Virus, firewall, email and Addware

[Ricesnaps]

Right... The subscription on my Norton Symantic suit is nearly expired.

Somewhat ****ed really as I paid something like £30 in the first place and now they want more! I also don't seem to get the whole full protection thingy unless I upgrade too!

So is there a great free or up to £50 alternative I can download to do the following (with as little fuss as possible):

1. Virus protection
2. internet protection (virus)
3. Firewall
4. Email scanning
5. Email spam removal
6. Spyware removal or blocking

and anything else I might need but don't yet know it. If possible I would love something I set up and leave that needs no interaction by me and is all part of the same package.

Have had a look at the AVG software - any good and which one does all the above?

[DMX Will]

Wouldn't touch the Norton range personally anyway as it seems to use loads of system resouces (memory, cpu usage etc) to do nothing.

On my XP machines at home I have ZoneAlarm Security Suite running on them. This includes everything (AntiVirus, AntiSpyware, Firewall, email scanning etc). I also run AVG Free (AntiVirus) alongside it, and now (since its release) AVG AntiSpyware. The three programs seem to get on OK together, and don't slow the PC down half as much as Norton will.

ZoneAlarm (note SECURITY SUITE, not just Firewall) is about £25 - http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en
the AVG Software is available in free versions.

AVG Spyware is not Vista compatiable (well at least the version I have isnt), the new ZoneAlarm is, but I don't have it installed on my Vista machine.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I use AVG and have never had any problems.

I use a software and a hardware firewall. Mailwasher to get rid of emails I don't want and Spybot search and destroy and Spywareblaster for the rest.

And it's all free!

[Shaun]

Pretty much the same as Daz.

AVG Free
Spybot Search and Destroy
Spyware blaster

All free.....

[Creature]

use nod32 for antivirus
windows xp firewall
then a colection of progs as they seem to pick up stuff that others miss

spyware doctor
pcbugdoctor
regestry medic
window washer
xp repair pro
regestry booster (great for getting rid of trojens that other programs cant see)

[PropellerHeadCase]

Yeah, SpyBot S&D is a great little prog. Also check out System Mechanic (http://www.iolo.com/purchase.aspx) (don't bother with professional just the standard suite - US$49.95) for just keeping your machine humming along nicely.

[CRAZY K]

The two "computer guys" who have looked after my PCs when needed both put AVG on my computers and its free.

I believe some spyware free programs are actually a scam--be careful.

Zone Alarm I used to have but found it a bit cumbersome to use but very good---free also.

I dont recall any problems with viruses for a long time on my PCs.

You also get some protection from Windows XP --dont know about Vista?

regards

CRAZY K

[Shaun]

The firewall on windows XP does the job just fine.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

The firewall on windows XP does the job just fine.

For me too.:)

[Marc J]

Windows Firewall
AVG Free
Spybot S&D
Spywareblaster
Windows Updates up-to-date

EDIT: For those using Spybot S&D, don't forget to: -

Update Regularly (as with everything else)
Immunize Regularly (not automatically re-done after updating)
Add the Spybot S&D Hosts File (In Tools)
Enable Resident "SDHelper" (You could also enable the "TeaTimer" if you're really paranoid, but it just annoys me).

[Ricesnaps]

Time for an update:

What a frustrating morning - got up two hours early so i could get to work early and get ome things sorted. ended up half an hour early and wound up by the computer!

Decided to download the AVG internet security package. Chose the 30 day free trial to see how I got on. Downloaded and installed. Then couldn't connect to the internet or download email. Also seems difficult to switch uff those parts of my existing Norton protection.

tried to remove AVG using the unistall option from them. It failed and wouldn't uninstall.

Eventually managed to dissable the email and firewall sections so both worked again and left Norton to look after the job for me for now!

By the way, i still have this "virusburst" thing on the PC which I mentioned in a previous thread. The Norton solution was exactly the one that one of you mentioned (turn of recovery, go through registry etc...), but there is no entry in the registry for me to remove for this anoying thing, so still have the problem and can't get rid - will call Norton later to discuss i think.

[waxintaxin]

AVG is Ok but its free, so happy days

the best virus protection you can buy at resonable money is kaspersky , wonderfull protection and a great product

spyware doctor is a good one for adaware and spyware , but it costs

Norton is a bit suspect in that it is suseptable to back door trojans

and just cos your PC is not showing anything does not mean it is not riddled with infection

my favourite comment from people with PC probs

VIRUS ?

but i use Norton and it didnt tell me anything

run kaspersky and you find 100s of the little buggers

adawre , spybot and search and destroy are all good malaware finders and are all free

but I would always reccomend kaspersky as a paid for virus , firewall solution

[Totally Plucked]

Avast Anti virus free
Commodo firewall - Free
Spyware Terminator - Free
Peer Guardian 2 - Free
Spybot search & destroy - Free

:) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[Ricesnaps]

It all starts to get worse!

Maybe this is a lesson for others?

Decided last night, as I currently use Norton, to log onto there on-line help chat thing to get help. They directed me to an "expert" and I (maybe foolishly) decided to pay for there services to expertly remove the problem. I allowed the consultant to gain remote access to my PC and followed all the instructions.

As suggested we got to the point where the PC needed to be re-booted. So I noted down all the details to re-connect to the expert on re-boot. Did as told and once re-booted, although everything on my PC looks fine and just the way it was before the virus problem, it now won't connect to the internet via my wireless router.

Called the help line at Norton, eventually got through to another lady "expert" who needed some serious grief to get passed the "I think you have a problem with your internet provider" and actually talk me through some diagnostics. After about an hour on the phone to her, I still can't connect, have managed to delete my WEP password from the wireless adaptor (and can't remember what it was) and now can't even access the IP on the router to go into the settings to turn off the WEP encription to allow me to check the connection with my wi-fi enabled work laptop.

I then realised that I had signed up for the support thing sold with the PC at PC-World (as it was free for first couple of months). So I called the 24 hour help line, got to speak to someone who was quite clearly not based in India and whom i could actually understand. Still no connection, but now know that I need to bring my network cable from work home and connect via work laptop using the cable which should allow me access to the setup part of the router.

However, once I have the WEP switched off (or I remember the passcode), I would certainly apreciate any further suggestion to get me back on line.

If it helps, my PC currently has a Netgear USB wireless adaptor connecting to a Linksys router. it usually does that through it's own software and not the windows wireless stuff.

Sometime these things get me SO mad!

[CRAZY K]

Matt, I know this wont help short term--but as I have said before I would get hold of some local "computer guy" who is reasonably priced and tap into his expertise.

Im sure you will find it cheaper and less frustrating than mucking about with expensive help lines who seem to be stocked with people who want to blame your internet provider, then your PC, then you, before moving on to the real problem and often not being able to help---I vowed never to do that again after some help line told me to change all the settings on my computer---which I refused---when it was actually the fault of their own servers playing up:eek:

Recently I used a local computer guy when my windows refused to open and he has given the PC a service, put on various programs and anti virus, run the computer on test and giiven advice on avoiding viruses and generally really helpful---all for about £60!

I know theres plenty of experts around but you cant beat the local man looking at your problem--

regards

CRAZY K