Need help for new Anti-Virus

PlanHex

PlanHex

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I'm looking for an anti-virus/firewall that doesn't suck, as opposed to the one I currently have, Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security.
I've been having some serious trouble with it lately and have subsequently decided it's time to get rid of the damn thing.

I'm not looking for something overly complex. Just one that'll keep my computer relatively safe from viruses and the like, doesn't eat up all my memory and processing power and can also be operated without a degree in [insert esoteric field here].

Do any of you know of a good program that's usable on XP?
Preferably an affordable one.
 
There are no security programs that work like one would hope. For the most part they are all flawed.

Do yourself a favor and ditch the security suite and stick with strictly anti-virus (maybe AVG). For a firewall purchase, a router (Belkin or Linksys are great brands).

I work for an ISP and I can safely say 7 out of 10 calls are related to broken security software. We have gotten to the point that we refuse to recommend any security software to our customers... When it comes right down to it, the real security is the person behind the wheel.

Happy surfing and note that even plain Jane anti-virus software will most likely cause you problems especially if you use an e-mail client.
 
Thanks for the help guys. Appreciate it. :)

Do yourself a favor and ditch the security suite
Click to expand...
Why exactly?
Also, I can't change my router. The one I have is required by my ISP and I'm not sure it has any firewall to speak of.
 
I use NIS, but used to use AVG. NIS is not so bad (if you have 2GB RAM) and so is AVG. I recommend both, though NIS is pretty expensive and AVG is free.

Then there's the Ashampoo Firewall, not bad either.

Look for the PC magazines, like CHIP, they often give out a few month trials of some anti-virus stuff, so you could check it out.
 
PlanHex said:
Thanks for the help guys. Appreciate it. :)

Do yourself a favor and ditch the security suite
Click to expand...
Why exactly?
Also, I can't change my router. The one I have is required by my ISP and I'm not sure it has any firewall to speak of.
Click to expand...

Software firewalls are not very stable. They have a tendency to break when receiving updates from the manufacturer. When they do break they tend to block ports... Maybe port 80(used for surfing the web) maybe port 25 or 110 (common e-mail ports).

Security suites are the cure for the not broken computer.

If you are not sure your current router has a firewall, you can google the make/model to find out that information. You could also...

Click 'Start' then 'Run' type: cmd

Press 'OK' now you will have a Windows command prompt

Right where it leaves you off with a flashing cursor type: ipconfig

You will see a bit of information, more importantly your "Default Gateway" address. It should look something like "192.168.2.1"

Type that "Default Gateway" into your browsers address bar. You should now be at the log-in screen for your router. Generally the user name and password would be something like "Admin"

Again you can google search to find out what the default user name and password is to your router.

After you've accessed the router you should be able to find out if it has a NAT firewall or not... The easiest option here should be a google search.

Edit: Of course, all of the above is assuming you really do have a router via your ISP... It's possible you are confused and you actually have a cable or DSL modem that has no router built into it.
 
My bad, I checked it again and there's a firewall menu inside the advanced setup for my router. Forgot to look in there. :roll:

Somehow I doubt that it'll be as easy as just checking the little box marked 'Enable Firewall'. There's some functions I don't really get, like Anti Probing and Threshold configurations along with some WAN to LAN and WAN to WAN rules that seem to be on as a standard via firmware and/or my ISP's settings.
 
Meh, I have been quite impressed by 8signs software firewall but it takes a lot of setting up to get it right, but once you do, you're all set so to speak.
 
PlanHex said:
My bad, I checked it again and there's a firewall menu inside the advanced setup for my router. Forgot to look in there. :roll:

Somehow I doubt that it'll be as easy as just checking the little box marked 'Enable Firewall'. There's some functions I don't really get, like Anti Probing and Threshold configurations along with some WAN to LAN and WAN to WAN rules that seem to be on as a standard via firmware and/or my ISP's settings.
Click to expand...

If you don't like it buy a new firewall router and clone the MAC... They will be none the wiser trust me.
 
xdarkyrex said:
software + hardware fierwall = win.

get both.
Click to expand...

Ahh... No. Unless your ultimate goal is to block ports that you want to use. Just do one or the other. I still say in my experience, everyone wants to stay far far away from software firewalls.

Sometimes when software firewalls break you have to uninstall the program (with the special uninstall utility found on the manufacturers website) and in many cases, reinstall parts of the operating system or the whole thing... No fun, and if your software firewall breaks... Please don't blame your ISP... :cry:
 
Maphusio said:
xdarkyrex said:
software + hardware fierwall = win.

get both.
Click to expand...

Ahh... No. Unless your ultimate goal is to block ports that you want to use. Just do one or the other. I still say in my experience, everyone wants to stay far far away from software firewalls.

Sometimes when software firewalls break you have to uninstall the program (with the special uninstall utility found on the manufacturers website) and in many cases, reinstall parts of the operating system or the whole thing... No fun, and if your software firewall breaks... Please don't blame your ISP... :cry:
Click to expand...


...not all of us use viruses as a firewall.
 
xdarkyrex said:
Maphusio said:
xdarkyrex said:
software + hardware fierwall = win.

get both.
Click to expand...

Ahh... No. Unless your ultimate goal is to block ports that you want to use. Just do one or the other. I still say in my experience, everyone wants to stay far far away from software firewalls.

Sometimes when software firewalls break you have to uninstall the program (with the special uninstall utility found on the manufacturers website) and in many cases, reinstall parts of the operating system or the whole thing... No fun, and if your software firewall breaks... Please don't blame your ISP... :cry:
Click to expand...


...not all of us use viruses as a firewall.
Click to expand...

You need to clarify what your are stating then.

xdarkyrex said:
software + hardware fierwall = win.
Click to expand...

The above indicates you are suggesting that a hardware and software firewall will be great when it will most likely not be at all. I think you would have been better off saying something along the lines of, "Anti-viral software and a hardware firewall would be great."

Judging by your most recent response, English is not your first or primary language. The statement "viruses as a firewall" doesn't make sense.

When dealing with technical things being precise is key, otherwise the information you attain is worthless.
 
Don't be daft, I didn't say anything about anti-virus software, I was mocking you for using malware as a firewall. Your experience being a failure to get a software firewall to work is not normal. A person who is not apt enough to avoid viruses should likely have a virus/web scanner, software firewall, hardware firewall, and registry firewall, all installed (but be wary of falsely advertised malware and bloatware like the shit you apparently installed onto your rig).

Someone more like myself who is clever enough to know how to remove viruses manually or avoid them in the first place, should only really need at most a software firewall and a registry firewall that are configured properly. I would also potentially get myself a hardware firewall (and configure it to mimic the exact settings of my software firewall and therefor not have any conflicts), but I would never personally bother with virus/web scan stuff because all that can be easily avoided or removed by someone who has a good working knowledge of the internet and their own operating system. The key hallmarks of a good firewall are using a very tiny amount of system resources and having an inclusive port blocking system that doesn't invade your screen but still notifies you. Stuff like Avast and Zone-Alarm and Windows Firewall are BAD software, not good.

Your failures != common failures.
lrn2firewall.
 
A bit of ego padding there darky?

I consider myself intelligent enough to spot the not so to speak, but I'm not ignorant enough to not have an AV I can trust to back me up, considering the after work activities I engage in could very easily be slipped into the works.

Firewalls, you really only need one, the only, and I mean ONLY reason why you would get a hardware firewall over a software one is because a virus cannot edit the firewall on the hardware because there's no room to place itself on the hardware, plus it's burned into the CMOS of the equipment, whereas a software firewall can be tampered with by a malicious program.

If you're paranoid enough to have 3 firewalls darky, you might as well just deepfreeze your system and be done with it.
 
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