VANITY - Computer Security

4/24/09 | Petruchio

[Petruchio]

For a number of years I have been using Trend Micro's PCCillin Internet Security package. It has worked well, in all this time I have not been sidelined by an infection on any of my computers.

No more!

Trend Micro has slowly become nagware. The worst nagware I have ever seen. My license expires the first week of May. I started getting "Reminders" to renew my subscription in January! That is beyond stupid!

This leads me to today's question. I have seen on threads I can't find now where FReepers have recommended a FREE anti-virus program and a FREE firewall that worked well. Can some kind FReeper link to them please?

Whatever I switch to has gotta be FREE. I have some serious medical issues I am dealing with. I cannot afford to pay for nagware that is such a pain to use.

[Petruchio]

Thanks in advance.

My desire is to complete the switch to new software before I go back in the hospital next week.

[rabscuttle385]

AVG Anti-Virus

ZoneAlarm (or the integrated Windows firewall)

[silentreignofheroes]

AVG

http://free.avg.com/

[KoRn]

I like AVG for antivirus. Antivir is good too.

Both are free.

[Redbob]

Check AVG Free; regular updates, no-nag settings, works good.

[Racer1]

I use AVG anti-virus and Comodo Firewall Pro. Both free.

[ozark hilljilly]

I feel your pain.
I’ve used Trend for ages. Liked the fact it was quick, non bloated and simple. Not any more. It’s just as bad as Norton as far as being a hog. Once it runs out in Aug. I’m done with it!!

[the_Watchman]

Our desktop support folks at my work site incorrectly installed Norton several years ago. This installation interfered with keeping the signatures up-to-date. As a result, I just got hit by a virus two weeks ago. I have since rebuilt the laptop after formatting the disk.

I had some interest in using data files from the infected disk, so I made a copy and scanned it with a healthy, updated Norton at work and my AVG installation at home. They both found the same infected files. This gave me some degree of confidence in my AVG.

I made a disk partition copy of the infected disk using a live knoppix boot. Then I used an outboard “SATA/IDE to USB” adapter to mount the copied drive on the machines with the healthy virus detectors. I use the same adapter to copy data from the backup disk. Even though all infections are supposedly cleaned, now, I will not use any executable files from the copy of the infected disk.

[Petruchio]

YES!

AVG, that’s the one I saw before.

[kingu]

The absolute best free anti-virus I've found is Ubuntu 8.10 - once I got rid of windows, I didn't have such problems. But assuming that you've got some special attachment to Windows, I'd push for AVG if you must have one installed.

If you use Firefox with Ad Block Plus, though, I think you'll eliminate all casual bugs that float around, and the only thing left to worry about is stuff downloaded from unreputible places.

[Petruchio]

For the last month when Trend did a full scan, my system locked up solid. I found it will not play nice with Open Office. If I set it to not scan Open Office, it is fine . . .

[JSteff]

AVG and/or Avira
Comodo or ZoneAlarm
Ad-Aware and Spybot. Spybot includes the abiliiy to “inoculate” your system and replace the Hosts files which will help to assure your system will not “dial out to get any/or more nasties if you get infected.

[JoeProBono]

[Big Giant Head]

The absolute best free anti-virus I've found is Ubuntu 8.10 - once I got rid of windows, I didn't have such problems. But assuming that you've got some special attachment to Windows, I'd push for AVG if you must have one installed.

Any Linux distribution is a good anti-virus, I agree. Also, if you have a router, it is probably a hardware firewall. I haven't used anti-virus for a couple of years now, nor a software firewall. I just don't need it.

That said, if you like finding "free" games or pron online, you're flying on your own.

[ozark hilljilly]

I’ve noticed a lot of quirks like that, too.
I’m still on dial-up, it doesn’t play nice with that sometimes when it comes to updates.

Don’t even get me started on trying to download the renewal last summer!!! (arrrrrrgh!!!!)
Trend is so outta here...I will look into AVG.

[ozark hilljilly]

Heh heh!

[NonLinear]

1. Zone Alarm or Sygate Personal Firewal - either is fine
2. Dump IE, and use FireFox
3. NoScript (addon to FireFox)
4. AdBlock Plus (addon to FireFox)
5. MalWareBytes http://www.malwarebytes.org/ antivirus
(I’m checking out AVG even as I type)

Life is good.

[TomGuy]

I’ve had a similar history with virus programs.

Trend Micro,
Norton,
McAfee,
even AVS

They all become glutware and cause the computer to run slugglish.

Recently, I dumped AVS and went with Avast. I do have a couple of features turned off that would normally run in the background.

Otherwise, Avast seems to run with fewer resources than AVS did.

I recommend Avast.

[knarf]

I just love the way you guys talk ... if this was a war zone and we had a prisoner and you were explaining the whys and wherefors of said prisoner ... I’d hear you out, say “whatever”, and blow the bastards head off.

[knarf]

I was forced to dump dial up and take a highspeed cable ... dial up is like analog TV ....