must have for security and maintence

marvi0 · 27 Nov 2009

hie guys, i have already used the search function, but i dont appear, to be getting the results i need, can someone, please point m to the must have security options, for windows 7, i already have avast installed the free edition, have used it since my xp, and i kinda trust it but willing to listen, to better options, and apart, from antivirus, what else, can i install, or what else, is already, on the machine, by microsoft, that i can use, please bear with me, as this is my first post, if offered, direction, i can find my way, thanks

Jonathan_King · 27 Nov 2009

I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials. It runs very smoothly on Windows machines and uses very little resources. Many of the others on this forum would agree with me. Basically, that's all you need.

harpua · 28 Nov 2009

I like the combination of ESET AV (not free) plus Comodo Internet Security (just for the firewall) which is free. Then I keep the free version of MalwareBytes around as an on demand scanner/remover just in case something gets through and needs to be removed (hasn't happened yet), but I've used MalwareBytes to remove malware from other people's machines with great success.

SIW2 · 28 Nov 2009

Avast free Home Edition is excellent.

Updates every 4 hours ( instead of every 24 for MSE), plus you can't miss an update - range of modules , and lower resource usage than MSE.

Most of the Team ( maybe all) use it.

Thoroughly recommended.

Malwarebytes ( already mentioned) is an extra that you can use for on demand scans, for free.

Windows Firewall is very good - not very convenient to configure outbound - I use Windows Firewall control - a tiny free app. to do that part of it:

Windows 7 Firewall Control : Sphinx Software

mitchell64 · 28 Nov 2009

I have used Avast for a longtime now and am very happy & comfortable with it, It is just my personal preference there are many good AV out there

But an Essential for me is Malwarebytes free stand alone scanner it has a very high detection rate of Poly/Morphic malware

Frostmourne · 28 Nov 2009

The best choice are payware apps - they give you everything and you don't need any other app. I'd go for Kaspersky, Norton 360, or BitDefender. They are all-in-one's and come with support and updates are a priority unlike some free apps. Even better you have a better chance of zero-day protection - viruses for which no signatures have been released.

I'd use Malwarebytes or SuperAntiSpyware if necessary.

Creer · 29 Nov 2009

marvi0 said:

hie guys, i have already used the search function, but i dont appear, to be getting the results i need, can someone, please point m to the must have security options, for windows 7, i already have avast installed the free edition, have used it since my xp, and i kinda trust it but willing to listen, to better options, and apart, from antivirus, what else, can i install, or what else, is already, on the machine, by microsoft, that i can use, please bear with me, as this is my first post, if offered, direction, i can find my way, thanks

Remember that the best security is protection based-on layers.

Windows 7 offers you:
- UAC
- LUA (limited user account)
- DEP (enable this for all programs and services) - protection against buffer overflow
- SRP (Software Restriction Policy)

All methods above belong to prevention layer of protection.

You should built your protection based-on these layers:
1. Prevention (most important)
2. Detection (based-on blacklists mechanisms)
3. Cure (image and data backup software)

HTH,

roban · 29 Nov 2009

I just switched from ESET Internet Security to Norton IS 2010. Norton has done much to remove the bloat and resource hogging in this release. I was never a Norton fan but with this edition I have changed my mind. IMHO ESET was too difficult to configure sharing between Windows 7 and Vista or even XP so after 2 years I abandoned my license.

SlackerITGuy · 29 Nov 2009

For me:

AV: Avira AntiVir Personal.

Just as light as Avast (if not lighter [~8MB most of the times]), but with slightly better protection rate (2nd behind G DATA according to av-comparatives.org's latest tests, Avast came in at #3).

Firewall: PC Tools Firewall Plus

Tied for second behind the mighty Comodo in Mautosec.com's latest Proactive Security Challenge. Works GREAT right out of the box, no need to mess around with it's rules and policies, so... If you don't know how to properly set up a Firewall, this is the one for you.

Malware Client: Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

I think we can all agree with this one =).

EDIT: Actually... Avast came in at #5 in that test. Sorry about that.

jav · 29 Nov 2009

cheeriokilla said:

Malware Client: Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

I think we can all agree with this one =).

On real-time or just on-demand?