Broadband Tech > Security > Security > Easiest Virus Protection & Firewall Solution

Easiest Virus Protection & Firewall Solution

said by Sprinkle Head:

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All -

I need to find the easiest Virus Protection & Firewall solution for some family members. They currently have cable modem connection with no protection at all. They are not familiar on how to configure this stuff. What is the simplest solution that you can think of that can be installed and not fussed with again?

Thanks in advance

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reply to Sprinkle Head
I agree with John2g. Zone Alarm is a good free firewall. Which is easy ti set up and run.

Try AVG for a free Antivirus. AVG is Free.
»www.grisoft.com

The only other AV i can recommend is NAV2003. NAV is not free. »www.symantec.com
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*TeamZ*Member
[text was edited by author 2002-12-28 08:00:33]

reply to Sprinkle Head

said by Sprinkle Head:

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All -

I need to find the easiest Virus Protection & Firewall solution for some family members. They currently have cable modem connection with no protection at all. They are not familiar on how to configure this stuff. What is the simplest solution that you can think of that can be installed and not fussed with again?

Thanks in advance

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reply to Sprinkle Head
This thread contains excellent advice for someone trying to "fix" a simple firewall and anti-virus program for computer users as described in your post...been there and done that...Norton 2002 or 2003 Anti-Virus (only - no suites, firewalls, etc.) plus one of the free firewalls would be a good way to go. Once the programs are configured it's an occasional point and click to help them keep the system safe...

BTW, they might be better off to upgrade to WIN XP but that might not be an option.

Good luck...

reply to Sprinkle Head
One of the great things about these products is the number that are available.
The difficulty is the selection of the ones that suit the needs of the user.
To make that selection easier, there are sites you can go to that will help in the decision making and I would suggest a visit to one or two of those as well as the top recommendations given here.
This site is probably one of the best easy to follow guides for what you are after and it is run by a member here. Check out 'Free Tools' as well as the AntiVirus and Firewall pages.
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John

reply to Sprinkle Head
Hi Sprinkle Head,

If you want something free ZA or Sygate both make pretty easy to use free firewalls. ZA maybe a little easier if you have never used a FW before.

As for anti-virus, don't let all the postive NAV posts lead you astray, it's not a reflection of how good that product is but rather that most of the folks posting here are in the US and here in the States we are for the most part an one anti-virus country. It's amazing how biased and knee jerk people are about recommending that product. You would think we were all receiving a check in the mail from Symantec.

That said it would be an ok choice, better than a lot but I wouldn't trust Norton to guard my coin purse much less my PC. Why? Because of the company's stance on privacy and cooperation with the FBI »www.techtv.com/cybercrime/privac···,00.html
»www.politechbot.com/p-02851.html

I would recommend NOD32 for a new user (Kasperky KAV 4 is good as well, but it's a bit more complicated to use). It's simple, ease to use, has the best test ratings of any personal AV product, and has a friendly and helpful forum for anyone that needs help. Links:

»www.nod32.com.au/
»www.wilderssecurity.com/index.php?board=35

Here is a good source for info and tests of AV programs. They run tests multipule times a year and have ratings back to 1998 on all the major products out there.

By company
»www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archives/products.xml

By OS
»www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archives/tests.xml

AVG Antivirus for free.
www.grisoft.com
and zone alarm also free
www.zonelabs.com
efective and cheap, and remember a firewall is as good as the person who is configuring it.
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Its not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.-My history teacher

reply to Sprinkle Head
Try looking into Gladiator too. You can download it here. Description:

Gladiator AntiVirus GAV is a professional virusscanner. GAV is designed to detect and identify known:

Viruses, BAT-Viruses, HLLx-Viruses, I-Worms, IRC-Worms, mIRC-Worms, IIS-Worms, Trojans, Trojan-Notifier, Trojan-Dropper, Trojan-Downloaders, Backdoors, Unix Trojans/Backdoors, VBS Viruses/Backdoors, General Office Macro Viruses, Word Macro Viruses, Excel Macro Virures within files, boot-sectors, main-boot-records, partition-tables and memory.

You can use GAV for scanning all your floppy-disks, harddisks, CD-Roms and network-drives.

Note: GAV IS STILL IN THE ALPHA PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT!

GAV works on all Windows Platforms.
--
Computer Cops | My Journal

reply to Sprinkle Head
»www.agnitum.com/products/outpost/
Give OutPost a Try......
»www.agnitum.com/forum/index.php?s=
and they have an awesome forum for support!!
you will be happy
--
Proud Owner of OutPost Pro

said by hayc59:

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»www.agnitum.com/products/outpost/
Give OutPost a Try......
»www.agnitum.com/forum/index.php?s=
and they have an awesome forum for support!!
you will be happy

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reply to Hutch

said by Hutch:

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Try AVG for a free Antivirus. AVG is Free.
»www.grisoft.com

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said by Luthorcrow:

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said by Hutch:

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Try AVG for a free Antivirus. AVG is Free.
»www.grisoft.com

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AVG is free for a reason. I wouldn't recommend it. Check out this link at AVB. AVG hasn't passed a test since Feb. of 2000 and then only under DOS. None of the Windows versions have ever passed.
»www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archives/···?avg.xml

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John

said by Ausnetwanderer:

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The only thing that is missing are the reasons for the (?)failure(?) of AVG and the VB 100 tests. I really don't think it's fair to lay down a judgement without access to the reasons, but then, I am an AVG user and trust it as my AV program.

To just say a program has failed without publishing the facts to back the claim is not all that acceptable IMHO.

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reply to Sprinkle Head
Sorry to post in the middle of this [OT] AVG "lovefest" but you may want to look in to using Norton Internet Security. You can configure it automatically and go. Has both the AV and firewall together so you don't need separate programs to keep up with. Sorry but it's not free. All I'll say is that you get what you pay for. Here's a link to NIS 2003:

»www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/nis_pe/
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Help find a cure for childhood diseases at TSC

reply to Luthorcrow
Just a note on the VB site and AVG: The only recent snapshot review I recall seeing on the site for AVG based on testing is for November 2001, IIRC. That gives some summary info on the performance for that month's tests. I understand that mag subscribers get more details on the tests.

Also, people frequently refer to AVG as if it's only a free AV. Hence the frequency of comments such as it is "free for a reason." Grisoft also sells AVG Pro, which I think differs only from the free version in that it has additional features. The virus definitions are the same in the free and Pro version. I believe it is the Pro version that is being tested by the VB. So whatever the merits or demerits of the program it's not because it's a free app.

reply to Luthorcrow
That is why "best" is a BAD word around here.
--
Everything is relative and subjective.

reply to Sprinkle Head
All -

Thanks for your input. I just want to make it a point that I'm looking for an easy solution for the user. I'm not concerned about cost. If the product I choose is free, that’s great but it’s not a requirement.

reply to Sprinkle Head
Read thread, may have missed it in someone's post, or just may be one of those things that don't need to be mentioned.

Any AV is only as good as its updates.
Be sure that it is on automatic for update checking, able to reboot if needed, and scheduled for a time when the computer is on to update and scan.
My connection is cable also, but I crunch/fold 24/7 so I can schedule things to run at 3AM.
Need to consider what their usage pattern is, to set it up so it is the easiest possible and active up to date protection.
--
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold

reply to Sprinkle Head

said by Sprinkle Head:

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All -

Thanks for your input. I just want to make it a point that I'm looking for an easy solution for the user. I'm not concerned about cost. If the product I choose is free, that’s great but it’s not a requirement.

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