The best free security software

imo both adaware and sbybot stink.. would never use nor recc them.. also imo avira hands down best free..

 

From what I can tell avira doesn't protect against spyware and adware. Do you use anything for that?

 

What do you all think of Spyware Terminator?

 

Total Crap: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2167808,00.asp

 

Thanks for the link!

 

no problem

 

Yeah, Online Armor is the best I've seen so far.

 

I suspect your settings are to blame (maybe partly some of your OS settings). I found Online Armor really easy to configure for total stealth. Much more so than ZA, Outpost, Comodo, etc.

 

Yeah, it was my fault. The bit-torrent was to blame since I keep a port open for it. At least that's what I think since it fails the port scan test.

 

Which of these are the best ones?:

Spyware Blaster
Spybot S&D
A Squared Free
Ad Aware

 

Spyware Blaster isn't like the other ones mentioned. It helps prevent spyware in the first place. If I had to choose, I'd pick up A squared and spyware blaster. Though to be honest, I use and like all four programs. None of them affect my system negatively and they're all free.

 

I'm just installing AntiVir and Online Armor on an older laptop. Do either of these have anti spyware functionality or do I need to install that as well?

Tx

 

As far as i know Antivir doesn't have antispyware capabilities.

 

avast! is hands down the best free antivirus app i have ever used. it uses very little resources, updates automatically, and, most importantly, keeps your PC safe. i have never had a virus problem ever since i started using avast! with all the other antivirus apps i have used, free or nonfree, (antivir, AVG, norton, etc) a virus or two has always managed to slip by and mess up the system i was using.

 

It's best to keep more than one anti virus application installed on your system. That way if a virus slips by one the other can get it.

 

That's right, the free version does not, but the paid versions do.

 

Don't think I agree with that, Calvin. More than one antispyware program is fine, but having more than one AV app can cause program conflicts and problems like false alerts. Pick one good one, keep it updated and run scans occasionally. If you need a "second opinion" you can run an online scanner from Trend Micro, for example.

 

Webroot Spy Sweeper for Free:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=202351

And

AVG Anti-Virus Professional 7.5 for Free:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=202353

And

If you have Windows Firewall, these three programs make a great suite.

 

So with Windows Firewall one doesn't need another program? I installed Online Armor and it has been a PIA so far. Every time I try to do anything I get a warning pop up that I need to click on. Especially when I tried to uninstall a few programs! Hopefully it's just for the first few times and will go away (as I'm clicking on the "Always" box).

 

Online Armor's beta 56 no longer has problems with utorrent running. I honestly don't have any problems with Online Armor giving me too many pop-ups. It recognized most of my programs right away and then during set-up it listed which programs it didn't recognize to allow them. I just clicked allow all because I knew what all my programs where. I only got 4 pop-ups total since the set-up actually set up most of the firewall rules.

Windows firewall is horrible. If you use it, you're basically running without a firewall. I don't feel like going over the whole thing again. It's somewhere on the forums. I think it was under the Comodo 3.0 topic.

 

Hi everyone. I just recently got a laptop. I have been reading on various forums regarding security issues. Everyone seems to have a different opinion and I feel lost with the vast amount of options available out there. Can someone please tell me if the following setup is adequate and compatible with each other? Thanks Smile

Currently I have:
1) Windows XP2
2) Firefox
3) CCleaner
4) AVG 7.5
5) Ad-Aware 2007
6) Spybot- Search & Destory

Planning to install:
1) Online Armor

 

Nice list Baserk. Good work.

 

Disciples? Who?

 

Lol. 10 chars

 

Hello!
Has anyone used Ad-Aware 2007 on Windows Vista 64? when i run a scan it never ends scanning the registry
is this normal?

 

Spyware blaster is also a good anti-spyware program. It blocks spyware from even being installed! you can get it from filehippo.com I've used it on both of my computers for about 3 years now. And ever since Spybot hasn't picked up a single piece of spyware!

 

harpreet1988, how does it work(spywareblaster),is it really running background? i have installed ThreatFire and Spywareblaster, which one should i leave on?

 

I am using Norton (it came free with my internet) atm and tbh Its not very good so I want to get a new anti virus but I have a quite old pc so which one has the best performance to security ratio.
Thx

 

That comodo firewall I heard is pretty good.

 

Pretty darn good is i say so myself.

 

Didn't they come out with anti-virus too? I haven't check in a long long time, but last time I checked in June, they were releasing beta version of anti-virus + new Comodo for Vista.

IIRC they were producing an anti-spyware program too. Did you list Comodo in your best free windows program thread?

OT: Nice thread by the way. I thought I like Launchy, but now I think I like Keybreeze better.

 

10 chars limit

 

Norman Virus Control...wow...sounds like a hospital more than an anti-virus software. LOL

 

Hmm, I don't know, I tried Colibri...but couldn't find the settings...I think the help file is better with Keybreeze. I would've stick with Launchy if not for some bug when the machine is first started.

 

You don't really have setting in colibri. You can set preferences but i like it because it's lightweight and does what it needs to do quickly.

 

If it bothers you that much, he and i can post in my thread.

 

hi.. umm.. i have a question abt comodo firewall... should i leave the defense+ active? the firewall has been really good.. but the defense+ kinda gets annoying... ... i have nod32 v3 for my AV... i dont have any other real time anti-spyware but i scan my system weekly with a2-free...also ocassionly ad-aware free... any suggestions on a good non resource-hogging anti-spyware or is nod32 enough?
thnx in advance..

 

What is the best on demand scanner? I'd like to know if there is an antivirus program wich lets you not to install any monitor engine at all.

I think antivir programs are very intrusive nowadays and monitors are just resource hogs. There's no need to monitor files if you just have a good firewall and well configured browser. If you download or install something from a non secure source it's better to deep scan it before.

I don't really see the need for monitors running in backgroud.

 

well i have had a bad experience of not having an AV running.. my previous notebook got attacked real bad!!! but i gues its how you look it... now-a-days spywares,keyloggers etc. are more a bigger concern than virus...

 

I did, and Avira installs a lot of running crap and services anyway. I don't like it.

 

Not for me. Avast is the one that installs a lot of crap/bloatware for me, avira doesn't install much.

 

Hi everyone I have the free version of Online Armor. It does not allow users to update automatically. I have to uninstall and reinstall whenever there is a new version available. My question is, is it essential that I need the latest version? Having to uninstall and reinstall all the time is quite inconvenient. Thank you.

 

What about RootkitRevealer from SysInternals as an Anti Rootkit Software? I've used it before and found it to work well.

 

Antivir is the best that i've used, thou i do hate the pop up for updating, it seems to use less resource than my first thoughts.

 

You're welcome

Yea, it's a robust program, but a bit confusing at first. Good idea on the annotation on the first page, I think it'll help direct people in the right direction if they have questions.

Keep up the good work with this list!!

 

Of course. That's what i've been saying all along.

 

I've never used Threatfire before, but am planning on installing it. As far as I understand, it's supposed to be used in conjunction with AV software, not instead, correct?

 

Yes, if you use comodo firewall pro, turn defense+ off.

 

Thanks Calvin. And I'm not using Comodo so that's not a problem.

 

How good is this SUPERAntiSpyware ?