Suggest Firewall/AntiVir

[Krafter]

Hey guys, I was wondering if you guys could please suggest a Firewall and Anti-Virus that is very easy on resources. Currently, I'm using Kerio Personal Firewall 2.1.5 (Does seem pretty easy), and no Anti-Vir.

Any help, thanks.

[jocksteeluk]

for an anti virus id recommend kaspersky or nod 32

[technicks]

http://free.grisoft.com/

This is very good. I use it myself.

[jocksteeluk]

http://free.grisoft.com/

This is very good. I use it myself.

although AVG is free you do get what you pay for and AVG often misses alot of things.

[Krafter]

I don't mind paying for a good one. But it definitely has to be lite.

[nora.e]

I use Prevx, and am very happy with it. Sits in the back round at 2.2K after install I've had nothing install on my sys with out me putting it there. $25 a year, or you can also go by the month if short on cash.http://spywarefiles.prevx.com/RRACJG043154144/PREVX+2.EXE.html

[xylomn]

I would recommend any of the following

AntiVirus

Paid: Nod32 (http://www.eset.com/download/index.php), Kaspersky (http://www.kaspersky.com/trials?chapter=186685140)

Free: AVG (http://www.grisoft.cz/filedir/inst/avg75free_476a1048.exe), Avast (http://files.avast.com/iavs4pro/setupeng.exe)

Of the above I Nod32 is the fasted and lightest on system resources


Firewall

Free: COMODO (http://download.comodo.com/cpf/download/setups/release/CFP_Setup_English_2.4.18.184.exe)

This firewall is not only free, but is the only firewall currently out that genuinely passes all of the leak tests its been tested under...

[mcloughj]

I use zonealarm for my firewall but only because I can't be bothered to look for something better. However for anti-virus I'm trying out a little experiment...

I read in a magazine that using antivirsu is basically unnecessary if you do the following:

Keep windows up to date. Behave yourself on the net (no nasty sites!). Trust your file sources.

By doing the above you basically eliminate the need for anti virus software.

Now... just because i read it in a magazine doesn't mean that I'm going to trust such a radical opinion! However it did get me thinking... most of the viruses that i have gotten have been from my own dodgy activities for have been because of near-direct contact with un-updated computers (work in a university, a hive of out of date laptops!).

So with this in mind I've turned off my antivirus software for the last month. I might turn it back on again this evening, let it do a scan and report the results but i have a feeling that i won't find anything!

[xylomn]

I use zonealarm for my firewall but only because I can't be bothered to look for something better. However for anti-virus I'm trying out a little experiment...

I read in a magazine that using antivirsu is basically unnecessary if you do the following:

Keep windows up to date. Behave yourself on the net (no nasty sites!). Trust your file sources.

By doing the above you basically eliminate the need for anti virus software.

Now... just because i read it in a magazine doesn't mean that I'm going to trust such a radical opinion! However it did get me thinking... most of the viruses that i have gotten have been from my own dodgy activities for have been because of near-direct contact with un-updated computers (work in a university, a hive of out of date laptops!).

So with this in mind I've turned off my antivirus software for the last month. I might turn it back on again this evening, let it do a scan and report the results but i have a feeling that i won't find anything!

While it is possible to use windows without an antivirus relatively effectively it is impossible to completely remove every possible source of a virus infecting your computer short of disconnecting the internet, especially if you use zone alarm and the tendency of the true vector monitor to fail especially if the computer is left running for extended periods of time.. (NB: this information related to the stability of the true vector monitor in version 6 of the zone alarm product I am unaware of changes and/or improvements made to the program since the release of version 7)

I short an antivirus is always an important thing to have... even if you never get infected as a 'just in case' measure as part of a multi layered defence used in conjunction with a strong firewall and other related products. If configured correctly they will use very little system resources and be relatively unintrusive.

[von kain]

I use zonealarm for my firewall but only because I can't be bothered to look for something better. However for anti-virus I'm trying out a little experiment...

I read in a magazine that using antivirsu is basically unnecessary if you do the following:

Keep windows up to date. Behave yourself on the net (no nasty sites!). Trust your file sources.

By doing the above you basically eliminate the need for anti virus software.

Now... just because i read it in a magazine doesn't mean that I'm going to trust such a radical opinion! However it did get me thinking... most of the viruses that i have gotten have been from my own dodgy activities for have been because of near-direct contact with un-updated computers (work in a university, a hive of out of date laptops!).

So with this in mind I've turned off my antivirus software for the last month. I might turn it back on again this evening, let it do a scan and report the results but i have a feeling that i won't find anything!


true i thing a anti spyware is better...


p.s. what in god's name do you mean dodgy activities .....................:confused::confused::confused ::confused:

[mcloughj]

While it is possible to use windows without an antivirus relatively effectively it is impossible to completely remove every possible source of a virus infecting your computer short of disconnecting the internet, especially if you use zone alarm and the tendency of the true vector monitor to fail especially if the computer is left running for extended periods of time.. (NB: this information related to the stability of the true vector monitor in version 6 of the zone alarm product I am unaware of changes and/or improvements made to the program since the release of version 7)

I short an antivirus is always an important thing to have... even if you never get infected as a 'just in case' measure as part of a multi layered defence used in conjunction with a strong firewall and other related products. If configured correctly they will use very little system resources and be relatively unintrusive.

Thanks for the heads up about ZA. Shouldn't be a problem for me though as i don't leave the computer running for huge periods of time.

As for AV: If the testing that i'm carrying out proves to be successful then i won't be jacking in AV altogether, but i probably will disable the continuous scanning features and just carry out a weekly or monthly full HDD scan. A months testing won't convince me that there are no viruses!

[mcloughj]

true i thing a anti spyware is better...


p.s. what in god's name do you mean dodgy activities .....................:confused::confused::confused ::confused:

By dodgy activities I mean cracks, dodgy torrents etc. Most of them are riddled! I personally think spyware is more of a problem than viruses, they are more prevalent, cause more system problems and so on. Funny that most anti-spyware is free and good anti-virus costs an arm and a leg!

[mcloughj]

Well the results are in: No infections. I might test for another month to be sure!

[HookeyStreet]

Hey guys, I was wondering if you guys could please suggest a Firewall and Anti-Virus that is very easy on resources. Currently, I'm using Kerio Personal Firewall 2.1.5 (Does seem pretty easy), and no Anti-Vir.

Any help, thanks.

Anti-Virus = NOD32 (theres nothing better!)

FireWall = Zone Alarm or McAfee

SpyWare = SpyBot S & D or Ad-Aware

[Wile E]

If you get Kaspersky Internet Security, it's both anti-virus and a firewall. It doesn't bog your computer down, like some of the other suites.

NOD32 is also an excellent AV, light on resources and good detection rates, but I still prefer Kaspersky. It's much easier to set up and use, imo, and it has more features.

[Krafter]

Well, I tried out NOD32 trial, and it looks pretty good so far.
Can anyone using Comodo say how it is in resources? Kerio 2.1.5 (which I'm currently using) sits at a little above 6k.

Thanks for the advice guys.

[von kain]

By dodgy activities I mean cracks, dodgy torrents etc. Most of them are riddled! I personally think spyware is more of a problem than viruses, they are more prevalent, cause more system problems and so on. Funny that most anti-spyware is free and good anti-virus costs an arm and a leg!

and a combo of those two a kindney...

[newconroer]

BlackIce (Firewall + optional Application control/monitor; very easy to use, and also many options)

NOD32 (Anti-Virus;; recommend turning off all auto features and monitors, running it manually when needed ;; service can be disabled from XP/Vista services if desired)

Local host file (Spyware/Malware ;; you can find these all over the internet, and can add or remove blocked addresses at your own convenience, no need to download a 'spyware' program, they're full of ****)


Memory :

Black Ice program 6k
Black Ice service 14k
Black Ice App protect 3k (optional)

[xylomn]

I would definetly not recommend blackIce... they have been found on many occations to cheat on tests of the firewalls protection

[newconroer]

Cheat on tests? Lol, BlackIce picks up four times as many intrusions as any other program out there. In fact sometimes it's so protective I'm glad it doesn't have some pop up feature that tells you when you've encountered a suspicious activity.

I tried to hack myself and others numerous times, and Black Ice was the only program that stopped me vs. Kapersky, ZA, Panda, SilK, Norton, Mcaffee, Pcillin etc.


Until you've been personally attacked while using Black Ice, then that claim is empty.

I can lay out ten forum pages worth of firewall failures and annoyances with the other software out there.

[xylomn]

I'm sorry but I am not laying claim to this from personal experience...

I am only citing information from numerous tests performed by professional testing organisations and university research...

I did not say that it was a bad piece of software, in fact many of the solutions it implements are well done...

However it has been know for them in the past to rig their software to react in certain ways when they were unable at the time to fully implement a solution to certain tests... Thats not to say that they didn't eventually add the protection to the system but that kind of activity is slightly unsettling...

[DanTheBanjoman]

F-secure antivirus. No firewall, I have a router to block things which works fine.