Need a free security setup. Any recommendations?

Mr_Yoda

Hi everyone.

I'm looking for a free security setup for a work colleague (firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware). She's currently using McAfee althoug the subscription ran out about 4 months ago (silly girl) and she's asked if I can help.

I've got some ideas about what she should install but I wondered what fellow forum members think. She's not particularly clued up on computers so it can't be anything too technical.

Here is what I was thinking;
Firewall - Comodo (although it could be too complicated for her), Sunbelt Personal Firewall Free Version or Online Armor Free (possibly the one i'm thinking of telling her to use)

Anti-Virus - Avira AntVir Personal or AVG

Anti-Spyware - (not really sure what provides real-time protection) SuperAntiSpyware because I don't know any others. I will be telling her to download MalwareBytes as an on-demand scanner.

What do people think is the best? Any help greatly appreciated.

Marty_J

I'd go with Avira AntiVir, Comodo, Ad-Aware, and SpyBot.

Mr_Yoda

Is Comodo not quite complicated to get used to? Also, I know Ad-Aware used to be considered one of the best anti-spyware apps, is this still the case or has it fallen behind other applications?

I thought this would be quite simple but it's actually giving me a headache. If she was prepared to pay for something then I would have sorted this by now.

Poppycat

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware dont forget that its free

nickj_2

beware of comodo - if it causes a conflict with your pc it's very hard to get rid of , the uninstallation programme leaves alot of stuff behind

jjscotman

I currently have Sunbelt Kerio, Avira Anti Vir, Ad-Aware, Spybot, Spyware Blaster and Windows Defender.

I used to use Comodo but the latest version made it far too complicated.

All are free and work perfectly well with no problems (touch wood !!).

Sunbelt Kerio starts as full version for 30 days but switches to free limited version afterwards. But even the free version gets good reviews.

Hope this helps.

aliEnRIK

nickj wrote: »

beware of comodo - if it causes a conflict with your pc it's very hard to get rid of , the uninstallation programme leaves alot of stuff behind

erm

it doesnt! Do you not mean Zonealarm??

aliEnRIK

Mr_Yoda wrote: »

Is Comodo not quite complicated to get used to? Also, I know Ad-Aware used to be considered one of the best anti-spyware apps, is this still the case or has it fallen behind other applications?

I thought this would be quite simple but it's actually giving me a headache. If she was prepared to pay for something then I would have sorted this by now.

If you just use the FIREWALL section, its pretty simple. Defense isnt needed, and is a little more complicated but it makes your computer a LOT safer by using it (though it can be switched off).

[Deleted User]

If you ask me the OP had it pretty much spot on:

Firewall - Comodo - too complicated for the average user, ZoneAlarm is fine.

Anti-Virus - I'd go for Avira AntVir Personal (there is a pop up you'd need to just close when it updates however). AVG verion 8 slows down my laptop way too much. All the versions up to 8 were fine.

Anti-Spyware - SuperAntiSpyware is what I'd go for.

No need for anything else. I can highly recommed http://www.wilderssecurity.com in particular the polls i.e. best free AV etc. Link to Polls section:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=46

nickj_2

aliEnRIK wrote: »

erm

it doesnt! Do you not mean Zonealarm??

erm ....... no , i mean comodo
after a product update it caused serious conflicts
with pc, to remove i had to delve right into the registry
to remove no end of stuff that was still causing problems
there is plenty of info on the comodo forums about this

Mr_Yoda

Thanks guys and gals for the help. Think I might have decided what to use.

Firewall - Online Armor (free version), it scores pretty well on http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php.

Anti-Virus - Avira AntiVir Personal Free

Anti-Spyware - Spyware Terminator

As well as MalwareBytes and Spybot S&D as on-demand scanners.

Does this sound ok?