The best free security software

I've heard of it and used it before, worked fine with no problems.

 

THANKS Jayaye,

G!

 

I used spyware terminator for a few years but switched to Super antispyware after their newer version became more intrusive and a resource hog. Very difficult to uninstall.

 

Their most recent version offers plenty of configuration options for real-time protection and it includes a HIPS.
I haven't used it myself for over a year but on Wilders Security forum it's reported that it runs much lighter than older versions.

 

Hi Baserk,

Long time no see. Baserk, I am staying with SAS, MAM, AVIRA and Comodo+Defense.

Thanks,

G!

 

Excellent setup Gonwk.
Been very very busy, not much spare time, hopefully next week I'll have a new job...

 

Hi guys,

Besides my gaming notebook I also have an "old" Dell Latitude 110l witch I use from time to time and my wife uses it.
I have a-squared antimalware (full-paid version) and it has been very good, no complains (execpt for some false-positives, better than none...).
Anyway, I feel that it is too heavy for this note, I´ve upgraded it last year to 1gb ram but it is still a little bit too heavy.
What options do you guys consider the lightest + the best(even if it is paid...)

tks!

 

Avira Antivir is very light on resources. It has a free version that you can use so you don't have to pay for it.

I use Avira (free version) on my computer as my anti-virus software and it uses minimal resources. For example, right now it's taking up 1,136 K (see attachment).

 

Is teatime in Spybot effective? Is it equivalent to real-time protection?

 

No, it's not equivalent.
Real-time protection is usually considered a functionality that prevents malware from being installed and then making changes to your sytem.
TeaTimer will try to block these changes but as malware is more and more sophisticated, Spybot S&D often doesn't cut it anymore.
You can of course still use it for an occassional scan but I wouldn't put my trust in it as a "first line of defense" tool.
Cheers.

 

hi guys, i've been using avast for like a couple of hrs....but it has slowed my system down a lot...(i need to wait like a few seconds to change to full screen when watching a movie)

i also tried avira but it keeps flagging alot of stuff in my computer as "detected" but not a threat...wat is wrong? (im nt really suppose to say wat those files are) but the main thing is that it is a detection but not harmful as stated in the scan.

 

http://www.avira.com/en/products/avira_premium_security_suite.html

Does anyone think the firewall in the Avira security suite is sufficient? Or should I get online armour as well?

 

Hi Hank,

If you are uisng the Avira Freeware ... why not use the Comodo Firewall with it with Defense + activiated!

BTW folks ... there is AVIRA 9 out now!

G!

 

I have not thought of that, however, I ask because I'm considering buying the suite. I'm used to Mcafee suite - VERY VERY good and have yet to catch anything, and I surf the worst of the web (pr0n , torrents, etc.) - so I know it's doing its job. The subscription runs out in a couple months, I'm formatting this week, I figure I should look at Avira, you know? Mcafee has a built-in proxy service as well. I'm very used to all-around great security like from Mcafee, but it's a huge resource hog.

This is why I was wondering if anyone had experience with the suite's firewall...

 

Hi Hank,

I will yield my vote to Baserk and other Experts here since I have Only been using the Freeware option for awhile.

But I understand that McAfee Suite it is rated pretty high ... and from reading the Avira Premium and their Suite ... it is also pretty nifty little tool ...

Hank, you might want to post a Q (a Thread) with your Specific question ... asking for the BEST Paid Antivirus and have the NBR Experts chime in.

G!

 

Hi folks,

2 Freewares that might have some use for someone!

http://www1.k9webprotection.com/

http://www.mywot.com/

BTW, I am not sure how WOT & "Comodo VerificationEngine" compare to each other!?!?

I have got "Comodo VerificationEngine" running in the background and I am not sure if it is worth having at all ... since it only recognizes the well-known sites.

Thanks,

G!

 

NIS 2009 is the best security suite in terms of resource usage.

 

Does Comodo Internet Security count as an anti-virus(least an anti-virus comes along with the firewall and the rest of the suite) because I'm kinda using that and I prefer it to Avira >.>

 

Well, I haven't seen any detailed testing results for the Comodo AV, so as to how good or effective it is, I'm not really sure, but I know Avira is pretty much tops among the free AVs out there, and even many of the paid ones.

I am looking forward to finding some detailed and comparative test results on Comodo's AV, as I'm interested in it as well.

 

Hi folks,

Does anyone know if the MBAM or SAS can target just one Folder or File!?!? If so, how? I can't find anything in the Application itself!

For example with Avira I can just choose a Folder or file and Scan it.

Thanks,

G!

 

In MBAM go to Settings, then check, "create right click menu to scan files (context menu)".

As for SAS, yes you can too: Image Link

 

Hi Jayayess,

I was so excited when I saw your message ... I checked my MBAM and that option is selected but there is no Right Click created ... may be I need to reinstall it ... Avira installs it right into my right-click.

And thanks for the JPG of the SAS ... I acutally have configured that page ... but it does your entire Drive with those Criteria ... so I can't just pick a Single folder.

THANKS A LOT!

G!

 

Baserk: I saw the thread about DriveSentry just now. Do you agree that with the OP that one should replace Comodo's Defense+ HIPS with DriveSentry? I've never heard of the program before. Also, what's your general opinion of the program? Should it be included on your list now that it's free? Maybe knock out ThreatFire?

 

Just a quick question: If I have Avira premium, I don't need additional adware/malware programs, right?

 

Hi jin07,

I've tried DS some time ago and think it's a promising program.
It combines a HIPS with a (big) AV/AS blacklist signatures database, a 'safe program' whitelist and uses 'trickle' update; as soon as a signature is written, an update will be send to you, just like with Norton's 'pulse' update, so you'll always have a very up-to-date program.
I've had some issues in combination with Sandboxie so I uninstalled it.
Support on Wilders was gone for a while but seems back again now.
I wouldn't use it besides any other AV like the OP suggests as this is not recommended by DriveSentry themselves.
What might work now, could be broken with a newer version of DS.
When I use Comodo's Defense+ HIPS (or Online Armor), get to know the program's HIPS and use features like ' learning' or ' install' mode, I rarely have any issues with popups, so also no reason to dislike/disable/replace the HIPS features.

DriveSentry is (imao) a very usefull program if you don't have any other FW+HIPS and AV programs installed.
You'll get a strong HIPS besides your Windows firewall and AV/AS protection.
A test like on Remove Malware.com shows that a set of 20 recent malware infections are all detected.
A (very) small set of course but still impressive.
When/if the AV/AS part of the program will be tested by AV-Comparatives and AV-Test.org, we'll have data for comparison with other programs.
As it relies heavily on a blacklist regarding detection, I'm curious how it fares against more heuristic-based programs.
Hopefully soon I'll have some time to test it again and see if there are no more BSOD's when running it with Sandboxie (or read that it's solved in the DS forum/Wilders).
Just one thing, the free version's trickle update feature stops after a 30-day trial period, afterwards you will have to update manually.
This and the fact that ThreatFire runs happily along other AV programs makes me hesitate to add DS or switch them.
Cheers.

 

I just found out, that Avira can't scan my IMAP ssl emails from google on my outlook. That sucks.

Added.
I use premium.

 

Depending on your settings, Avira (free or paid) will scan on every read and/or write operation.
Email attachments will be scanned accordingly.
Cheers.

 

Found this
http://www.avira.com/en/support/faqdetails.php?id=565

But it's still more headache. Installed avast and works from the start.

 

Thanks for the round-up. I think I'll just stick with Comodo and it's built-in HIPS. It's not that annoying once I switched to Safe Mode. Clean PC Mode caused massive slowdowns because the review list would increase in size very quickly and wouldn't actually clear once you checked it off.

My time using Threatfire and Comodo was pretty good as well.

 

I have only just jumped from the dark side (apple) across to windows environment on a commercial basis. I wonder if you took a snapshot of the best security software you have installed at the moment what it would be. I have read thru all the entries from the current entries back. My newly purchased Apple ibook runs windows and osx and up till this point as an OSX user it was not an area I had to delve into. That has all changed, hence the post.
I appreciate all the feedback from you knowledgeable folk

 

Bolded are programs I use. I have tried out a lot on the list and choose to just stick with these.

Free Antivirus: Avira, it is has low resource usage and great detection rates.

Antimalware/Antispyware: Malwarebytes, Spyware Blaster, ThreatFire and SuperAntiSpyware are all great.

Firewall: I used to use Comodo, but now just use Windows built in.

 

Just a further note, I have Vista installed as the windows OS so ideally I would like them to be compatible. It is running the 32 bit Ultimate version.

 

Everything I listed works fine (except SAS, but it works fine in Vista), I am using Windows 7 RC 32-bit.

 

I'm using Vista Home Premium 32-bit and I've tried several programs on the list and settled with these:

Antivirus: Avira Antivir because it has good detection rates, is light on resources, and has no compatibility issues.

Anti-spyware: I keep Windows Defender on for real-time protection and use SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes for on demand scanning. I also use Spybot S&D just for its Immunization feature, but nothing else. Spybot S&D's detection rates haven't been up to par lately.

Firewall: I use Comodo Firewall with Defense+ disabled.

Hope that helps!

 

maelwarebytes is not working for 64bit, right? (has no real-time protection)

Added.
Well, I guess Avast free has it.

 

The real-time protection offered by the MBAM paid version indeed doesn't work for 64bit.
At least not yet.
According to a mod post on the MBAM forum on May 1, " It will be ready in a matter of weeks".
As of now, still only in-house beta testing afaik.

 

Comodo Internet Security Firewal http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html which is free
Avast Pro antivirus and the above very good or you may want the Free version of Avast Home http://www.avast.com/eng/products.html
Use the both on Vista and Win7

 

Why isn't Online Armor on the list? From online leak tests it always looks like one of the best...

 

You mean the recent recommendations or the list on page 1?
It's been on that list for months and months and still is...

 

How do i stop the nagging part of avira free antivirus thingy???
bcz it is too annoying LOL!

 

Check this thread.

 

I wan to ask tat issit Avira AntiVir Personal 9 permanent free???
or jz 1 years or a few monthes???
bcz last time i got Avira AntiVir Personal(forgot wat version) it got expire date...

 

^Avira free version can easily be renewed.
When you get the expiration warning, simply go to this Avira webpage and follow instructions.

 

Baserk, the steps mentioned for Vista don't work as expected with Avira 9. Avira will prompt for a reboot after an update and does this after every update. Instead follow the guide for Windows XP Home, except without booting into safe mode and denying the security permission just for the system.

 

Bugger.
Thanks for the info, Rajesh.
I copy/pasted it from another site without checking it myself...
Am using Avira's suite atm.
Home Premium and Business/Ultimate have different settings.
I've changed the post accordingly.

 

I just checked your post. But all editions of Vista require the same security restriction setting like the one mentioned for Vista Business/ XP Pro. The other method for Home Premium doesn't work right anymore.
I can be 100% sure about this, because I am using Avira 9 free in both Vista Business, Home Premium, and Windows 7.

 

But how can you use the ' secpol' method for Home Premium?
I thought Home Premium doesn't offer this method.

Are these then the proper steps for Home Premium?;

1. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avnotify.exe
2. Right-click avnotify; Go to Properties - Security - Advanced
3. Look under the Permissions folder for System.
4. Edit - Traverse Folder / Execute File - Deny - Click OK

cheers.

 

The above steps apply for all editions of Vista.

 

Hi folks,

I have not been to the NBR for awhile ... I just happen to look at page 1 and I saw a new Freeware suggested ... "GeSWall" ...

So, I have couple of Qs for Baserk or anyone else who can help ...

I am on Vista Home Prem. SP1, 64-bit and am already running these Applications ... Comodo Firewall, Comodo Verification Engine, Avira Antivir, SAS, WinPatrol ... and I activate Spyware Blaster when I turn on my laptop since I guess it does not start automatically. Plus, I forgot about Windows Defender and is updated by windows regularly.

Q1: Can I also run GeSWall? Or will it conflict with my above setup?

Q2: Should I run the above set-up as is and forget about GeSWall? Or if I add it should I remove or not use something else?

BTW, I do run Full Scans with MBAM and SAS and Avira regularly.

Thanks,

G!