View Full Version : protection
Missy D
9th-February-2008, 07:16 PM
Today my subscription for Norton has expired which I have found not billiant at all. What protection have you got on your pc. I have no idea which one to choose. Need to get something installed soon before I land up with lots of viruses.:flower:
martingold
9th-February-2008, 07:29 PM
Today my subscription for Norton has expired which I have found not billiant at all. What protection have you got on your pc. I have no idea which one to choose. Need to get something installed soon before I land up with lots of viruses.:flower:
free avg is pretty good and wont cost you a penny although i use nod32
Northants Girly
9th-February-2008, 09:55 PM
Yep - AVG is free and has good write-ups too.
I also have Zonealarm firewall - also free :)
dave the scaffolder
9th-February-2008, 10:17 PM
PM Onkar hes a computer whizzz DTS Dave XXX XXX
Robin
9th-February-2008, 11:28 PM
Personally, I have installed corporate norton (symantec) for about 500 users - its hard to beat if you can find a single license its pretty good - unobtrusive ( as opposed to retail norton) and catches pretty much everything you are likely to encounter. Doesn;t have anything else in it so you;ll need something like zonealarm or if you are using windows vista, the built in firewall is not too bad. won;t catch things "dialling home" but will stop incoming stuff.
RedFox
21st-February-2008, 06:07 PM
Today my subscription for Norton has expired which I have found not billiant at all. What protection have you got on your pc. I have no idea which one to choose. Need to get something installed soon before I land up with lots of viruses.:flower:
For anti-virus protection:
ESET NOD32 Antivirus 3.0 (http://www.eset.com/products/index.php) (not the Smart Security product)
And for other issues (all freeware)
ZoneAlarm Free Firewall (http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?dc=56pus&ctry=GB&lang=en)
Spybot Search and Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html)
SpywareBlaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html)
Secunia Personal Software Inspector (https://psi.secunia.com/)
DavidY
7th-December-2008, 12:57 PM
Apologies for resurrecting an old thread - but this may be of interest to some people.
If you use Barclays Online banking, they're doing an offer whereby you can download Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 for free (for up to 3 computers).
Internet Security Offer -Barclays (http://www.personal.barclays.co.uk/BRC1/jsp/brccontrol?task=homefreegroup&value=10662&target=_blank&site=pfs)
It seems to be the full commercial product - and although I don't know much about Kaspersky, I have heard of them and this particular product did get a good write-up in Personal Computer World magazine.
I was looking for the catch (why give something away for free?:confused:) but I guess that from Barclays' point of view, it might even save them money overall if fewer of their customers get hit by phishing emails, stolen credit card numbers etc.
Cruella
7th-December-2008, 01:04 PM
OK, I'm showing my ignorance but I'm always keen to learn. I use Norton purely because I have always had that on my computer. Can someone explain (in plain English, no technical jargon) exactly what does what. Such as what a firewall does etc. :flower:
Poi Boi
7th-December-2008, 01:19 PM
I use AVG security suite, it has a firewall, spybot protection and virus scanner, plus a whole load of other stuff that protects you computer. It's easy to use and unobtrusive. I bought it from Amazon off a seller for much cheaper than advertised online and the CD arrived the next day. A great piece of software installed on my laptop and PC and it does a very good job.
robd
7th-December-2008, 01:23 PM
Firewall - blocks unauthorised/unsolicited access to your computer from computers on the other side of the firewall (a firewall may be on your PC or it could be on the device that connects you to the internet or both) . Most firewalls (but not the inbuilt Win XP one IIRC) also block unauthorised/unsolicited access from your computer to other computers
Anti Virus - scans files to check for known viruses and if it finds one may delete it or 'quarantine' it. Some scanners also check against certain patterns of behaviour which, they claim, enables them to catch viruses that are not yet known.
I have never used anti virus on my home machines - I find the performance hit is too great and it's more trouble than it's worth. However I am generally the sole user of my machine and I appreciate that it's a different situation if you have other family members using it (and opening unsolicited email attachments, etc )
Cruella
7th-December-2008, 02:41 PM
Thank you Robd. I think we had Spybot search and destroy too, does that do anything that Norton doesn't? Or can it be removed?
martingold
7th-December-2008, 05:35 PM
Thank you Robd. I think we had Spybot search and destroy too, does that do anything that Norton doesn't? Or can it be removed?
spybot search and destroy detects and removes spyware as aposed to nortons which protects you against viruses
definatly do not remove it and you should run a scan with it every so often
I also run lavasofts Adaware (make sure you go to lavasoft to get this as there are several dodgy versions) as a combination of a decent anti virus, a firewall and these two programs will catch just about everything that the internet can throw at you
DavidY
7th-December-2008, 08:02 PM
spybot search and destroy detects and removes spyware as aposed to nortons which protects you against viruses It depends which Norton product you're using - some of the Norton products have spyware features as well as anti-virus.
Dreadful Scathe
8th-December-2008, 12:15 AM
It depends which Norton product you're using - some of the Norton products have spyware features as well as anti-virus.
most Norton products ARE spyware :)
martingold
8th-December-2008, 08:16 AM
most Norton products ARE spyware :)
:yeah:
I dont like either the norton or mcafee products i have used
soooo slow and obtrusive
straycat
8th-December-2008, 10:25 AM
I used to swear by AVG, but nowadays it seems to be going the way of Norton. Nowadays, I use ClamWin (http://www.clamwin.com/). Also free, and Clam is pretty much the de facto open source anti virus system these days.
Agente Secreto
8th-December-2008, 10:34 AM
most Norton products ARE spyware :)
I don't like many of the integrated security packages I've tried and of course if you know what you're doing then you can easily assemble your own set of protection measures.
However, for those people that are not confident enough to manage their risks by assembling their own suite of protection measures, or simply don't want to spend the time doing this (I'm in this latter category myself), then Norton or McAfee fills a useful void. These products are designed to work for those people that understand very little - so by nature they'll be obtrusive. However, once the packages are set up and running I rarely get any comments from the wife or kids about the security suite being in their face.
Personally I use Norton/Symantec right now - the product does annoy me and I really dislike the way that backup works, but the range of functionality I get from it allows me to get the best balance of protection v effort for a desktop that is used by 3 kids as well as myself and the wife. The 3 license deal is good since I can deploy it on the 2 laptops I've got as well. I'm looking around for a change when the current license expires in the summer and I'm probably going to try the Zonealarm Suite from Checkpoint this time round. I've done this in the past though and keep coming back to the Norton products in the end - maybe its just familiarity with them or could simply be that I'd rather be dancing than messing around with security software at home:waycool:
Agent 000
Licensed to Dance
Robin
8th-December-2008, 11:36 AM
I used to swear by AVG, but nowadays it seems to be going the way of Norton. Nowadays, I use ClamWin (http://www.clamwin.com/). Also free, and Clam is pretty much the de facto open source anti virus system these days.
Whilst it is a good product, for most people it needs to be automatic - quote from their website "Please note that ClamWin Free Antivirus does not include an on-access real-time scanner. You need to manually scan a file in order to detect a virus or spyware."
Which means that people have to know what they are doing - ie scan manually.
Personally I have found the new version of symantec corporate is pretty ok - includes basic firewall, anti trojan etc and it has a fairly low resource hit (other than at startup if you have a scan enabled). It can also be locked down so no-one can disable it or muck about with the settings which is a real bonus !
Dreadful Scathe
8th-December-2008, 11:58 AM
Firewall - blocks unauthorised/unsolicited access to your computer from computers on the other side of the firewall (a firewall may be on your PC or it could be on the device that connects you to the internet or both) . Most firewalls (but not the inbuilt Win XP one IIRC) also block unauthorised/unsolicited access from your computer to other computers
:yeah: Yes the windows firewall does not block outgoing access. The reason this is important is, if you ever do get a virus/trojan on your computer that tries to connect to a server, you will not be warned and it can download more things with impunity.
Anti Virus - scans files to check for known viruses and if it finds one may delete it or 'quarantine' it. Some scanners also check against certain patterns of behaviour which, they claim, enables them to catch viruses that are not yet known.
Extra overheads of course, and they will also highlight anything flagged as possibly pirated as dodgy too, to steer you onto the straight and narrow. :) A friend once accidently deleted perfectly good CTDC remote access software from my machine when the virus checker flagged it up - it was both legitimate and legal. Luckily my virus collection was on an external drive :).
I have never used anti virus on my home machines - I find the performance hit is too great and it's more trouble than it's worth. However I am generally the sole user of my machine and I appreciate that it's a different situation if you have other family members using it (and opening unsolicited email attachments, etc )
I don't like many of the integrated security packages I've tried and of course if you know what you're doing then you can easily assemble your own set of protection measures.
The first measure of protection is general computer awareness - scanning software is an extra check that shouldnt be needed. I would always recommend a firewall if your router doesnt handle it, but thats all you really need :) You don't need a virus checker if you are not daft enough to download viruses :)
These products are designed to work for those people that understand very little - so by nature they'll be obtrusive. However, once the packages are set up and running I rarely get any comments from the wife or kids about the security suite being in their face.
Yes they do calm down a bit, but I would disagree that "by nature they'll be obtrusive" - if they are aimed at the non-IT literate, they really should be almost invisible.
Robin
8th-December-2008, 01:23 PM
if they are aimed at the non-IT literate, they really should be almost invisible.
Agree - but thats rubbish marketing isn't it ?
Why would you buy it again if it was completely silent and doing its job properly ?
:lol:
Dreadful Scathe
8th-December-2008, 01:46 PM
Agree - but thats rubbish marketing isn't it ?
Why would you buy it again if it was completely silent and doing its job properly ?
:lol:
if i program is not annoying enough then people will forget thats its doing its job ? i think you have a good point :)
Personally I have always been of the opinion that ever since OS's came with their own tcp/ip stack, it is their responsibility to secure it with a decent firewall (otherwise why not continue letting a 3rd party handle it?). For viruses/trojans , it should be part of the OS to consider the execution of malicious code. None of this should be 3rd party in a commercial OS :(
Minnie M
21st-May-2010, 05:16 PM
Today my subscription for Norton has expired which I have found not billiant at all. What protection have you got on your pc. I have no idea which one to choose. Need to get something installed soon before I land up with lots of viruses.:flower:
I have 20 days left on my Norton Subscription, have to say it has been great and the support was very helpful too, however, I can't beleive how expensive it is to renew it :angry:
As this thread was started over 2 years ago - can you confirm that the FREE AVG is still a good bet (please)
Thanks :hug: :kiss: :love:
philsmove
21st-May-2010, 06:59 PM
I have 20 days left on my Norton Subscription, ..., I can't believe how expensive it is to renew it
like you I am very impressed with Norton
My freind swears by a free program (he gets about 3 crashes a week and is is allways swearing )
PC world have a half price (http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/norton-internet-security-2010-03701181-pdt.html?srcid=8324&xtor=ES-54)Norton offer
Minnie M
21st-May-2010, 07:07 PM
......PC world have a half price (http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/norton-internet-security-2010-03701181-pdt.html?srcid=8324&xtor=ES-54)Norton offer
:clap::cheers: thanks Phil - I would rather stay with Norton :hug:
David Franklin
22nd-May-2010, 08:57 PM
like you I am very impressed with Norton
My freind swears by a free program (he gets about 3 crashes a week and is is allways swearing )
PC world have a half price (http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/norton-internet-security-2010-03701181-pdt.html?srcid=8324&xtor=ES-54)Norton offerIf you only need one user and you're happy to get an OEM version (which basically means you'll just get a disk - no manual etc) you should be able to do better than that.
E.g. http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/product.aspx?code=SWN-ISEC101O&af=50 is around half the PC World price.
Alternatively, if you use Barclays Online Banking, they'll give you Kaspersky Internet Security free (3 machine license too!). Most comparitive reviews rate Kaspersky above Norton as well.
Beowulf
23rd-May-2010, 01:00 PM
Most comparitive reviews rate Kaspersky above Norton as well.
I've been a Kapersky User for a few years now and it's great. Really easy to use, unobtrusive and pretty sturdy. I used to be a mcAfee man.. But I don't know, I started having "issues" with it.. random crashes etc.
Used Norton WAAAAAY back.. seemed ok at the time, but as stated above, the retail version.. nags you to hell and back !!! :doh:
Agente Secreto
24th-May-2010, 12:45 PM
I have 20 days left on my Norton Subscription, have to say it has been great and the support was very helpful too, however, I can't beleive how expensive it is to renew it :angry:
As this thread was started over 2 years ago - can you confirm that the FREE AVG is still a good bet (please)
Thanks :hug: :kiss: :love:
Never take the renewal option from the software vendor - you can always get a far better deal elsewhere.
When I replaced my software last August I had a quote for renewal of around £55 and eventually managed to find the same software for less than half of that on the Internet. The software vendors take advantage of the fact that it is easy to click the renew button to update so many people end up paying over the odds. It's not just Symantec, all the vendors (except the free one of course) do the same.
DavidB
24th-May-2010, 01:16 PM
I started using Microsoft Security Essentials a few months ago, and have been very happy with it. It doesn't have all the bells & whistles of some of the other packages. but it is very simple and unobtrusive. And it is free.
Minnie M
24th-May-2010, 02:38 PM
I started using Microsoft Security Essentials a few months ago, and have been very happy with it. It doesn't have all the bells & whistles of some of the other packages. but it is very simple and unobtrusive. And it is free.
This the one the IT guy at work recommended - would be OK for me though ? Also, do I need another fire wall ??
The beauty of Norton is, any problems their 'on-line' support is so good
Agente Secreto
24th-May-2010, 04:47 PM
The Windows Firewall is fine.
If you don't need any of the bells and whistles (such a the ability to control which sites your adolescent family can browse to) then as David says the combination of one of the free anti-malware packages and a free firewall is more than enough (and your broadband router probably has another firewall anyway). I work in IT security and a couple of the guys I work with use AVG and Zonelabs for their home desktops. and I'm sure that the Microsoft products are just as commendable.
If you do want to renew the Symantec product you might want to look at Amazon this week!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/ref=pe_16991_20212821_pe_i4/?ASIN=B002M787XG
DavidY
25th-May-2010, 10:40 AM
I started using Microsoft Security Essentials a few months ago, and have been very happy with it. It doesn't have all the bells & whistles of some of the other packages. but it is very simple and unobtrusive. And it is free.I've seen some other good write ups of this.
The Windows Firewall is fine.
My understanding is that the Microsoft Security Essentials product adds more than the Firewall (which is built into recent versions of Windows) - in particular it has an anti-virus component.
Agente Secreto
25th-May-2010, 04:40 PM
I've seen some other good write ups of this.
My understanding is that the Microsoft Security Essentials product adds more than the Firewall (which is built into recent versions of Windows) - in particular it has an anti-virus component.
It does, and it gets good write ups as well. What I was trying to say was that the combination of Microsoft free products are fine as long as you don't need parental controls and other such functionality. If I didn't have adolescent kids with their innate sense of curiosity for 'colourful' web sites I'd probably stop buying AV and firewall software and go for the freebies.
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