Ask dotTechies: What security software (anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, etc.) do you protect your computer with?
November 19, 2009 44
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As I am sure most dotTechies already noticed, I have started a new Ask dotTechies series in which I pose weekly questions to dotTechies. These polls are just “for fun” and informative purposes so everyone can get to know the dotTech family better. I also hope to facilitate discussion on the topics at hand.
That being said, security software is always a hot topic for computer users. I have even written an article (Prevention, detection, and cure: 9 programs that will provide the best all-around security for you and your computer – for free) to help guide users in selecting the best security software without having to pay a dime. So, this weeks Ask dotTechie is on security software: What security software (anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, etc.) do you protect your computer with?
Before I present the polls, let me clarify one thing. While there is no fine line separating the two, generally speaking, there are two different types of anti-malware security software: “mainstream” and “sidekick”. “Mainstream” security software are ones that act as the main anti-malware protection for a user; software like this are Avira, Norton, Kaspersky, NOD32, McAfee, BitDefender, etc. Then there are “sidekick” security software that act as supplements to the “mainstream” security software; software like this are Malwarebytes, IObit Internet Security 360, Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware, SUPERAntiSpyware, Spyware Terminator, etc.
Users never, ever want to run two “mainstream” security software on the same computer at the same time. However users can run some “mainstream” and “sidekick” security software on the same computer at the same time because the developers of “sidekick” security software recognize the fact that they need to make it so their software play well with “mainstream” security software. If the “mainstream” and “sidekick” security software will work well together totally depends on how the developers of each programmed their software; some may, some may not. Generally speaking, most “sidekick” security software work well with “mainstream” security software. Now “work well” does not mean that using both software will be exactly equivalent to only using one software in terms of computer resource usage and speed; “work well” means that the extra computer resource usage and speed decrease caused by running both software will be negligible and unnoticeable.
Therefore, because of the fact there are multiple different types of security software and many people run more than one, I have created three polls for this article instead of one: one for “mainstream” security software, one for “sidekick” security software, and one for firewalls. Feel free to only answer one or two but I do encourage answering all three.
***Note: Some of the software mentioned below have free and paid versions. The selection for the security software encompasses free and paid. In other words, regardless of if you use the free or paid version select that software brand. Also, some people may run internet security packages from one company that has all security components included. Regardless of if you run just the anti-virus/anti-spyware version of a security software or if you use their internet security package, select that software brand. Feel free to clarify in the comments below if you run free or paid versions, and if you use internet security packages or not.
[poll id="4"] [poll id="5"] [poll id="6"]
Have any comments on the topic of security software? Let us know below in the comments! (Linux users feel free to brag about how Linux (currently) gets little to no malware as compared to Windows.)
Ahsraff, this should be a more than one multichoice inquiry.
On my vista machine:
1- Norton security suite (came pre-installed), and includes the firewall plus internet security plus antivirus.
2- Iobit 360
3- Windows Security Essentials
4- Sandboxie (you forgot many of us are using some sort of sandboxing or system virtualization) and, if things to be accessed are really mean, I usually opt for a virtual box with the W7Enterprise90days trial.
On my Old XP Pro machine (Dell something 400):
1- Windows firewall and windows defender (I had windows live onecare, which was discontinued)
2- Iobit360
3- Windows Security Essentials
4- Returnil, for the nasty things
And in your inquiry, I picked Norton.
Now I’m confused. I was running AVG but read (at techsupport I think) that Microsoft Security Essentials was getting better results. So I removed AVG & installed MSE thinking it was mainly an ‘anti-virus’ program. I was lead to understand that I should not have more then one anti-virus program installed at the one time.
Could someone clarify the situation for me please.
Oh, just forgot to add to my XP Pro old machine: Spybot search and destroy with the real time Tea something-
On both vista and xp machines, I use anonymisers and free vpn’s, not only for security reasons but also to breach time or download restrictions imposed on IPs.
I used to use AVG free then switched to Avira free and finally settled on Avast :P
for sidekick I used to use spyware terminator but then switched to a-squared which I now have full license too :D
for firewall I used to use Comodo I had problem updating it so switched to Outpost
In addition i use Prev.x free which has a real time detector what’s unique about is that it never downloads virus signatures it compares them with the online virus signature thus always stays updated :)
+ Spyware Blaster
+ Comodo Memory Firewall the only thing I found that detected buffer overflows correctly
+ Malwarebytes anti-malware and SUPERantispyware as
additional scanners if everything else fails :P
I´m using eset nod32 for more than 3 years now and I´m quite happy with it. Before that I used Bitdefender and Kaspersky (and sometimes Antivir free) but NOD32 is the most satisfying antivir solution I´ve ever had. It´s clean, fast and needs only very little RAM. That´s all I need. And it´s detection rate it´s very reliable, not that much false positives.
Whatever you do, the virus writers will always be a step ahead. Let’s hunt them down physically and kill them!
I use:
Avast
Zone Alarm Pro
MBAM
Prevx
Sandboxie
Key Scrambler
Also use Firefox with no script and ABP.
Roboform for passwords.
Of course, imaging and roll back software also.
I run Avast Free, Asquared, Spyware Blaster and Windows Firewall… I have recently tried the Outpost Free firewall, and Online Armor firewall with Avast and Asquared… I found that lags were introduced into my system especially when browsing with Firefox… Perhaps Online Armor’s real time shields were fighting with the Avast ones… The lag problem persisted even after I disabled the shields (not the firewall) of Online Armor…
I have returned to an my base Image of just Avast, Asquared and Windows Vista Firewall and my system runs fine again… I’ve never had any virus or malware infection with this setup… Oh! But I use Returnil sometimes when I want to visit unknown websites.. Anyone knows of a way for me to gain some outbound control with my Windows Vista Firewall?
These are standard on every box in my network as well as the machines of my best friend.
Eset NOD32 (commercial only)
Malwarebytes Pro and Online Armor Pro (both commercial)
I use additional tools against/when there’s a problem, but they get pulled out very seldom, not daily.
I had an opportunity to try Avira Premium; liked it so much I actually paid for it. The same applies to Outpost Firewall Pro. I absolutely love these apps!
Like Karen, I don’t keep “sidekick” software running all the time. I tried IObit 360, but it kept popping up with “update available”, but kept trying to link to some non-existent, or non-available site (every time), so I dumped it. Tried A-Squared, but its learning curve was soooo slow: I kept getting bogged down with pop ups, and there is no quick way to undo an accidental Enter key mistake. So I stick with the tried and true MalwareBytes, and run it occasionally just to make sure everything else is still working.
I love Ad-Aware. It does the job perfect on it’s own.
You are missing some important security software. For example, I too use Returnil as many above already pointed out.
I use ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite. I believe that it is one of the best out there. I have seen it rated #1 over Norton’s (PC Mag PC World).
I think that a category for Suite should be listed.
Where would Zonealarm fall under? As of now Zonealarm have the antivirus and antispyware integrated?
Hi,
I use spybot s&d. I have superanti-spyware but it hasn’t been getting rid of one of the problems I have (I inherited my current pc & haven’t gotten around to reformating yet). I run a network with unsavy users & it’s free through cox so I use mcafee security suite on them all
Avira+Malwarebytes
I agree with a previous poster that you should have allowed multiple selections in each category, the reason being that even though I, and probably/apparently, many others use one main piece of software in each category, we also use one or more on demand for verification since no one anti-virus/malware/spyware works well nor is 100% accurate in all categories of detection (Wow. That was a mouthful. o.O)
Personally, over the past fifteen years, I have used most of those on the lists in addition to many that aren’t listed (such as BlackIce when it actually was worth using). Some I have used longer than others (Norton, ZoneAlarm Pro), but switched as some get better, some get worse, some specialize, some take on everything, some become easy targets for hackers to circumvent (such as ZoneAlarm, Norton/Symantec), and some disappear all together (like a program that was called Invirsable, created by the Israelis if I remember correctly, that was, in it’s day, the best there was, hands-down).
Currently, I am using ESET NOD32 as my main with Kaspersky on-demand, ThreatFire as my sidekick, and Windows Firewall in tandem with a hardware firewall installed in my router/DSLmodem. In addition, I also use AnVir Task Manager, Process Explorer, CPorts, and CCleaner for various other duties as well as some of the FireFox plugins when I am using that browser.
Oops. Forgot to add Sandboxie which I only use when installing a piece of software that I’m not sure about or is a beta product.
Where is Microsoft Security Essentials, the best antivirus? And Why can’t I select 2 sidekicks,IObit Security 360 (which is a lot better than malwarebytes ), and ThreatFire?
Hey Everyone,
I use PC Tools Suite for main program
and my sidekicks are SuperAntiSpyware and
Avir task manager
Use These on both computers,XP Pro SP3
and Vista Ultimate 32Bit.So far so good.