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Thread ID: 108670 2010-04-06 16:47:00 What free AV/firewall is everyone using right now? forrest44 (754) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
873827 2010-04-07 00:28:00 NOD32 Ice Road Trucker (15659)
873828 2010-04-07 00:38:00 MSE and windows firewall.:thumbs: Cicero (40)
873829 2010-04-07 00:43:00 MSSE + Windows Firewall is my advice to all home clients (and what I use myself).

With few exceptions, firewall applications tend to be a waste of resources, an inconvenience, and an introduction of possible problems down the line. For the home user Windows Firewall is more than sufficient - as is a NAT router for that matter.

Of course, Windows Firewall on XP is only useful in conjunction with a good virus scanner, as it will not stop traffic out.
george12 (7)
873830 2010-04-07 00:44:00 If I had Linux, I would prefer as many viruses as possible to boost the user quality of experience.

Fixed :p
pcuser42 (130)
873831 2010-04-07 02:58:00 Honestly I wouldn't use any free AV software any more.
Just had an interesting machine in the workshop today that had viruses on it.
I have done some quick testing.
Took an image of the machine then started to test.

The PC had an old version of PC-Cillin 2002 so as you can imagine that was doing nothing except slowing the machine down.
Removed that and installed the latest Norton Internet Security 2010. That almost killed the machine it was soooo slow. Who said they have improved the speed of Norton???
I didn't even bother updating and running a scan as it would have taken too long. Just uninstalled it again.

Installed latest AVG, updated and ran scan. It found 8 viruses and removed them but the machine was still doing strange things like not allowing Taskmanager to run etc.

Put the original image back on and installed Microsoft Security Essentials.
Updated and ran scan. It found 13 viruses and removed them but on restarting the machine it kept finding a virus again, in a different file every time.
It would clean or delete it OK but on restart the same virus was back again.

Put original image back on and installed NOD32. Updated and ran a scan.
It found...............74! viruses and removed them all.

Machine running great now.


I also ran Malwarebytes and it found over 1400 objects! Mostly in a Dialer folder :D
CYaBro (73)
873832 2010-04-07 03:54:00 Honestly I wouldn't use any free AV software any more.
Just had an interesting machine in the workshop today that had viruses on it.
I have done some quick testing.
Took an image of the machine then started to test.

The PC had an old version of PC-Cillin 2002 so as you can imagine that was doing nothing except slowing the machine down.
Removed that and installed the latest Norton Internet Security 2010. That almost killed the machine it was soooo slow. Who said they have improved the speed of Norton???
I didn't even bother updating and running a scan as it would have taken too long. Just installed it again.

Installed latest AVG, updated and ran scan. It found 8 viruses and removed them but the machine was still doing strange things like not allowing Task manager to run etc.

Put the original image back on and installed Microsoft Security Essentials.
Updated and ran scan. It found 13 viruses and removed them but on restarting the machine it kept finding a virus again, in a different file every time.
It would clean or delete it OK but on restart the same virus was back again.

Put original image back on and installed NOD32. Updated and ran a scan.
It found...............74! viruses and removed them all.

Machine running great now.


I also ran Malwarebytes and it found over 1400 objects! Mostly in a Dialer folder :D

Interesting in view of acceptance ,generally on here.
Cicero (40)
873833 2010-04-07 04:17:00 I have tried MSSE on much older machines and found it to be too resource hungry.
Avira's Antivir is still light weight enough for these older machines and gives good protection.
I just stick with MS's firewall most of the time. Comodo if I want out-bound protection on XP.
AvonBill (11358)
873834 2010-04-07 04:46:00 Nod32 Antivirus and Comodo firewall nedkelly (9059)
873835 2010-04-07 04:53:00 Avast AV. Zonealarm FW. Tried Comodo, too complicated for me :D Nomad (952)
873836 2010-04-07 04:53:00 I have tried MSSE on much older machines and found it to be too resource hungry.

I've found it just fine on my netbook.
pcuser42 (130)
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