protection, avast! is better than Avira but as an on-demand scanner, Avira is better, correct?

 

Yeah, Avira is a better scanner. When you install Avira you can choose not to install the active protection, called Guard. If done correctly, you shouldn't see Guard on the main menu, or, well anywhere since you didn't install it. I heard it's not good to runner to active protection programs at once (similar to running two firewalls), so I didn't install it. Plus, Avast has better active protection, again from what I've heard.