Software recommendations

[shiranai]

I'm trying to decide on the software packages for my new machine, and I've run across a few uncertanties. Any suggestions/experiences/opinions on the following would be greatly appreciated:

Antivirus:
I'm currently using Norton Systemworks 2004, but it's a rather bloated program and I don't actually use most of the non-AV toolbox utilities, so that's going out. I've also heard that Norton AV tends to mess up your OS/registry and can be a nightmare to uninstall cleanly. I'm not sure if this is actually true, as I've personally never experienced any uninstall difficulties, but I could just be a n00b. Several freeware antivirus programs such as AVG and Anti-Vir have been floating around the forums, but there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer on which is the 'best'. I've also looked at the av-comparison chart, but that seems to list only non-freeware packages, and the top performer is Kaspersky, which I've never heard of. Their comparison charts also seem to be a straight detection-percentage evaluation, without considering anything about the software package itself, memory usage, etc. What's the final answer on AV software?

Firewall:
Kerio seems to be the most-used firewall app on these forums. Exactly how does it compare to ZoneAlarm freeware, as well as retail firewall packages like Norton? Does it have any crippling disadvantages I might have to compensate for with other programs?

Disk Imaging:
I've heard bad reviews of both Ghost 9.0 and Acronis Disk Image. Is there no reliable hard disk imaging/backup solution? I'm looking primarily to create a DVD+-R image for bare-metal system installations, to reduce downtime when I do my periodic format and OS clean installs.

 

[exilera]

Antivirus: See if you can get a copy of the Norton Corporate client. It's a very, very basic app that works just as well as the retail version, without all the unecessary crap.

Firewall: A hardware firewall is better than a software firewall. You can buy a hardware firewall for the price of a software app.

Backup: I'd like to know this as well. Will check back to see other's suggestions.

 

[Taejin]

bump

 

[Frodolives]

A couple for consideration:

Pretty cool freeware firewall.

NOD32 Retail anitivirus

 

[shiranai]

I will look into Norton Corporate, thanks for the heads up. On a preliminary search though, it seems available mostly through university licenses. Unfortunately, my own university uses McAfee Antivirus 8.0i, which is preconfigured/fuxx0red to only update over the campus network. I'll have to do some more digging :/.

Aside from a router (which I am currently on), what constitutes a hardware firewall?

How does Wyvernworks Firewall 2004 compare to Kerio Personal Firewall 4?

 

[tami]

i really like kerio personal firewall version 2.x. the new version (4.5 or so) is bloated, imo.

 

[shiranai]

The newer Kerio has some nice features, I think. I forgot exactly what they were, but I remember thinking they were important. The company website has a comparison chart between 2.x, 4.x lite, and 4.x registered. The difference between the 4.x lite and reg'd is mostly privacy/ad-blocking.

Still need an answer on the disk imaging. If there's an existing thread with a good answer, please point me to it.

 

[dunkster]

Micro Trend IS2005 is a nice combo of software firewall (passes all Shields Up tests) and the excellent PC-cillin AV.

For imaging, check out: http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/

I use Terabyte 'Image for Windows" with 'Image for Dos', available for $27 together, for image/restore operations. You'll need both programs, since IFW can't restore an active partition. You'll need the free PHYLOCK utility for imaging an active partition with IFW. If you really want to go inexpensive, IFD will do it all ($19 alone) - but it's slower for image creation.

Hope this helps!

 

[eno]

Anyone know of good way to make back up images that can be restore to Raid Striped setups? I just did I very clean install of MCE2005 in april just to find my Norton Ghost 9.0 would not work. Norton Ghost 2003 works just fine in DOS and is easy to use and am going to try it again before I do a full install this time to test it out on Raid. Any other options that HAVE worked for any of you?

I use AntiVir and love it. Uses only 12mb of memory and is very basic. If it would autoupdate it would basically be perfect IMO. I have the Norton Corporate and going to try that. If you are in the Military , just go under your AKO account under software and download it free.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Antivirus

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

click on comparitives and then on the latest review

the detection rates will tell you which is the best

 

[shiranai]

>> For imaging, check out: http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/

That looks interesting, thanks. Any idea how it compares to Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image? I'm guessing that the DOS-only version should be a pretty clean program, but I wonder if it has the same failure rates as the other two.

>> the detection rates will tell you which is the best

As I said earlier, I've already gone over all of the av-comparatives charts, and all they really tell you is the detection rates. They say nothing about the memory usage of the program, the UI, etc. Just going by those charts, I should be happy sticking with Norton, but it's really a bloated program. Anyway, I will try to get my hands on Norton Corporate and see if that's any better. If that's no good, I guess I'll just grab Kaspersky.

 

[BW86]

What I'm using
--------------------------
AntiVir Antivirus
Kerio Firewall
Acronis TrueImage

 

[Rottie]

desktop pc have
ZoneAlarm Pro Suite 5 (firewall, anti-virus, popup blocker, and anti-spammer)
Norton Anti-Virus 2002
Norton Ghost 9

Laptop
Sygate Personal Firewall
AntiVir
FireFix

 

[John]

Here's what I use:

Kaspersky Personal v5
Hardware Firewall (XP's software is disabled)
Ghost 2003 that runs on a 1.44" diskette

 

[JackMDS]

My preference: Freeware Security suit for Internet Connection Protection.

:sun:

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
My preference: Freeware Security suit for Internet Connection Protection.

:sun:

 

[Caminetto]

Originally posted by: eno

I use AntiVir and love it. Uses only 12mb of memory and is very basic. If it would autoupdate it would basically be perfect IMO. I have the Norton Corporate and going to try that. If you are in the Military , just go under your AKO account under software and download it free.

AntiVir has an auto update it just needs a second app to run it. I use the free "Atnotes" and schedule it to run every morning. Great free AV program and uses very little resources..

Also use free Sygate Personal firewall for outbound protection.

Norton Ghost 2003 that comes with systemworks is outstanding and can be had on ebay for under $10.

 

[Wild1]

Originally posted by: eno
Anyone know of good way to make back up images that can be restore to Raid Striped setups? I just did I very clean install of MCE2005 in april just to find my Norton Ghost 9.0 would not work. Norton Ghost 2003 works just fine in DOS and is easy to use and am going to try it again before I do a full install this time to test it out on Raid. Any other options that HAVE worked for any of you?

TeraByte's Image for DOS works great for my RAID 0 array (see post by Dunkster above). Have done a dozen images and restores with no issues.