Antivirus and Firewall recommendations
I'm looking for a new antivirus and firewall program. I want one that I can set to turn off the computer if no issues are found when I run a scan. I also am looking for one that doesn't day 7 hours to do a scan.
Any recommendations?
steve2470
(37,456 posts)Super anti-spyware is good also. I'm sure others have recommendations too.
As far as firewalls go, if you have a good router (such as Linksys, D-Link, Cisco, Netgear, etc), you don't really need another firewall. Simply make sure your router's firewall is turned on and configured properly. AFAIK, the only reason for a software firewall (such as the built-in firewall with Windows XP and 7 and 8) is to prevent "phone home" from trojans already infesting your system.
If you are on dial-up, then yes, a software firewall makes complete sense. Zone-Alarm worked for me in the past: http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/zonealarm-pc-security-free-firewall.htm
Link for Malwarebytes: http://www.malwarebytes.org/free/
Link for Super Anti-Spyware: http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)for malware and trojans. What about a virus program?
I can't seem to find the firewall settings for my router. I have a Netgear router, WNDR3400v2.
steve2470
(37,456 posts)That link will give you a downloadable PDF file that will tell you how to find the firewall settings. If you need help, please ask us.
the NAT filtering is set to secured. Should that be sufficient as a firewall for my whole network? I was unaware that I was running two firewalls - the router and McAfee.
If I do away with my McAfee, should I set SuperAntiSpyware or Malwarebytes for real time protection? If so, which one? I have the pro version of both and a lifetime pro version of SuperAntiSpyware. They really take the place of a security program like McAfee?
PS - thanks so much for the help.
One more question - does either SAS or MB also protect email programs?
steve2470
(37,456 posts)1- As long as your entire network is behind your router (meaning, everything is plugged directly into it and NOT into a modem), you should be protected. Just to be 100% clear:
Your cable modem plugs into your router on the WAN (wide area network or internet) side. Usually there's only one place to plug your ethernet cable from your modem to your router. Then, there's usually 3 to sometimes as many as 8 ports for your internal network computers (also called hosts in jargon). You plug your ethernet cables from those computers into those LAN (local area network or your home/small office setup) ports. Do not ever directly plug a computer directly into the modem unless you are doing testing of some kind (and after that test, use at least two programs to thoroughly clean your computer of any possible nasties).
When you configure the router, make sure the DMZ is OFF completely.
Ethernet cable (for clarity's sake):
2- Either one should protect you, but everyone has their own personal preference. Malwarebytes is better known and is pretty much universally lauded.
3- Unless I'm mistaken, your McAfee setup is only a firewall and not a malware program. If it has a malware component (which should be indicated somewhere in its help files), then you may not need SAS or MB. You should be able to simply turn off the McAfee firewall. If you can't turn it off, then yes, you will need either SAS or MB.
4- Only run ONE anti-malware program at a time. They tend to conflict with each other. It's ok to turn one off and then run another one, but again not two at the same time. Make sure Windows Defender is turned off also. You have to go into Control Panel to turn it off.
5- I don't know about the email programs. You'd have to carefully read the documentation. Sorry I can't be more helpful there.
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)Are my devices that are wireless protected by the router firewall? I would assume they are, but could be wrong.
steve2470
(37,456 posts)make sure: 1) your wireless security is ON and NOT WEP. Use WPA, at least; and 2) you have set your wireless password to something OTHER than the factory default and something very hard to guess. Oh yea, obvious point, the wireless devices need to be getting their signal from a secured router and not a insecure hotspot.
The SSID (service set identifier or network name) doesn't really need to be hidden, because apparently any competent cracker can sniff out your SSID very quickly. Just make your SSID something UNIQUE from your neighbors.
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)WPA2-PSK [AES].
Is that okay?
I reset the network password.
steve2470
(37,456 posts)bananas
(27,509 posts)That's probably also true for SuperAntiSpyware.
From the official FAQ pages at malwarebytes.org:
Does Malwarebytes Anti-Malware replace antivirus software?
Support
posted this on January 04, 2012 10:45 AM
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is not meant to be a replacement for antivirus software. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a complementary but essential program which detects and removes zero-day malware and "Malware in the Wild". This includes malicious programs and files, such as virus droppers, worms, trojans, rootkits, dialers, spyware, and rogue applications that many antivirus programs do not detect or cannot fully remove. That being said, there are many infections that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware does not detect or remove which any antivirus software will, such as file infectors. It is important to note that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware works well and should run alongside antivirus software without conflicts. In some rare instances, exclusions may need to be set for your specific antivirus product to achieve the best possible system performance.
The other FAQs are at http://www.malwarebytes.org/support/consumer/
They have a support forum at http://forums.malwarebytes.org/
steve2470
(37,456 posts)Is SUPERAntiSpyware an antivirus program? Click here to return to the FAQ page!
Strictly speaking, SUPERAntiSpyware is not designed to be antivirus software. We target spyware, adware, worms, trojan horses, rootkits, and crimeware, a focus that allows us to respond quickly to the ever-growing groups of hostile software we address, with new definitions released multiple times a day, and concentrate on the technology that targets the most common threats in the wild. There are a lot of things that are often called viruses (many trojans, worms, and so on) that SUPERAntiSpyware will remove, but it won't remove many true viruses or boot-sector viruses.
SUPERAntiSpyware has been designed to be compatible with popular antivirus and antispyware applications such as ESET NOD32, Spybot Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware, AVG, McAfee, Norton, Symantec, Kaspersky, Webroot, PC Tools, Malwarebytes, Avast, Avira, and more.
http://www.superantispyware.com/supportfaqdisplay.html?faq=91
bananas
(27,509 posts)From the official FAQ pages at malwarebytes.org:
Does Malwarebytes Anti-Malware replace antivirus software?
Support
posted this on January 04, 2012 10:45 AM
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is not meant to be a replacement for antivirus software. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a complementary but essential program which detects and removes zero-day malware and "Malware in the Wild". This includes malicious programs and files, such as virus droppers, worms, trojans, rootkits, dialers, spyware, and rogue applications that many antivirus programs do not detect or cannot fully remove. That being said, there are many infections that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware does not detect or remove which any antivirus software will, such as file infectors. It is important to note that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware works well and should run alongside antivirus software without conflicts. In some rare instances, exclusions may need to be set for your specific antivirus product to achieve the best possible system performance.
The other FAQs are at http://www.malwarebytes.org/support/consumer/
They have a support forum at http://forums.malwarebytes.org/
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)websites. I'm giving BitDefender a trial run. It has good reviews on a number of sites and so far I like the interface.
I think I'm going to go with the router firewall right now and see how that works for me. Using just the router firewall netted me the same results as using it and the McAfee firewall. The Windows firewall slows my Internet way down.
The free version is great, just make sure you don't install any tool bars etc when you download
http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Antivirus-2014/3000-2239_4-10019223.html
JBoy
(8,021 posts)Been using it reliably for several years.
frylock
(34,825 posts)Denzil_DC
(7,187 posts)It's a very solid antivirus. My partner was regularly picking up malware, some of it quite nasty, just visiting various political sites (some a bit off the beaten track, it's true), and our previous paid-for AV wasn't turning a hair. In the three years we've been using Kaspersky, she hasn't had any issues, touch wood.
The downsides are it can be quite slow to download updates (they really need to improve their servers) and it can be a resource hog. It may be necessary to tweak it to get it to leave innocuous programs and processes alone (like Word working on files that have already been scanned anyway), otherwise it can really snarl things up (for instance, locking up autosave). It's more easily tweakable now than it used to be, anyway.
Drew Richards
(1,558 posts)George Janis
(1 post)There are so many antivirus programs available in computing world with different features and specialities. Generally, it is a tough task to choose among them that best suits your device. This is the reason whenever I felt any confusion regarding antivirus software or any other technical recommendations, I like to consult Click4Support people as they provide very good solutions for any kind of technical help. Some time back, they help me to choose suitable antivirus software for my PC and that was really helpful.
gopiscrap
(23,673 posts)CountAllVotes
(20,854 posts)The Avira browser safety you can turn on and off. I'm using that with Superantispyware free edition. It seems to catch everything, more thing that the Malwarebytes did in fact! I'm now using a "new" laptop with Windows 7 Professional on it.
This also seems to work pretty good on an old desktop I have with Windows XP Professional on it as well.
Lots of crap out there on the www and yep, you can get hit an not know happened until later ... and then OMG (I should know -- happened to me last week and I then began searching for a new/free AV and decided to give Avira a try again ... so far so good!) !!
steve2470
(37,456 posts)Best Antivirus, dead tree Maximum PC magazine, July 2014
9-Kick Ass (their best rating): BitDefender Internet Security, Norton Internet Security
9: WebRoot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus, ESET Smart Security,
8: Kaspersky Internet Security 2014, McAfee Internet Security 2014, Avira Free Antivirus, Avast Free Antivirus
7: Panda Internet Security 2014
6: AVG Antivirus Free 2014
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)far I'm happy with it. Never thought I would say that.
I tried WebRoot and within a couple of days it let through a bunch of junk that Super AntiSpyware found. McAfee sucks lately - I've used it for years, but it takes forever to do a scan with McAfee now.
I tried BitDefender and didn't like it but don't remember why.
Thanks for the information. If I find something I don't like about Norton, I'll go through the rest of your list.
glenmarth
(6 posts)A full scan usually takes time, and this depends on the definitions library. However, i have found AVG to be quicker then others. You can temporarily disable the protection from the system tray in the lower right corner, disable and enable firewall from settings quickly. One thing i noticed between AVG and avast! is that avast! has a lot of features, that we do not need hence it makes stuff super complicated to trace, allow win apps from it, therefore i conclude that AVG is the best of all. You can download a free version from [link:http://appuals.com/avg-free-edition-2014-0-4714/|
ohheckyeah
(9,314 posts)Thanks.
TorchTheWitch
(11,065 posts)Been using it since 2000. One thing I love about it is that you can schedule the days and times for it to run scans, so you can have it doing a scan while you're at work or asleep.
My hard drive blew up last week, but fortunately the only thing that couldn't be reovered was all my mountains of saved emails in Outlook. Now that I only have a handful of emails in Outlook now that I've got everything back and running on computer with a new hard drive today's full scan only took 2 hours and about 10 minutes. I guess it pays to get rid of all those saved emails even though I was really good at completely deleting most things.
It can actually be a little TOO diligent though in sometimes flagging files that are fine. I guess it's a good idea though that they flag them and then you can decide on your own whether or not it's an issue.