Stack up your security, and do it for free
No program is perfect, and I've found that stacking or layering security applications provides the best risk management for my system. What one app may miss, another may catch.
What to watch for -
Two critical issues to running several security applications are their compatibility with each other as well as your system and the amount of memory the apps use.
What you'd like -
The apps' ability for automatic scans and monitoring is desirable because nobody likes to manually do all this.
--------------------------------------------
What has worked for me for years and years -
Anti-virus - AVG FREE
(auto update, customizable settings including auto scan, no noticeable system slowing, no conflicts)
Firewall - Zone Alarm FREE
(auto update, customizable settings including auto updates, no conflicts)
Anti-hijacker - Trend Micro CWShredder FREE
(tiny app, takes about 10 seconds to manually run it daily, no conflicts)
Anti-spyware - Spyware Blaster FREE
(small app, takes about 20 seconds to check updates daily, customizable, no conflicts)
Anti-spyware - Ewido FREE
(small app, customizable, a few seconds to update daily, manual scan which takes a few minutes depending on settings and system size, no conflicts)
Anti- adware/malware - Ad-aware SE Personal FREE
(small app, customizable, a few seconds to update daily, manual scan which takes a few minutes depending on settings and system size, no conflicts)
Browser - Mozilla Firefox FREE
(auto updates, customizable security preferences, no conflicts)
The one and only application I've ever paid for -
Webroot Window Washer - around $30 - worth every cent
(cleans, bleaches/encrypts, frees up space, free updates for 1 year, no conflicts)
--------------------------------------------
I've run the apps above for years with no security issues. However, if I were to encounter one, I'd recommend -
HijackThis FREE -
(small app, manually run and submit report to security forum(s) for FREE assistance.
--------------------------------------------
Pentium 4 2.20GHz 512MB RAM
XP Home SP1
Was this reply helpful? (0) (0)
Staff pick