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The best Virus Scanner/Firewall

D

dbaldus

Gawd
Joined
Jul 12, 2005
Messages
563
I'm looking for the absolute best Virus Scanner and the best firewall, or a combination of the two. What would be the best overall, including one that you have to pay for? How about the best free one?

I've had Norton most of the time, but that doesn't seem to be working so well and I've heard that it is a huge system hog. Any information regarding this would be great, as I'm tired of re-formatting my computer every few weeks!
 
The only 2x antivirus programs I'll spend money on...
Esets NOD32
or
Kapersky

As for firewall, I'll take the NAT found in a router over software...but if you want an additional software firewall, Kapersky has a recent version out of their Personal Security Suite, their antivirus combined with a software firewall and other features. NOD32 is releasing one of those combo apps also very shortly...
 
Check out Zonealarm if you're looking for a software firewall. There's a free version that's just the basic firewall, and a bunch of other verions with extra features, not features worth paying for though, imo.
 
I'll second the NOD32 recommendation. I've been a long time user of Norton, but recently I thought I'd try something different. After using the 30 day trial of NOD32, I decided to buy a license and kick Norton to the curb.
 
I use the free version of AVG for viruses, and my router as a firewall. I know I should install a software one, but I'm too lazy.
 
7th Angel said:
I'll second the NOD32 recommendation. I've been a long time user of Norton, but recently I thought I'd try something different. After using the 30 day trial of NOD32, I decided to buy a license and kick Norton to the curb.
Click to expand...
I did the exact same thing last week.
 
I've used AVG free and Nod32. I didn't think it would be so, but Nod32 appears to be a better program. It is less annoying because you can stop it from popping up anything at all. It also found some things that avg didn't, which surprised me. Both are definitely good, but If I had to choose Nod32 would be my choice.
 
How is Nod32 as far as using system resources? I've heard that Norton is a huge system hog and would like to get away from something like that.
 
As far as stuff I'd pay for, I'd use a hardware firewall solution (cisco pix is about as good as it gets, or just a simple linux box) and for the virus scanner, Sophos. I've tested it against almost every other virus scanner and it has the best detection engine, hands down. My cousin works for the state of CA and Sophos is what he uses in all the colleges and state offices for virus and spam filtering.
 
For viruses, I use Avast!, a free program for personal use by Alwil Software.
 
GoldenTiger said:
For viruses, I use Avast!, a free program for personal use by Alwil Software.
Click to expand...

If you are going for a free virus scanner I'd definitely take AVAST over AVG. Look at both stats over at virus bulletin and you'll see AVG has a pretty crappy track record when it comes to detecting out-in-the-wild viruses. While NOD32 is the best of them all...
 
Adding to my vote above of NOD32 or Kapersky...for my freebies...

,,,I've noticed a decline in the performance of AVG since it went from version 6 to version 7. I've simply seen it miss too much as I work on customers computers.

I feel Avast is a little better than AVG in detection rates...but my gosh..does it bog down computers. I've installed it dozens and dozens of times, on various horsepower rigs, and just..ugh, slow.

For free antivirus, although I didn't like them years ago, I'm back using CA's antivirus, eTrust...that's the free AV product I install on those jobs where a free one is desired. Middle of the road as far as detection rates go...it's pretty good, but it's also quite lightweight.

For free firewalls...

The better one, Sygate, has been bought up by Symantec, no more support, no more updates, so it's gone.

Tiny was also bought up this past summer, by CA. The future of it is unknown, but I'll imagine it'll follow what happened to Sygate and disappear with no more support of updates.

Kerio and Outpost...both also good ones, but discontinued their support and updates for their "free" versions.

I won't touch Zonealarm with a 10 foot pole, can't stand it, I see it screw up sooo many computers they need a format to get right again.

Someone here a few months ago or so posted about a software firwall called "Ghostwall". I've been using it on one of my laptops for a while now. Wow...so lightweight. It's not "wizard" driven like many amateur users are used to, it doesn't hold your hand, but it's quiet, runs in the background with hardly any resources, and it does it's job.
 
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