Which Is the Best Free Anti-Virus Software? Other Security Software?

F5ing · 15 May 2012

The only thing in common between Adobe reader and Adobe flash is the name Adobe. Two totally separate applications. There are alternatives to each. You can have flash without reader, and vice versa.

Golden · 15 May 2012

TomBrooklyn said:

If Adobe Reader is eliminated, can Flash Player be done away with?

Hi Tom,

A sibbil indicated above, both are independant applications, with only the vendor as the common denominator. If you have no requirement for one of them, simply uninstall it as usual - it won't affect the remaining component.

Unfortunately, and I stand to be corrected, there is no alternative to FlashPlayer.....until HTML5 arrives, we are wedded to that.

IS HTML5 READY YET?

Regards,
Golden

pparks1 · 15 May 2012

karlsnooks said:

PSI is a good program to make sure that your programs are up-to-date.

Agreed this is what I use.

As alternatives to Adobe Reader goes, I used to use FoxIT reader, and now use Sumatra. Adobe Reader is bloated and slow. These other apps open almost instantly. I haven't personally used or downloaded Adobe Reader in like 5 years.

elstupido · 15 May 2012

Comodo or MSE
Sandboxie
LUA-SUA
UAC set to max
Window vista or 7 firewall ( if you want a 3rd party FW with hipps- Comdo or On line armor )

pparks1 · 15 May 2012

A good question to ask in these matters is, "Historically, how often do you run into problems with viruses, spyware, malware?". The reason I think this is important is because it helps to figure out how many layers of security you need. For example, I NEVER have problems. My AV never finds anything, and Malwarebytes never finds anything. Therefore, for somebody like me, I don't find that I need 10 layers of protection. Now, somebody else who might use p2p apps, download pirated software, movies, porn, music, etc....may have a far greater need for extra layers of protection.

Corrine · 15 May 2012

gregrocker said:

karlsnooks said:

Here is a link to an article from a Security blog which I recommend reading.
Understanding Microsoft Anti-Malware Software 2012 ~ Security Garden

The article is excellent and sorted the MS choices perfectly for me. It's also by our own Corrine.

karlsnooks said:

corrine does very nice work.
I've got her blog feed in my list of feeds that google reads for me.

Thank you both.

TomBrooklyn said:

I switched over to Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE.) One might imagine it's likely to integrate the best with the operating system (OS), since it's made by the same company.

{SNIP}

Thanks, karl. I'll do that reading; and get that Windows Defender Offline. I see from googling it, that it's something new; and it sounds like a good thing.

Hi, TomBrooklyn.

Since you have switched to Microsoft Security Essentials for your antivirus software, there is no need to download Windows Defender Offline at this time. As indicated in my article that karlsnooks referenced:

A unique feature of Windows Defender Offline is if a rootkit or other advanced malware is detected on your PC by Microsoft Security Essentials, Windows Defender, Forefront Endpoint Protection or System Center Endpoint Protection, you will be prompted to download and run Windows Defender Offline.

Thus, there is no need to download the program at this time unless you merely wish to test it.

F5ing · 16 May 2012

Golden said:

TomBrooklyn said:

If Adobe Reader is eliminated, can Flash Player be done away with?

Hi Tom,

A sibbil indicated above, both are independant applications, with only the vendor as the common denominator. If you have no requirement for one of them, simply uninstall it as usual - it won't affect the remaining component.

Unfortunately, and I stand to be corrected, there is no alternative to FlashPlayer.....until HTML5 arrives, we are wedded to that.

IS HTML5 READY YET?

Regards,
Golden

Thanks Golden, I really should have mentioned that about Flash.

Love that link... When did they start? 2002 or something like that?

gregrocker · 16 May 2012

Be sure to keep your FlashPlayer updated. It seems to be the one thing most users tend to ignore, and it's directly related to security.

F5ing · 16 May 2012

gregrocker said:

Be sure to keep your FlashPlayer updated. It seems to be the one thing most users tend to ignore, and it's directly related to security.

Flash now has the option to update automatically. I haven't tried it. I don't know if automatic updating will also download the crud that tries to tag along with it when you do it manually. I hopefully doubt it, but you never know. You've got to uncheck the option to download the so-called "extra" (I think it's Google Toolbar) when updating. I'd rather keep up with it myself.

Golden · 16 May 2012

sibbil said:

Flash now has the option to update automatically. I haven't tried it. I don't know if automatic updating will also download the crud that tries to tag along with it when you do it manually. I hopefully doubt it, but you never know. You've got to uncheck the option to download the so-called "extra" (I think it's Google Toolbar) when updating. I'd rather keep up with it myself.

Sibill,

I toook the same approach - manual update when prompted and check carefully what other crud is attached - but lately I reverted to automatic updates and so far haven't seen anything creep in. Hopefuly it doesn't change.

Regards,
Golden