Ok so i just did a clean install ... what firewall + AV to get ??

[_Mystical_Night]

I just did my yearly install of windows and wanted to know what you guys thought was the best software firewall + antivirus combo ??


before i had Avantium Outpost Firewall with Norton Antivirus 2004 (i still have a 2 month sub with them) .... but as we all know Norton Antivirus is **** for trojan files and i discovered a bug with Outpost firewall that it gives off random system32 crashes when uninstalled on windows startup


I heard F-Protect & F-secure is a good Antivirus combo (1 as a main scanner and one as backup) since some scanners miss some viruses ....

Im clueless about what firewall to get however and i dont really wanna get a hardware firewall yet until i build a new pc im building in a month or so for a family member.


so what do you guys suggest ??


also i heard somthing about the new windows updates interfereing with the sp2 tcp patch fix ?? :( (that sets it from 10 back to normal)

[Johnny Fist]

I use the firewall that comes with XP and AVG. Thats kept me safe for awhile. I never even bothered with a firewall since I'm behind a router, but this time I just left it on.

[cdroman]

http://www.kerio.com/dwn/kpf2-en-win.exe

http://www.free-av.com/

[G Ray88]

I have been using AVG7, 6 before that and it works fine. Have been using Sygate Personal Firewall and it seems to be working, Blocking allot of things that I didn’t know were trying to get into my computer. I would also run Spybot Search & Destroy along with Lavasoft Ad-aware SE personal. Check here
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=168820
Good Luck:t

[mireland]

I've got the free avg 7.0 and the free zone alarm..seems good enough for me...:t

[Prushka]

AntiVir (free)updates daily...AVG7(free) hasn't yet found anything new after running AntiVir, although with a single comp., results might change if scanning multiple comps.
Started using MicroWorld's Escan AV/trojan utility...very comprehensive, as a 2nd scanner, which also fixes

[bushmaster]

AVG pro. And since I'm behind a router I've not bothered with a software firewall, and have been trouble free.

On a new install I like to get AVG on first, then spybot, ad-aware, and A-squared.

[Tech^salvager]

AntiVir =antivirus protection
MS firewall=I don't use anyother then since I behind a router and it hasn't buged me
also get MS antispyware, its good at keeping your system in shape.

[fishybawb]

AntiVir and Sygate currently, although Kerio Personal Firewall is pretty sweet too. I need to get a router sorted out...

[bassman]

Even if you have a hardware firewall (on the router, for example) a software firewall that performs application control can also be useful.

[_Mystical_Night]

Originally posted by fishybawb
AntiVir and Sygate currently, although Kerio Personal Firewall is pretty sweet too. I need to get a router sorted out...

is sygate firewall any good ??

[fishybawb]

I like it, it's never given me any problems:

http://smb.sygate.com/download_buy.htm

I went to it after finding ZoneAlarm a bit of a resource hog - I tried Outpost too, but got fed up trying to set it up properly.

[G]

In this day-and-age it is imperative to have an AV program. Unfortunately, some AV programs are better than others.

Now the best AV program around is Kaspersky’s Personal V5+. It will cost to purchase on a yearly basis but considering the seriousness of worms, virii and trojans I would not use anything else or recommend anything else. It comes top in all the head-to-head AV mag tests.

Going for cheap or freeware AV programs and you are asking for trouble in the long run as they do not cut it. Kaspersky send out updates up to 8 times a day and supply definition files to some of the major AV software developers, e.g., F-Secure. I think I’m correct in saying that they will have a fix for a worm etc within 15 minutes and ready for download. I think this is excellent customer service.

Sygate is meant to be one of the best firewall programs around and it is free.

Ideally get an all-in-one hardware firewall, modem and router, sooner rather than later.

[_Mystical_Night]

Cool thanks for all the great suggestions guys :) I made my choice i decided to go with Sygate Firewall

the antivirus im still testing to decide which to go with because F-Secure Anti-Virus for workstations v5.43 is very very good but its really annoying as well because it keeps track of everything you do so it doesnt let you install windows updates and several other stuff from websites since it edits files on your pc

I might go with Kaspersky im still testing it out :) altho ill most likely use it its the only real other choice i had in mind besides F-Secure to replace norton since their slacking lately

[G]

I have F-Secure Workstation 5.42.

What is the problem in detail? I may be able to help. If you have F-Secure already then keep it as definition updates are lifetime free.

You could disable online monitoring while downloading and then scan the file once downloaded and then go back to online monitoring – it is a simple click, as you know. You should not have online scanning on while updating Windows anyway and have as many programs, disabled, exit-out, shutdown, and processes End Tasked as possible.

[_Mystical_Night]

Originally posted by G

You could disable online monitoring while downloading and then scan the file once downloaded and then go back to online monitoring – it is a simple click, as you know. You should not have online scanning on while updating Windows anyway and have as many programs, disabled, exit-out, shutdown, and processes End Tasked as possible.

Thanks :) , yeah that was the problem it would lag really bad and wouldnt lemme install the updates that modify existing files on your pc I should have disabled online monitoring hehe :)

[G]

Any time you have any problems with F-Secure Workstation send me a PM.

Sending you a PM.

In addition, some false alarms are rectified in time but for the time being they can be excluded. If you are not sure how to do this let me know.

[shadowbladex]

I personally Use Antigum Outpost and Avast Home Edition. Avast is the best free AV on the market right now and I've never heard of anyone running into any problems with it. AVG is **** for trojans and some other viruses. It can't remove them from my experience with using AVG on other people's machines. I put avast on their and cleaned their pc's right up. So I'd recommend avast for your AV needs. It has a p2p shield, a network attack shield, instant messenger shield, and the other various resident scanning shields and such.

I haven't run into this problem that you said you experienced with outpost. It's one of the best software firewalls out there and I've been using it for a long time. I had sygate before that but when doing online vulnerability tests it came up short as I had several ports left open and a few other odd little things. When I put outpost on here it closed all those holes up and even stealthed most of them. I'd recommend trying outpost again and see what you're experience is this time around. The lastest version can be found here
Freeware Version (http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Agnitum_Outpost_Firewall/1009877103/1)
Pro Version (http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Agnitum_Outpost_Firewall_Pro/1009876979/1)

I'm not sure what other firewall to recommend if outpost still doesn't work since I've used it for the past good little while. :cool:

Hope that helps some :)

[dajogejr]

Originally posted by _Mystical_Night
is sygate firewall any good ??

Been using that and my router for quite some time, and I'm very happy with it.

I even bought the pro version for about 20 or 30 bucks. Don't bother...the free works just fine.

I know I'm gonna get hammered for this...but, I've used Symantec AV for years...and have always been just fine.

I can say that from 2003 to 2004, there was a little improvement. However, from 2004 to 2005, big improvement...with worm, trojan and malware abilities.

However...it can not replace my all time favorite Pest Patrol...right, G?

;)

But, that being said...I've read up that Webroot's spy sweper has a lot better ratings. Anyone care to comment on that?:t

[Lord AnthraX]

As most people who have read my posts/threads on SpySweeper know I am a staunch supporter of them. The program is updated almost daily when new spyware/adware/trojans are found. It runs with minimal memory (15-20Mb) and gets stuff that S&D and Ad-Aware don't. I used to use pest patrol but stopped after they stopped updating (never ent back cause i found SpySweeper). As for an AV I've been using norton for years but also (just recently) have been using Trend Micro's house call system. It's great for viruses and trojans that Norton doesn't get because the definitions aren't stored on your computer so the virus/trojan can't mess with them (diable or delete). I've also been looking at Inoculte IT! I've got a copy but am debating whether or not to install it. Anyone that has any good info on the program please PM or post.

P.S. Had to cut short, need to go to class.

[fishybawb]

I find it hard to recommend PestPatrol to everyone - it does its job well, but there is also a pretty good chance of noobs messing stuff up with it. I've been having really good luck with MS's anti spyware util of late:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

[dajogejr]

That's a good point...Fishy.

I use it...but, in lesser hands, I wouldn't recommend it. It can wreak a little havok!

[fishybawb]

Yeah, getting phone calls asking you to fix something they broke by using a program you recommended to them to fix something else gets irritating ;) I use a combination of AdAware SE, PestPatrol and MS's one on my own box - and only then about once a month or so. I don't seem to pick a lot of nasties up, barring the usual cookies.

[G]

PP’s great but SpySweeper is meant to be better.

I use PP and M$ Antispyware.

For AV go with Kaspersky’s Personal V5+. Do not go with the Pro version, it is not necessary.

[_Mystical_Night]

yeah i use the following setup now for anti spyware/anti virus & trojans

Firewall = Outpost Firewall Pro (gave it another chance ;) ) its a good firewall I think it deserved another chance after ive been using it for so long its kinda hard saying goodbye and trying another one completely new

Anti Virus = Kaspersky Personal AV Pro (i got a free 1 yr sub pm if u need one) / because its lighter on the pc then the workstations AV and works just as well :p


Anti Spyware
-------------------
- Spywareblaster
- Ad-aware

Edit was to fix smilys :p

[omendata]

Outpost firewall pro or Kerio

AVG used to be the fashionable one to have but I prefer Norton these days!

For free you cant go better than CDROMAN's advice!
:t

[intimidator]

Spysweeper is Awesome......I never was a big fan until recently....I now use it on a daily basis & it finds lots of nasties that PestPatrol misses............It is a two way street though cause if SS is run b4 PP, PP picks up what it missed. Gotta love it!

I hate PP version 5 now that CA owns it. Yuck! I still use version 4.

PestPatrol
Spysweeper
Adaware
Spybot
Spywareblaster

TDS-3

Router preferred but Sygate if you must have a software firewall. I used to run ZA back in the day & never experienced any of the horror stories.

Kaspersky no doubt is the KING! But, nice free ones are Antivir & AVG. Must disagree about AVG being weak on Trojans as this is one of its strong points.

I will be putting Avast to the test starting tomorrow

[G]

“I hate PP version 5 now that CA owns it. Yuck! I still use version 4”

Same here, and they had the audacity to proclaim that the UI was improved over V4 – BS. I asked for a refund the same day but they never got back to me. Moreover, even if you have a valid licence for PP V4 and definition files are unlimited as soon as V5 is installed you have 365. What a cheek.

I would now recommend SpySweeper and M$ ant-spyware and the two to go for nowadays.

[Prushka]

Sygate shows complete stealth at Shields up every time I visit
hmmm.
The only 1 I've used other than Tiny Personel Firewall years back

[G Ray88]

I do like the Backtrace feature of Traffic log on Sygate, it's nice to know who is on my computer or where it is going. And the paid version of AVG is not really that much. Good Luck:)

[europanorama]

btw: its agnitum outpost


i use
NIS
(AV/FIREWALL)
ADAWARE
SPYBOT
SPYWAREBLASTER
SPYWAREGUARD

one has to regularly run(ONLINE)
ESCAN
PANDASOFTWARE
use heuristic,but could last
TRENDMICRO

¨CWSHREDDER
HIJACKTHIS

i will give AVAST home another try on a new hdd.
plus SYGATE

i gave them up when something did not work with them.