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Community Newsletter: Q&A: Free vs. paid security software
- 6/8/07 9:43 AM
Somethings are free Jasmine!
by dukellc - 5/26/07 10:23 PM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Jasmine
I too used to pay for software believing I was getting more from a purchased product. Alas, I was wrong. There are very effective and free programs available for download. AVG Free is a very good anti virus I have used for years. Ad Aware Personal and Spybot Search and Destroy are both good tools to have (and free!) for malware detection. You should also have Microsoft's Defender (also free). I assume that you have a subscription for anti virus and security software. There are many other utilities available for free or as shareware (minimal cost $15-$30). Check out Download.com for a dizzying array of free software. Many of these programs are free for personal use and the developers generate revenue at the enterprise level e.g. the excellent X-1 search tool. And with more open source programs becoming available almost daily you may never have to pay for software again! I have been using Thunderbird mail,Sunbird calendar and OpenOffice for the last year and will not be upgrading to Office 2007 and not spending $600. With a little research and a little bit of time invested I think you might discover that you may just want to keep that subscription fee in your pocket. Good luck!
Antivirus security issues works or disturbs
by ask4waqar - 5/26/07 10:30 PM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Dear jasmine most of the people are these days tired with the viruses and spywares as many of them are coming in existence rapidly also new types of viruses are also developed as rootkits,dialers etc which harm your computer.
As matter for security it has been very difficult for a user to protect his personal computer from online threats as they really breaks one's computer down.
As the viruses breaks we observe that most of the antivirus companies offer upgrades and renewals at some lowere price but when some registers either these softwares use high memory or they dont work and it makes user upset.Also most of the free anti virus companies have often two editions
1 )Free edition.
2) professional edition.
Free editions have basic interface and provide security for viruses they dont block or have the real time protection freom new or from upcoming internet viruses.so for this particular service you will have to pay.anbd for that you may register for professional edition.
One of the solution for you is firstly try a free version of any antivirus like kaspersky 6.0(30 day trial version)AVG,or avast to see which anti virus is easy to use and handy for you.
secondly you regularly visit the web sites of computer helping resourses such as CNET,PCWORLD etc to see wheather which anti virus is going popular among users and which one is advised by technology experts.
Last but not the least you may use disk freezing utilities to freeze your active disk (usually cC drive)after installing your all needed programs it will ask about you disk which to freeze select desired disk and freeze it will make it freeze no change will be ever possible to make to the drive etill you provide the password to do so if something like virus comes simply restart computer and computer will be new as it was with newly installed windows.for this spurpose you may use freeze program free to use and is of size some KBs so you can be wooried free..
HOPE this solves the solution
MUHAMMAD WAQAR
free software
by strippen - 5/26/07 11:02 PM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
hai there,lot of free software you can use.
Avast Antivirus or AVG for antivirus.
Ad adware SE Personal for spyware.
Spybot - Search & Destroy for spybots.
All these programs you can find it by www.cnet.com and it is working very well.
Free Software
by elpich - 5/27/07 12:52 AM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The only free software I use is Spybot Search & Destroy Free Ad-Aware. I have used McFee Virus and firewall. I was getting too many viruses. I recently bought KASPERSKY Virus, it is the top RATED, very good, and easy to use. It is expensive $49.95 but worth it. The second year you pay only $35.00. I also download CCleaner for free, very good software, and paid for RegMechanic. Touch wood I have had 0 viruses. The free software is good, but not as good. Hope this information has helped you. My Mother taught me there are no free lunches in this world. I now use Windows Firewall.
Eleanore
Freeware
by powersbk99 - 5/27/07 3:27 AM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My desktop has a paid security suite that works very well and is worth the money to me for it's coverage and simplicity. My wife's laptop uses all freeware systems. Neither of us have gotten any viruses, worms or trojans. The freeware takes a little more work because the updating and running is manual for the most part. I use McAfee paid version, CC Cleaner,and Easy Cleaner freeware. She uses Avast, CC Cleaner, Easy Cleaner, and Adware se. My wife is a little less computer oriented than I, so she is more reluctant to spend money on a program.
Free Security Suites
by robinhaines - 5/27/07 4:36 AM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have found the free ones work just as well if not better than the ones you have to pay for. I am currently in China so have to be extra careful but with AVG 7.5 it works perfectly
PAID VS. FREE ANTI-VIRUS 1.1
by moooose102 - 5/27/07 5:35 AM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Well, with my limited experience (in both computer knowledge and anti-virus software) i have untill a month ago also have paid for anti-virus software. my first was mcaffe, which was fine, i had no problems with it. then a co-worker recomended norton, which i used for at least 4 years, again, with no problems. actually, when i bought the norton, i bought the version with repair software which helped keep my computer problems fixed as well. last month, i downloaded microsoft's live one care, which is also a paid anti-virus, but they have a free for 90 day trial. this, also sems to work fine, but there is one annoying item i do not like about it. i keep getting this balloon that says "live one care has changed your firewall protection" i am not impressed with this at all. i have a business associate who is really into computers (actually he is a systems anylist), anyway, i am going to ask him for a reccomendation for a free anti-virus software, and if there are any downfalls to this vs. paid prescription. i have a new vista computer, so i am not sure how much is out there, but as soon as i find out, i will re-post tolet you know. d.s.
Save your money please!
by SurfSafeWithGod - 5/27/07 8:36 AM In reply to: PAID VS. FREE ANTI-VIRUS 1.1 by moooose102If you're looking for a really great antivirus that even comes with the option to "boot scan" for viruses and adware/spyware, please save your money, and go to www.avast.com and get their FREE software. People, I'm telling you it is the ULTIMATE in free antivirus protection out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Answers for Jasmine H.
by harry_boyne - 5/27/07 6:04 AM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Jasmine,
For the anti-virus, you should pay for one, like McAfee's or CA's.
For the firewall, the one that came with windows XP SP2 / Vista should be fine. Otherwise, you might have to buy one.
For the anti-spyware, you should get Ad-Aware and Windows Defender. Windows Defender comes with Vista, but if you have XP, go to www.microsoft.com to download it. Then download and install Ad-Aware from www.lavasoftusa.com. Run an Ad-Aware full scan every month, and schedule Windows Defender for a time when the computer is switched on.
Hope this helps
Harry
Free Security Software - is it any good?
by David_J_D - 5/27/07 8:44 AM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had Norton Internet Security 2003 supplied pre-installed on my last PC.
It seemed to work OK , but stopped altogetner some while before subscrition reneal was due. I downloaded and installed Zone Alarm free firewall and AVG free Anti-Virus. After configuring the Zone Alarm forewall, Norton spang back to life. so I ran a full Virus scan. Noron said all OK, then I ran rthe free AVG full virus acan. It found 3 viruses, and removed them. I un-installed Norton, and now use AVG free and Zone alarm free on both my PCs. I also run AVG anti-spyware and anti-rootkit regularly, as well as spybot search and destrou. (all free, but Spybot asks for donations. Please donate something as this is what keeps this excellent software free.
Links:
AVG Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and Anit-Rootkit: htt-://free.grisoft.com
ZoneAlarm: http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp
Spybot Search & Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
I hope this is of some use to you.
Security Suite
by Beverly3838 - 5/27/07 8:55 AM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hope I don't jinx myself. I have never had a virus. I use everything free. Used Lavasoft Adaware, Spybot and AVG for the past four years. I now use Spybot, AVG and Windows Defender with the same result. I found when I did run Norton it slowed my computer down. I have Windows XP Home and use Windows Firewall.
Use what works - and Common Sense
by mcchico - 5/27/07 10:46 AM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
i will start first with Anti-Virus. Many of my friends have been infected lately and I have been virus-free for some years now - mainly by using a free anti-Virus and Common Sense. Do not click on suspitions URL's and do not doenload suspicious files. I like programs that do not "suck-up" all my computer resources and are efficient at what they do. Fo this reason I use AVI Anti-Virus from Grisoft; http://free.grisoft.com. It keeps me protected - frequest updates and best of all, I can not even tel it is running (minimum resources) It also works well with Outlook and Thunderbird. You basically need scannin function and real-time protection. So be sure that whichever you choose you get both. some freebees do not offer "real-time" protection.
Now, on the spyware area - I am using Windows Defender from Microsoft. That is assuming you are running either Windows XP or Windows Vista (or you can not install). Again, it works with minimal reslurces and it has "real-time" protection. recently a read an article that Windoes Defender fell short of finding spyware that free counterparts like SpyBot and Add-Ware can indeed find. So to complement, I also have install the free versions of these to preform scanning - however - one thing to remember is that the free veersions of these do not have "real-time" protection and Windows Defender has save me a few times alreay "real-time" and is free.
Which to choose
by Complete Novice - 5/27/07 12:42 PM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Jasmine, what I do not intent to do is tell you what you should do but rather tell you what I did then let you decide.
When I got my new Vaio in March 2006 the first thing I did was uninstall the norton anti-virus and the reason was as follows. I did not feel happy with it's scan, was slow and never felt it was protecting my computer.
So with the help of cnet, asking around and reading computer magazines I installed the following.
For my anti-virus I went for the AVG having seen it on someone else's computer then installing it on a laptop I had prior to this desktop. It is 100% free and so easy to use and comes with daily updates. To this day and after 3 years of use. I have never had a moments problem.
I chose for my fire wall the ZONE ALARM which again is 100% free and does a great job. Again fairly easy to use and once set needs no further ajustment.
To that I have added SPRYBOT and AD-AWARE with SUPER ANTISPY WARE and SPYWARE BEGONE.
I can say hand on heart I am extremely happy with what I have and all are free.
Some of the software have a paid upgrade and you can always upgrade with extra bits if you are happy with the new software.
I hope I have gone some way to reasure you that is in this case free can be good. In whatever you decide I hope works for you and wish you well in your choice.
Hello about the freebies.
by monliqon - 5/27/07 3:04 PM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Most legitimate Security products are better then the paid ones. Take Kaspersky Internet Security or the Zonealarm one for example. Of course some of the freebies like comodo firewall, avast!, or AVG, and ad-aware is good. But they do not have the detection power of NOD32, Kaspersky, Webroot Spysweeper. Comodo is good on leak tests but have weaknesses which can be exploited. Please give me more information on your security suite.
Don't ever pay for Security software
by qaz111111 - 5/27/07 9:29 PM In reply to: Free vs. paid security software by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Security software suites are one of the most frequently rebated shrinkwrap packages on the market. The manufacturers count on rebates not getting mailed in to make huge margins. The Symantec, Trendmicro and ZoneAlarm suites all offer 100% rebates on three (3) user licenses. When the subscription period ends they nag you to renew on a paid basis although nothing prevents you from simply getting a new box with 100% rebate.
A got'cha used by rebates to discourage sending in for the money is that sometimes they want proof of a prior version or a competitor's product. I always check, in the store before I buy the software, to learn what the requirements are. Typically they want the title page from the users manual, or a program CD or if you had a downloaded copy they will want the email validation from the purchase.
I find that tossing the box but saving manuals pays off big later when the free software offers come out. Just this year alone I have several hundred dollars of software and licenses for at least a dozen computers, free, for the minimal trouble of filling out and mailing the rebate.
A note of caution however; staple or tape the documents together so they cannot be separated after being opened. Many rebates are declined because of missing pieces that had been separated after being opened by automated letter openers.
So don't pay for that software. They design it to only last a year now and stop working. It wasn't always that way but now you can get it for free.
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