what's the best free internet security?

antheajane

We used to use microsoft and i.e and were constantly having problems, hacked a few times,always finding trojans ect... and the computer was always slow.
Now run ubuntu on linux and use mozilla, the firewall is free (firestarter) and we had an attempted hack for the first time in 4 yrs just a couple of weeks ago, the computer stopped it and shut itself down , when we restarted it, it gave us the details of the attempted hack (type and ip address)

So would recommend linux over microsoft anyday as find the firewalls much better.

Jemma-T

Jordan_C wrote: »

With the variety of threats out there today I would not recommend ANY free software. All of the free softwares are just dumbed down versions of paid products they want you to upgrade to anyway.

If you only occasionally go on the net to check mail or the odd net search then a free product may well do you the level of protection you need. But if you are spending any significant period of time on the net searching, networking and using the net to it's potential then you should never use a free AV/FW product.

The paid products to avoid are Norton and Mcaffee. I can hack these programs easily and in some cases easier than Avast and AVG. I have lost count of the number of infected PC's I have had to cleanse forensically who used any of those 4 programs.

Windows does help to keep your computer invisible from the net so you are not detected during any sniffing attacks but you need something much more solid on your PC if you are using the net daily.

I would recommend either Kaspersky (although that is now bypassable too) or the rock solid NOD32 product by Eset. Shop around and you'll find either of them for about £25 or if you go directly to the companies themselves expect to pay £40.

To check for nasties on your PC there is some fantastic FREE software that we use in the industry called MALWARE BYTES. Perform a full scan the first time you use it and I bet all you free users out there pick up a number of infections using this software!! It's ok though because on the whole MB will remove almost everything.

But ask yourself, is FREE AV/FW really worth it when you get an infection and lose all your data??? Or even worse someone else piggy backs off your IP and does some dirty deeds that are traceable to YOU!!!

What's my background? ICT Security Specialist, Certified Ethical Hacker.

ICT Security Specialist Wow! :money:

Reading your post I first thought you might know what you're talking about but even though you have edited it you have contradicted yourself massively.

So, you know nothing of any value really. You may hold information on a few things but your advice is completely invalid. Before the Internet you'd probably of collected SAS badges.

People need to be secure and using well known free security is more than enough for most people. They need to be careful about what they download and install. Scan every new file with right click/context on your mouse. You'll find an option in there to scan.

Oh, and get advice from people who know what they're talking about.

Seakay

I think that that is "probably have collected"

Could you point out the contradictions for those of us who are not as clever as you and so are unable to spot who knows what they are talking about and who doesn't?
And perhaps suggest the best well known free option?
Also, if I had McAfee, is it as bad as Jordan C says? Only I was thinking of getting a Dell laptop and they come with that

Jemma-T

Seakay wrote: »

Could you point out the contradictions

You point out my grammar (right or worng) but can't see the contradiction? OK, here's the problem:

Jordan_C wrote: »

With the variety of threats out there today I would not recommend ANY free software.

...moving on to..

Jordan_C wrote: »

To check for nasties on your PC there is some fantastic FREE software that we use in the industry called MALWARE BYTES.

Seakay wrote: »

And perhaps suggest the best well known free option?

As opposed to the lesser known? More than enough for most people www.microsoft.com/security_essentials

Scan you files and PC often = easy life.

Seakay wrote: »

Also, if I had McAfee, is it as bad as Jordan C says?

Yes, he's right about that but my dog nods its head too when I ask it a question. Strange thing I've noticed about my dog too, it can't look up.

Seakay wrote: »

Only I was thinking of getting a Dell laptop and they come with that

Dell have for years put in mouse mats that are utter rubbish and must cost 10p. Never used them so far.

baby_frogmella

Jordan_C wrote: »

I would recommend either Kaspersky (although that is now bypassable too) or the rock solid NOD32 product by Eset. Shop around and you'll find either of them for about £25 or if you go directly to the companies themselves expect to pay £40.

What's my background? ICT Security Specialist, Certified Ethical Hacker.

Well said! NOD32 along with Kaspersky are probably the top AV programs...excellent detection rates without slowing your pc down. I'm using NOD32 (only £14 per year from Virus cure) along with Outpost Pro firewall (lifetime licence @ $40), IMHO the best of each class.

symondhelly

These are BEST INTERNET SECURITY program

1. BitDefender Internet Security
2. ZoneAlarm Internet Security
3. Kaspersky Internet Security
4. Webroot Internet Security
5. BullGuard Internet Security
6. Trend Micro Internet Security Pro
7. McAfee Internet Security
8. AVG Internet Security
9. Norton Internet Security
10. Norman Security Suite
Avast and AVG are free.

GabbaGabbaHey

Jordan_C wrote: »

With the variety of threats out there today I would not recommend ANY free software. All of the free softwares are just dumbed down versions of paid products they want you to upgrade to anyway.

[...]

What's my background? ICT Security Specialist, Certified Ethical Hacker.

Sorry, but you really don't know what you are talking about. If we are trading backgrounds, I have specialised in Information Security for 18 years, am CISSP and CISM certified, and my day job is as Head of Information Security for a large financial organisation.

On my personal laptops, I use Avast! for anti-virus and Comodo for firewall. I have also had good experiences with Microsoft's Security Essentials. All of these are free.

The "paid for" anti-virus products are aimed squarely at the corporate market, where enterprise-wide management (centralised logging, remote clean-up, centralised roll-out of new versions, etc) is important; this is irrelevant for home users. The exception is Norton, whose business model is to work closely with PC World, etc, to scare the non-technical into buying their (rather poor quality) software when getting a new PC and before they realise that there are better (and free) alternatives available out there.

I have never heard of "Malware Bytes". Although I don't cover forensics any more, I used to run an ethical hacking team and I was pretty familiar with all the industry standard tools, and that certainly wasn't one of them.

spud17

I have never heard of "Malware Bytes".

Probably means Malwarebytes , highly regarded especially on the Techie forum, where it is used to clean computers of a wide range of malware/spyware.

bowlesbargain

Dear All
I have read all the post and I am more confused. My Kaspersky Internet Security runs out in a month. I do not know if to buy a 2010 edition which is cheaper than paying for the next years updates, or to go with AVG free edition. I am running Microsoft Vista. In a few of words of possible can anyone help!!
Thanks

spud17

bowlesbargain wrote: »

Dear All
I have read all the post and I am more confused. My Kaspersky Internet Security runs out in a month. I do not know if to buy a 2010 edition which is cheaper than paying for the next years updates, or to go with AVG free edition. I am running Microsoft Vista. In a few of words of possible can anyone help!!
Thanks

Best to do a search on the Techie forum, there are plenty of threads about which is the best security to use.

To keep it simple, if you think buying is best, Kaspersky or Eset.

If like me you are into money saving then Avira, Avast or MSE, all FREE, these days AVG is no longer in the running.