Windows 7 and Security

[enigma1944]

I currently use Avira Premium & Windows Defender on my x64 laptop.

Next month I will be upgrading from Vista to W7 so my question pertains to the security requirements for W7. According to a Microsoft news release, a new security suite Windows Live Essentials will be released very soon to replace Windows Live Care. From this news item I get the impression that this new security will more than accomplish my personal laptop requirements.

Continuing this thought I am wondering if I should just let my Avira Premium expire in Mar 2010 and just use the new Microsoft configuration. To add to my confusion, Avira just sent me an offer to extend my license from Mar 2010 for 22 MONTHS for $53.


Your thoughts please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Enigma,

I'm beta testing Microsoft Security Essentials, and so far it does a great job of protecting the computer from malware and viruses, and the definitions are updated everyday. In addition the free Avast antivirus program has a beta that they are working on now that will be completely compatable with Windows 7 while also using Microsoft Security Essentials at the same time for even more protection.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Dinesh]

Hello enigma, like Shawn said, i m too testing MSE and Avast side by side and looks like they are playing great together.

 

[DeaconFrost]

MSE works very well, and will continue to be free upon its release, so I couldn't see spending any money on an AV product right now. You can find the current builds of MSE easily, so that's all you'll need for resident protection. Malwarebytes is nice to have as a manual scanner.

 

[TheSchaft]

I'd run Avira until the current subscription runs out, and run MSE along side of it to see if MSE is better.

From the reviews of MSE, it is one of the better ones already, while still in beta. As I recall, the folks building it are from Giant, which Microsoft bought a few years ago. Giant was a real nice AV, and could get rid of a lot of stuff the others couldn't.

 

[DeaconFrost]

You can cause some major performance and integrity issues if you are running two activa scanners at once. If you don't want to uninstall a product you are paying for at this point, then try MSE out in a VM. Or, disable one and let one run resident.

 

[Jacee]

disable one and let one run resident

That's the best way, if you want two antivirus programs. These applications are resource hogs and will fight each other for your systems resources. They may even fight each other's definitions. So... just run one at a time.

 

[Dinesh]

disable one and let one run resident

That's the best way, if you want two antivirus programs. These applications are resource hogs and will fight each other for your systems resources. They may even fight each other's definitions. So... just run one at a time.

Hi Jacee, would you recommend Mcafee?

 

[Jacee]

I've never used McAfee, so as for recommending it.... I can't say one way or the other.

 

[TheSchaft]

I've used McAfee, and the only program more difficult to remove was Norton. I would not recommend using it if you feel you have another viable option.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Hi Jacee, would you recommend Mcafee?

Friends don't let friends drink and drive, or use Mcafee. Why use a bloated, expensive package, when you can find a leaner, better product for free? Hell, just about any of the free ones scan and catch more than Mcafee.

 

[Creer]

I see that you guys concentrate your first and main line of defense/security in softwares based on blacklists mechanisms. This approach is a little bit wrong in these days, why? It's simple blacklists are outdated. In these days when new viruses are created very fast there is many 0-day threats which blacklists won't be able to detect - of course possibly it will be added to blacklists your favourite AV/AS/AM softwares but WHEN? after 5h? after one week? perhaps after 1 month or year? And when you are waiting for the new signatures to your software - you can catch this 0-day threat.

Summary, on the first place in your security arsenal should be:
1. Prevention (HIPS softwares, virtualization, sandboxes, SRP, LUA, UAC, DEP, and also FW - hardware/software or both)
2. Detection (AV/AM/AS)
3. Cure (backup software - image backup/data backup, ISR software)

The best protection is protection based on few layers, and remember security it's specify subject and everyone should choose optimal configuration for your self.