Internet Security Suites

[big_b]

Both my Daughters have just purchased new Laptops & I have my PC in bits at the moment for a major clean & then upgrade to win7.

So I was thinking of buying a Internet Security Suite licensed for 3 to install on them.

Any suggestions/thoughts on which is the best to go for?

Dave

[narrowgauge]

I would highly recommend Trend Internet Security Pro. That will licence three computers. I have used versions of this for the last 12 years at least with no problems. I understand that the latest version will work with Win 7 but check this yourself.

Peter

[john259]

Microsoft Security Essentials seems to do everything required, hasn't caused me any hassles, and is free of charge.

Don't forget the other aspects: backup data files frequently, check for Microsoft security updates frequently (or automatically), avoid peer-to-peer music sites, beware of phishing, etc.

John

[itareus]

Check out AVAST and AVG (both free) and as good as many of the payware programs. You will find reviews on the internet.

Site links:

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

http://free.avg.com/gb-en/homepage

[Johnk]

If you've got money to burn, I'm sorry, I can't help. Not having money to burn, I use free AVG and it does fine thanks very much. Avast is probably just as good and it's free also.

[johnwhelan]

I'd go www.microsoft.com/security_essentials

you get a reasonable assurance of quality and performance. Some of the other free ones have too many false positives and take up more machine cycles than needed. One of them managed to quarantine a Windows file by mistake which meant Windows had to be reinstalled on the affected machines.

Win 7 actually is much safer than XP and there was some debate amongst security experts as whether it was actually safer to block the antivirus programs completely so that no third party program could run at the level these programs run at.

Cheerio John

[teddytoot]

In the December issue of the British PC Advisor there was a test of free anti-virus software done by AV-Test.org. The recommendations in order were:

Avira AntiVir Personal (but clumsy interface and pop-up ads)
Alwil Avast Antivirus Home Edition (Good but Avira preferred)
AVG 8.5 Free (not quite so good malware detection) (AVG 9.0 has just been released)

They also thought that the Beta of Microsoft Security Essentials showed promise but at the moment came 4th.

[meatloaf747]

An Internet Security Suite usually included a Firewall. None of the above free options include a firewall.
If you want to head down the freeware option route, then I would recommend Avira AntiVir Personal (suggested above) as your anti-virus/mailware/spyware program & the free version of ZoneAlarm...
For a little bit of extra security, it wouldn't hurt to install a free spyware program like Spybot or Ad-Aware. Not sure if these are compatible with Windows 7 yet!!! (there are a number of free anti-spyware programs out there. The flavour of the month changes regularly).

If you and your daughters aren't very computer savy and your quite happy to pay for an Internet Suite that covers all bases, then either the latest Norton's 360, Norton's Internet Suite 2010 or NOD32 Internet Suite. All have 3 licence purchase options. (I wouldn't recommend that you rely on MS built in Firewall to protect you)...

Note; Norton's AV/Firewall/Systems Work years ago use to be very resource hungry. In recent times they have completely rewritten their core codes to trim off most of that excess fat and now they don't use/hog anywhere near the resource they use to require/use.
Norton's is quite user friendly. Some Internet Suites are not. (this is important if you/your daughters are computer novices)...
Cheers, Mac...

[fwassner]

I have been running Norton Internet Security for several years, and since version 2009 I have been very satisfied.
I don't see any performance issue when running TS2009_SP2, or TS2006.
Version 2010 seems to be even better. Uses very little system resource.

FW

[bazcouta]

Agreed that Nortons Internet Security 2010 is very good. Runs quietly in the background. Can run out of the box or can get as involved as you like. 80MB download or buy in shop. If you download don't bother with Norton Utilities. It is only a former shadow of itself.

[johnwhelan]

One verbal comment from one of the Microsoft security guys, it's actually very rare that a new exploit is found and exploited out in the open. What seems to happen is Microsoft block the exploit in Windows update, the hackers work out what was blocked then create something that attacks machines that have not been updated.

So running Microsoft update is fairly good protection.

Cheerio John

[Johnk]

What would be better protection is Microsoft getting it right in the first place. At the prices they charge, the system should be bullet proof and there should be no need for any of this security protection mumbo jumbo. You don't see jails putting locks on doors after prisoners escape.

[johnwhelan]

Originally Posted by Johnk

What would be better protection is Microsoft getting it right in the first place. At the prices they charge, the system should be bullet proof and there should be no need for any of this security protection mumbo jumbo. You don't see jails putting locks on doors after prisoners escape.

No operating system is completely secure, it's to do with the complexity of the things. Technically the Apple operating system and Unix are both more open to attack than the current version of Windows win 7 or even Vista. There are just more machines running Windows so it's a more attractive target. XP SP3 isn't too bad. The majority of attacks these days are aimed not at the operating system but at applications such as the browser, Adobe products etc. There are far too many people not running IE 8 or Firefox 3.5.5.

Cheerio John

[meatloaf747]

I have to be honest here. I'm not to sure whether a very small number of the community is on the same planet that I'm on... Hey, it could be me, maybe I'm on the wrong planet...

Now as an example, MS has had over 25 years (plus) to try and sort out a suitable Anti-virus - Anti-spyware - Anti-malware - Anti-plimishing - Firewall into there Operating Systems.
For years they have had a one way firewall. (Reasonable at stoppping incoming nasty, but not stopping any outgoing nasties)... it's great to see that there latest attempt is atleast a two way firewall.

MS's latest purchase of one of the bottem end Anti-Virus software companies has so far failed... - FULL STOP!!!
If they think that by renaming it a MS Anti-Virus program that the world would be in orr, well they are living in fantasasy land.
MS's A/V is still down at the bottem of the latest AV benchmarks test - lab tests... (with a corporation thats still turning over just under 14 billion (PA) you would expect them to be doing far better than they are)...

Hopefully in time they will finally get there _hit together and make their free A/V a front runner....
In the meantime, anyone & everyone couldn't go wrong with taking the time out to do there own "google search" as to which is the best "freeware A/V" and which is the best retail "Internet Suites"...
I think it's great that we have so many different points of views on the matter. I'm not saying that anyone hear is wrong, (or that I'm right, but it's just great to get such a great range of views in an open friendly forum)...
Happy Trainzing...
Cheers, Mac...

[big_b]

Thanks for the replies.
I ended up getting Norton 360-V3.0 with 3 licenses plus an 8 outlet surge protection board as a package from DSE for $118.
Couldn't let a deal like that go.

Dave