The Best Antivirus/Firewall solution?

SourChipmunk · 23 Feb 2006 at 11:35

I use the Windows Firewall on my home PC, and Zonealarm for work. I like them both. Zonealarm is kind of neat because it allows you to see what kind of network attempts are being made, both incoming and outgoing, and on which port.

I don't bother with anti-virus software and have never had a virus or spyware. Simple common sense should keep you clean, as bringans said.

A bit of firewall advise: If one of your applications has difficulties for some reason, check your firewall settings. You may have inadvertently (sp?) blocked access to the network for this app without realising it. Examples are Printers, Instant Messaging, and Flash / Java.

Sp00n · 23 Feb 2006 at 12:02

smoothwall and AVG.

Radiation · 23 Feb 2006 at 13:14

Ipcop + Kerio + AVG + MS ASb + Spybot

Really everyone should now use a hardware router/firewall, make your own if you got an old computer around and use ipcop or smoothwall, i like ipcop best as you can cache websites and files to save bandwidth and speed up browsing etc, also can easily block thousands of ads/bad sites.

Kerio is a good firewall, i think its a bit more advanced than Zonealarm but i've not used ZA for many years now so i could be wrong?

I use AVG and sometimes antivir which seem to both be pretty good virus scanners but im curious what nod32 is, is it short for norton or something?

Spyware its best to use two or more scanners, i use microsofts own and spybot which seems a good combo but it rarely even picks up cookies now so seems a bit pointless if your careful internet user.

turtle3 · 23 Feb 2006 at 15:05

Windows firewall only, Installed Norton systemworks premium last week and what a crock of **** that was, I took it back and got a full refund

SourChipmunk · 23 Feb 2006 at 15:35

turtle3 said:
Windows firewall only, Installed Norton systemworks premium last week and what a crock of **** that was, I took it back and got a full refund

That's the truth. Norton is the biggest resource hog out there, imo. They smell suckers a mile away and bait 'em in with the threat of the viruses they develop.

shifty_uk · 23 Feb 2006 at 15:43

AJUK said:
That sounds like you have a trojan, do an online scan with Pestpatrol or download Ewido (free) as a check. Just conecting to the internet shouldn't make IE do that.

I'll have a look into it when I get home tonight.

When I run a scan with AVG its recently been picking up a virus within a java file. If I remember correctly it was in one of the system files. I'll post it up when I get home tonight. I couldn't remove it with any anti virus software, and could'nt manually remove it. That's only recently though. I've had this problem with Internet Explorer since.....well a longgg time ago. Then I reformatted my PC, and the problem came right back.

Sorry btw, I'm not trying to hijack the thread.

emetic · 23 Feb 2006 at 15:55

I use BitDefender. Its contains a firewall and anti-virus and ive never had a problem with it.

AJUK · 23 Feb 2006 at 15:56

shifty_uk said:
I'll have a look into it when I get home tonight.

When I run a scan with AVG its recently been picking up a virus within a java file. If I remember correctly it was in one of the system files. I'll post it up when I get home tonight. I couldn't remove it with any anti virus software, and could'nt manually remove it. That's only recently though. I've had this problem with Internet Explorer since.....well a longgg time ago. Then I reformatted my PC, and the problem came right back.

Sorry btw, I'm not trying to hijack the thread.

Try Avast (free) instead of AVG as it can do a boot time scan and get rid of a virus that is hiding in any system files.