Security Suites

[Skybird]

It's time again to decide whether I buy a new licence for my Avira Premium 2013 Suite, or go with another product. Avira has had a good reputation years ago, but since two or three years has dropped to the lower end of the midfield. I am also engaged in a so far minor fight with them over a proclaimed automatic deal that I should have agreed to somewhere some day, but of which I am certain I never did it because I hate such automatic addon-deals. In short, security-wise it is sub-standard and it has given me too many false alarm recently.

Which alternative to pick? I am eyeing these to, Bit Defender, and F-Secure, because they are leading the list of this "independent" - real or fake, I don'T know - security solution analysing website: http://www.av-test.org/tests/privatanwender/windows-7/sepokt-2012/

However, in customer feedbacks on some shopping sites I read little about F-Secure, and much negative feedback on Bit Defender claimed to cripple the system and putting a very big foot on the break, slowing the system down, making Windows Updates impossible and pretty much ruining the installation in case of attempted deinstallation. Well, I have my Symantec debacle of around ten years ago still on mind. Creeping slow system, ruined Windows root installation, a disaster at that time, since then it is : never again Symantec.

Security-wise, however, both are found in tests to lead the pack this year, and quite clearly so.

Comments? Advise? Bit Defender is tempting because it is a three-PC licence, and I have to maintain the rig of my parents, too. Another piece on soldi info on another program that offers solid security and is easy on the system? Trend Micro, or G-Data maybe? Kaspersky? I think now I listed the top five, or not?

[Skybird]

Forget F-Secure. Apparently the "firewall" it has bases on the Windows Firewall and the rules for it get designed by the company without the user being able to alter them in any way, I read.

????

Not convincing, that.

[Uboatman]

Forget F-Secure. Apparently the "firewall" it has bases on the Windows Firewall and the rules for it get designed by the company without the user being able to alter them in any way, I read.

????

Not convincing, that.

I have F-secure on one of my machines and it has never been a problem for anything I've needed to do, any settings options you'd like me to check? I will say that Customer Support from F-secure that I've needed to use on a number of occasions has been excellent, and I would recommend them to anyone based on the current package I have.

[Skybird]

I'm just quoting some customer feedback. Some said that the F-Secure Suite bases on only the Windows firewall, and does not allow alteration of settings and defining rules for given applications different than those centrally decided on and implemented by the company. But I want to be able to define rules myself for certain software, so that it is being blocked always, or always must ask for permission to access the web, for example.

The first one for example is useful for unwanted updaters that you cannot avoid getting installed when installing an apllication (Logitech for example), and they notoriously give away system data or ripplefire registraiton request at you. The second is nice for software of which purpose I am not certain and thus I do not want it to access the internet in the background without giving me a note first that it wants to do that.

Anyhow, I tend to try Kaspersky. But then: again customer feedback. Many people seem to have reported registration issues, and their service not answering at all. The copies for the German market seem to have an issue with localization and thus some or many of them do not accept the registration code, saying it is for another localisation only.

Some suites seem to offer security features that rely on Chrome, Mozilla or Explorer being used, by their specs they give the impression they make use of these mandatory. But I use Opera, and I will not go back to Explorer. I learned to love Opera.

[the_tyrant]

I use eeye blink

http://www.beyondtrust.com/Products/PowerBrokerEndpointProtection/


Very customizable, very versatile, includes an IDS (intrusion detection system), the antivirus detection is a bit too intense though.

For example, QQ, a very popular Chinese IM system is detected as "adware". Sure, it has very annoying Ads, and there are lots of popup ads, but it shouldn't really be labled as malicious and quarantined.

But than again, in most cases, update your software, and have good usage habits. It helps more than any type of security software out there.

[HundertzehnGustav]

Eyeball V.1.1 and Handsoff Version 13
The usual suspects a la Malwarebytes, S&D,CC, and my newest find (not so new, but to me) - Combofix.

:D

[Skybird]

But than again, in most cases, update your software, and have good usage habits. It helps more than any type of security software out there.

Hm, you need both, the one cannot replace the other. Be paranoid a bit, have what you call "good usage habits" - and have a competent security guard solution set up as well. Even good usage habits cannot safe you from randomly hitting a formerly trustworthy site that meanwhile got infested.

I want one that does not cause a mess on my system, works with reliable results, and does not put too much stress on my system when I do heavy simming. Malwarebyte's I already use. Very good one - it saved me where Avira failed, repeatedly.

[HundertzehnGustav]

then you need one that you can turn off and on as you wish.
Norton, i think, offers that feature (...?)

[Uboatman]

@Skybird:

There were issues with a previous version of F-Secure but they seemed to have been ironed out with the latest version. I experience no slowdown at all with the latest version and as some have mentioned I can turn it off and on as I please. You could always give it a try, think they are now doing a free trial for potential customers.

My brother use ESET NOD32 and is very happy with them, didn't see that in your list.

Ones I stay away from (after personal experience)

Norton
AVG
McAfee

[Skybird]

. I experience no slowdown at all with the latest version and as some have mentioned I can turn it off and on as I please.

It's not about switching it off completely, that would be pointless when you are online or some background application goes online for update or whatever. It is about selectively choosing which applications are allowed by the firewall to go online, which one must ask you for permission, and which ones are blocked, always. If it is true what I read, that they in principle use the windows firewall, then this is not only not possible, but the firewall also does not work too reliably.

My brother use ESET NOD32 and is very happy with them, didn't see that in your list.
Never heard of that. Test, somewhere?

Ones I stay away from (after personal experience)

Norton
AVG
McAfee
So do I. I avoid everything that has written "Norton" on its box.

P.S. Just visited the ESET website. N firewall. It's antivirus only. That's probably the reason why they call it "antivirus" themselves.


Does anyone know independent testing sites for security suites like the German one I linked? The magazines I do not trust and I would prefer to know in advance what it is that I install for testing on my rig - BEFORE it messes up my installation maybe and leaves me with plenty of work and wasted hours.

[Uboatman]

P.S. Just visited the ESET website. N firewall. It's antivirus only. That's probably the reason why they call it "antivirus" themselves.


From the ESET website:

"ESET Smart Security 5,Internet security you can trust with Firewall, Antivirus, Antispam, Antispyware and Parental Control"



Says firewall right there, from the bit I can read looks like it's their own one not Windows's one, have another look:up:

[Skybird]

From the ESET website:

"ESET Smart Security 5,Internet security you can trust with Firewall, Antivirus, Antispam, Antispyware and Parental Control"

I was at the German site. All talking about antivirus only. Anyhow, the Germn testing website does not list Eset as a good one. Not even average industrial standard, they say. Scores base on overall metaresults for Sept-Oct last year.

http://www.av-test.org/en/tests/home-user/windows-7/sepoct-2012/

One can sort the results at the top, in three categories, protection, repair, usability (the latter including speed factors and system drain).

Sites like this seem to be the only possibility to have at least a chnace to bring some order into the diverse disorder of software you can buy. Somewhere one just has to start.


Says firewall right there, from the bit I can read looks like it's their own one not Windows's one, have another look:up:[/quote]

Windows firewall integrated - that was said about F-Secure.

[AVGWarhawk]

Avast.

[Uboatman]

"Windows firewall integrated - that was said about F-Secure" I know, here:

http://www.eset.co.uk/Home/Smart-Security

And this article might interest you, although I'll keep looking:

http://www.7tutorials.com/best-internet-security-suites-2012-2013

Going to leave it there as there just doesn't appear to be enough information out on this years products yet, good luck, if you are still unsure of any products why not send a company an email asking if their product meets your requirements?

[troopie]

Ones I stay away from (after personal experience)

Norton
AVG
McAfee


I'm also due to replace mine soon, I have been using McAfee and am looking at going with it again, just for convenience. What is it you don't like about it?

[Uboatman]

I'm also due to replace mine soon, I have been using McAfee and am looking at going with it again, just for convenience. What is it you don't like about it?

I found McAfee extremely invasive on my PC, and taking it off my machine ended up requiring a full windows reinstall, that shoud never have to be the case to completely remove a program from your system and customer service was no help either. Of course, you may have better experience with a more up to date product, this is after all just my opinion:up:

[troopie]

I found McAfee extremely invasive on my PC, and taking it off my machine ended up requiring a full windows reinstall, that shoud never have to be the case to completely remove a program from your system and customer service was no help either. Of course, you may have better experience with a more up to date product, this is after all just my opinion:up:


Hmmm... thanks for the heads up. I sure don't feel like doing an os reinstall so I'll guess I'll stick with it untill I upgrade to windows 7. It does seem to have done a good job so far but my machine does seem to have been pretty slow of late. Have woundered if it's due to the anti-virus.

I can certainly second the poor customer service though, that drove me nuts. To access their help service they wanted me to enter my full name, phone number and address on their website! As if...:nope:

[Uboatman]

Hmmm... thanks for the heads up. I sure don't feel like doing an os reinstall so I'll guess I'll stick with it untill I upgrade to windows 7. It does seem to have done a good job so far but my machine does seem to have been pretty slow of late. Have woundered if it's due to the anti-virus.

I can certainly second the poor customer service though, that drove me nuts. To access their help service they wanted me to enter my full name, phone number and address on their website! As if...:nope:

I've done quite a lot of research into AV programs over the last couple of years as like the OP I wanted the best for my needs and PC, in my reading I have found that many of the really big names like Norton and even one that regularly comes recommended BitDefender are notoriously difficult to remove from your install without a reformat.

Takes a long, long time to read all these articles and most of the time you just end up even more confused as to which is best, I did it for every single component on my new build PC too:know: worth doing to be more informed but even then you can find out something bad, often right after you place an order:/\\!! so I'd say take some time, do your research, maybe ask for others advice in a tech forum, good luck:up:

[Skybird]

"Windows firewall integrated - that was said about F-Secure" I know, here:

http://www.eset.co.uk/Home/Smart-Security

And this article might interest you, although I'll keep looking:

http://www.7tutorials.com/best-internet-security-suites-2012-2013

Going to leave it there as there just doesn't appear to be enough information out on this years products yet, good luck, if you are still unsure of any products why not send a company an email asking if their product meets your requirements?
When I would ask a company whether its security suite is fast, reliable, has high recognition standards and low false positve rates, does not pose stress on the system, and is compatible with other software, EVERY company will answer ALL these questions with Yes. Because they are companies interested in getting your money, and no independent testers.

;)

It makes no sense to ask a company about the quality of its products. Of course quality is always "great". No company will ever tell you that they sell crap. Such questions only makes sense if it is hard-nailed to something like whether or not it is running under Windows and Mac, or only Windows.

G-Data uses two scan engines, but they base on - the engine by Kaspersky, I read. They just designed another interface around it and some stuff, and there you are. Well, you never stop learning.

Anyway, I will test Kaspersky. There is too much complaint about massive system intrusion and slowing down with Bit Defender.

[Uboatman]

When I would ask a company whether its security suite is fast, reliable, has high recognition standards and low false positve rates, does not pose stress on the system, and is compatible with other software, EVERY company will answer ALL these questions with Yes. Because they are companies interested in getting your money, and no independent testers.

;)

It makes no sense to ask a company about the quality of its products. Of course quality is always "great". No company will ever tell you that they sell crap. Such questions only makes sense if it is hard-nailed to something like whether or not it is running under Windows and Mac, or only Windows.

G-Data uses two scan engines, but they base on - the engine by Kaspersky, I read. They just designed another interface around it and some stuff, and there you are. Well, you never stop learning.

Anyway, I will test Kaspersky. There is too much complaint about massive system intrusion and slowing down with Bit Defender.

You just need to be specific and have the best information you can find independently, it's also not in company's interest to outright lie to a potential customer, and you email and get an email response that lies you can return it on that basis, also online purchases are protected in the UK and I assume in the EU also, to give you an example, I bought some RAM for my XP desktop a few months ago on the basis that the company's website said they were compatible with my motherboard, turns out they weren't after extensive testing and research, full refund no problem, but I'm sure you know all this already.

Hope Kaspersky works well for you, they seem like a good company at the very least and chart well in top 10s, I'd agree with you about bit defender. Good luck with it :salute:

[troopie]

Tracking really freaks me out! Since posting in this thread every ad on this site has been for anti-virus software. I know unkie Neal has gotta cover costs but this is too much! Is it the site or my browser?

[Uboatman]

Tracking really freaks me out! Since posting in this thread every ad on this site has been for anti-virus software. I know unkie Neal has gotta cover costs but this is too much! Is it the site or my browser?

I use mozilla personally, don't like IE and Chrome is too invasive, also I highly recommend you install this little gem, legit and should calm your nerves:

http://www.abine.com/

:yeah:

P.S. Always stay signed out of Google, Yahoo or Messenger, or indeed any other Email that is affiliated with a Search Engine when you are browsing, they can't target ads at you if you're not signed in

[HundertzehnGustav]

It is also a matter of who you ask.
Ask an IT dude... some will tell you that an AV is complete Bogus. Others will say a security package is all you ever need.

It is also important to NOT ask certain types of people. Those that work for a certain domain [company] and above all those that sell. Never ask those.

(not a complaint about all and every salesperson, but some are really incompetent and do one thing: bbrainwash and manipulate people in buying a product)