Recommend a good free internet security program please

[PooMan UK]

Has anyone got any good recommendations on some good "easy to use" free internet security software please ?

I help out quite a few Silver Surfers (old age pensioners) around my area as a sort of help the community kinda thing. I do it for nothing as allot of the old folks don't have 2 ha-pennies to rub together and I hate it when they get ripped off by the large IT companies out there that just wanna take them for all that they have.
Thing is I use a paid for internet security program and I haven't really played with any freeware programs in this field that are out there.
I'm looking for something that is really basic with minimal user intervention, that will keep them fairly safe as lately I've had a spate of malware and adware problems that I've had to help sort out.

90% of them are using AVG for normal virus like activity but allot of them are getting duped by fake "anti virus" programs like "Antivirus 2010" and multiple malware programs etc.

I've done some research into the following but would like to have your opinions on the best way forward ...

Online Armor
ZoneAlarm Free Firewall
PC Tools Firewall Plus
PrivateFirewall
Comodo Firewall Pro
Agnitum Outpost Firewall

PS. quite a few of the PC's are entry level, so could you also give an indication on any performance issues as this would also be greatly appreciated.

Nick

 

[LiquidSnak]

Comodo is a very interactive firewall, but I really enjoy it, and it's very friendly. It also has an anti-virus as well. A lot of my IT friends recommend zonealarm as well.

 

[Petey7]

I highly recommend Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). Lets just say I don't always stick to "safe surfing" and MSE has never failed me in the year or so since the first beta was released. I also recommend Comodo firewall (only the firewall) for XP users. Vista and 7 users should be fine with windows firewall.

 

[karlsnooks]

The number one choice of the vast majority of those answering questions here is:
MSE - Microsoft Security Essentials

 

[ken9122]

I would just go with Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free takes little or no setup and is very effective for the average user even using XP. Forget all the fancy suites and add-on firewalls. Keep it simple.

Ken

 

[CarlTR6]

Comodo is a very interactive firewall, but I really enjoy it, and it's very friendly. It also has an anti-virus as well. A lot of my IT friends recommend zonealarm as well.

I do not recommend Zone Alarm for a Win 7 system. It is almost guaranteed to cause crashes on most Win 7 systems. We work BSOD's nearly everyday where ZoneAlarm is the cause or one of the causes. I do use ZA on my XP system.

 

[spyknee]

I use MSE on W7 and XP machines.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Nick,
I would have your Silver Gleaner's use MSE AV and either Comodo or Windows Firewall.
Used both for awhile and have had no issue's.
That is awful nice of you to take care of these lovely folks and not charge them for your services.
You rewards will come later.
Dennis

 

[karlsnooks]

Rreading the thread starter's original post, then the only answer is:
Microsoft Security Essentials which will automatically set up Windows Firewall for you. Truly a turn-key operation.

If you want one-stop shopping then Microsoft Security Essentials is the answer. This is the one and only anti-virus/anti-malware on my computers and is the only product I install on other computers. I've never had anyone displeased with MSE.

Incidentally, I'm also an old geezer. Just have been doing this kind of thing for more years than most forum members are old.

 

[tw33k]

I agree with most here Nick. For the people you are talking about, you can't go wrong with MSE and Windows Firewall. If you want/need more control of the firewall, just add Windows 7 Firewall Control : Sphinx Software

 

[LiquidSnak]

I do not recommend Zone Alarm for a Win 7 system. It is almost guaranteed to cause crashes on most Win 7 systems. We work BSOD's nearly everyday where ZoneAlarm is the cause or one of the causes. I do use ZA on my XP system.

Did not know this, thanks for the info and I will pass it along as well, if you don't mind

 

[CarlTR6]

I do not recommend Zone Alarm for a Win 7 system. It is almost guaranteed to cause crashes on most Win 7 systems. We work BSOD's nearly everyday where ZoneAlarm is the cause or one of the causes. I do use ZA on my XP system.

Did not know this, thanks for the info and I will pass it along as well, if you don't mind

Certainly, it may help someone avoid problems.

 

[PooMan UK]

Thanks very much for everyone's comments and input. It's really appreciated.
Looks as if MSE is the way to go.

 

[hackerman1]

Has anyone got any good recommendations on some good "easy to use" free internet security software please ?

I've done some research into the following but would like to have your opinions on the best way forward ...

Online Armor
ZoneAlarm Free Firewall
PC Tools Firewall Plus
PrivateFirewall
Comodo Firewall Pro
Agnitum Outpost Firewall


Nick

Antivirus: MSE
Firewall: Online Armor / Comodo

Zonealarm has already been mentioned as causing trouble, but it´s also a bad firewall.

Windows firewall is also bad, i know because i´ve tested different firewalls with Comodo´s Leak Test (CLT) & CPIL, and Windows firewall wasn´t any good.

Outpost-free doesn´t work on Windows 7 (officially), although i discovered how to make it work.

 

[Golden]

I have used AVG Free in the past. You may want to consider that too...

 

[hackerman1]

I have used AVG Free in the past. You may want to consider that too...

many people have used AVG, including myself, before MSE was available....

but AVG is also causing trouble, there are other threads about it.....
take a look at the forum.

do NOT use AVG !

 

[karlsnooks]

Thanks very much for everyone's comments and input. It's really appreciated.
Looks as if MSE is the way to go.

A wise decision and glad that we could provide you with information to assist you in your decision making.

 

[thefabe]

I also would say MSE or Avast home free

 

[yowanvista]

MSE with MBAM

 

[malexous]

Leak tests aren't a good way of showing how well a firewall will protect you. Windows 7 Firewall is fine but if using an earlier Windows operating system, you should use a 3rd party firewall for outbound protection.

Just changing anti-virus isn't good enough, in my opinion. No anti-virus is 100%, especially against rogue/fake applications.

You should educate them more on what they should look out for. If you don't have the time, find a good article that you can link them all to/print out. An example regarding fake anti-virus:

Show them what their anti-virus' pop-up should look like. If they get a message claiming an infection, whether or not it looks like it comes from their anti-virus or something else, tell them to close their browser (though, some malicious scripts will prevent it), update their anti-virus and on-demand anti-malware and do a complete/full, successive scan.