Spyware, viruses, & security : Internet security suite suggestions
Internet security suite suggestions
by jmhal - 1/6/08 6:58 PMI currently have McAfee, and I don't like it at all. It recently failed an update so I have to reinstall it but I have to uninstall it first and it won't let me do so. My subscription is up anyway and I have wanted to do a new clean install of windows so I am going to reinstall windows and need a recommendation for a good internet security suite so i have one ready to install before my computer gets anywhere near the internet.
I was looking at Zone Alarm internet security but it got a lot of bad user reviews despite the high score. And I here the newest Norton is really good but I have also heard its heavy on system resources so I'm lost as to which is a good option.
thanks in advance for any help
Jason
There are other internet security suites
by Donna Buenaventura
- 1/6/08 9:15 PM
In reply to: Internet security suite suggestions by jmhal
ESET Smart Security, Agnitum's Outpost Security Suite, Norton Internet Security, Kaspersky Internet Security Suite, AVG Internet Security Suite etc.
I have not try them all but I have Norton Internet Security 2008 in one of the Vista system. It's not heavy on system but everyone has different system specs to it could be reasons why it is heavy to others.
Is Suite your preference/requirement?
How about trying standalone and see if it will meet your needs?
Example:
Antivirus - Avast!, AVG, Antivir (all freeware). For paid ones NOD32 by ESET, AVG Pro, Avast Pro etc
Antispyware with real-time protection - Windows Defender
Firewall - ZA Free (just uncheck the Ask Toolbar installation when you get ZA free), Online Armor Firewall free, Comodo Pro (free), Jetico Free
I'd recommend
by Dango517 - 1/6/08 9:39 PM In reply to: There are other internet security suites by Donna Buenaventura
Iolo system mechanic professional
See link:
http://www.iolo.com/sm/7/pro/default.aspx?pid=C57D02D8-27FF-42DE-80B0-9727AB79E68B
It's a security suite plus much more.
What do you think of it Donna Buenaventura? I've heard some believe that it's new security software is unproven and there for should be avoided. They were using Kaspersky once but have moved onto a new company as of 2007. Unfortunately the brand name escapes me at the moment. It appears to be working well for me but then you never really know with security software.
(This is not an ad, only a recommendation. I am not affiliated with company in any way other then that I use there software.)
Have not try IOLO
by Donna Buenaventura - 1/6/08 10:01 PM
In reply to: I'd recommend by Dango517
But using Internet Security Suite is not to be avoided.
Both - standalone or suite works. Both has advantages and disadvantages.
Understood
by Dango517 - 1/6/08 10:12 PM In reply to: Have not try IOLO by Donna Buenaventura
Is there any way for the user to determine if the software is truly any good other then reviews? Doesn't it really boil down to who has the latest definitions and the most current. If so isn't it really always in flux. No one company having the lead for any long period of time. Do they share threats or does each company have to identify them as they come along. In some way they must share maybe through a trade association, maybe government reports on threats. How does this work? Just curious. If your busy you needn't bother responding.
Research, Database & Forums
by Donna Buenaventura - 1/7/08 1:37 AM
In reply to: Understood by Dango517
"Is there any way for the user to determine if the software is truly any good other then reviews?"
Truly good software is hard to say unless some has tried it and provide their opinion. Note that every user has different opinions, settings, specs and requirements so what did not work nice to User A is maybe OK to User B.
Bad software is easier to determine... actually 
I personally do not base who has the highest # of database/definitions but I'm more on... who can detect fast for risk that is in the wild. Also detection for risk that is on or from the internet (web protection/web control).
Research - user need to research before plunging anything. If user has no time to research, user need to go to researcher's site. Example: http://www.av-comparatives.org/
It has the many months of result of their test on how the antivirus performed.
ESET NOD32, Kaspersky, Symantec's Norton, F-Secure and GDATA AVK antivirus programs are the best antivirus for the year, 2007.
ESET NOD32, TrustPort and AVK are the best antivirus for the year 2006.
You wrote: "No one company having the lead for any long period of time. "
If you'll check the research by independed reseachers like av-comparative.org, vbulletin and other certification labs, you will see that there ARE companies that can lead all the time or for long period of time
" Do they share threats or does each company have to identify them as they come along. In some way they must share maybe through a trade association, maybe government reports on threats. How does this work? "
Not all of them shares but others do.
Example see Virus Information Alliance formed by Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/alerts/info/via.mspx
http://www.antispywarecoalition.org/
Even individuals or groups has their share to help protect others by sharing the risk information they gathered:
Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals: http://asap.maddoktor2.com/
PIRT, SIRT and MIRT: http://www.castlecops.com/
Just want to add the following:
Database
If user want to determine if the software is safe to use, user need to search thru databases by researchers or security vendor.
Example:
In Sunbelt's http://research.sunbelt-software.com/Default.aspx
In Symantec's website: http://www.symantec.com/norton/security_response/spyware.jsp
Try to search antispyware product e.g. IEDefender
If it's there that means user need to avoid it.
Most security vendor has this database and the program name is often mentioned in the article. This allow users to check first the status of the product before downloading, installing and purchasing.
SiteAdvisor - http://www.siteadvisor.com
If SiteAdvisor plugin is installed in user's browser (Firefox or IE), a user view the status of the product's website (safe or not). Or user can just go to http://www.siteadvisor.com then enter the URL of the "questionable" product.
Other resources:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm (not up-to-date but still a good resource)
http://lists.thedatalist.com/
Programs that has info whether another product is safe to use or not:
1. WinPatrol Plus (not freeware) http://www.winpatrol.com (the freeware don't have search capability)
2. RogueRemover Free http://www.malwarebytes.org/rogueremover.php
3. SpywareGuard and SpywareBlaster http://www.javacoolsoftware.com
4. Firetrust SiteHound - http://www.firetrust.com (if installed in the user's computer and the user try to visit a not safe program's website... SiteHound will block the user with information why it is not safe to visit or get anything from the site)
If a user have installed already the product, the user can check the EULA of the product by using EULAlyzer: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/eulalyzer.html
If it's something to worry e.g. privacy then user decides whether to continue using or not.
Forums
If user can't find info or want to know if others has opinion on a particular product.. come here to forums. We'll be glad to help/advise
Wow, way more information then I expected.
by Dango517 - 1/7/08 3:28 AM In reply to: Research, Database & Forums by Donna Buenaventura
One last question, where do you report a malicious site for maximum effect, so that it makes a difference?
In closing, I've seen the work you do in the securities form and I would like to thank you for your efforts. I know it's a lot of work. Thank you very much.
Virustotal, Jotti and some others
by Donna Buenaventura - 1/7/08 3:37 AM
In reply to: Wow, way more information then I expected. by Dango517
By uploading a suspicious, positive or sample files to:
http://virusscan.jotti.org/
http://virustotal.com
and many others.. it will make a difference because the sample is shared to several (more than 30) antimalware vendors and this allow them to create detection fast.
Hey, thanks for visiting/reading those place
After reading your responses
by Dango517 - 1/7/08 10:32 PM In reply to: Virustotal, Jotti and some others by Donna Buenaventura
I've decided to improve my security by reinstalling McAfee site advisor. I used it several years ago but haven't since, it's installed now. I think it was new then I'm giving it another go. Thanks for the inspiration.
internet security
by serena_b - 1/7/08 12:27 PM In reply to: Internet security suite suggestions by jmhalI have McAfee and haven't had a problem. When I had Norton I had a similar problem it was caused by a trojan. I had Norton for a few years and it was ALWAYS causing problems with other software. I used Zone alarm for 2 years and like it except that it slowed my computer down. I was told to uninstall it and install it in safe mode. In the meantime, I got Comcast and McAfee came with it free. I haven't had any trouble with it, except it missed a piece of malware (but then any other program I had scan for it couldn't find it either) and I think DH accidently downloaded it when he was downloading a viewer to watch games. I tried all of the tricks I knew, but the damage had beed too bad and I had to reformat. One problem is that some of the malware is distributed too fast for the security software to catch it. Norton missed things more often than any of the others I've used. One important thing is to NOT click to download an internet security program from a pop-up, because you may be downloading malware! Make sure that what you're using is known and reliable.I also have Fit-it Utilities and System Mechanic. I do NOT have those auto-scan because you should only have one anti-virus auto-scanning. However, I do use them to do an occasional deep-scan. I also use them to periodically scan for errors, clean, repair and fix registry and de-frag. IMHO, keeping you computer up-to-date, error free and defragged is part of keeping it less vulnerable.
WHat is it with these people who get their fun by causing other people problems?
Serena
I agree
by pirate89RAWR - 1/8/08 5:05 AM In reply to: internet security by serena_bI have had McAfee Security for the 2 years I've computer and I don't know where I would be without it. It catches and quarantines anything harmful as soon as it tries to access my computer. The scans always find a lot of things the other programs miss. I am so happy with McAfee, I would never change my security program.
Internet security suggestion.
by drozsay - 1/7/08 1:02 PM In reply to: Internet security suite suggestions by jmhalJason I can suggest 2 that I have had good luck with the first is AVG security suite. www.grisoft.com. I have used the product and . It does not need a lot of resources and has never let me down. The second is kaspersky from Russia www.kaspersky.com It is also a good one both are reasonably priced. Both offer free trail so give them a shot and see which one you like. Another option is to use a hardware firewall like Alpha Shield www.alphashield.com depending on network setup this could also be an option.
Anti-virus recommendation
by forkboy - 1/7/08 1:44 PM In reply to: Internet security suite suggestions by jmhalI think part of the problem is that last years better/best anti-virus might not be this years as well. For years I was content with McAfee, but ditched them for ZoneAlarm's products last year. Technically I had been using ZoneAlarm's Firewall Pro for years (instead of Windows or McAfee's), but made the jump after reading many positive reviews of the ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite (two reviews of note were the one at CNET and the one with my paid online subscription to Consumer Reports). I have been very, very satisfied not only with the product, but with both customer service and technical support as well.
And if memory serves the latest anti-virus engine for ZoneAlarm is actually from Kaspersky, which is almost always a highly recommended anti-virus product.
In addition, my latest laptop (purchased Dec. 2007) came installed with 60-days of Norton 2007. I was not impressed. It may have done it's job well enough, but the GUI was horrible in my opinion. The last version of McAfee I had was better and I'm very happy with the GUI for ZA.
Personally I cannot too highly recommend the ZA Internet Security Suite.
$0.02
by santuccie - 1/7/08 5:10 PM In reply to: Internet security suite suggestions by jmhalI'm sorry McAfee is giving you trouble. Have you checked their Web site for help with removal? Perhaps it's something as simple as disabling the protection components from within McAfee's own interface, then uninstalling it; perhaps it's not, in which case McAfee would probably know about the issue and have a solution.
I'm sure everyone will recommend ZoneAlarm, because it's one of the oldest SPI firewalls out there and because they package it so well (advertising helps, too). But I do not recommend it because of the interference it causes with other applications, and especially because it's user-dependent. If you're not a networking/security expert, ZoneAlarm is not for you.
I was never a fan of Comodo, because it was the same way as ZoneAlarm. But I am of the understanding that version 3 of Comodo's firewall now uses the positive security model (deny by default) instead of the common negative security model. A whitelist is a LOT smaller and easier to maintain than a blacklist, especially when Storm worm is putting out almost 1,000 signatures a day. And Comodo's whitelist is 1 million signatures strong and ever growing, with the intent of minimizing popup fatigue. If Comodo throws up an alert, it's probably for real.
Until I try the new Comodo firewall, I can't tell you for sure how well it actually works. But the reason I choose McAfee is because their products now use script scanning. It "monitors for suspect activity and alerts you when a script execution results in the creation, copying, or removal of files, or the opening or your Windows registry." Alerting you is all it does, actually; blocking is automatic.
If you run into MPack, or any drive-by downloading threat on the Internet, McAfee knows right away, and blocks it WITHOUT asking you. The only real danger left is installing infected software yourself, in which case discretion comes into play. McAfee SiteAdvisor can help you steer clear of sites that knowingly distribute infectious software; and if you get an attachment in an e-mail, you can download it to your desktop, then scan it at virustotal.com before opening it.
I recommend you choose a security product that uses script scanning. ZoneAlarm Security Suite may have it, but I don't know, and don't care to. As long as their firewall uses the negative security model, it's more nuisance than it's worth (especially when a lot of ZA users still talk about reloading Windows every few months anyway). If you'd like to give McAfee another chance, you can get a 3-in-1 suite for free here: http://safety.aol.com/isc/index.adp?
Correction
by santuccie - 1/7/08 5:14 PM In reply to: $0.02 by santuccieWhen I speak of "positive security model" and "negative security model," I'm thinking of Web application firewalls. These are different. Ignore those mentions; all you need to know is Comodo uses a whitelist instead of a blacklist. 
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