Posted on 12/29/2005 3:13:09 PM PST by NZerFromHK
I'm running an one-year old Compaq Presario P4 2.8 GHz with 512 MB of RAM and a nVIDIA GeForce FX5200 with 128 MB video RAM. Currently I have NSW (Norton Sys Works) 2005 installed for Anti-virus and system maintenance works, ZoneAlarm for firewall, and Spobot, Ad-aware, and Spyware Blaster for spyware removal programs.
I'm wondering whether this is the best choice I'm using? Is there anything else I should add (preferably free) or I should use in place of any of these utilities so to have the best protection?
Thanks in advance.
I use zone alarm, spy bot and ad-aware, and nortons anti- virus and a cisco router.
I can't say about Norton, but I use all the same other programs.
Looks good to me.
I dumped McAfee and use AVG Antivirus (freeware edition). Works great without annoying ads to buy things. Use all the other software mentioned by your post. Also use Hijack This! ...handy to prevent Internet browser from being hijacked.
Linux.
I recommend NOD32 for antivirus, it's small fast and finds over 99% of threats, many of which Norton missed. I don't see the need for a lot of extra Norton utilities on WIN-XP unless you change the system a lot (like move disks around resize disk, have very critical data, etc.)
Zone Alarm, SpyBot, Ad-Aware and Symantec Anti-Virus
"Spyware Blaster for spyware removal programs."
Spyware Blaster does not remove spywares; it only prevents the installation of spyware in the first place.
Great program, btw.
Win XP should have a firewall, and if you have DSL, your supplier should have an antivirus. You can then download a Yahoo or Google toolbar that will block popups and spyware. That's what I do and I am a happy camper.
I highly recommend NOD32 as an antivirus program, much less overhead than all the others out there, with excellent detection rates. Won't slow down your computer like Norton has a tendency to do. Webroot Spysweeper and PC Tools Spyware Doctor are excellent anti-spyware products, for best coverage run both at the same time. Zone alarm is great as a firewall.
Yep, it may be more apt to describe the 3 software titles as "software that deal with the spyware problems". ;-)
My advice, and that of many professionals, is to dump Norton AV.
I use Free AVG, F-Prot and Avast.
Strange enough, Telecom New Zealand's ADSL program (that's what we call DSL here) doesn't have an antivirus program attached. So we need to buy or download one instead.
Ouch, I only just dish out NZ$50 for a subscription to continue using NAV antivirus update service (as part of NSW) until the end of next year.
Since DSL is an 'always on' technology, they had better change that or their customers will be getting viruses out the wazoo. [do you have wazoo's in NZ?]
The default XP firewall is rounded as not safe enough as it doesn't offer any protection for outgoing traffic. This is why I use ZA instead. As to Norton...well I have been their customer since getting first PC in '96 so it is a bit like "customer loyalty" to me.
I've never used NAV, but I read a lot of newsgroups and the consensus is almost unanymous: too much bloat.
Wanted to add that the advice to dump NAV comes from Microsoft MVPs, or Most Valuable Professionals.
The way Telecom markets ADL here is to give away free modems and waive installation fees for standard installations. We are actually one of the least ADSL-using countries in the West and the pricing structure is still very archaic (not to forget expensive) here.
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