Share your security application recommendation here!

[Castout]

Internet is the source of all kinds of crimes and could make you lose your crucial data, privacy, personal information, etc

So I thought why not start a thread that in it we could recommend all the security programs that each one of us trust and rely on.


So I guess I start with the first recommendation, by all means you could recommend any programs already recommended by other poster so people would know it's good.


COMODO Internet Secuity Suite(CIS). It's a combination of firewall, anti hacking and anti virus. Use the latest version. I had had good experience with their 3.5 version then I had periodic blue screen crashes with their 3.8 but I'm not sure whether CIS was responsible. Now Using the latest 3.9 version(509) with no problem past these 3 weeks or so. Imo the best security suite one could ever have out there and it's FREE.

Avira anti virus. Excellent detection rate. A good complement to COMODO CIS.

The latest version of Firefox. I've had enough hijacked IE setting when using IE7.0 Now I'm reluctant to even try IE8.0 though I have it installed too.

Spywareblaster to protect your browser.

Hijackthis to detect and fix any hijacked setting in your PC. Just in case something did go through.

[CaptainHaplo]

Usually I don't install much on an "in use" pc. A antivirus/spyware/adware/malware package and a firewall if desired.

I currently use Avast, and am pleased with it for the first package. Its free, updates are regular, and its highly customizable.

For a firewall, if your going to use something - zonealarm is rather good if your willing to tweak it.

Good security is based more on the gateway controls (router acl's, port forwards, etc) than it is on the pc in many cases. In fact, actually disabling some things on the pc makes it more secure, though there are some applications that help.

If you want to get into gateway side or server side firewalls then I can add more to the discussion.

[jumpy]

Antivirus - Nod32 does the job, not quite as user friendly as say AVG (installed on her machine) but it sits there doing its thing and regularly updates itself, sometimes twice daily. More settings than you can shake a stick at.

Spyware - SpybotS&D don't use it all that much but the Teatimer app is useful for detecting system changes, like quicktime updates and all that other rubbish that happens in the background. Useful tools like Secure Shredder for deleting files.

Browser apps - Firefox with the NoScript plugin. Can be annoying for site content, but has prevented several page scripts/redirects/popups etc.

Gateway/firewall - use router, no unsolicited access from internet setting; I should really sort out port forwarding and static ip's for my home network, but the last time I tried I broke my internet connection :oops: fortunately I had a backup of my original default profile. Also windows firewall (I can't be bothered with ZA since the last time I had a problem with it hogging loads of system resources, but that was a good while back now).

[Arclight]

Avast antivirus - personally I keep the VRDB function disabled

Comodo firewall+ :includes pro-active defence which functions a lot like UAC, but far more customizable. For example, you can define an app as trusted, so it doesn't nag you next time it executes. UAC nags you every single time. Not compatible with Win7 though, so for the moment it's Avast + UAC + windows firewall.

Never had any infections since using this combo and learning to use them. Particularly Comodo needs your attention to properly configure. If you just click OK everytime something pops up, obviously it's not going to do you any good.

On occasion use AVG and Spybot to scan for nasties if I suspect something to be present. PC cillin is valuable to root out the particularly nasty stuff, very powerfull tool but a pita to use.

CCleaner for general clean-up, driversweeper to clean driver files and Disk Defrag for defragmentation (Win7 includes proper defrag so no need anymore).

*ah yes, Windows Defender is included with Win7 as well (have to enable real-time protection manually). Possible alternative to 3rd party spyware scanners (AVG/Spybot as mentioned above). This program is either very transparent or it just doesn't do anything, yet to figure out which one. :hmmm:

[AVGWarhawk]

Avast

Vista Firewall

Windows Defender

[Castout]

I would like to add firefox with noscript. I forgot that until I saw Jumpy mentioned it.

For spyware scan I recommend superantispyware and malwarebytes. Malwarebytes is no longer available as a free program though. They both have excellent detection rate.

[longam]

Avast

NAT - Windows Firewall

Counter Spy - Windows Defender

[Sledgehammer427]

AVG and what my now-ancient XP system says I should use :D