Looking for a free virus checker and firewall program

  • Thread starter Thread starter W. eWatson
  • Start date Start date
A good anti-spyware at the moment is MSE (Microsoft Security
Essentials). People have also had good experience with Avast free
version so that too is a good try.

I would avoid AVG because it has become a bloatware and so it slows
things down.

Windows Firewall is good so you don't need any other software based.
Your router should also have a built in firewall so that too could be
turned on to have double protection though it is not necessary.

hth
 
Tester said:
A good anti-spyware at the moment is MSE (Microsoft Security
Essentials). People have also had good experience with Avast free
version so that too is a good try.

I would avoid AVG because it has become a bloatware and so it slows
things down.

Windows Firewall is good so you don't need any other software based.
Your router should also have a built in firewall so that too could be
turned on to have double protection though it is not necessary.

hth
Click to expand...



True

AVG requires a pretty high end machine to run...but it's OK

Most XP machines I set up use either Avast or else MSE
and the default Windows firewall and within the last year...none of them
have yet gotten infected.
 
AVG likely for the virus checker. Firewall?
Click to expand...

I used AVG a few years ago, and it was OK then, but I've seen quite a
few complaints about it more recently. I like both Avast and Avira
AntiVir.

I used Zone Alarm's not-free product for a year or two after a received
a free copy from them. It worked well for me, no problems to report. I
don't know about their free version, though. Since that subscription
ran out, I have been doing without a software firewall. I tried Comodo
firewall, but I had some problems with it and didn't have time to
troubleshoot them, so I uninstalled it. I'm sure the problem was of my
own making, and I've been meaning to give it another shot.

Windows XP's built-in firewall is only half-useful, and that half
should be covered by your hardware firewall, so I wouldn't bother with
it. The Vista/Win7 firewall is better.
 
I used AVG a few years ago, and it was OK then, but I've seen quite a
few complaints about it more recently. I like both Avast and Avira
AntiVir.

I used Zone Alarm's not-free product for a year or two after a received
a free copy from them. It worked well for me, no problems to report. I
don't know about their free version, though. Since that subscription
ran out, I have been doing without a software firewall. I tried Comodo
firewall, but I had some problems with it and didn't have time to
troubleshoot them, so I uninstalled it. I'm sure the problem was of my
own making, and I've been meaning to give it another shot.

Windows XP's built-in firewall is only half-useful, and that half
should be covered by your hardware firewall, so I wouldn't bother with
it. The Vista/Win7 firewall is better.
Click to expand...
Probably don't need the virus checker. On the XP PC, I only use
webmail. I have a local network. Yes, firewall on the router is probably
good enough.

Where does one get MSE, or is it part of XP?
 
philo said:
True

AVG requires a pretty high end machine to run...but it's OK
Click to expand...

You sure? The weakest machine I'm running it on is a 1GHz PIII, and I don't
notice any untoward slowdown from normal. It bogs down while updating, but I've
scheduled that for the ungodly dawn hours, so it's OK. The only complaint I have
with it is that sometimes it asks to restart the computer after an update; an
essential utility shouldn't do that.

Most XP machines I set up use either Avast or else MSE
Click to expand...

Is Avast "nice" to set up and configure? I'll have to give it a try. MSE is
out of the question, as long as it requires Windows to have automatic updates
turned on.

and the default Windows firewall and within the last year...none of them
have yet gotten infected.
Click to expand...

Indeed, the built-in is quite enough. As long as one doesn't use TCP/IP for
file sharing, that is. (I really dislike MS's insistence on using TCP/IP for
sharing; it's totally wrong.)
 
Probably don't need the virus checker. On the XP PC, I only use
webmail. I have a local network. Yes, firewall on the router is
probably good enough.
Click to expand...

I'd say you most certainly DO need the virus checker, unless the
computer has no contact with the Internet or with computers that do
touch the Internet.
Where does one get MSE, or is it part of XP?
Click to expand...

Download from Microsoft. It did not come into existence until several
years after XP was released.
 
Probably don't need the virus checker.  On the XP PC, I only use
webmail. I have a local network. Yes, firewall on the router is probably
good enough.

Where does one get MSE, or is it part of XP?
Click to expand...

==
Microsoft provides MSE. Google for it.
==
 
AVG likely for the virus checker.
Click to expand...


AVG used to be a good choice, but in recent years it's become a poor
one.

For an anti-virus program, I recommend eSet NOD32, if you are willing
to pay for it. If you want a free anti-virus, I recommend one (do not
run more than one) of the following three:
 
Avira AntiVir
Avast
Microsoft Security Essentials
 
You also need anti-spyware software. I recommend that you download and
install (freeware) MalwareBytes AntiMalware.


Firewall?
Click to expand...


The built-in Windows firewall is fine. No need to run anything else.
 
AVG used to be a good choice, but in recent years it's become a poor
one.

For an anti-virus program, I recommend eSet NOD32, if you are willing
to pay for it. If you want a free anti-virus, I recommend one (do not
run more than one) of the following three:

Avira AntiVir
Avast
Microsoft Security Essentials

You also need anti-spyware software. I recommend that you download and
install (freeware) MalwareBytes AntiMalware.





The built-in Windows firewall is fine. No need to run anything else.
Click to expand...
Sounds good.
 
I'll second that one. :-)
Good to see you're still here, Ken. :-)
Click to expand...


Thanks. I'm still here, but I spend less time here than I used to and
post less. That's for two reasons:

1. It's been a *long* time since I've used XP.

2. There's much less traffic here than there used to be.

Have you got tired of the web-based MS support forums yet? Ugh. :-)
Click to expand...


I was tired of them when they started. ;-) They are greatly inferior
to newsgroups. But since that's where most of the action is and where
I can be of the most help, that's where I mostly post.
 
Sounds good.
Click to expand...
OK, I see MSE protects against malware. Should it be installed along
with one of the anti-spyware programs?

I'm about to install the 64-bit MSE for Win7, and I believe it's
recommending that I turn off my firewall. Why? Is it going to provide a
substitute, or is this temporary for the install? I have a sbcglobal
(AT&T) firewall in place.
 
I've have MSSE on my system for about a year now, and it's protected my PC
quite successfully over that time. As someone else has mentioned - the
Window's Firewall provides adequate port protection.

Yes, I also have both "SpyBot - Search & Destroy" and "SpyWareBlaster" -
mainly because I think they provide another invaluable layer of
protection - using, as they do, amongst other methods, pre-emptive
"strikes" at any malicious software attack by preventing any content to
even reach your computer from any listed & banned web-sources.

With MSSE together with both 3rd-party anti-malware products, I feel
perfectly confident that the chances of a security breach are minimal.

Microsoft Security Essentials :
http://bit.ly/i2tfSj

SpyBot - Search & Destroy :
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

Spywareblaster Setup :
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
I've have MSSE on my system for about a year now, and it's protected my PC
quite successfully over that time. As someone else has mentioned - the
Window's Firewall provides adequate port protection.

Yes, I also have both "SpyBot - Search & Destroy" and "SpyWareBlaster" -
mainly because I think they provide another invaluable layer of
protection - using, as they do, amongst other methods, pre-emptive
"strikes" at any malicious software attack by preventing any content to
even reach your computer from any listed & banned web-sources.

With MSSE together with both 3rd-party anti-malware products, I feel
perfectly confident that the chances of a security breach are minimal.

Microsoft Security Essentials :
http://bit.ly/i2tfSj

SpyBot - Search & Destroy :
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

Spywareblaster Setup :
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
Click to expand...
MSE may provide adequate support, but why would I want to substitute for
my routher's firewall provided by my ISP. Maybe I'm misreading the
install check box.
 
I said (I thought) that Window's [default] Firewall was "adequate" - MSSE
has no built-in Firewall included.

Of course you are going to be able to buy better, or have a better Firewall
already installed on a new machine - I thought you were enquiring after
[free] alternatives!?....

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
I said (I thought) that Window's [default] Firewall was "adequate" -
MSSE has no built-in Firewall included.

Of course you are going to be able to buy better, or have a better
Firewall already installed on a new machine - I thought you were
enquiring after [free] alternatives!?....

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




W. eWatson said:
MSE may provide adequate support, but why would I want to substitute
for my routher's firewall provided by my ISP. Maybe I'm misreading the
install check box.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
What is MSSE? Are we talking about the same thing?
 
I've have MSSE on my system for about a year now, and it's protected my PC
quite successfully over that time.  As someone else has mentioned - the
Window's Firewall provides adequate port protection.

Yes, I also have both "SpyBot - Search & Destroy" and "SpyWareBlaster" -
mainly because I think they provide another invaluable layer of
protection - using, as they do, amongst other methods, pre-emptive
"strikes" at any malicious software attack by preventing any content to
even reach your computer from any listed & banned web-sources.

With MSSE together with both 3rd-party anti-malware products, I feel
perfectly confident that the chances of a security breach are minimal.

Microsoft Security Essentials :http://bit.ly/i2tfSj
Click to expand...

FYI - http://i56.tinypic.com/2lo0rb6.jpg

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Oh smart one. Do you know why that warning is showing. Please explain it to us.

--
Peter
Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
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STOP - there might be a problem with the requested link
The link you requested has been identified by bitly as being
potentially problematic. We have detected a link that has been

Oh smart one. Do you know why that warning is showing. Please explain it to  us.
Click to expand...

C'mon now Peter - *You* are the MVP - *I* have no idea at all *WHY*
the warning is issued.

Just that it *IS*! ;-)

Feel free to enlighten folk!
 
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