Recommended Security Center

Im buying a new laptop within the next month and im trying to figure out how to protect it best... i have a bad experences with viruses and things of this nature.. so i was wonder how to make my laptop a fortress...cost doesnt matter,
HERES WHAT IM LOOKING AT SO FAR
AntiSpyware - Spy Sweeper $25
Window Washer
Firewall - Zone Alarm Pro $45
AntiVirus - BitDefender $25

 

As for anti virus, I would recommend AVG or Avast. They are both free (pro versions are not too expensive). These is some of the best anti virus software (free) that I know of. As for pay ones, I hear that Trend Micro, Kaspersky, F-prot are good.

For anti-spyware, I just use Spybot search and destroy and spyware blaster. Anyway if you use Internet Explorer, it may well be a lost game. I would suggest using Opera or Firefox.

 

Here is my recomendations:
Anti-Spyware: MS Defender (turn on real-time protection
Firewall: Get a router. I don't use or recomend software firewalls. They tend to cause more problems than they are worth. A router is a better solution.
Ant-Virus: Kaspersky or NOD-32

Make sure you use Firefox and NEVER use IE except for the few sites that you trust who still require it.

The key is to not get infected in the first place. Things like anti-spyware scanners and software firewalls will tell you more if you are infected instead of stopping it in the first place. If you are infected the best choice is to make sure your backups are up to date and then reformat. It is the ONLY way to be sure you have a clean system again. Also, if you have one, you have several infections. Rarely do you just get one because the malware usually opens more holes.

 

Kaspersky Internet Security is one amazing package that doesn't consume a lot of resources. A great product, you should check it out

 

I use free stuff like AVG, Zonealarm, Spybot and AD-Aware and have only had a trojan once.

If you really want to spend money then the Zonealarm Suite is good but I hear that NOD32 antivirus is really good aswell.

 

I like the free stuff too.

If you are subscribed to Comcast's 'High Speed' internet, then you get McAffee's Security Suite for free.

 

The best thing I did was start using Firefox and its extensions, particularly Adblock Plus, especially when we had Windows ME; it reduced the amount of spyware immensely and now I'm on XP with things like Avast, Spybot, Ad-Aware, and SpywareBlaster, the desktop and laptops have been clean and running well. You have to be vigilante about where you browse and what you open too though.

 

First of all, all of these products are fairly good, and would be worth spending money on. For antispyware, do you mean Webroot's Spy Sweeper, or Webroot's Window Washer (there is a difference)? Spy Sweeper os an excellent product, and the main other professional-level product I would advise you to look at would be Sunbelt's CounterSpy. Sunbelt's Kerio Firewall would also be a good alternative to Zone Alarm Pro (if you need one). Other than BitDefender, the best AV products would be either Kaspersky or NOD32. You could probably manage if you used various free utilities to cover these functions rather than paying money for the "best" products, but since you want to avoid as many problems as possible, buying these would be a good start.