Security system? Which is best?

[newstudent]

Hi, I just bought a new netbook (WooHoo). The Toshiba Mini at Staples for $399, I was talked into the extended warranty for $80 (I can return it in the 1st 30 days if I change my mind?)but by the time I was done with coupons I got it all for $402, I think that was pretty good. They also tried to sell me the Norton 360 telling me it is the best on the market and only would cost me $40. I am in school and get free McAfee plus there is also AVG, which security system would you recomend? Let me know what you think of the Tosiba, and my deal!
Thanks to all, I always get good, honest feedback here!!

 

[tzdk]

Dont know much about netbooks but may be you should go for less is better because of performance? I know Nortons Internet suite run sweet and 360 just seems to be an extended version. Install trial version of 360 and test - first uninstall what you use now. How flexible is it? Can you disable features and so on.

Have you seen feature list of 360? From what I can see only 1 thing speaks for a suite and that is firewall. Will be easy to handle and 100% compatible with everything else since all is Norton. I actually like this free firewall a lot http://www.tallemu.com/free-fi...otection-software.html but you cant expect much plug and play with free 3rd party firewall. There is a reason Norton brags about theirs being "quiet". Noisy means work and questions for you - or is it higher security level? I dont see much need for "better" firewall at all but like the one I mentioned. Satisfy control freak with little effort required and helped by easy to handle interface. But if you pay up 3rd party firewalls often become monsters, half an AV too dont rush purchase of super firewall without checking it out.

40$ should not kill you but think of netbook first. Last night I saw a dude saying Windows 7 ran great on his Acer netbook, 299$, 1.6 Atom cpu I think. So I dont know if a suite is a worry or not. But you wont be racing around on torrent sites or experimenting with keygens right? You also have some knowledge about how to navigate internet? This is for school I guess. So where is the need for 360, anything else than a little AV for unknown usb things could be considered fluff. Could turn off autoruns/play and settle for Clamwin on demand Then again may be not - but think about where risk comes from, your own level of experience and know-how - focus on potential risks, dont try to prepare for a war you are not part of.

I would probably get the new free, or rather already paid for, Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/ Is in beta but seems stable, no major issues I think. Just waiting for Windows 7 to get out. They could work a bit on lowering memory usage a bit... but runs just like Nortons stuff, max ease of use so you can increase productivity as they say. Dont complicate computer or your life with silly concerns like I must use my Norton Account to fill out this form or Im in danger. I know it is sillly but I dont feel safe!!! Then you have lost the game about your money Also unless you compare the worst with the best among these security products there is really not a huge difference in how "safe" you are.

MS have closed downloads of MSE but you can get it elsewhere.

 

[BW86]

just download the free edition of Avira Antivir and call it a day.

 

[Schadenfroh]

I was talked into the extended warranty for $80 (I can return it in the 1st 30 days if I change my mind?)

IMO, an extended warranty is not worth it on netbooks. They are getting cheaper everyday and with new models existing ones fall in the used market (value of item the warranty is placed on).

just download the free edition of Avira Antivir and call it a day.

A good call, solid detection rate and low performance impact (critical for netbooks). Norton 2009, KIS and especially AntiVir Personal Edition Premium are all good choices.

If it shipped with a bunch of junk on it, checkout PC De-Crapifier:
http://majorgeeks.com/PC_De-Crapifier_d5223.html

That being said, read over mechBgon's website to secure your notebook:
http://www.mechbgon.com/build/security2.html

 

[Scouzer]

Essentially if you want a security suite it boils down to three solid choices:

1) Norton 2009
2) Kaspersky 2010
3) NOD32

They all have their strengths and weaknesses, but that'd be my personal preferred order. NOD32 has a crap firewall so that rules it out for me, personally.

If you want to stay a bit lighter (and really, it's marginal) just run Avira by itself, but beware of false positives. I dumped Avira due to FP's which get really annoying.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
I dumped Avira due to FP's which get really annoying.

Yeh, it does have a high amount of false positives. This problem can be reduced by throttling back the heuristics.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: BW86
just download the free edition of Avira Antivir and call it a day.

That's what I'm doing, also SuperAntiSpyware Free, do frequent updates and occasional scans with both and quarantine whatever they recommend. No real problems AFAIK (but what do I know?) for very long time. Have a popup blocker running generally. If something wacky happens I google and usually figure it out quickly.

 

[narzy]

eset nod32 but just the antivirus, the firewall is crap. Comodo used to make a good firewall but I think they bundled it (blah!) I don't know who is king of that crown anymore.