Need advice for free antivirus+free firewall combo

[Dark Nova Gamer]

Haven't read through the thread but my personal recommendation is Microsoft Security Essentials. Don't let the fact that it is from Microsoft spook you, it is their operating system. I believe that they would know the most about protecting it.

 

[antares]

Haven't read through the thread but my personal recommendation is Microsoft Security Essentials. Don't let the fact that it is from Microsoft spook you, it is their operating system. I believe that they would know the most about protecting it.

That's why MSFT releases patches through Windows Update, but when it comes to anti malware software I'd trust other companies (Symantec, etc). Don't forget that Microsoft did not develop MSE, the core technology was bought by MSFT a few years ago from a 3rd party company (I don't remember its name).

 

[Corrine]

Hi, antares.

A lot has changed since 2004 when Microsoft purchased Giant Software. There really is nothing remaining of the original product that Microsoft used to begin Windows Defender. It was strictly an anti-spyware program.

 

[antares]

Hi Corrine, yes I know that MSFT added a lot since then, and I was not trying to bash or underestimate MSFT's MSE product. But in the same manner I wouldn't claim as DarkNova does that MSFT's MSE (or any other they might release in the future) is the BEST option in protecting Windows from malware.

 

[Corrine]

True, antares, with the caveat that I would take it a step further and say that no existing or future antivirus product by any vendor is the best option in protecting a PC from malware. Security is a multifaceted process and antivirus software alone is not the solution.

 

[antares]

Yes Corrine, we agree.

 

[CanIHaz]

I recommend either MSE, Avast, or Panda Cloud AV + Online Armor firewall.. good free protection

 

[antares]

Upgrade to NIS2011 or use MSE/Avast5+comodo firewall/Windows firewall

I finally upgraded NIS2008 to NIS2011. Aside from more features and controls it has the same footprint as Comodo Firewall+Avast Free but with the benefit of having everything unified in one place.

 

[Layback Bear]

It seems that most agree that anti virus programs are different and needed. Most concerns are footprint and quality. At this time MSE free is ranked up there with the best paid for anti virus. One must watch though because rankings change from time to time and the source of testing must be concerned. Microsoft knows Windows 7 better than anybody.That being said IMHO a multilayer security is a must. Quality programs that are use to check if your anti virus program has missed anything. In the old days I just slapped Nortons on a computer and I was done. That IMHO that doesn't get the job done anymore.

 

[Maxxwire]

That being said IMHO a multilayer security is a must. Quality programs that are use to check if your anti virus program has missed anything.

This is sage advise you've given here. My take on multilayer computer security is that since Malware most commonly comes from the internet I run my browser inside the virtual space of Sandboxie where the rights of all programs are dropped and any kind of Malware even zero day Malware that the Antivirus has no definition for can make no changes to the files or registry of the computer.

I have been using Sandboxie on both Vista and Win 7 and by preventing Malware from accessing the computer in the first place I have not had any detections of any kind of Malware since installing Sandboxie almost 2 years ago.

In fact Sandboxie is so highly effective that although I am not recommending it to others I uninstalled the Antivirus I was using because I didn't even want Malware in the AV's quarantine which resides inside the real computer because I prefer to obliterate any potential Malware right inside Sandboxie's virtual space by overwriting it with 5 passes of pseodorandom data.

In the past I used programs that eliminated scores of pieces of of Malware and tracking cookies that got in through the browser each day. With Sandboxie that malicious code never even makes it into the computer, but rather is destroyed right inside the virtual space that Sandboxie has created on the computer's HDD.

~Maxx~
.

 

[antares]

My take on multilayer computer security is that since Malware most commonly comes from the internet I run my browser inside the virtual space of Sandboxie

What about any other programs that do access the internet also like instant messengers, p2p applications, services, and so many others? If the sandboxie would be the final solution to malware, then why deosn't everyone use it? Is there any cons to using a sandboxie in terms of convenience, performance, resources, etc?
On a separate note, a virtual machine OS running in Vmware acts like a sandboxie in the sense that it's isolated from the host OS, right?

 

[Maxxwire]

I've been using Comodo Firewall Pro and Proactive Defense+ HIPS detection with my browser running safely in the virtual space of Sandboxie without a single detection of Malware or even so much as a tracking cookie for almost 2 years now using several different definition based and cloud scanners.

~Maxx~
.

 

[saakeman]

That being said IMHO a multilayer security is a must. Quality programs that are use to check if your anti virus program has missed anything.

This is sage advise you've given here. My take on multilayer computer security is that since Malware most commonly comes from the internet I run my browser inside the virtual space of Sandboxie where the rights of all programs are dropped and any kind of Malware even zero day Malware that the Antivirus has no definition for can make no changes to the files or registry of the computer.

I have been using Sandboxie on both Vista and Win 7 and by preventing Malware from accessing the computer in the first place I have not had any detections of any kind of Malware since installing Sandboxie almost 2 years ago.






In fact Sandboxie is so highly effective that although I am not recommending it to others I uninstalled the Antivirus I was using because I didn't even want Malware in the AV's quarantine which resides inside the real computer because I prefer to obliterate any potential Malware right inside Sandboxie's virtual space by overwriting it with 5 passes of pseodorandom data.

In the past I used programs that eliminated scores of pieces of of Malware and tracking cookies that got in through the browser each day. With Sandboxie that malicious code never even makes it into the computer, but rather is destroyed right inside the virtual space that Sandboxie has created on the computer's HDD.

~Maxx~
.

if you uninstall all your Av's , what if you get a virus through Usb or Lan (homegroup)

 

[saakeman]

Hi all

I think you'll love my security system
1.Mse as defualt antivirus (with realtime)
2. emsisoft as second anti virus (with realtime)
3.comdo firewall (secured dns settings ! workes like a bomb on dirty websites)
4.ccleaner
5.updates to windows every week

later
saakeman

 

[Maxxwire]

saakeman- As for my computer autoplay is disabled and both the computer and all the USB drives have been inoculated with Panda USB Vaccine. Although it is also the only computer on the network that doesn't really matter because the computer has Comodo Proactive Defense+ HIPS that detects zero day Malware better than any blacklist definition based antivirus anyway.

~Maxx~
.

 

[Maxxwire]

What about any other programs that do access the internet also like instant messengers, p2p applications, services, and so many others? If the sandboxie would be the final solution to malware, then why deosn't everyone use it?

I've often asked myself the same question since any program on the computer can be run securely in the virtual space of Sandboxie.

~Maxx~
.

 

[Maxxwire]

On a separate note, a virtual machine OS running in Vmware acts like a sandboxie in the sense that it's isolated from the host OS, right?

Yes, Vmware is great for total isolation, but Sandboxie lets the user send data to the 'real computer' over pre-selected data paths. For example when I'm running my browser in Sandboxie and I want to download a program I first download it to an external drive's virtual representation in the Sandbox from where I upload it to Virus Total to be scanned by 40+ AV scanners and if it comes up totally clean and passed a scan of any or all of my on-demand AV scanners I recover it from the Sandbox to a remote drive on a pre-determined data path for storage.

~Maxx~
.

 

[pulgoki]

Can anyone tell me why Comodo would have up to 30 open connections even when there are no browser windows or any other software running that should be accessing the internet? All connections were connected to the same IP and all (using tcpview) were connected out from comodo.

 

[Maxxwire]

pulgoki- These open ports are most likely the Comodo Cloud Scanner contacting the Comodo servers...

~Maxx~
.