Spyware, viruses, & security : Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities?
- 5/31/07 3:56 PM
Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities?
by oliverrp - 6/1/07 8:46 PM In reply to: Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use paid programs Zone Alarm Security Suite for anti-virus and malware, plus Counterspy for malware. Freebies for malware include Lavasoft and Spybot S&D, plus online scans from Trend Micro and X Cleaner Micro. All six programs are run once a week.
How much do you spend on security untilities?
by edbrady - 6/1/07 8:54 PM In reply to: Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities? by oliverrpTwo years ago, Ad-Aware Plus (for the Ad Watch) at $20.
Nothing more.
Zone Alarm firewall (free).
avast! Home anti-virus (free).
Spy Blaster (free).
I use a free rootkit killer on occasions when I think it necessary.
I use Stinger for quick (read: down and dirty) virus detection. Free.
Open Office for my office suite, mostly compatible with Microsoft Office--free.
Auslogics defrag for setting the hard drive up properly--free.
Not everything free is good. But, I read a lot of stuff on the net, get recommendations on those items, download and test it myself. If it works as advertised, then I recommend it to my personal email list (people from South Carolina to Australia).
65 years old, and haven't been infected or otherwise compromised in 5 years.
mcafee
by mittens - 6/2/07 5:39 AM In reply to: Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities? by oliverrpI used mcafee until they let one virus slip through into email, and it took me weeks to clean house on it.
I used Norton until it started getting too bulky, too expensive, and too bloated. Like Word, most of it is either out of my ken or not something I want or need. MS has a good firewall, I use Avast for my AV protection. McAfee does the grunt work for my server, and now and then a virus still slips through the mesh, and Avast catches it immediately.
I would never feel comfortable with just one program for protection, I dont believe any of them work that well, even though some pretend to.
Each one I have takes care of a certain area, in a certain way, and act as back ups for the others. the trick is to get them to run together, compatibly. Otherwise its like putting japanese fighting fish in with piranhas in the same small bowl.
Around $40 - but I end up going back to freeware apps.
by ffarg.cram - 6/1/07 9:00 PM In reply to: Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I used to buy Symantec's Norton SystemWorks every year (although I often bought it at local computer shows or on sale so I wouldn't have to pay the 'retail' price. However with SystemWorks 2004, Symantec changed their installation method to a verification key like Windows XP - time I dropped the program. Gave Mijenix/Vcom's FixIT Utilities/SystemSuite a chance, but their policy of dropping support for older versions when newer ones came out and the replacing applications like Powerdesk with limited freeware versions of the same program caused me to drop this program. I've tried a few versions of System Mechanic and I think it's an underrated package, but for security I find freeware apps are just a plain better value. No yearly subscription and they are almost as good as the commercial apps.
I use multiple anti-spyware apps (Adware SE Personal Edition, Spybot Search & Destroy, SpywareBlaster, Microsoft's Windows Defender and have gone between AVG's Anti-Spyware, SpywareTerminator and now Comodo's BO Clean). I've installed AVG's Free Anti-virus on my brothers' machines and recently switched to Comodo's Anti-Virus on my own desktop. I was using Keiro Personal Firewall after Symantec killed off Sygate's offering and have recently changed to Comodo's free firewall (trying to see if their group of applications are as good as others I've tried...)
I keep up on the latest recommendations on Tech Support Alert's Best-Ever Freeware listings and constantly search for and read reviews about the top rated apps. I would've probably stuck with AVG's free offerings, but since their Anti-Spyware apps only is full-featured for a month or so (as is Keiro's firewall) I switched over to the latest versions of Comodo's offerings...) I only recommend commercial apps to people who rarely add new programs or don't reinstall their OS often. But I rebuild my system a couple of times each year and the hassle of trying to reauthorize a copy of a commercial utility package isn't worth the effort.
Thanks -- excellent, useful post!
by MichieS - 6/2/07 8:13 AM In reply to: Around $40 - but I end up going back to freeware apps. by ffarg.cramThis is the kind message, as I scan lot of these discussions, that I hope to run into. Makes my searching all worth it, when I find an informative message as yours is.
(I plan to post the following to a Reply to the Koo's original question too.)
You may be interested in the offerings at avira.com (or, their free site free-av.com). No -- I have no connection to them. Just that I have used their Antivirus for years (as have some friends and clients also) with no undetected problems.
Caveat: they are stopping support for Windows 98se (which I mostly used on for the past years) after June 30, 2007. That is one of the major reasons I am planning to switching to Windows 2000 Pro soon.
I hope you see this. We posters are never sure if recipients pick it up (unless they checked the box to be informed by email). I don't do that usually, too many messages. But I will for this discussion, because I'm interested in the overall question.
How much do you spend on security utitlies?
by mayfield - 6/1/07 9:14 PM In reply to: Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Nothing/Zero...
My ISP provides complete and total security - free.
Has for several years.
Never had a single problem.
And I don't have to do anything.
Everything is checked, updated, and secured every day, all day.
We all should be so lucky!!
MW
I pay nothing
by Drewg5 - 6/1/07 9:22 PM In reply to: Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I pay nothing! I use a MAC there for very little chance of any problems!
Yes, you did pay ...
by Ngallendou - 6/1/07 9:26 PM In reply to: I pay nothing by Drewg5A thousand dollars more for the computer
and hundreds more for software, all that
freezes and fails at a rate comparable
to more moderately priced PCs.
Yes!
by hal Summers - 6/1/07 10:45 PM In reply to: I pay nothing by Drewg5Me, too. I went Mac about three years ago and still help my friends with their Windows boxes but don't see myself going back to MS ever. I tell them to get a Mac because it is better for the average music, picture, video, web surfing customer and no malware problems.
Zone Alarm does it all for me
by rbsjrx - 6/1/07 9:31 PM In reply to: Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Well, not everything, but it does provide a superior firewall, excellent A-V, and very good spyware detection. To this I've added Resplendence's free Root Kit Hook analyzer and Neuber's Security Task Manager ($29 USD), both of which I run about once a month - but only because I'm paranoid.
I also installed Zone Alarm on my wife's computer, but set it up in the "for dummies" mode since she has no idea what to make of messages that it might pop up. OTOH, my daughter is very thrifty (i.e. cheap) and uses Avast and Spybot, so far with no problems.
In the past, I've had problems with Norton and AVG, so they're on my blacklist. Aside from some stumbles a few years back, McAfee has always been pretty good for me, but having the full bundle from Zone Alarm with a single source for all three major functions is a deal maker for me.
$40 - lifetime license
by Donna Buenaventura - 6/1/07 9:35 PM
In reply to: Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Firewall - Lifetime license of Outpost Pro for $40. It is an offer by Agnitum last Christmas 2004.
All others (antivirus and antimalware) are freeware or license/subscription is free to Microsoft MVP awardees who wants or as a gift in beta-testing and from forums who received licenses as give-away.
I forgot... the $38 or shall I say 'my time' and 'donation'
by Donna Buenaventura - 6/1/07 11:05 PM
In reply to: $40 - lifetime license by Donna Buenaventura
Norton Internet Security (NIS)
I paid $38 for NIS 2006 last year (as upgrade fee from NIS 2005). I am now using NIS 2007 which is free upgrade for NIS 2006 users. It expired last month but luckily I did not have to pay for renewal. I received 1 year of subscription after participating in beta testing. Whether I get a free subscription or not, I always pay for upgrade of NIS. Been paying for it every year. Only this year, I got free subscription which is very much appreciated. I enjoy beta-testing and provide feedback or report bugs so that's the price. Either spend $38 or 'spend time'. Both is fine with me.
As for freeware, I support freeware products/services too. Some freeware application and services has DONATION button. I send donation but I don't consider it as fee. It's voluntary and just want to show my thanks to their free product/services. They need to pay too for hosting fees and donation will help them to continue developing and improving their free service.
i pay around 60$
by olixav - 6/1/07 9:56 PM In reply to: Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use the new windows live one care by microsoft, wich was desing for xp and vista witch i have on pc. I must say i lke a lot. There is no intervention required on my part, except the once a week save! Ever since i bougth it i never had one single viral infection on my system. I cant say that for the freeware that i used before( i wont name any ).
Anyways that's my piece thanks
A bunch for 7 computers
by danzig57 - 6/1/07 9:56 PM In reply to: Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have been buying combo packs and then recently the companies have had 3 user packs and good rebates but I do not see that much advantage to using paid for versus free products so in 2008 I will go to free software and see if my tech support calls increase.
Not free, but included
by flytdeck - 6/1/07 9:59 PM In reply to: Poll: How much do you spend on security utilities? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Shaw cable in Canada permits three subscriptions to F-Secure when linked to their internet cable system. As the foundation of this anti-virus/firewall/spy utility appears to spawn from Kapersky labs, I am confident it is doing a good job. It does seem to consume a fair number of resources and does require some intervention into the netherworld of configuration to properly set up a home network. Not quite a “free” utility as a monthly ransom must be paid to the provider.
As we have more than three computers being cared for and fed, the others rely on ree AVG for their protection (they are not quite so vulnerable) except for the lone Linux box. It relies on the firewall built into the router and my fervent prayers.
In conclusion, the cost is difficult to determine. If a company could guarantee 100% protection from my primary units, I would be the first in line with my (over extended) credit card.
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