Internet Secuirty

[Mark2006]

It is time for me to renew internet security subscriptions. At present, I
use AVG as anti-virus and zonealarm for firewall and spyware scanning.

I wanted to get other user's opinions about these products and also
recommendations if you think there are better programs or suites.

I have windows xp home pc's. Thanks!

 

[Steve Winograd]

It is time for me to renew internet security subscriptions. At present, I
use AVG as anti-virus and zonealarm for firewall and spyware scanning.

I wanted to get other user's opinions about these products and also
recommendations if you think there are better programs or suites.

I have windows xp home pc's. Thanks!

For anti-virus, I recommend:

Avast 4 (free for home and non-commercial users)
http://www.avast.com

CA Antivirus 2008 (free trial and discounted purchase on this page)
http://home3.ca.com/Microsoft/Default.aspx?sc_lang=en-US

NOD32
http://www.eset.com

For spyware, I recommend Microsoft's free Windows Defender program
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

I don't recommend any firewall programs. I use a broadband router
(which acts as a hardware firewall) and Windows XP's built-in Windows
Firewall.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Mark2006]

Thanks for your help. I will follow up on it. I, too, use a router which
acts as a hardware firewall. I have read a whole lot on the forums and some
people say that the windows firewall is great for inbound attacks but less so
for outbound. Do you have any opinions on that?
Thanks again,
Mark

 

[Steve Winograd]

Thanks for your help. I will follow up on it. I, too, use a router which
acts as a hardware firewall. I have read a whole lot on the forums and some
people say that the windows firewall is great for inbound attacks but less so
for outbound. Do you have any opinions on that?
Thanks again,
Mark

You're welcome, Mark. In Windows XP, the Windows Firewall is inbound
only and has no effect on outbound traffic. In Windows Vista, the
Windows Firewall works on outbound traffic.

If protection from undesired outbound traffic is important to you, get
a firewall program that has that feature.

--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com