Adequate Security with this Setup? If not....

[Wigwam]

Running XP Pro Sp2. Current machine has Zone Alarm Pro 5.5 as the firewall and Nod32 2.7 as the antivir with adaware run to check for the other baddies.

New build will also run Xp Pro. Should I stick with the same strategy [which seems to work] or update to either:
Eset Security Suite [love the low memory footprint]
Kaspersky Internet Suite
Separate Firewall/antivir prods [if so what]?

Thanks

 

[Wigwam]

Just to update. Seems my Trust's Teleradiology Suite doesn't yet support Nod32 v3 so Iwill stick to Nod32 ver 2.7 and see if there is a better [good protection/fast start-up times/low resource use] firewall than ZAPro 5.5 [ZA version 6s trashed my machine so don't know about the new version 7].

 

[Wigwam]

Was recommended that the latest version 7 of ZAProis also very stable so tried it but it makes my new machine feel very sluggish and I suspect it might be the cause of my fast user-switching issue. I am going to disable it and check. I also upgraded my ad-aware to version 2008 but kept Nod32 v2.7

Please update this thread with what you use and I may switch; options I guess are:
1) Commodo?
2) Eset Suite?

 

[Lemon law]

Wigwam

try the following link.

http://www.matousec.com/projec....php#firewalls-ratings

 

[Wigwam]

I just did thanks. I note ZAPro remains a good firewall but I might be headed towards Comodo Firewall Pro 3 that is also free and better it seems.
I need a replacement for Ad-aware 2007 Pro too.

I note the praise for SuperAntiSpyware and see that the pro version offers real time scanning; a free product that allows this would be ideal...

 

[Lemon law]

As Wigwam notes---I need a replacement for Ad-aware 2007 Pro too.

I note the praise for SuperAntiSpyware and see that the pro version offers real time scanning; a free product that allows this would be ideal...

You have to be somewhat careful about how active your antispywares are, or you can get into the same type conflicts similar to not being able to use two active anti viruses at the same time. And with both the free online armor firewall and CPF3 both now offering their own versions of HIPS, you usually don't more than one HIPs running at the same time either.

But point taken, adaware is no longer very good. A short list of descent free anti spyware programs are superantispyware, a squared, AVG antispyware, spybot S&D, spyware terminator, threatfire, spyware blaster which has a zero footprint, and there are more. Having too many just makes updating a pain. Ya don't pay any money but you do make your choices and take yer chances.

I have been running a totally freeware security set up for years. And the bad guys ain't got me yet. And the security resource thread on this forum is really excellent reference.

 

[Wigwam]

Thanks LemonLaw and the mods at Comodo said the same about anti-spyware and HIPS. They recommended running CFP and then running periodic sweeps of the free SAS and not to use a real-time product alongside CFP

 

[Lemon law]

Originally posted by: Wigwam
Thanks LemonLaw and the mods at Comodo said the same about anti-spyware and HIPS. They recommended running CFP and then running periodic sweeps of the free SAS and not to use a real-time product alongside CFP

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wigwam is very wise to seek second opinions. In terms of security sites in general, one of their pet peeves are posters who fein neutrality but are actually touting various paid programs for personal profit.

Never take the word of a single source touting an application without some credible other conformation from unbiased sources.

Sadly in the anti malware application world, there are some applications called rouges that instead of doing any good, instead install malware on your computers. Various security sites
maintain lists of rouge applications and total ripoffs. And the better freeware download sites
will certify all the programs they offer are malware free.

 

[Wigwam]

True, so let me rephrase what I said another way to make my position more clear [as otherwise I concur with your sentiment]:

The moderators of the forum of the Firewall I intend to use [based on its many favourable reviews online and on Wilders forums etc] suggest that running a 2nd real time anti-spyware scanner alongside it might cause some stability probs...

 

[mechBgon]

Separate Firewall/antivir prods [if so what]?

Don't overlook the obvious... with XP Pro, you can use Software Restriction Policy on top of a non-Admin account for a major leap in security right at the baseline level. You don't have to keep paying for yearly renewals for those, either You got 'em, might as well try 'em.

 

[spikespiegal]

Don't overlook the obvious

Good luck with that crusade. Most of these people would rather run with full admin rights and get advice from the Blue Shirt at Best Buy thinking that some 3rd party Kernel hugging anti-spyware program is actually a 'security' device. A non Admin/restricted account is free, it's 100% effective, and it doesn't slow your PC down.

This past fall I did some admin work for a local school district running NOD32 as their weapon of choice. The IT manager was also flat out non-compromising when it came to allowing local admin rights for anybody but himself and the technician staff. With two highschools and a dozen elelmentary schools full of kids and relatively open Internet policies they hadn't logged a single piece of spyware or a virus in over two years.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: spikespiegal

Don't overlook the obvious

Good luck with that crusade. Most of these people would rather run with full admin rights and get advice from the Blue Shirt at Best Buy thinking that some 3rd party Kernel hugging anti-spyware program is actually a 'security' device. A non Admin/restricted account is free, it's 100% effective, and it doesn't slow your PC down.

This past fall I did some admin work for a local school district running NOD32 as their weapon of choice. The IT manager was also flat out non-compromising when it came to allowing local admin rights for anybody but himself and the technician staff. With two highschools and a dozen elelmentary schools full of kids and relatively open Internet policies they hadn't logged a single piece of spyware or a virus in over two years.

That was pretty much my experience with my former fleet as well. Mostly Win2000, some WinXP. You would've torn your hair out if you could've heard our I.S. Director talk... he thought everyone should be the local admin on their desktop and just be "trained" to avoid risk. I didn't comply with his pie-in-the-sky delusions. I wonder if the guy who replaced me has carried on in my footsteps, or listened to the Pointy-Haired Boss instead :evil:

 

[Wigwam]

so who are "these people" spike?
Not sure who you meant but it came off as somewhat rude

 

[straubs]

I'm looking for a replacement for ZA 5.5 (yes, never updated as it appeared to get worse with every release. I use NOD32 because it's extremely low on resources and has definition updates multiple times a day.

The twist is I don't care so much about inbound protection, which is what everyone talks about (I'd use the default Windows firewall for that), I mostly want to know what software installed on my computer is trying to open outbound connections and have the option to allow or deny. I'm looking for something lightweight and trouble free.

 

[Wigwam]

ZA 5.5 would be better than the Windows firewall, surely in which case why not keep the status quo?

 

[straubs]

ZA 5.5 is what I used on my last install. I just built a new PC and am no longer interested in installing ZA 5.5. I'm currently considering Comodo Firewall 3 (advanced install) and Online Armor 2.1.

 

[straubs]

ZA Free is pretty horrible according to this chart. The Pro verison is much better, but why pay when you can get the same for free?

 

[Lemon law]

straubs wants---I mostly want to know what software installed on my computer is trying to open outbound connections and have the option to allow or deny. I'm looking for something lightweight and trouble free.

In other words, you too want the moon and the stars. Something light weight and trouble free that will also tell you everything you need to know

To meet your needs, I would still recommend comodo 3 as it has all the geek bells and whistles you want. Its more medium weight, it does have all the logging files anyone could want, but its a steep learning curve to master everything.( which I have not yet fully done) CPF3 can be a set it and forget it firewall, but to really harness its power, you gasp will have to do some self education and the comodo forums can be also helpful in that area.

Maybe someone else will recommend another firewall, but I would still recommend you put CPF3 on your short list. In terms of trouble free, almost all the initial problems with CPF3 are now solved. But you will not know if it will give you any problems until you try it. And since all firewalls take some time to train in adapting to your computer, playing musical firewalls can be a very long process.

 

[Wigwam]

Originally posted by: straubs
ZA 5.5 is what I used on my last install. I just built a new PC and am no longer interested in installing ZA 5.5. I'm currently considering Comodo Firewall 3 (advanced install) and Online Armor 2.1.

read my original post again: almost exactly the same scenario!

 

[straubs]

Originally posted by: Wigwam

Originally posted by: straubs
ZA 5.5 is what I used on my last install. I just built a new PC and am no longer interested in installing ZA 5.5. I'm currently considering Comodo Firewall 3 (advanced install) and Online Armor 2.1.

read my original post again: almost exactly the same scenario!

Haha yep. The only difference is my main concern is blocking outgoin--unless that is also your main concern.

 

[straubs]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
In other words, you too want the moon and the stars. Something light weight and trouble free that will also tell you everything you need to know

I don't think it's asking the moon and the stars to want something that's *already been done* with ZA 5.5. Maybe 5.5 is not that lightweight, but the problem is that all current versions of the free ZA seem to be more bloated and less effective, and I don't want to install something that's been obsoleted by current software.

Originally posted by: Lemon law
To meet your needs, I would still recommend comodo 3 as it has all the geek bells and whistles you want. Its more medium weight, it does have all the logging files anyone could want, but its a steep learning curve to master everything.( which I have not yet fully done) CPF3 can be a set it and forget it firewall, but to really harness its power, you gasp will have to do some self education and the comodo forums can be also helpful in that area.

Thanks. It will remain on the short list.

 

[Wigwam]

I just did a complete uninstall of ZA 7 today and went back to 5.5 until CFP3.1 comes out.
Randon glitches and lock-ups etc so I want to remove the ZA variable altogether and go back to the tried and trusted version and see if I still get problems

 

[Lemon law]

To Wigwam,

Who states he went back to ZA5.5. Question, did you try the new versions of comodo3 and the free online armor? And if you did, what did you find objectionable about them?

 

[Wigwam]

tbh I don't want to have to mess about "trying" lots of firewalls. I have every intention of switching to CFP and so am just waiting for the "imminent" release of ver3.1 hoping it will run just fine [rather than having to completely remove ver3.0 as well].
Removed all traces of ZAPro 7 before I installed 5.5 and will do the same before I install CFP3.1

Has to be said the machine is less sluggish.

 

[Wigwam]

btw CFP 3.1 is out Monday.