Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: colecampbell666 on December 01, 2007, 06:25:36 pm
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I've been looking for a new antivirus so that I can convince my parents to switch before they go out and buy Norton again. Norton 360 is useless, it doesn't even let you scan single files!
Anyway, I've been reading the reviews, and BitDefender and Kapersky seem to be the best, with McAfee close behind. I'm looking for features (Ability to run different scans separately, registry protection/spyware etc, single file scan etc.) and minimal performance hit. Out of the top two (or three) which is the best?
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Get avast.
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Let's see. As far as I'm concerned, it's usually better to have a separate software for detecting spyware and such, since at least F-Secure's spy/adware radar is utterly useless. So I'd recommend getting Ad-Aware or Spybot, in addition to a good firewall and an antivirus. Which brings me to my recommendations.
For antivirus, AVG. Extremely resource-friendly, scans everything, performs single file checks without complications.
Then, for firewall, Comodo. Always at the top of firewall comparison tests, uses an acceptable amount of resources, protects important registry keys. Though personally I liked 2.4 better than the new 3.0, which comes with Defense+, that persistently asks about every goddamn change that takes place in the system. That can get extremely annoying when you are installing software. But then again, you can always disable the Defense+ without sacrificing the functionality of the rest of the firewall. And still, they're both good.
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Get AVG... I use the free version, it's excellent. And they can pay for it, too, so they'll be happy. www.grisoft.com free version http://free.grisoft.com I do believe it has an all-in-one protection suite as well... but I just use the AV and AS systems.
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NOD 32
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I would definitely recommend Comodo, especially the v3.0 Pro. While it does ask you to verify everything under the sun, once you train it, it's actually very user friendly and gives you a minimum of popups. Much more so than ZoneAlarm.
Though personally I liked 2.4 better than the new 3.0, which comes with Defense+, that persistently asks about every goddamn change that takes place in the system. That can get extremely annoying when you are installing software.
When installing software and you get the first popup from Comodo, tell it to treat that file/program as an installer. It prevents the rest of the alerts from being generated.
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Yeah, I figured that out at one point, but still ended up disabling the whole Defense+, since at least at the moment I consider the firewall itself to be enough. If time proves me wrong, I might put it back online.
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Kaspersky is very potent, though it is a bit of a resource hog (as far as antivir soft goes).
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In terms of pure AV only...
Me using AVG Free and Avast (also free).
Both are good, but annoy me at times. AVG Free, the guard sometimes blocks me when I'm messing around with my files. Avast, the scanners at high sensitivity slow me down across the board. And then there's the registration...
There was once when I had like, 5 to 6 AVs loaded in this comp, from those two to less-common stuffs like Avira and Comodo, and OMG the computer very nearly slowed down to a halt no matter what I was doing, even if I did nothing... scanners constantly loading the CPU and warning/error messages coming out once every few seconds, and that doesn't even include the safety messages from my firewall... :wtf: :lol:
I've used older versions of Kaspersky that came with my mobo, so that one's not bad apart from the ADS. ZA, haven't used it in forever. Don't know how it's like now.
Yeah. :lol:
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I used to use Trend Micro PC-Cillin, but their 2007 release was a disaster. I've tried AVG and NOD32 since then and been relatively pleased with the small footprint of both. The only reason I went with NOD32 in the end was because I wanted to be able to call up tech support if I needed it.
Slightly OT: What is the benefit of having a software firewall if you've already got a hardware firewall (such as a router) up and running? Is it really worth the additional hassle? I've asked this before in another thread but never got a reply.
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In terms of pure AV only...
Me using AVG Free and Avast (also free).
2 Virus scanners installed @ same time = not good. They can conflict. How you survived 5 IDK.
Slightly OT: What is the benefit of having a software firewall if you've already got a hardware firewall (such as a router) up and running? Is it really worth the additional hassle? I've asked this before in another thread but never got a reply.
Software Firewall blocks outgoing requests, so if you get infected with a virus, and your AV doesn't pick it up, or your ASpyware, then it should block it and ask you what to do.
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So AVG is a good choice? NOD32, from what I've heard, is notoriously hard to use.
What advantages does AVG pay have over the free version? What do they have over Norton, besides smaller footprint?
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So AVG is a good choice? NOD32, from what I've heard, is notoriously hard to use.
I didn't dive in and modify lots of settings from the install defaults, but from my few months on NOD32 I'd have to say that reputation is, if not undeserved, at least exaggerated. The setup seems simple enough for me, and I'm not terribly educated on network security. Perhaps this has been a bigger problem in earlier releases?
That said, AVG's setup seemed pretty straightforward as well.
@ Jr, thanks. I hadn't really considered that angle. I was really hoping not to need to set up yet another bloody firewall, but I guess that's what I need to do. My time is getting progressively more and more limited these days, and there are half a dozen projects around the house that need my attention. I'll try installing Comodo with default settings. If anything stops working, though, I'm going to have to remove it and deal with it later (like, early next year if I'm lucky. I just don't have that kind of time.)
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Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic
Comodo Firewall Pro
Spyware Blaster
Spyware Guard
Spybot Search & Destroy
Semi frequent scanners:
Ad-aware
AVG Antispyware (formally ewido)
All of it freeware that does a decent job.
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Kaspersky is the best I've used so far.
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Kaspersky is great, though it can sometimes hog system resources in the most disruptive and annoying way when scanning things (you'll want to add a lot of applications to the trusted zone). Right now I'm using NOD32. Its interface is kinda wierd, but it's not hard to use at all, and it doesn't freaking grind the computer to a halt like kaspersky can do.
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Kaspersky and AVG are both good choices, and Kasperskys firewall is quite reliable. The only downside is kaspersky is not free. I would recommend AVG for an Anti Virus and Peer Gaurding II for firewall, although PG II Is a bit hard to configure, so do that for your parents if they're anything like mine :ick:
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...Peer Guardian 2 isn't a firewall per se... but it is very good, and has IP block lists that are updated often.
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Then what the hell would you call it then :wtf:
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Known malicious IPs blocker? IDK XD It works inbound and outbound, so it's sort of like a firewall... just not quite. It doesn't restrict specific programs' access to the 'net, it just restricts all program's access from certain IPs.
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I personally use Avira Antivir in combination with Kerio Personal firewall on my laptop mostly beacuse both they are resourcefrendly.And i use Avast and Kerio on my PC.
Like everybody says that using 3 in 1 software is a bad idea unless you have a monster CPU and loads of RAM.
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Kaspersky and AVG are both good choices, and Kasperskys firewall is quite reliable. The only downside is kaspersky is not free. I would recommend AVG for an Anti Virus and Peer Gaurding II for firewall, although PG II Is a bit hard to configure, so do that for your parents if they're anything like mine :ick:
Yeah, my parents would want to pay for it. They need to to feel like they're actually getting something. Don't quite get the open-source concept. If it were me, I'd go with AVG Free or something, I'll show them AVG and Kapersky.
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I use AVG free myself, its quite good
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Yeah, my parents would want to pay for it. They need to to feel like they're actually getting something. Don't quite get the open-source concept.
Weird people. Back in the summer, I noticed that my dad's work computer had a cold war era antivirus and only the Windows firewall. So I asked whether I could install something better on the rig and he was like "Knock yourself out, as long as it's free". So I punched Comodo and Antivir on the computer, managed to remove some worm that had been creating files containing the word 'Kaspersky' in the file names, and explained that his computer is now better than ever. And he was happy. But the point is that for my parents, especially for my dad, the pattern is: cheaper is better, free is the best.
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My dad is that way, but not my mom. He's that way about everything but PC stuff. He thinks that M$ is God, and refuses to use OpenOffice, Firefox, anything else.
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Install AVG and charge him £100 then. :p
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Thats over 200$!
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Just say him that the quality of an antivirus is directly proportional to the price. And then charge him £100.
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i currently use AVG free and windows defender
so far i have only had one really bad virus *stupid friend wanting to look at something that gave me a FREEKING ADWARE!!!* :mad:
both are actualy very good, but i have had a problem with AVG once, it stopped updateing so i had to re download and install it (grumble)
but avg will find almost EVERYTHING and its free Too :D
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Use Avast for antivirus.
Software firewall's aren't worth the time it takes to install them. Most have hidden "features" that will piss you off, hog resources at some point or another, and generally annoy you. I say this having used Kerio, ZoneAlarm, Norton, and a few others at some point or another.
Take the time and money you'd put toward a software firewall and go buy a decent router with NAT protection. Then make sure you set it up properly. Turn on the Windows firewall just in case you ever foolishly decide to plug straight into your modem ever again.
Finally, engage in safe-surfing practices. Actually take the time to verify or research files before you clickity-click on the download button.
Software firewalls are garbage. It's been three years since I ran anything more than avast (more for peace of mind than actual use) and the windows basic firewall and I've had nary a problem with any serious security threat since.
Go spend the $100 on a GOOD router instead of some el-cheapo and then take the time to learn to set it up properly. You won't regret it.
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I'm using Avast aswell as an antivirus, actually I've used it for 6 or 5 years now and so far I've been extremely pleased with it.
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I'm using a Siemens SpeedStream 6520. Anyone know if it has a firewall?
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I'm using a Siemens SpeedStream 6520. Anyone know if it has a firewall?
http://whirlpool.net.au/index.cfm?a=h_view&model_id=279
Google says yes, it has NAT protection.
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Hmm. That Little Britan was on to something.
"Google says yes."
"Computer says no."
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The computer will say no firewall installed except Windows firewall (unless you turn that off)... It's outside your computer's realm of control. To access the config for that router, point your browser to 192.168.2.1 and enter your Username & password (if you didn't change them, it's admin & admin for user / pass). From here you should be able to configure stuff.
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ANY router BY DEFINITION should be doing NAT.
Otherwise it's NOT A ROUTER.
Sorry for all the CAPS, but after studying this stuff for years, I tend to be something of a zealot.
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ANY router BY DEFINITION should be doing NAT.
Otherwise it's NOT A ROUTER.
Sorry for all the CAPS, but after studying this stuff for years, I tend to be something of a zealot.
I know that.
I also wouldn't put it past some budget ISP to pass out modems or hubs and call them routers. hence why I checked =)