Comments on: Prevention, detection, and cure: 12 programs that will provide the best all-around security for you and your computer – for free

By: David

David — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:50:14 +0000

Avira’s nag screen on update can be suppressed (Search ‘suppress avira advert’ quickly finds the way). Alternatively it’s easy to write an AHK script, easier in that reinstalling Avira does not require the procedure to suppress the nag to be redone.

Online Armor: Like Ashraf, I have sometimes found Online Armor seemingly inexplicably in conflict with other programs, and its multiple prompts during installation or uninstallation can be annoying.

By: Seth

Seth — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 06:05:34 +0000

A lot of what is best for anti-malware is now built-in, except DEP is OptIn by default where it should be OptOut (this change should really be recommended in the article). The best practice is to download wisely. I’ve stopped using real-time traditional antivirus. DEP, UAC, Windows Firewall, System Restore, Windows Update, and browser checking (like SmartScreen or Google Chrome’s domain checking + sandboxing), constitute reasonable protection. Antimalware beyond that can either slow things down or make conflicts (with behavior blocking or false positives), but that’s just my opinion. Malwarebytes is a nice on-demand check. I just don’t think that 3rd-party security software add-ons are generally worth it with all the improvements in Windows 7, but that’s me.

By: Precyyse52

Precyyse52 — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 01:52:39 +0000

Ashraf,,,, I met you today via someone posting your link on GOTD offering a software that you wrote an advice on (Icare Data Recovery) in March.
I normally do not write any comments etc. however, I do read alot to feel the feedback of others and what technology has to offer etc.. I then checked out dotTech.org and must say that I am impressed and at the same time thankful for the few such as you. I have now made dotTech.org my home page.
Your statement was so on the money “beware of who you open your door to and let in” I have learned this the hard way ! I don’t download from GOTD but I do check out to see what software is out there,,,,,
Gratefully,
Elizabeth :)

By: dbnnet

dbnnet — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:02:53 +0000

Outpost free firewall will indeed no longer install on Windows 7 – Suggest you remove this product from any reccomended list as it will only cause confusion and disappointment.

By: buyerbeware

buyerbeware — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:28:59 +0000

I tried to download Threatfire using the above link and found that the free version link seemed to be deactivated. Any alternate link?

By: RonCam

RonCam — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:58:01 +0000

Ashraf wrote:

The one thing I like about GeSWall is that it does not slow down your browser if your run it “isolated” as opposed to minor lag if I run a browser “sandboxed” with Sandboxie.

Check your sandboxie.ini configuration settings.

I was having performance issues (some sites wouldn’t scroll smoothly, and so forth) with Lunascape, and then noticed I had only made exceptions for variables stored in its %AppData% folders. When I added the subdirectories in the below the main Lunascape program folder to OpenFilePath, the problem went away.

When all is optimally configured, there should be no noticeable performance ‘hit’. Was this a browser with built-in settings, or did you have to figure it out, by yourself, I wonder?

We miss you, on Giveaway of the Day! Hope you are well.

Vijay wrote:@Ashraf …

CAN you suggest a security combination that is neither CPU nor memory intensive

I would use this same utility as mentioned above, on older software.

By: Azure Sky

Azure Sky — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 01:45:25 +0000

@greg:and very little decent commercial quality software either.....

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:53:28 +0000

@chinaguy: Same deal here. What's up with that? -Ken

By: greg

greg — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:06:02 +0000

Alternative ..linux :) no virus

By: chinaguy

chinaguy — Tue, 25 May 2010 07:24:28 +0000

It seems like now the Outpost free firewall will not even install on Windows 7. When I tried it said that Windows 7 is not supported by the free version and the setup dialog box never even opens.

By: Vijay

Vijay — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:38:59 +0000

@Ashraf This is a great article, BUT many of us do not have the latest and greatest hardware and this multi tiered approach will older systems to a halt.
CAN you suggest a security combination that is neither CPU nor memory intensive?

By: Sriram

Sriram — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:01:06 +0000

Thanks for the wonderful article,Ashraf!!
And doesnt Avast! give many false positives??

By: gpc111

gpc111 — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:05:15 +0000

Thank you for the great article. My Norton 360 subscription will expire in a few months. Since I live outside of the US, it’s hard for me to renew it. I will replace it with some of the programs you listed. I have paid versions of Malwarebyte and Winpatrol. I guess I will need an antivirus and a firewall. There are a lot to choose from your list. Take care and thanks again for your efforts.

By: Ashraf

Ashraf — Tue, 11 May 2010 04:38:17 +0000

@Sputnik: Um... yeah I could see a viable case for that argument.