Security Suites

[Uboatman]

Originally Posted by 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.

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/...intProtection/


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.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

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]

Originally Posted by Uboatman

. 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.

[troopie]

Originally Posted by Uboatman

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?