I was bored, so I wrote this up: Internet Security **All ratings are my own view on the product's services. You can have different opinions, everyone does. But don't criticize my opinion** I. Anti Virus Programs II. Anti Spyware/Adware Programs III. Firewall Programs IV. Browser Security V. P2P/BT Security I. Anti Virus Programs All right, since the beginning of viruses, there has always been AntiViruses (AV), and there has always been a fight about which is better. Here I will explain the best, and cheapest ones out there. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Avast Home Edition @ http://www.avast.com/i_kat_207.php?lang=ENG - This Home version is free for comercial use. You just sign up, using a valid e-mail, and you get a free serial in your mail. This serial lasts for 1 year, but you can re-register every year for free! They also do have a Pro version, which you have to pay for. The home version is strong enough to kill any Virus. Updates are done automatically by default, updates occur at least 3 times a week, and the updates take less than 5 seconds on dial-up! When Avast does find a virus on your computer, It will play a sound like a siren, and asks you if you want to rename the file (ex: haha.exe -> 367489.xx), delete it, or quarantine it. When it can't get rid of the virus, do a At-Boot scan, which checks your computer for viruses before Windows starts up. That way, If a virus is running, and cannot be ended, it will kill it before it can even start up. It has saved me well over 25 times, and is a good hard-core AV. My Rating 10/10 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Nod32 @ http://www.nod32.com/download/trial.htm - This AV is a trial (30 day), but very easy to crack or find a serial for. It finds some viruses faster than Avast, I was surprised. I usually use this as my backup AV in case Avast ever goes down, or can't kill a virus. It has a nice interface, very easy to learn. Updates are again automatic, and I usually get updates EVERY DAY!! A very good AV if you can find a working crack or serial for it. I'm not giving you mine, so whiners, back off! My Rating: 9/10 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. AVG @ http://www.grisoft.com/doc/71/lng/us/tpl/tpl01 - Another trial, but again you can easily get a crack/serial. I never used it that much, but good interface, could never update, but that might be my router settings... Anyway, good AV. If anybody wants to add to this, feel free. My Rating: 7.5/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ II. Anti Spyware/Adware Programs Spyware, the RAM killer. It can really hook up your computer. If your computer is slow, and you have all the latest components, Spyware or Adware is your areshole. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Spybot Search & Destroy @ http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Dest...tml?tag=lst-0-1 - 2. Ad-Aware @ http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Person...tml?tag=lst-0-2 3. Spyware Doctor @ http://www.download.com/Spyware-Doctor/300...4-10377263.html All of the above are good. Together, they get the job done. No one Anti-Spyware will get rid of all. All of above are free as well. Party on! All are rated 9/10 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. Firewall Programs 1. Sygate Personal Firewall @ http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm - This one is excellent! And I've tried a few before I settled with this. I tried the following also: ZoneAlarm, Black Ice, Norton Personal Firewall, McAfee Firewall, Watch Dog (McAfee product). But they all were either not secure enough, or too secure that I couldn't get online, or do BitTorrent with it... This one was right I the middle, strong, but not too strong, simple, but powerful! By the way, the free version is just as good as the full version. No differences I could see. My Rating: 10/10 --------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. Browser Security There are so many browsers out there, FireFox, IE, Opera, and Netscape, to name a few. I will go over them and tell what features they bring. 1.Internet Explorer- It just sucks. I'm not sure about version 7.0, but anything below it just puts too much spyware on your computer, and does not block popups unless you have a bar or program that kills thepop-ups. My Rating: -99/10 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.FireFox @ http://www.Mozila.org - Now I can breathe. A similar interface with a friendly look. It's tabbed browsing goes a long way. The Bookmarks Toolbar can be accessed easily right on the window, without going through folder after folder to find a bookmark. Spyware, kiss your butt good-bye, because FireFox blocks about 98% of Pop-ups and Spyware. (I said 98% because some Pop-ups can still get through it, but it blocks a good number of them) Get ready for a safer world! Only problem is the CSS doesn't always show up right on pages, yet it can read XML, which is a large plus over IE. My Rating: 100/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.Opera @ http://www.opera.com/download/ - This is the big daddy of FireFox. It accepts all CSS and CSS2 codes, and is just as safe as FireFox. The only, and I say ONLY downside is the ads on the top when you download the free version, but then again, they can easily be removed with a serial . Tabbed browsing again, and pop-up blocking. I use both, so I have no preference on either, I just simply use FireFox for surfing and Opera for sites that include CSS and graphics. My Rating: 100/10 There are others that might fit your preferences, but you can form your own opinions on those. These are the only three I use or used, so I havent tried much else. I'm happy... --------------------------------------------------------------------- V.P2P/BT Security A couple things you should know about downloading files from the P2P and/or BitTorrent: 1.Be sure to have your Anti Virus(es) going strong and keep them updated. 2.Whenever you download a file, no matter what it is, right click the file in your shared folder, and have your AV check that file for viruses. If a virus is found, delete it, if not, go ahead and open it. 3.For the P2P, if you know a large game should be around 500mb, don't download one that is 5mb, It's probably just a virus. 871.5kb is a popular number for viruses. Never download those files. 4.If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Yet I've found some good things over the years. ((If a mod can Pin this, I think it will be useful to others... and if this belongs in the tutorial section, please move. Credits and +rep would be nice, since I spent hours writing this...))
I use an "Internet Security PAck" that have Antvirus,Firewall,Anti-spy,pop-up blocker and browser security
I hate bundled software. I used Norton Security 2001 for awhile, and it just messed up my slow 1 ghz comp. I like to use different programs that are good at what they do for one purpose.... For example, I do not like HP computers all that much, because HP are excellent at printers, but not so hot with computers.
its a good list, but for spyware i use microsoft anti-spyware beta and it works great, but i might try that new firewall, i use the standard microsoft one and it is just crap
If this is all free, and good, ---- yea, Ill try some of this ---- out. +Rep for you for being so helpful n' caring.
using McAfee Internet Suite great stuff havent got any problems so far unlike Norton which i have used previously. I got MS AntiSpyware as well
Well, I neva used MS's antispyware. its still in beta, so id rather wait for a full ver... Thanks for the rep..
