What (free) security/antivirus and ad-blocking/anti-popup software do you use?

[Papa Hogan]

I'm thinking I might need something more thorough than just an edited hosts file. Any thoughts on what should go into the machine?

Thanks!

 

[jkroeder]

You could use a browser based extension

or a local filtering app like privoxy, proxomitron, etc

 

[ImDonly1]

http://adblockplus.org/en/

They have extensions for firefox and chrome. Install that and the english easylist + fanboy filter (usually enabled by default).

 

[Chiefcrowe]

adblock plus in firefox is the best IMO!

 

[Nothinman]

People still touch their hosts file?

 

[Papa Hogan]

I get mine pretouched from mvps.org. It works pretty well. How about antivirus and malware scanners?

 

[ImDonly1]

I get mine pretouched from mvps.org. It works pretty well. How about antivirus and malware scanners?

Malware bytes antimalware.

I use MSE for antivirus, but recent reports show it isn't the best at detecting new viruses.

 

[Ken g6]

Ad Block Plus plus NoScript in Firefox. Chrome has ABP, and I use something called NotScripts. I actually don't use an antivirus or malware scanner on my ancient single-core laptop: I'm careful and even MSE bogged it down too much.

 

[zCypher]

Firefox with Adblock Plus and Noscript at a bare minimum. I have MSE (called Windows Defender in Win8) as well. I used Avira Free as an antivirus for years and it was excellent.

MalewareBytes Free and SuperAntiSpyware are good free antimalware programs too.

 

[ringtail]

People still touch their hosts file?

You bet'cha!
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

why wouldn't you?

 

[Nothinman]

You bet'cha!
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

why wouldn't you?

Because there's no need? The Adblock extension for both FF and Chrome takes care of pretty much every ad for me.

 

[smakme7757]

On my desktop and laptop i have Kaspersky and malware bytes.

If i need to use a freebie i use Malwarebytes and Microsoft Security Essentials.

 

[thujone]

malwareybytes + bitdefender or trendmicro + peerblock

 

[papaschtroumpf]

Avast on some comps, Windows Security Essentials on others
Comodo Firewall on all

 

[kache]

MSE+Chrome+adblock plus

 

[Ketchup]

ADBlock+, Malwarebytes Anti-malware, Microsoft Security Essentials, and a Virtual Machine for sites I am not so comfortable with.

Oh, and the 'do not track' option in Firefox.

 

[Papa Hogan]

I don't see that you guys use spybot s&d or adaware anymore...why is that? Are they obsolete? P.S. I just scanned with Malwarebytes and it didn't come up with anything...looks like the good old hosts file did the trick. So far so good!

 

[lxskllr]

I don't see that you guys use spybot s&d or adaware anymore...why is that? Are they obsolete? P.S. I just scanned with Malwarebytes and it didn't come up with anything...looks like the good old hosts file did the trick. So far so good!

I quit using Spybot back when I used Windows because it never did anything. It was just another program to update, and I didn't get any benefit. Adaware hasn't been relevant in years. The only things that ever got were tracking cookies.

If I were running Windows today, I'd use Avira or MSE, and run Malwarebytes occasionally when I was bored. My browser preference is Firefox, and I use BetterPrivacy, Adblock+ with Fanboy's ultimate list(thanks chiefcrow), NoScript, HTTPSeverywhere, and I block 3rd party cookies.

 

[BlueWeasel]

About the only thing I use Spybot for is the host file protection. Is the manual/customized host file linked above better?

 

[lxskllr]

About the only thing I use Spybot for is the host file protection. Is the manual/customized host file linked above better?

I agree with Nothinman. Adblock+ covers the ads, and I never had it protect me from BadSites®. Bad site protection will always be reactive, so you'd be better off using NoScript.

 

[country2]

So no one uses AdFender?

 

[Ketchup]

So no one uses AdFender?

I might if I had heard of it before. Does it work for you?

 

[John Connor]

I use Firefox with the add-ons Noscript, Betterprivacy, Adblock and Do not track plus. I use Avira and Comodo firewall. Avira will complain if you have Comodo installed so install Avira first. You could turn of the defense shield in Comodo. It still has mechanisms that work even though you have it disabled. Comodo's firewall will interfere with a Alchol virtual drive. The defense shield is the problem. It used to be that you could install the defense shield separate, but now you can't.