Win firewall

[cowpoke]

Hello, I'm running Win 7 64 bit.
On a Dell machine, came with Mcafee firewall.

It looks like the Win firewall is off due to the Mcafee being on ?
i.e., when I look at the firewall section under Control panel it tells me the FW is being managed by Mcafee....

Questions,
should I stick with the Mc FW (in the past I haven't heard good things about Mc)
If I decide to use the Win FW, how do I turn it on ?
(ive looked around and it appears that since the Mc FW is on it won't let me do that)
I'm guessing that I will have to uninstall the Mc and then turn on the Win FW

 

[Nigsy]

I'm guessing the MCFee came as a trial and also included the AV solution as well, it's normally bundled with new PCs.

You could keep it and at the end of the trial just subscribe. It's not as big a resource hog as it used to be.

If you want to unistall it; go to the MCafee website and download their uninstall tool; that's the cleanest way to remove it.

There are plenty of free AV/Firewall solutions out there MS Security essentials is pretty good, but the best tool is common sense!!

 

[maxie]

Hi Welcome to Seven Forums ... Use the Uninstall tool for Mcafee .. Windows should then ask you turn the Firewall on ..

 

[cowpoke]

So should I use the Uninstall or the Mcfee uninstall via their website?

Do you distinguish between a FW and AV/Spyware tools ?

Thanks

 

[LMiller7]

A firewall and AV software perform very different functions. The purpose of a firewall is to prevent the entrance of data to your computer when it is initiated from some outside source. There is more but that is the general idea. But if offers no protection from malware when it is downloaded by you browser or other software. Firewalls and AV software have complimentary functions and you need both.

It is not good to have more than one firewall installed. They all work in slightly different ways and the interactions can have unpredictable results, including reduced protection. Much the same for multiple active AV products.

 

[cowpoke]

Understood, on the FW AV differences, thanks.

I plan on removing the Mcfee (just haven't heard much good about them over the yrs ...)
Is my only option for FW, Windows or are there better FW's that I could use ?

 

[Nigsy]

Their are hundreds of free AV/Firewall solutions out there...asking in a forum will usually get you a million options and spark a war over people favourites.

MSE is a reasonably good solution; back it up with something like spyware blaster and a weekly scan with antimalware bytes add in a pinch of common sense and you'll be fine:

 

[UsernameIssues]

So should I use the Uninstall or the Mcfee uninstall via their website?
~~~

Use the regular uninstall method via
Control Panel > Programs and Features.

Most of the custom uninstallers from vendors' websites (that I've seen) will say to try the normal method first. Some of the custom uninstallers will just run the normal uninstaller for you and then exit. If the normal uninstaller cannot be started, that is when the custom uninstaller kicks in. You can watch what they do via Process Explorer and Process Monitor.

~~~
Is my only option for FW, Windows or are there better FW's that I could use ?

The Windows firewall is fine*. The uninstall process for McAfee's firewall tool should automatically turn the the Windows firewall back on. Let us know if that does not happen.

*Some people will disagree. Some will claim that you need a firewall that halts outgoing traffic too. Some of the people making that claim have not noticed that their 3rd party firewall allows software (including infected files) to silently change the outgoing firewall rules. There are 3rd party firewall tools that do not allow such changes, but lots of users don't want to deal with the setup/popups from such firewalls. The Window firewall can halt outgoing traffic - if you care to set it up to do so.

 

[cowpoke]

Your thoughts on a couple of tools I've used in the past.

Spybot
CCleaner

 

[UsernameIssues]

CCleaner works fine. You don't need to use the registry part of it unless there is a specific problem you need to solve.


I don't use Spybot S&D so I've not studied it. I installed it into a virtual machine to have a look at the free feature set. Below are my first impressions/comments (they easily could be wrong

Some features in Spybot S&D cater to the tin foil hat crowd (e.g. delete Explorer streams). I did not see a way to have Spybot S&D prevent Explorer streams from being recorded... instead, Spybot S&D just offers to clear some (but not all) of them after a scan.

Some features in Spybot S&D prevent some websites from working properly (e.g. prevent 3rd party cookies). The support websites for Mozy.com (and other websites) require 3rd party cookies because of the convoluted array of subcontracting Mozy has done with salesforce.com. [Yes, I'm aware of how 3rd party cookies can be abused.]

Spybot S&D's HOSTS file is large and some say that this can slow down your browser. Spybot S&D loads up the restricted sites with a very long list of websites (a lot of which do not exist anymore). This list seems redundant (given the HOSTS file), it causes IE to use a bit more RAM* and causes IE to load a bit slower**.

*but not so much that most systems cannot handle it
**you probably won't notice a second or two delay

Spybot S&D claims to remove your browsing history, but like so many products that make this claim, Spybot S&D has not changed how it does this to handle IE10 and above. Your surfing history is still there... you just might not know how to see it.

 

[cowpoke]

Thanks for the review, I use Firefox, so not sure if some of the concerns mentioned would apply.
Any thoughts on Malwarebytes ?
Or any recommendations ?

 

[UsernameIssues]

Malwarebytes works well. Not much to say - other than: read this thread:
http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/240099-latest-version-malwarebytes.html
You might want to stick with the current version for a while.

 

[cowpoke]

Long thread there, looks like for now some are staying with the 1.75...
Is that how you read it ?

 

[UsernameIssues]

You can stay with 1.75 for now...
...but some have no problems with version 2.

 

[cowpoke]

Didn't see the 1.75 at the Malware site...maybe I missed it, any idea where to get it.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Didn't see the 1.75 at the Malware site...maybe I missed it, any idea where to get it.

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.75 - FileHippo.com

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Pro Lifetime 1 PC - Newegg.com

Above is a link to 1.75 "Pro", with a Lifetime license for 1 PC; $30. I saw a coupon for it today for only $15, but I think you have to be on Newegg's emailing list to get that price.

If you buy this, you can upgrade to the new "Premium" 2.0 at no charge and still retain the Lifetime license for 1 PC.

If, on the other hand, you instead buy the new "Premium" 2.0, you will be locked into a subscription model where you pay I think $25 a year for 3 PCs.

Up to you to decide which is the better value. If you don't want to get locked into a subscription model, you need to jump on 1.75 Pro right away; it will not be offered indefinitely and you would then be forced into Premium and its subscription model.