I'm thinking that computer security software falls into three categories, anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall. What software, if any, do you use for those categories and why?

I've always been a believer in the school of thought that says "if you're a smart pc user you don't need security software. Don't open suspect attachments, don't download applications from file sharing sites, don't visit certain websites, don't download suspect programs etc..." and I haven't really had a problem with that...but i run AVG anti-virus just to be safe.

But I'm curious what applications you guys feel the need to use and why. With hardware performance/cost where it is these days, maybe I can afford to devote some system resources to added protection.

12/31/2007 10:44:14 AM

For the past 7 years, all I've ever really run was the Symantec Antivirus that NCSU gave away for free. I'm using the version from 2005 that I grabbed off their site just before I graduated. It runs in the background and I don't even think about it running. I do occasionally check it to make sure it has the a recent set of definitions.

I've played with the Spybot and Adaware programs a few years ago when the spyware/adware crazy was going on. I haven't used it since.

The only other security that I use is my router.

12/31/2007 10:52:13 AM

like was mentioned, i've used Symantec from NCSU which was decent.

For the past 2 years i've ran AVG anti-virus and have had zero problems.

The only other thing I use is the google toolbar popup blocker.




^^I'm in your school of thought. If you are a smart, aware pc user then you shouldn't need a lot of the bogus "security programs"

12/31/2007 12:30:17 PM

I use Avast with a combination of Spybot and AdAware

[Edited on December 31, 2007 at 12:42 PM. Reason : they are all free and do the same job as Trend Micro or Symmantec]

12/31/2007 12:41:43 PM

AntiVirus:
ESET NOD32 (retail, best) - what i use now, fastest, best detection
Kaspersky (retail, better) - i've used before, next fastest next to NOD32, great detection
AVG (free, good) - i install on family/friends, great detection, average speed

Spyware Detection & Removal:
Webroot Software Spy Sweeper (retail, best) - best detection
Spybot Search & Destroy (free, better) has built in prevention and good detection
Ad-Aware SE (free, good) good detection
Windows Defender (free, good) realtime spyware detection

Spyware Prevention:
HOSTS file (free) custom HOSTS file with domain blacklist (google: custom hosts file)
Javacool SpywareBlaster (free) immunization software that will lock down vulnerable areas of your computer preventing malware from changing any of you OS settings, free

Firewall:
Your router (best) first line of defense
Comodo Pro (free) best rated firewall
Windows firewall (please disable)

Software I steer people clear from: McAfee & Trend Micro, I swear EVERY single home PC I've seen with either of these pieces of software installed have had serious stability, compatibility issues, and are nearly impossible to cleanly uninstall without corrupting or removing important system files. *from what I know these problems do not occur in the corporate versions*

Personally I use NOD32 for my antivirus since it's so fast and has the best detection rate, I use my router as my firewall, I only have Spybot S&D & SpywareBlaster installed for immunization purposes (locking down system settings).

I also browse with Firefox with the Adblock Plus plugin, and use Gmail for my email. This alone reduces my chances of getting a virus or spyware like 90%

[Edited on December 31, 2007 at 1:12 PM. Reason : .]

12/31/2007 1:01:08 PM

nothing on my powerbook
nothing on my XP box

12/31/2007 1:22:27 PM

i use nothing


every six months i download kaspersky antivirus illegally and scan my files i am going to back up to my 1tb backup drive.

i then reformat my hard drive and reinstall the operating system and drivers


this keeps things running cleanly

12/31/2007 2:14:02 PM

Prospero pretty much nailed it

12/31/2007 2:22:58 PM

Quote :

"Personally I use NOD32 for my antivirus since it's so fast and has the best detection rate, I use my router as my firewall"

Same ... and good post, agreed that you nailed it.

12/31/2007 3:08:23 PM

i use absolutely nothing on any of my machines

as long as you're not a dumbass about things on the internet and have a decent router that does NAT, you shouldn't need antivirus, antispyware, or firewall software.

1/1/2008 12:37:57 AM

^ You also use a Mac, don't yoiu?

1/1/2008 2:08:14 AM

AVG Pro for antivirus, then run Spybot S&D and Adaware every few months or so

seems to be doing a good job so far

1/1/2008 2:19:36 AM

yes, i use macs

but i also have PCs

which also have no sort of security software on them

i'm also a systems administrator

1/1/2008 3:25:41 AM

symantec corporate, ccleaner (not really security, but there's merit in removing temp data), and I configure group policy and do several reg edits. the rest of my security is physical

1/1/2008 3:31:55 AM

I'm with Prospero on this one. I used to use corporate NAV and it's our standard AV software at work, but I'm using ESET NOD32 now: http://www.eset.com/products/nod32.php

The more recent versions actually do anti-spyware as well as anti-virus. If you haven't tried it, I'd strongly recommend the 30-day trial: http://www.eset.com/download/index.php

I tend to turn off all the automated protection stuff because it degrades performance ever so slightly (but it's still much much more efficient than any other AV software I've used). If I'm paranoid about an app I've downloaded, I'll do an on demand scan and I run a full scan every month or so.

Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware are both decent anti-spyware apps. AVG Anti-Spyware is pretty good too: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-free-anti-spyware/us/frt/0

I depend on routers for firewalls, but if I'm on a public wifi network and feeling paranoid I might install a personal firewall. Comodo ftw: http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html

[Edited on January 1, 2008 at 6:13 AM. Reason : ]

1/1/2008 6:11:24 AM

i do not use anti-virus, anti-spyware or a firewall (just a router with a dmz)... never had a problem

1/1/2008 7:19:54 AM

router firewalls - ftw

1/1/2008 10:23:12 AM

^ just because they take a load off the computer

1/1/2008 3:29:22 PM

yeah i think a hardware firewall (normally provided by the router), is a given.

i'm curious what software people feel the need for on top of their hardware firewalls.

1/1/2008 4:07:14 PM

I'm with Bobby and evan, why waste system resources if you know what you are doing?

I don't visit suspect web sites, I don't download software from untrusted sources, and Gmail scans all my email attachments for me. If I'm ever suspect of a file I download (rarely), I go to one of those sites like Kaspersky or Symantec that allows you to scan individual files and I scan that file only.

1/1/2008 10:09:13 PM

Used to have Symantec Corporate, but it chewed too much "paged pool memory" caused games to crash.

I only got the memory back when I completely uninstalled it.

1/2/2008 12:29:41 AM

wow dude, ALL THOSE RESOURCES!!!!!

you must like to drive without car insurance too because you know what you're doing right?

oh and btw, Spybot S&D and SpywareBlaster are not real-time, they are manual, they lock down the settings and they don't run unless you tell it to scan, whether or not you choose to use a real-time scanner is up to you, but i've never noticed NOD32 running ever, and i have run my computer for some time without AV, i used to think the same thing you did until i tried NOD32 and noticed it was far better than your average AV

i'm careful browser too and i use firefox w/ abp and GAfyD and i am low-risk for getting a virus, but i have too much sensitive data to not give a measly 25MB to a very fast AV

[Edited on January 2, 2008 at 12:37 AM. Reason : .]

1/2/2008 12:33:35 AM

There's definitely a level of savvy where you don't really need a permanently installed and continually running AV solution, but I think a lot of people overestimate their competence.

1/2/2008 2:41:46 PM

it also depends on what kind of hardware you sit behind as well

1/2/2008 4:31:50 PM