Spyware, viruses, & security : Poll: Free vs. paid security applications
- 2/20/08 2:09 PM
(NT) Isn't your email and address list private information?
by Kees Bakker - 2/22/08 12:47 PM
In reply to: Protecting the system I work on by welrdelr
How I secure my email.
by welrdelr - 2/22/08 5:56 PM In reply to: (NT) Isn't your email and address list private information? by Kees Bakker
I don't use a mail client. Spam is something I ignore.
"What about executables and binaries?" I ignore them or rewrite to make them useless.
"What about rootkits?" I've only had two. One resulted in a removal of a user account. The other resulted in me launching a ping flood attack against the person.
"What about people using your computer at your house?" I use multiple languages for passwords.
"What about you using a computer at your family's or friends house?" There is annoying junkmail in my junkmail folders. I just don't use it at their houses. Preventive security.
"What about having your IP traced?" I can reset the lease. Four computers that work, four different leases that will come up. Not at the same time but, the IP will chnage for each NIC.
"What about using a computer at a business or a school?" Rewriting parts of a system can be fun.
"What about the general fear of being spied on and scammed on the internet?" I've personally dealt with "haxx0rz" and "crackz." I've made it past script kiddies.
"Then how do you keep your system safe?" I don't always use the same one in the same place.
"Where does that bring us?" Back to the beginning, Bakker.
Back to the beginning.
Free Security Software
by helene_okc - 2/22/08 11:06 AM In reply to: Poll: Free vs. paid security applications by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have been using AVG, & Zone Alarm for my firewall, and Pest Patrol, spyware cleanup, along with CCleaner. I did install Avasti, but it had continue "pop ups" Do I want to do this and that, tying up my time on the computer. So out it went! Tried some of Nortons, but not as happy with these as with what I have been already using for years, why change? Like our commentator, perhaps "the grass is greener on the other side", lol, but always seem to come back to what is really working for me.
I also run REGISTRY GENUIS, to weekly check my registry files, and works for me.
Zone Alarm is good, keeping a watch at what is trying to invade my system. I have been thinking about purchasing IOLO SYTEM MECHANIC 7, from ZA website, which is suppossed to keep my system running even better.
Spyware, viruses, & security Forum
by pomojoe - 2/23/08 11:48 AM In reply to: Poll: Free vs. paid security applications by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you pay a little attention to your internet and e-mail work those free tools do just fine if one is stupid even the paid items will not protect you. I have run a computer now(isolated extra set) for about 6 month without any protection not even the MS version,just to see what would happen so far no virus or other nasry critters.
pomojo
Sometimes - depends on whose it is
by anna3333 - 2/23/08 3:49 PM In reply to: Poll: Free vs. paid security applications by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
First, IMHO, not much could be worse than Symantec/Norton. However, you have to be VERY careful about "FREE" stuff - especially emoticons, fonts, and "cute" stuff, because it often comes with a hidden load that you don't want.
That said however, there are some truly superlative FREE applications. Why a free version? 1. They hope you like it so much, you want more. 2. Their primary income is from corporate applications and they are good net citizens - what makes the internet safer for Tom, Dick, & Harry, makes it safer for their corporate clients too. 3. Some are really smart kids that LOVE to have the recognition of people using stuff they write and maybe make a few bucks from donations. 4. Some ask you to donate if you like it (I always do - even $1 over a lot of people makes a difference). 5. They hope that if enough people start using it and it gets really popular and is on more PCs than not, THEN they can make some real money on it - hmmm, who did that? Oh, yes...Microsoft Windows OS!!
Some GREAT!!! FREE applications:
AVAST Anti-Virus - absolutely the bomb! They can even scan your web pages before they are delivered to you - and that's the free version. They have corporate clients paying their big bills and they are good citizens. I bless them every day.
ZoneAlarm - outstanding, super protection if set up properly. Also have corporate clients. I'm a little confused about their paid version - I was going to buy it until I found out that they charge an annual fee if you have the paid version, but not if you have the free version?????
Spywareblaster - also the bomb! However, to get the best use of it, the $10 annual fee for daily autoupdates is worth every penny and then some. It runs once at boot up and then shuts down, but somehow keeps ugly stuff from installing on your PC in the first place! I haven't had Ad-Aware or Spybot S&D (both good apps) find anything since I installed it. The daily autoupdate downloads all known signatures of adware, spyware, etc. etc. You can do this manually for free, but the peace of mind and protection is WELL worth $10/year to me.
ERUNT & REGOPT - backup, restore, and defrag your registry (does not scan for errors). Very fast. There is a way to have it run a registry backup at each bootup and store it where it can be accessed by the recovery console. (I don't do that because I use ACRONIS True Image (not free, but great) so I can just step back in time whenever I need to, whether windows will boot or not.
Win2Pdf - anything you can select to "print" (any application), you can save as a PDF file.
Foxit pdf Reader - Smaller, faster, & better than Adobe
MWSnap - best app I've found (and I tried MANY) for clipping any part of window or screen - can be set up on an "Fkey" with really easy operation IF you read the directions and set your defaults intelligently.
TreePad by Freebyte - great notpad with clickable "tree" index - another app with so many features, you need to read the directions to take full advantage of it. Outstanding. I graduated to one of the paid versions "TreePadBiz7" (that's why they offer the free ones). I love this app. & the free version is not shabby at all.
Free Internet Window Washer
CCleaner - cleans up extraneous files on your pc - internet, index.dat
Free Registry Cleaner by Eusing - I have NOT tried this yet, but I hear its good.
There are free registry tweaks by Steve Gibson that NO computer should be without: ShootTheMessenger, SocketToMe, DCOMbobulator, MouseTrap, LeakTest, UnPlug'nPray, etc. Check out his site.
http://www.grc.com/freehistorical.htm and
http://www.grc.com/default.htm
I have an .reg file that clears my page file at shutdown, but I can't remember where I got it. Probably from "KarenWare Power Tools" or "Kelly's Korner". Along with Steve Gibson, these guys offer so much good stuff for free.
MoffSoft FreeCalc - Good free calculator with a savable "tape"
Fantastic batch file renamers - strip nums/chars,replace nums/chars, very flexible. Drag files in, see what change would do, then change.
FileRenamer (by VirtualZone - requires no install), ReNamerII (by Softpedia),
XPInfo - no install needed
There are a couple of good free icon clippers/extractors/editors around also... Randy's Icon Editor, IcoFX, GoldIcon, etc.
There is LOTs of EXCELLENT free stuff out there. But research and get forum opinions (google search) before you install ANYTHING on your PC - ESPECIALLY something FREE.
Gates is looking to dry up the free software market with VISTA - it has some bad stuff in it that will be really bad for the average user in the long run. VISTA is the first step toward your PC belonging & being controlled by Microsoft (you just pay for it). I hope and pray people do NOT fall for VISTA.
My very best paid programs - I've used for years and don't begrudge a dime that I paid: Acronis True Image, WinZip, TreePadBiz7, SecondCopy, ExpressAssist8, SmartPopUpKiller (no longer available, but still works fantastic), Roboform (Love this), PerfectDisk8, I'm still looking for the perfect Registry Cleaner - jv16PowerTools is one I'm considering.
Oh yes, when you install free stuff (or not free stuff) if they offer to install MORE free stuff (toolbars, etc.) say "NO" loud and clear.
Free vs. Paid
by aintnorainbowdorothy - 2/25/08 1:27 PM In reply to: Sometimes - depends on whose it is by anna3333I notice you, and a lot of others on this forum are using more than one spyware, AV and on and on. When you use two AV's for instance, they recognize each other as Viruses. More than one firewall can block things you may want to get. That means a 'whitelist' and 'blacklist' for each. And when you knock Vista, my question is have you used it? And if so, which edition? I know I use the most expensive, Ultimate in both 32- and 64-bit versions. But, I find it incredibally better than XP Pro. I do dual boot, but that's because I choose to. I'm kinda entrenched with SP but find I can do a lot more with Vista. And, Vista just isn't more buggy than any other system. I do own an iMac G5, Power PC version thank god, I find it fast, just not as functional. I use it only for it's graphical UI, the best you can get.
freewear / anti spywear
by old george - 2/24/08 12:18 PM In reply to: Poll: Free vs. paid security applications by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I rely entirely on freewear protection.These are:
1.Zone alarm firewall
2.AVG anti virus, anti spywear, anti rootkit. [3 seperate programes]
3.C Cleaner
4 Spybot
These are all set to operate on demand ie I turn them on and off----with the exception of Zone alarm firewall which comes on at start up,together with the AVG anti virus. My built in Windows security suite is operating also. The protection afforded by these freewear programes is excellent and I can't praise them enough.
wendov1202
Free vs. paid security applications
by JCipo - 2/25/08 1:01 PM In reply to: Poll: Free vs. paid security applications by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I love free anything but what incentive do the free security apps have to be upgraded? Those companies that charge know that those chat rooms, blogs, etc. online can hurt a company or a piece of software if performance is lacking. This can cut into sales and even bankrupt a company. Greed and profit is a great motivator. Updating should then be a major priority for the software that costs!
John Cip
I have free for now, plan to purchase Grisoft's AS
by darclew3 - 2/26/08 12:44 AM In reply to: Free vs. paid security applications by JCipo1] Comodo's Firewall Pro 3.01 is very good, built into it is BOClean 4.25 and original install, did a virus scanand found a trojan and removed it.
2]Spybot S&D 1.5.2 has found items and it is good
3]Ad-Aware 2007 also finds items and it has the ability to create a restore point version is 7.0.2.6.
Had McAfee AV in 1999, under 6 mos. motherboard was destroyed by a virus - it's SiteAdvisor give www.yahoo.com a green, same with att.net, but my present ISP is yellow; no problems with my present site but not so with the other two - att.net had a person with that dropped off 7 trojans and 5 viruses in less than 24 hours and Gomod BOClean 4.5 elimated the trojans. CA Antispyware renoved the viruses. Hd that with paid version of Antispyware but on the next reformat, I had 30 days left on both and was reminded 20 plus times on day 30 and 29 on 20+ windows updates. Had gotten CA in 2004, had Symantec [Norton] after McAfee for 4 years when I recieived a defected CD for Norton SystemWorks 2004, two months of being led around was two too many and my money was returned to a closed bank account (minus taxes and shipping) and had a paid one for Antivirus that was good for two months. That also disappeared and I was never reimbursed nor offered a new CD. They lost me for good.
I also use both of Grisoft's AVG free Antivirus 7.5 and the 30 day trialware of AVG Antispyware 7.5 which I am planning to purchase - had SUPERAntispyware 6.5 but saw no resules. CA would have had 2 paid on the 3rd. I had to reformat this four times with isp.com using all freeware and have had no problems with like I had with att.net, which was running on 49.2 kps and isp has it at 50.6 kps and the differences is poor tech or support with one dialuup number and seven dollars higher than isp.com with 7 numbers and both tech and billing is available 24-7-365. Both have excellerators. All the free verions win hands down. I haven't tried other one but this subject has me thinking of were to go if things get wore and I thank ll ofyou or the imput. Darrell
Believe it or not.....
by anna3333 - 2/26/08 5:05 PM In reply to: Free vs. paid security applications by JCipoBelieve it or not, there are a few folks who still care about excellence and want to be proud of their work and get a kick out of seeing so many people loving their creations. Give me their software any day over someone who's primary purpose is trying to move money from my pocket into their own.
Of course, if it's a free version of a paid product that is used for enticement, then profit is still a motive; it's hard to entice someone with a defective product that doesn't work well.
Free security applications? It depends.
by classicride72 - 2/27/08 3:01 AM In reply to: Poll: Free vs. paid security applications by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I like AVG free antivirus and have no reason to believe it's doing me wrong. Antispyware appl's are another story. For me it depends if I can use them. Most of those mentioned in this forum are absolute resource hogs that slow me down and sometimes freeze me - and I run Windows XP SP2, a P4 at 3.0, and 2 gigs of Corsair Ram.
I currently run ThreatFire, Eusing Free Registry Cleaner, and AusLogics Disk and Registry Defraggers. Even those will use 50-60% of my Ram and relatively high cpu usage as well.
I would appreciate suggestions from anyone regarding applications with lower resource usage that are effective in their task.
Thanks...Bob
I think so-
by karr7702 - 2/27/08 9:56 PM In reply to: Poll: Free vs. paid security applications by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have used McAfee and Norton Suites and the problems they caused were worse than any problems I've had while using the free programs. Both have applets that don't work like they're supposed to; and both slow the system down severely. Deleting them solved all the problems I was having. I then installed Zonealarm; AVG Antivirus; AdAware; SpyBot S&D; and SpywareBlaster; and am very satisfied with the results. I haven't had any problems I couldn't resolve- and the price is unbeatable.
Has Free ZoneAlarm recently been giving MS too much access?
by anna3333 - 2/28/08 4:03 PM In reply to: Poll: Free vs. paid security applications by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I just updated ZA which I have used for years. But I'm not happy. Suddenly there are a huge number of Microsoft program-lets that are now in my programs access list - things I KNOW I never said "yes" to.
When I try to remove them from the list, so I can try to find out what they are by when they seek access, I'm told if I remove them from the list (which should do nothing except make them ask permission) that dire things could happen.
If I can't get my old version reinstalled, I may switch to Commodo. Any opinions about the relative merits of these two firewalls? --Anna
free or paid
by amit2106 - 2/28/08 8:53 PM In reply to: Poll: Free vs. paid security applications by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
no, i think that free security applications are not as much secure as paid.They just detect the simple viruses. Any how if they detect any majore virus they are unable to del. it because they are free. So they are not as much secure as paid one If they provide same security as paid then why anyone shoud buy by paing his money.
It's more to do with
by JonathanCase - 3/14/08 10:26 PM In reply to: free or paid by amit2106how the computer is used, and how the applications are set up, rather than the "broad-brush" free-or-paid argument. Some paid--for applications are very good. Some are bad. Same goes for freeware.
Some users seem to get infected no matter how much they've spent on the latest "bestest" suite, some (like myself, he said modestly) never see anything more fearsome than a tracking cookie or occasionally a webshield alert, whilst using freeware.
Setting up a few layers of immunity, hardening, and then detection/cleaning takes a little bit of learning how to do on Windows, but it's not hard. I know of people who use no AV or AS at all, and don't get infected, or if they do, can easily dump the infection (using a sandbox) or restore an image.
The basics might involve disabling unneeded OS services, installing a hosts file and or SpywareBlaster, running from a non-admin account, and learning what outbound connections are ok for the firewall (2 way, of course.)Selecting the browser to prompt for scripts is a good idea. Once that is done, most free AV's are more than up to guarding the machine, and an occasional checkup scan with an AS, to be sure.
No harm (of course) in having a few serious tools installed in case it does all turn to mud, but so far, I haven't had to use them.
(BTW I'm using Threatfire, the usage is quite low. No slowdown. And I've only ever had one problem, years ago, with a freeware application that couldn't remove a trojan. At the time, Norton, McAfee, and plenty of other pay-for AV users were having the same problem with the same family of trojan.)
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