what's the best free internet security?

Browntoa

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bowlesbargain

Thank you to those who have given me some direction. I think I am going to give Avira a try, appears better than AVG. Do I remove my Kiperski first then hit the download button on the Avira site or when I hit the download button will it advise me when to delete my old program.

Is MSE any good if I have a friends copy of Microsoft office on my machine will it detect that and get me into trouble if I try to use MSE!!

spud17

Download Avira, and save it, disconnect from the internet.

Un-install Kaspersky, install Avira.

Avira has a pop-up, nagging you to buy the product, which appears when it updates, its only drawback.

The pop-up is easily disabled by following the appropriate instructions HERE.

Is MSE any good if I have a friends copy of Microsoft office on my machine will it detect that and get me into trouble if I try to use MSE!!

No.

Snooze

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.

Er, wakey wakey everyone.....

Jordan C
MoneySaving Newbie

Join Date: Feb 2010
Post Count: 4

coupled with the above highlight quite clearly = :spam:

Only someone who doesn't know what they are talking about and/or has a vested interest in flogging paid software would make a post like s/he has done.

bowlesbargain

Thanks to All. Thanks Spud17. I loaded MSE last night found it very easy and it appears to be working fine. Appears a good system. Only time will tell.

Easymoney

All sorted, I downloaded MS to file and waited until Norton ran out.

On the day it expires, you can easily delete all Norton protection no admin authorisation required.

MS can be installed from file straight after, icon appears on desktop and scans for viruses.

Seems to work fine.

Aiadi

And don't forget the icing on the cake always:

http://sandboxie.com/

to keep you well and truly protected.

Jordan_C_2

Free AV's are dodgy ground I was referring to, free malware software is completely different. Malwarebytes is neither an AV or a firewall, it is, as mentioned, highly regarded software for cleaning up little nasties that even the best AV's can miss.

Bowlesbargain, Kaspersky is more than enough these days. I would not fear about upgrading Kaspersky to the latest edition.

Phillip, Malwarebytes has been a standard removal tool for a few years now. And yes paid for AV's are mostly aimed at the corporate markets... Sophos, Eset, Symantec (Norton corporate) and so on. My point is that I have had to repair many an infected PC because the user thought they were safe with a free bit of software such as AVG. When it comes to piece of mind for a heavy internet user I would much rather go with/recommend one of those 2squarely aimed at corporate markets" products than something that only gives piece of mind but not a high level of protection. For basic browsing most free products are fine. So if you only surf a bit and don't use the internet intensively you'll be ok. But as I said in my OP I would never recommend a free product.

As for MS security essentials, yes MS have tried to make things safer and easier but because it is MS it is subject to more attempts to hack it than other software that is free.

You can slate all you like, but if you do your research you'll see I am not actually talking a load of pony and if this is the thanks you get for pointing out some common sense stuff then perhaps I should collect SAS badges :P

JasX

Jordan_C wrote: »

Free AV's are dodgy ground I was referring to,

ummm, so how come free AVs tend to do alot better than alot of the 'market leading' bloated paid for AVs when subject to independant testing.....

For example: www.av-comparitives.org

I definitely smell a rat.

You'll not have much success peddling your junk paid for AVs around here Mr :spam:er

PJB

baby_frogmella wrote: »

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.

Anyone got link or address for Virus Cure please?

Thanks