Maybe the best things in life are free security programs

[Wordward]

After over 2 years and 5 months of trying many different security software's out there, and a few many times. I have come to think Avast Home and Spyware Terminator will finally suffice for my security needs. I have tried many times to remain satisfied with one combination of security software or another, but I think this may be the best free combination for my PC use and offer the most stability. Only time will tell, but for now I'm hoping that ST and Avast will remain my free choices. I like the way Avast has a voice to announce it's updates and the various skins you can use for it's Antivirus GUI, and among a few other things I also like the GUI of ST. I sometimes even use the Crawler Toolbar and Web Security Guard you can install with it. That said though, I do wonder what has been some of the favorite free security software combinations others in Wilders have used and why you liked them.

[gud4u]

The best free firewall I found was free Online Armor2.

The best free anti-spyware scanner I found was SuperAntiSpyware.

I liked both of the above so well that I purchased both Online Armor 2 and SuperAntiSpyware Pro.

The best free adblocker I've found is the Adblock Plus extension to FireFox.

My confidence in NOD32 is such that I've never tried any free AVs. I tried V3, but quickly reinstalled V2.7.

The only free security apps I currently use are FireFox Browser with Adblock Plus extension, SpywareBlaster immunizer and MVP Hosts File.

[dawgg]

the best things in life are free security programs?
need to get out a bit more my friend... what about the sun, oxygen and love?;D

[WSFuser]

I would say it depends on what kind of program and what youre looking for.

I like avast as a free AV but I feel safer with NOD32 or KAV. Plus I find avast a lil slow.

OTOH, Online Armor and Comodo are free firewalls and I would gladly use/recommend either one.

[Diver]

The OP is mixed up, I am afraid. Its free beer that tops it all. However, there are some excellent free security programs around, my favorite being Comodo 2.4.

[Wordward]

{QUOTE-> the best things in life are free security programs?
need to get out a bit more my friend... what about the sun, oxygen and love?;D <-QUOTE} Well I am writing a book which has a lot to do with love, but you're right, as I am also trying to stop being so obsessed with this stuff. LOL. That said. Online Armor Free would be my second choice with Avast Home. I have used OA Free with Avast together before, and the two ran well together.

[Kerodo]

{QUOTE-> Well I am writing a book which has a lot to do with love, but you're right, as I am also trying to stop being so obsessed with this stuff. LOL. That said. Online Armor Free would be my second choice with Avast Home. I have used OA Free with Avast together before, and the two ran well together. <-QUOTE}
It's good to finally settle down to a few apps that you like best.. I am doing that now myself. Some of the best ones are free too. I have tried most of the free and paid ones, but find that quite often the paid ones have as many bugs and issues as any of the others. So that's discouraging.. But many free apps are quite good these days.

[EASTER]

EQSecure (HIPS) of version 3.41 is free and very formidable, blocks scripting, monitors every extension you can think of plus all folders, tons of registry keys, etc.

OnlineArmor combos a HIPS + Firewall and is the very latest plus been scrutinized early on and came through with flying colors, a free version available.

I'll stop there and leave open other members suggestions. I found there is a very nice balance between combining free + paid products.

[dmenace]

{QUOTE-> I liked both of the above so well that I purchased both Online Armor 2 and SuperAntiSpyware Pro. <-QUOTE}

Well you see most free programs are a marketing strategy designed to entice you to buy the paid versions, nagware that can be from very subtle to very loud.

Most free programs are examples of this for example ZoneAlarm and Sandboxie as well as those mentioned above!

[Coldmoon]

{QUOTE-> Well you see most free programs are a marketing strategy designed to entice you to buy the paid versions, nagware that can be from very subtle to very loud.

Most free programs are examples of this for example ZoneAlarm and Sandboxie as well as those mentioned above! <-QUOTE}

That is certainly an important part of why they are offered but not the only reason. At whatever level the decision is made and regardless of how trivial it might be to the decision maker, there is something of giving back to the community of users, especially in those applications that use no or "very subtle" advertising or nagging.

Another thing to consider here is concurrent priorities. The first priority of an organization is survival of that organization so the need to make revenue, but there is also the possibility that there is an urgent need for a new technology. How better than a free version of said technology to spread the word and to push adoption of said technology?

All advertising is not bad and some of the real motivations behind the development of free software may not always be evident at first glance... ;)

Mike

Edit: missing word

[EASTER]

Add RETURNIL to my short list of "free" apps of exceptionally standard quality which also spells stability.

There are more, but some are more limited than others, perhaps by design, but as Coldmoon points out and with some similarities with Online Armor, a very good marketing strategy and that translates to trust for the user when a vendor offers a free version from which a user can draw a much better perspective to all it's potential security for best protection.

[Wordward]

Comodo Pro 3.0 and Avast Home. While it is of course debatable they are the best in free security software, I think they come darn close. Good bye all.

[huangker]

Yea Comodo Pro Firewall is awesome. For AV, still trust NOD32 even though it is paid.

But best 'free' security 'app' is good policy. Not visiting crack/porn sites will reduce your chances of getting infected.

[SourMilk]

I like the simplicity and no active monitoring of tiny watcher. It makes a great addition to anyone's security arsenal.

[LUSHER]

I notice the Chinese (people from China) are really really into hips and other security apps...
Lots and lots of discussions in different forums. Compared to english forums where there is much fewer forums discussing hips....

Their forums are always very interesting. Too bad not everyone here can read chinese.

[Cerxes]

Are you Chinese Lusher? (person from China), because then you could post some short brief here about the development/news regarding HIPS and other interesting security stuff that occurs there, since I´m not speaking Chinese myself, and I don´t think the majority here are doing it either.

/C.

[chrome_sturmen]

{QUOTE-> Are you Chinese Lusher? (person from China), because then you could post some short brief here about the development/news regarding HIPS and other interesting security stuff that occurs there, since I´m not speaking Chinese myself, and I don´t think the majority here are doing it either.

/C. <-QUOTE}

seconded ;)

[Huupi]

{QUOTE-> seconded ;) <-QUOTE}

Its too bad that we have to deal with their almost alien language and locked out from their forums because real interesting stuff is rolled out there,as i can read all over the web Asia is really bumping on the scene and taking over the digital world by storm !

[LUSHER]

{QUOTE-> Its too bad that we have to deal with their almost alien language and locked out from their forums because real interesting stuff is rolled out there,as i can read all over the web Asia is really bumping on the scene and taking over the digital world by storm ! <-QUOTE}

Well English is pretty alien to many chinese too (not everyone is solcroft!). When i read their forums, a very common refrain (when pointed to information/site/page in english) is "my english is not good enough to understand that" :D


PS I'm not Chinese (person from China). I hear the russian forums are quite interesting too...