Freeware Virus Protection Choices

Hello everyone,
I am just about to buy a new notebook and I am right at my budget after notebook and Office so I need Firewall/virus/trojan/adware/spyware etc... in the form of free programs
This is what I have been thinking of using: (Please reply with suggestions on Freeware)
Virus/Spyware/ Adware Protection: Ad-Aware Personal, Spy On This, and Spybot Search & Destroy, Spyware gaurd, Spyware Blaster (ALL OF THEM)

Firewall: Windows Firewall... (Please give me suggestions here!!)

I have lots of experience working with PCs and Firewall and Virus software so I don't need a piece of n00b freeware that is not as powerful A.K.A.: The most powerful freeware protection I can get and I need no babying!

Thanks For Any Suggestions!,
-TBird

 

As far as free anti-virus, two immediately come to mine. Avast! and AVG. I have used Avast! myself for the past couple of years and have been very happy with it. Zone Alarm is a pretty good secondary firewall, although the alerts can be a bit annoying until you get them under control.

 

Firewall: zone alarm is great after you use all your programs once (first time you use you get a pop up window asking what to do)

Anti Virus: either Avast or AVG. I personally use AVG, havn't tried Avast but AVG works great, quick low resource scan, etc.

Spyware/Adware: I use a combination of Ad-Aware SE personal and Spybot Search & Destroy. Together they pretty much take care of everything. I also use Spyware Blaster which just adds lists of sites to block. Also make sure to enable the Spybot S&D "Teatimer" for registry changes and active system monitoring, though it can get obnoxious with the popups... The popups might be worth the extra protection.

Finally, CCleaner. Perfect for one click temp file/log/trash can cleanup. Also has registry error (missing links, old start menu keys, unused file extensions, etc) cleanup.

As to more programs, you could get them but i don't see that as neccesary. As long as you have zone alarm and avg always running in the background and you update and run the spyware/adware checks once a week you should be fine. I've had my laptop for 5 months on those 4 programs and I havn't had a single problem. Also, all major brand routers have built in firewalls so you have another layer of protection before the internet even gets to your computer.

hope this helps

 

I use AVG Free for Virus protection. I has kept me safe so far. One thing that I really like about it is that it updates itself regularly. It also scans emails.

I use Zone Alarm for firewall protection. I like the program and it hasn't interfered with my torrent downloading or my game playing.

I use Microsoft Anti-Spyware. I like that program as it has real time scanning. I has saved me a couple of times.

In addition to Microsoft Anti-Spyware I use Ad-Aware Personal. Great program. It found a few things that Microsoft didn't catch. However it doesn't run in real time.
Tim

 

AntiVir is the way to go. I used to use AVG, but switched to AntiVir. They're both good, but this was my reason for changing and just checking it out. Windows Defender (if you have legit Windows) is a good anti spyware and zone alarm has been a great firewall.

 

Personally use NetVeda's Safety Net FireWall. I find it less problematic than ZoneAlarm.

 

anti virus- AVG, uses few system resources and hasnt given me any problems

firewall - zonealarm, free and trouble free

the rest - spybot s&d, ad-aware, spyware blaster and windows defender.

everything runs fine together with this combo and my comp is clean. Be sure to to a weekly spyware/virus scan. I cant stress this enough!

 

Avast antivirus =)

 

Avast! Home 4.6 is what I use on all my computers. Never had a problem, been using it for almost a year now since I dumped Norton. Norton is a hog and is annoying. Avast does its updates quietly, scans are pretty quick, and it gets the job more than done. Free too, just have to register and you're good for a year.

I also use Ad-Aware SE Personal in combination with SpywareBlaster 3.4 (prevents spyware from being installed) - you can download it at www.majorgeeks.com.

Also, one more thing to do is get a modded .HOSTS file - really helps:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Chaz

 

If you have Verizon DSL, then you automatically get free anti-virus and free anti-spyware software for EVERY Computer in your home..
This is an INCREDIBLE deal.. Before McAfee was making us pay the yearly subscription cost for each of the 5 or 6 computers that we have in our home.. This can become insanely expensive over time..

Check with your ISP and see if they give you anything for free...
You might be surprised! Having a virus on your computer not only costs you money, but can cost your ISP money as well (as some worm traffic can damage/infect your ISPs servers too!)
So I'd think that it would be in the ISPs benefit to give all their users anti-virus... But of course, its rather pricey..


3 Megabit Down/ 768 Kbit up DSL.
Free Computer Associates Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware (with automatic updates weekly).
Free subscription to launch.com (Watch American music videos streamed to you on demand at 700 Kilobits/sec!! You just pick what you want to watch! Its great!!

Also, you get to listen to commercial-free "personalized" radio stations from Yahoo! Music Premium...

All for $24.95 a month if you already have the Verizon "Freedom" Phone service package.. ($29.99 a month if you don't).

http://www.verizonmarketing.com/getyahoo/

 

Firewall : Zonealarm
Anti Virus : AVG
Spyware Detector : AdAware

 

I use AVG free. It's kept me virus free (as far as I know....lol).