Anti-virus and firewalls!

AvengerUK · Sep 12, 2006, 12:22:03

Hey all,

Basically, i currently have MacAfee interent security suite 8.0. But, i only use the firewall...as i find the virus checker especially annoying and resource hungry.

Now theres a new internet security suite out, should i stick with my current firewall? i mean, is it neseccary to upgrade?

(and does anyone know any alternatives for virus / spyware checker, thats resource freindly!)

Posted it here as the replys will serve as "tips" i guess!

Bill · Sep 12, 2006, 13:09:47

I recently switched fromNorton and SafetyNet to NOD32 and Black Ice as a firewall... neither are cheap, but then you get what you pay for, and I'm very pleased with them both so far. You'd hardly know they're there, and the whole machine is more responsive and a lot more stable than it was before!

equk · Sep 12, 2006, 14:39:47

In windows I'm using f-secure as they seemed to be ahead on rootkit protection and also have spyware protection built in. (for f-secure internet security it's only like £12 aswell)

Their earlier spyware protection was a re-badged ad-aware (should be good), but now it all seems integrated. Probably still using ad-aware I'd guess

I have a small article on windows security on my website.

For a firewall, altho I have a iptables firewall on my network, I use keerio/tiny which is pretty good.

Also for added rootkit protection I have a program which monitors every application. Allows write protect on apps memory and also disables the ability for apps to install drivers/services without my permission. (unable to say too much)

I don't really use windows that much but I have written a few whitepapers on windows security for a certain security organisation and attended/completed wargames

(unable to say too much)

Scott · Sep 12, 2006, 14:45:00

AvUK For me it's a combination of:

Windows Firewall
3Com 3CRWDR100A-72 Wireless Router
Windows Defender (LoL - ok ok !)
AVG
Ad-Aware

Up until I moved a few months ago I had an old work PC running IPCop. It was very well supported, there's a wealth of info available and helpful fora and any number of people building add-on's into it. For me it was bullet-proof for over 2 years running a Mail, Web and FTP server behind it without incident.

HTH
S

mrapoc · Sep 12, 2006, 18:29:15

for me -
bitdefender 9 professional plus

hitman pro (adaware, spybot search and destroy, ewido, trend micro trojan shredder)

and ccleaner to clean all that cr*p out! (temporary files and others that may lead to spyware)

AvengerUK · Sep 16, 2006, 19:43:52

I think i might try black ICE - macafee annoyed me again today..by refusing to update and in the process dumping alot of Active X s*** on my system lol

equk · Sep 16, 2006, 19:58:32

Quote from: AvengerUK on Sep 16, 2006, 19:43:52
I think i might try black ICE - macafee annoyed me again today..by refusing to update and in the process dumping alot of Active X s*** on my system lol

I would maybe think twice about blackice.

Looking at reports it doesn't seem so good. I remember hackers suggesting it to people years ago as it was easy to penetrate aswell.

http://www.matousec.com/info/advisories/BlackICE-Insufficient-validation-of-arguments-of-NtOpenSection.php

http://sk.zone-h.org/content/view/227/8/

both posted this month

AvengerUK · Sep 16, 2006, 20:05:16

:O

- So, what should i try?

btw - unistalling macafee wont cause any "issues" right? - i mean, how do i get rid of all the Active X stuff its put on etc etc

Im prepaired to spend my hard-earned cash on a "good" one

another edit: ive had pervious start up issues with ZA - but i might re-try the pro version - whatca think?

equk · Sep 16, 2006, 20:21:13

There are loads of links to antivirus and firewalls on my website security page I posted earlier.

QuoteFree Stuff:
Antivirus -
avast! Home Edition
AVG free version 7.0
AntiVir Personal Edition
F-Secure Provide Antivirus, Antispyware and Rootkit protection all in one package

Firewall -
Zone Alarm - have only had trouble in the past, noobs/lazy people recommend it tho
Kerio Personal Firewall - very good, has option for advanced user aswell as an easy option
Outpost Firewall - has problems when used with certain antivirus
Sygate Personal Firewall - development & support has now finished for this app
Tiny Firewall - similar to kerio, some good features

Outpost firewall gave me problems when running with f-secure, so I'm using keerio.

AvengerUK · Sep 16, 2006, 20:24:28

ok, well i dont use F-Secure - so ill try Outpost i think or Kerio, atm im looking for reviews using windows firewall...eek

EDIT: Reviews of outpost arnt good...kerio seems better. Is there a paid verson or is it just free? if free, is it any good?! Also how much erm resources does it take up? ty

Gilba · Sep 16, 2006, 21:26:04

All I am using is router, Windows Firewall, Avast AV and Lavasoft Ad-Ware. Don't thinkI've had any problems with viruses or spyware.

I did have NIS 2006 but it used up a lot of resources so I uninstalled it.

Here is another firewall that looks pretty good is Comodo and its free.

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/index.html?errorCode=0&orderNumber=1088711

AvengerUK · Sep 16, 2006, 21:26:53

been looking into kerio - gonna try that i think, seems to be the best budjet option!

Gilba · Sep 16, 2006, 21:29:21

I did use the free version of Kerio on my sisters laptop. It's pretty hard to configure and started to block some web videos on sites like Gamespot and BBC.

AvengerUK · Sep 16, 2006, 22:09:38

Now got kerio - little resource use, and seems to be working as expected!

Few q's for you tho:

Occasionaly it shows about 0.02kb/s when im apparently doing nothing - normal?
Plus i cant use smilys?!?! lol!

Gilba · Sep 16, 2006, 22:16:50

It could be that it is ocassionally monitor and checking the networkfor threats.

On the Smilie front I'm not sure tbh. Couldn't get it to work properly whatever I tried.

Maybe you need to enable Javascript in the settings.

AvengerUK · Sep 16, 2006, 23:47:53

Must appolgise for asking all these q's - but having trouble getting to know this firewall:

basically, how do i allow a game such as "Halo" access? it appears in "overview" but there seems nothing to set there, however in Network security, if i set "In" to allow on All apps it works...but i dont want all apps? i just want the game!!

Gilba · Sep 17, 2006, 00:20:41

Sorry I not to sure how to do it. I never got the thing to work for me. Isn't there a tab to let you use just one app not all.

I might install it and try to figure it out.

AvengerUK · Sep 17, 2006, 00:41:51

I think its something like the below, not sure if its the correct way or not, or if you have to do something else etc etc etc:
http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/7329/untitledfk6.jpg

...wish steam would hurry up *tired* lol

equk · Sep 17, 2006, 13:50:51

It's probably something in the webfiltering settings.
Keerio seems pretty good, you can have it on easy or advanced mode which I found good as lots of my clients have no clue

so just leave them on the easy setting.
But for more control, you can put it on advanced

(I like it on advanced myself).

I turned off the webfiltering on keerio tho as it was putting stuff into website headers etc and it's not needed if you setup your browser to do the filtering.

jaydub · Sep 17, 2006, 14:22:25

Just moved over from Sunbelt Kerio to Comodo and after a week it continues to impress me.

In Kerio, I found I sometimes had to set up firewall rules for basic things. Comodo is very secure and configurable, but with an easier interface than Kerio.

equk · Sep 17, 2006, 14:38:37

Quote from: jaydub on Sep 17, 2006, 14:22:25
Just moved over from Sunbelt Kerio to Comodo and after a week it continues to impress me.

In Kerio, I found I sometimes had to set up firewall rules for basic things. Comodo is very secure and configurable, but with an easier interface than Kerio.

cool it looks 'pretty'

looks a bit memory intensive tho, but there do seem to be some good reviews about it.

Some of the features seem to be very good for people who don't know that much or who don't want as much control over their system, so seems great for the average user

.

Quote* Recognizes over 10,000 applications!
* Doesn't need configuring!
* Cannot be shut down by Trojans or viruses!
* Recognized by Windows XP SP2

For me it is something which seems to let it down as, like norton it will probably let anything thru if it uses microsoft components. So trojans using rundll etc will still pass through it

.

AvengerUK · Sep 17, 2006, 17:26:32

Ive really got to stop asking quesitons...buut:

One last one

- When im downloading something in either IE or firefox, loading other webpages takes ages - even if the download isnt using the whole connection, or even half of it. Its something to do with KPF that i cant work out....any clues?!

AvengerUK · Sep 17, 2006, 18:31:36

Ok....

Just figured out that its also causing a decrease in my download speed - as if its capping it. With the firewall on i get 115kb/s, with it off, 176kb/s!!!!!

EDIT: hmmm, so why does web filitering cause tht ^^ lol, not that i care...web filitering is a pain of course!

AvengerUK · Sep 20, 2006, 18:43:12

Tried Avast today - and its rubbish! doesent work properly, have to start it twice to get the main interface to show, and then where the icons in the tray are the "Start avast" thing is stuck mid-screen all the time!

Any other free ones that i can try?!

equk · Sep 20, 2006, 19:16:48

Another free one is AVG

I think I know some people who have used this.

Also AntiVir - don't know anything about this one tho $:-\$

Scott · Sep 20, 2006, 22:14:14

Quote from: equk on Sep 20, 2006, 19:16:48
Another free one is AVG
I think I know some people who have used this.

You do indeed mate...ME ! Have been a happy, infection-free user of the freely available version for well over 3 years now. Just gets on with it's job, no fuss.