Need user opinions, which firewall/antivirus suite do you use?

[Deja Q]

Norton 2k4 was bug-ridden (and slow, used a lot of CPU resources) so I've ditched them. I hate their product activation fasist crap too.

How do the others compare? What would you recommend?

(I'm reading other forums too, but DUers' input would be a plus too.)

Thx!

[Aiptasia]

1. Norton... lol

Norton antivirus suite.. lol. I have it configured to scan my home system every morning at 3:00 a.m..

Windows XP service pack 2 also has antivirus/popup blocking built in.

I've also used the Mcafee suites in the past with great success. I really liked Mcafee's stuff but the new PC came bundled with a free year of norton's, so here I am.

[mikehiggins]

2. Zone Alarm backed up by Panda Titanium antivirus

The port test run from the net shows my computer doesn't exist, which bothers me sometimes, but then I realise the universe only exists while my eyes are open so it seems okay.

Zone Alarm just has to be the best out there, and Panda antivirus is top drawer also.

Just to be safe though, I use X-Cleaner to double check everything and periodically run Kremlin Wipe to erase any files that should have been deleted but might still exist on my hard drive.

And folks say I'm paranoid.

Hah!

[Cerridwen]

3. For many years now, AVG anti-virus - free for personal use and

Zone Alarm - also free for personal use.

Each has a "Pro" type version for purchase.

I also use AdAware to block spyware and Firefox browser for its popup blocker extension (and because it's a great browser) and Thunderbird for my email so I don't have to worry about MS security issues.

[Laughing Mirror]

4. I use Kaspersky and highly recommend

Way superior to Norton.

[kcr]

5. Well

For firewalls, I do two things: a hardware NAT router, like linksys, and Zone Alarm. Zone Alarm has either a free version or a deluxe pay version. I use the free version. For virus protection, AVG. Its free, and it has caught, recently, viruses (virii?) that Norton and Symantex both missed. Finally, good spyware blockers can pro-actively prevent spy ware from being downloaded in the first place. I like AdAware and SpyBot, and, again, both have free versions available. And, of course, follow good security practices. Try to avoid IE, make sure your machine gets regular security patches (if its Windows, make sure Windows Update is turned on), set your browser up up so that it neither downloads or installs anything without asking you first, etc.

Links:
Linksys
Zone Alarm
Avg virus
Ad aware
Spybot

[Lady Effingbroke]

6. Programs I am currently using:

Firewall: Zone Alarm 5.1.033

Antivirus: AVG Free 7.0.269

Anti Spyware/Anti Malware:
Ad-Aware SE
Spybot Search and Destroy
A2
Spyware Blaster
Spyware Guard

"Clean Up" programs (clean out temp. files, cache, prefetch, etc.):
CleanUp!
CCleaner

[charlie]

7. Kerio Personal Firewall

I use version 2.1.4. It's the next-to-the-last version before it became bloatware. It's light and very customizable, suits me fine.

No virus program installed, haven't had one for 5 or so years. Too many of them are too resource-heavy and intrusive for my liking. When I download something, I park it in a special folder. Later I'll scan the folder at Trendmicro's Housecall online scanning service and move the programs out. Works great, I've never been hit with a virus.

Same with spyware/adware scanners. I don't use them, being cautious with installations and email, keeping IE locked down (back when it was my primary browser), and the like, has been enough to keep my system infection-free.

[landdaddy]

8. McAfee personal firewall

no antivirus! No SP1! No SP2! Happily computing with original XP!:bounce:
Turned off auto updates, system restore and windows messenger!