help needed to protect a new computer.

red-boxer

Hope you can help me please, my daughter has a new computer running on Vista, and i was wondering which free anti virus, spyware applications are compatible with Vista.

The ones i am thinking about are:
AVG AntiVirus (free edition) or
Avast Antivirus (fre edition)
Spywareblaster
Spybot search and destroy
Adaware

Is the Vista firewall a good one, or do i need a different.

Any other ideas would be welcome.

I am sorry for not knowing what is compatible with Vista, its just my own computer is windows xp.

I have to go to work now but will check back later.

BillScarab

Anti-Virus - AVG, Avast or AntiVir - I use AntiVir
spyware - Microsoft Defender (comes with Vista), Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware - I use all of these.
Firewall - Inbuilt Vista one is OK or Zone Alarm - I use Zone Alarm

foreversomeday

I use AVG Antivirus free for antivirus, AVG anti spyware for spyware and the inbuilt firewall. AFAIK all compatible with Vista, partner is a techie for a living and he assures me that is so!

I find it easier to use AVG for both as it's all the same company then. The only problem is that the free edition of AVG antispyware doesn't update automatically after 30 days, but it's not too much hassle to do it manually every so often.

Conor_3

NOD32 for antivirus. It constantly gets 100% in VBulletin tests as opposed to the pitiful 52% AVG does.

Donnie

When will they learn?

mostly

even tho I fear I'll be flamed for daring to suggest you should spend some money protecting a sizable investment. I'd also say NOD32. It is the best solution & for the sake of 20 quid a year its a no brainer.
But theres plenty of people on these forums who will now post advising you to go down the freeware route.

unsure

Thirded! I've been running Nod32 for three years on three machines , never a problem in that time, cheaper than bigger names and worth every penny.

BillScarab

Nod32 is excellent, in my opinion it's the best of the paid for solutions. However I've never had an issue using freeware. The best way of protecting against viruses is is not software, it is using your head and not installing dodgy software, opening dubious emails etc.

red-boxer

Thanks for all the suggestions, when i finally got to look at the laptop last night i was completely shocked to find that Windows Defender and the inbuilt firewall were both turned of. I rectifyed that and then installed AVG antivirus and antispyware free editions, scans later revealed that the computer was clean which astounded me as she has been using the internet, only about a dozen tracking cookies found.

Nod32? I have heard a lot about this product, if i purchased this would i be able to use it on 3 computers or is it 1 purchase per computer? Also is it quite easy to use, i used to have Norton which i found easy to use, but now have Avast which i am not really sure how to work it to its full potential (i manage to scan ok but it says it can't scan files.) Husband has AVG paid for which he is very happy with.

Sput2001

How are you connecting to the internet? Via a router?

If so, make sure that the router's firewall (assuming it has one) is on.

ollyk

I also use Winpatrol which I highly recomend, AVG Anti-routekit, Super Anti-spyware and there are one or two other programs that I am trying Comodo BOClean, Spyware Terminator (not sure I like this one though)
I prefer Avast to AVG I am not going to argue with the Nod32 crowd though I have not yet* had any problems and at the end of the day as mentioned above there is no substitute for common sense surfing

* finds nearest piece of wood