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Anti-Virus / Firewall

ZzZGuy

ZzZGuy

Golden Member
Before I connect my new computer to the internet I'd like to know what are some of the best anti-virus and firewall programs out there, just as long as they don't hog too much ram (quad core). I know Zone Alarm / AVG and Ad-Aware where the top picks over a year ago but I don't know about today.

Also wondering about secondary apps to do extra virus/trojan/worm sweeps but not running constantly in the background.

Free is nice but I'm willing to pay if it's worth it.



Thread moved from Software For Windows to Security.

AnandTech Moderator
mechBgon
 
AVG and Ad-Aware have never been top picks. Ever. Decent for free apps, definately.

Products i've used often and had great luck with:
Kasperky 09, Norton 09, Spysweeper with Antivirus. All of those are not freeware.

Freeware: Super Antispyware. Best of the free antispyware apps. The thing to note with most free apps is that they do not provide real-time protection, only removal upon infection. It would be great as an additional sweeper.

Firewall: I have never bothered with anything beyond the windows firewall.
 
I like to know what programs are trying to access the internet. Company of Heroes: Opposing fronts being a good example where it would not run if it detected a internet connection and I had problems getting it to work, so I set the firewall to block all traffic for that program and it worked.
 
Also wondering about secondary apps to do extra virus/trojan/worm sweeps but not running constantly in the background.
Click to expand...

In addition to security software, consider using a non-Admin user account, fully enabling your Data Execution Prevention, checking your system periodically with Secunia's Personal Software Inspector to eliminate vulnerabilities, and also Software Restriction Policy if your Windows version does SRP. http://www.mechbgon.com/build/security2.html <-- covers all those topics. An ounce of prevention... yeah 😉 Bonus: no noticable performance impact, no extra cost, no renewals, no signatures to download (other than Secunia's).
 
Laptop uses Comodo firewall and Avir AV both are free and low resource
Desktop already have ZoneAlarm Pro and Avir AV
So far I am happy with both products under Windows XP and Vista
 
Ah, never noticed this board before, woops.

Anyway I'll check out the programs mentioned as well as check out the other threads.
 
My windows machine has clamav to scan any downloads before I run and the windows firewall turned on. Beyond that I have my router to do basic firewall functions.

That is good enough for me. I've never had a virus, trojen, etc. The only people I know who do are computer idiots and run anything they come across, use IE6, don't patch their OS, and use pirated software.

Of course once that windows machine dies I won't have any windows machines, and my linux desktops run on antivirus and no firewalls. The router is enough protection there. My mac runs no antivirus and the built in firewall (just because it is so simple to use it's not worth turning off).
 
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