What would you recommend as a good firewall and/or antivirus software? for Questionland Seattle

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What would you recommend as a good firewall and/or antivirus software?

I'm currently using Webroot Desktop Firewall (WDF) and Webroot Spy Sweeper (you know, the ones they sell in Best Buy), and my yearly subscription is just about up.

I don't really have any issues with Spy Sweeper, but I'm completely sick of WDF. It immediately crashes once all my programs have booted up, and typically crashes when I launch a game or just whenever it seems to feel like it. Support on this issue from Webroot has been nonexistent.

Is there an all-in-one program that I should get instead? Are there free ones out there that would work just as well? I can of course look at review sites, but it's hard to tell which sites to trust (like Consumer Reports, which is lacking a review like this), and which are just cleverly presented shill sites.

Knat asked in Science & Technology over 2 years ago | Report

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asteria

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I usually go to download.cnet.com for software reviews - for the big-name programs they will have CNET editor's ratings, but they also have user reviews for almost anything. You'll find reviews for all things anti-virus under security software. I also have found MajorGeeks.com useful for learning more about how to make your computer run better with windows; they have a malware-removal guide that is useful.

I second Clementine's recommendations for both Avast! and Ccleaner, and Fnarf's recommendation for Malwarebytes. You can find reviews and links to download all of these programs through download.cnet.com . I have all of these on my computer, and I think you'll be ok with running Avast! and Windows Firewall for your real-time protection, and use Malwarebytes to scan your system and remove anything you find. Ccleaner is more of a performance-enhancer than a malware remover, but it's highly recommended by pretty much everyone. I've never had a problem with it deleting things it shouldn't, but there is an option to do a registry back-up if you use Ccleaner.

You should download these three programs, and make sure you uninstall your existing software first before actually installing the new anti-virus programs. For example:

1. Download and install Ccleaner. Download (but don't open or install yet) Avast! and Malwarebytes.

2. Uninstall your current Webroot software using Add & Remove Programs, or try Revo Uninstaller (another free download that works better than the standard windows uninstaller).

3. Check your security settings and make sure Windows Firewall is running.

4. Run the Ccleaner "cleaner" - if you want to save your cookies and internet browsing history uncheck the boxes, but you should always clean out your cache and temp folders. Also run the registry cleaner - it will find little bits of uninstalled software to remove. The first time you run these two there will probably be lots of stuff.

5. Install and run Malwarebytes. It will take awhile to do a good scan of your computer. Malwarebytes was the only free program that helped me clean up my neighbor's infected computer.

6. Install Avast! - I think it also does a good scan first but you shouldn't find anything.

The only problem I've had with Avast! is that it sometimes gives false positives, and doesn't seem to actually remove suspicious files.

asteria answered in Science & Technology over 2 years ago | Report

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Traditional antivirus software is increasingly a waste of time, as viruses per se have mostly disappeared. It's all about spyware nowadays, recruiting your machine as part of one of the botnets.

You should run both Spybot Search and Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/) and Malwarebytes Antimalware (http://www.malwarebytes.org/) on a fairly regular basis. Make sure you update them. The "Teatimer" app and Immunization features of S&D are good, but make sure you apply them after your system is clean.

The single most important thing you can do is install all of your Microsoft Updates. You should check daily.

Fnarf answered in Science & Technology over 2 years ago | Report

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My windows box at home runs microsoft security essentials. It's free and low-profile antivirus software that you should try out.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/default.aspx

Avast! and AVG are okay too but require a bit more attention. McAfee and Norton are a pain in the ass to remove-- they dig themselves in just like malware.

Vanessa N answered in Science & Technology over 2 years ago | Report

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Avast! Antivirus is free. There is another program called adaware. This is for detecting spyware or malicious processes on your computer. Also go to a website called filehippo.com and download Ccleaner which you should install and then run once a week or so. You don't have to but I would use all three programs together. Your computer should then be protected. That's what I do anyway and so far so good. Also there is of coarse McAfee which cost money for a subscription but is might be worth it to you. It's a well known highly credible and effective security program as far as firewall and overall protection for your computer. That's all the suggestions have.

Clementine answered in Science & Technology over 2 years ago | Report

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Microsoft has free protection. Only for us PC folks.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Zplane answered in Science & Technology over 2 years ago | Report

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Windows Secrets is an old, respected organization and their reviews of security products have made sense to me.
http://windowssecrets.com/

Former User answered in Science & Technology over 2 years ago | Report

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I use & quite like AVG, since it doesn't seem to take over all operations of your computer like Norton & McAfee. The free edition is anti-virus and anti-spyware.

http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage

nseattlite answered in Science & Technology over 2 years ago | Report

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Yeah, microsoft security essentials is a good antivirus, but make sure you download the right version. Last month, my sister buy a new 32 bit laptop, and i download the 64 bit microsoft security essentials for her, when i run the software, the pc occurs blue screen. Of course, avast is also a good free one.

Luna01 answered in Science & Technology over 2 years ago | Report

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