OT: Recommendations for freeware AV and Firewall ?

[Rob Stow]

A friend and I have pooled our collections of odds and ends and
built a computer that we want to give to a disabled person who is
confined to her home who doesn't have a dime to spend on software.

I had a copy of W2K to donate, and then we loaded the box up with
freeware apps like OpenOffice, Firebird, Thunderbird, et cetera.

The neighbour in the recipient's duplex is willing to wirelessly
share his broadband connection with her so that she doesn't have
to pay for net access.

However, before handing the machine over to her, I would like to
get an idea of what freeware AV and firewall software is out
there and find out other W2K users would recommend from that
probably very limited selection of freeware apps.

If necessary, we will buy this woman a copy of the F-Secure or
Symantec internet security packages, but we would prefer not to
unless there are no suitable freeware apps.

 

[Dan Seur]

Rob -
I've been happy with Tiny Personal Firewall (tinysoftware.com)
and
Avast! antivirus package (avast.com).

TPF is very easy to administer. Avast autochecks daily for program and
AVdatabase updates.

I also occasionally use ShieldsUP! and LeakTest at grc.com.

 

[Rob Stow]

Rob -
I've been happy with Tiny Personal Firewall (tinysoftware.com)
and
Avast! antivirus package (avast.com).

TPF is very easy to administer. Avast autochecks daily for program and
AVdatabase updates.

I also occasionally use ShieldsUP! and LeakTest at grc.com.

Thanks, I'll check those out.

Someone else e-mailed me to suggest "Kerio Personal Firewall" and
"AVG Antivirus".

What I eventually go with might very well be determined by what
appears to be the easiest for a non-techie user to deal with.

 

[John John]

Someone else e-mailed me to suggest "Kerio Personal Firewall" and "AVG
Antivirus".

Kerio is a very good choice, but the newer versions aren't all that hot.
IMO version 2.1.5 is the best of the free personal versions. I tried
a few of the newer versions as they were released but didn't like them
and found some of them to be buggy and I always reverted to v2.1.5. Of
all the free personal firewalls that I have tried and tested Kerio 2.1.5
is my favorite and the one that I have found to consume the least
resources, works like a charm, I use it on NT4, W2K and XP. You can
download it here: http://www.kerio.com/dwn/kpf2-en-win.exe (direct
download location).

John

 

[GO]

I agree with John that the old version of Kerio is the best (I've also heard
the Kerio will be discontinuing their free/personal firewall). If you're
not going to continually provide some support for this person and their
computer I might recommend you try something like Zone Alarm, I think it'd
be a little easier to manage for a non-technical person. Also, I've use
AVG antivirus and have recommended it to others.

 

[Rob Stow]

I agree with John that the old version of Kerio is the best (I've also heard
the Kerio will be discontinuing their free/personal firewall). If you're
not going to continually provide some support for this person and their
computer I might recommend you try something like Zone Alarm, I think it'd
be a little easier to manage for a non-technical person. Also, I've use
AVG antivirus and have recommended it to others.

I live in a small city 45 miles away from the person the computer
is going to. My friend, however, lives in the same city as her -
and I know he is not averse to occasionally providing a little
support. He does, however, not want to have to go there everyday.

Since he is going to be the one providing any support, I think
I'll just CC him the recommendations from this group and let him
make up his own mind.