You can only have 4 Anti-Malware apps: What would you run?

[InfinityAz]

Hi,

I had a post last week looking for advice but unfortunately it mainly turned into a discussion about one product. So I thought I'd make it easier to get advice by posing the following question:

Assuming you have a router (NAT Firewall) and can only run 4 anti-malware applications (freeware, shareware, or commercial), what would you run/install?

Thanks for you help and am looking forward to your responses. :)

[Chris12923]

NOD32
Ewido
Spyware Doctor
UnHackme

There are some others but those are the 4.

Just my opinion hope it helps,

Chris

[InfinityAz]

-{ Quote: "NOD32
Ewido
Spyware Doctor
UnHackme

There are some others but those are the 4.

Just my opinion hope it helps,

Chris" }-

Chris,

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. Also, thanks for going first.

[Ailric]

-{ Quote: " You can only have 4 Anti-Malware apps: What would you run?" }-

I'm still trying to decide...

For me personally:
NOD32
Ad-aware
Spywareblaster
Prevx

Thanks to NOD32 and Firefox, I never seem to get any malware. :'(

[2lazy2login]

Along with Firefox as my browser I would go with

1. KAV

2. Prevx free

3. AntiHook

4. MSAS


But it's really very difficult to choose because I like and run so many other anti-malware apps. Why does it have to be only 4? I would run so many more like Ewido, A2, Spybot, Ad-aware, Winpatrol etc......

[Night Rider]

1. NOD32
2. Ewido 3.5
3. Counterspy
4. AdAware 1.06

DrWEB with it's spyware/malware database is looking good too..

[Painkiller]

NOD32
AntiMalware Pro
AntiHook


I need only three ;-)

Painkiller

[Mrkvonic]

Hi,
AVG anti virus
Zone Alarm or Sygate firewall
SnoopFree anti-keylogger
Microsoft Anti-Spyware
Mrk

[pffft]

1. NOD32
2. KAV Web Scanner
3. A life apart from Wilders
4. A life apart from the computer

[-----]

1. Process Gaurd
2. Regdefend
3. Online Armor
4. Prevx1

[richrf]

ZoneAlarm: communication connection protection
KAV 5: on-access anti-malware protection (signature based)
ProcessGuard: anti-execution protection
RegDefend: registry protection

My strategy is to stop the "bad guys" at key "choke points". This prevents the problems of "cleaning up" the mess afterwards. It was a tough call between WormGuard and RegDefend. It's surveys like this, that limit voters to four packages, that prove that "suites" are essential. ;)

Rich

[WSFuser]

NOD32 (anti-virus)
ProcessGuard (anti-execution)
Microsoft Antispyware (anti-spyware)
Online Armor (HIPS)

This should keep me adeqately protected.

edit:I decided to switch out regrun and put msas as it is more useful.

[Tassie_Devils]

KAV PRO w/- extended databases for spyware/malware/trojans
Online Armour
Kerio PRO Firewall



are my main choices. Do have PG but it sometimes conflicts.

:)

Extras: SpywareBlaster/SpywareGuard/Spybot/AdAware PRO with AdWatch loaded/hosts file

[akshay_k72]

Hi,

Here is my list:

NOD32
Ewido
Spybot S&D
Zone Alarm

Cheers

Akshay.

[Notok]

NOD32
Ewido
Online Armor
Look n Stop firewall

[se7engreen]

Tough decision...

NOD32
Port Explorer
Process Guard
RegDefend

That's assuming that the said router perfoms stateful inspection. If not, I'd have to replace RegDefend with a stateful firewall.

[G1111]

Outpost Firewall Pro
KAV Personal (extended database)
ProcessGuard
RegDefend (with Kent's and Tony's Ghost files)

[Antarctica]

NOD32
ProcessGuard
RegDefend
Ewido

[Brian N]

The ones I have now, they are quite fast and none of them are resource hogs.
The chances of getting malware when you use Firefox are very very slim (currently). Opera is nice too, but really, who want's to pay for a browser? Not me.

NOD32.. I guess you know that one :) Fast and very lightweight.
Ewido.. Best malware scanner I've used so far. Could use some speed though.
Bitguard.. Best firewall I have ever used - No impact on internet speed at all (max 1-5%) loads of options and becomes a part of the OS=Maximum security.

[Randy_Bell]

Well now, I have mustered courage to show my face yet once more publicly in the "Other AV" forum. ;D My answer is, as others have answred -- why, the apps I presently have, heh {no flames please, then I'm outta here}: ;D

Norton AntiVirus 2005
TrojanHunter 4.2
ZoneAlarm Pro 5.5.094
MSAS-Beta1 1.0.615

Of course, I have KAV 4.5.104 and BitDefender 8 Standard as manual backup scanners -- and also Ewido free, and a host of antispyware apps {Spy Sweeper, SpySubtract, Spyware Doctor, AdAware, SpyBot S&D} -- but those aren't my primary four" which you asked for. ;D :o :D ::)

[Brian N]

-{ Quote: "...the apps I presently have, heh {no flames please, then I'm outta here}: ;D " }-
Why would anyone flame ya? If you think these apps are right for you, I see no reason to "hide" :)
I must have missed something, but then again, I just recently joined wilders so.. ;)

[Randy_Bell]

-{ Quote: "Why would anyone flame ya? If you think these apps are right for you, I see no reason to "hide" :)
I must have missed something, but then again, I just recently joined wilders so.. ;)" }-OH Shucks, I was half-joking but it sometimes isn't popular to be a NAV-user these days, is the main reason I am tentative about discussing my preferences in public. I did not mean to draw attention to myself, just teasing ya .. :o ::) :D

[Brian N]

-{ Quote: "OH Shucks, I was half-joking but it sometimes isn't popular to be a NAV-user these days, is the main reason I am tentative about discussing my preferences in public. I did not mean to draw attention to myself, just teasing ya .. :o ::) :D" }-
Ah, well if you think NAV is what ya need and what you like, don't be a stranger to tell people about it ;D
I always liked those 'home tests' of an AV when people, who actually tried it, talk about speed, options etc. It's all good :)

PS: Really enjoy your update warnings ;)

[Randy_Bell]

-{ Quote: "Ah, well if you think [Product-X] is what ya need and what you like, don't be a stranger to tell people about it ;D {Slightly Edited by Me ;D}" }-Well thanks Brian, you are such a friendly poster, heh. ;) I guess I would respond to that by saying that I never "push" my preferences onto others, in fact, I usually don't discuss my preferences at all -- most of the time {the vast majority of the time}, I found myself in a defensive posture in recent times -- however, I have come to conclude that I shouldn't even do that {"defend" anything} -- most of the "religious wars" over product preferences are rather futile and, if truth be known, there is a lot of "personal" stuff that sometimes gets interjected into comparative product discussions. It is the personal conflicts with people, due to different people having different preferences, that are distasteful IMHO. But thank you for being so friendly and open. ;)

-{ Quote: "I always liked those 'home tests' of an AV when people, who actually tried it, talk about speed, options etc. It's all good :) PS: Really enjoy your update warnings ;)" }-That's good, to avoid reinventing the wheel I will direct you to BigC's {Curt's} posts, he has tried just about all of 'em, and I find his observations about various products pretty "right-on'" most of the time. ;)

[spy1]

NOD32

ProcessGuard

RegDefend

ShadowUser

And actually, that's all I'm running anymore (at least insofar as apps that actually use resources/run resident - everything else I've got is either "set-it-and-forget-it" or simply stuff I run when I'm bored to see if anyone's having any false positives today). Pete

[ipje]

My Big3 :
- nod32
- kerio 4 Pro
- ewido 3.5 (full)

[ErikAlbert]

I'm an ignorant user.

1. HijackThis v1.99.1
I'm a regular visitor of the subforum "Malware Removal" at forum SWI.

2. Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool
Microsoft's best software in the struggle against malware.
(It has also the longest name ever given to a security software)

3. Bazooka Scanner v1.13.03
The fastest malware scanner, I've ever seen.

4. Unknown
That's why I joined WSF to find the 4th one.


I don't have ProcessGuard, Port Explorer, WormGuard, Trojan Defence Suite, NOD32, File Checker, ID Blaster, MRU Blaster, LooknStop, Acronis, CryptoSuite and RegDefend.
I can only post in the subforums at the bottom, like polls and ten-forward.
So it will take awhile to find the 4th one ;D

[bigbuck]

I'll say 5 min...
Spybot
Adaware
SpywareBlaster
M$ Antispy
Ewido

plus my AV! ;)

[WSFuser]

u must rele have it against spyware. ;D btw shouldnt it say 6 min.?

[richter]

The setup I use now would be my choice. KAV, Outpost Pro, Ewido and SpywareBlaster.

[TopperID]

This is an easy question with an 'obvious' answer ;D ;D ;D

Zone Alarm Pro

KAV

Ewido

Process Guard

So long as you take care of your browser settings you'd be very safe with that lot. :)

If you can't trust yourself to maintain safe browser settings, then I'd say put RegDefend on instead of Ewido - but what a pity to lose ewido. :'(

BTW - SpywareBlaster doesn't run, so you can have that as an extra. ;)

[Infinity]

like the 1000 of other things too :D

[Detox]

NOD32
Sygate PF
AdAware
PG

[Infinity]

nod32
ewido
tiny
admuncher


.. now I saw it ;D

[Detox]

*poke poke* half the challenge is narrowing it down to 4 ::)

[Infinity]

yeah saw it too late :D

[Rui]

Here is my list:

(1) KAV
(2) ProcessGuard full version
(3) RegDefend
(4) Spysweeper

[Godlike]

KAV
ProcessGuard
RegRun
Outpost

[bigbuck]

-{ Quote: "*poke poke* half the challenge is narrowing it down to 4 ::)" }-Yeah! ...but it's just like beer to me.....4 is never enough! ;)

[richrf]

Is anyone keeping score so that we all know what is the "perfect consenus" configuration? :D

Rich

[Atomic_Ed]

Avast! Professional
SpySweeper
Microsoft Antispyware
(Can't say on the 4th as there still is not a viable Firewall for x64 but would probably be Mcafee Personal Firewall Plus whenever they make it compatible)

[InfinityAz]

-{ Quote: "Is anyone keeping score so that we all know what is the "perfect consenus" configuration? :D

Rich" }-

Yes, I'll post a score later tonight or Wednesday night (depending on how many more responses there are).

[richrf]

-{ Quote: "Yes, I'll post a score later tonight or Wednesday night (depending on how many more responses there are)." }-

Thx. Just eyeballing it right now, it seems like the top vote getters are NOD32, Ewido, KAV, ProcessGuard, and RegDefend. Surprisingly, it doesn't seem like firewalls are getting that many votes. I personally would not be without a sw firewall, but maybe others think the router is enough.

Rich

[snowbound]

NOD32
ZA+(long expired)
Adaware+
Boclean
(and a pinch of SpyCop to boot) ;) ;D


snowbound

[Weber]

Netveda/Kerio Free
BitDefender Free
Ewido Free
Winpatrol

[Detox]

-{ Quote: "Yeah! ...but it's just like beer to me.....4 is never enough! ;)" }-

That is a valid point... :P

[solarpowered candle]

using firefox ( deerpark2 ) with adblock plus and noscript with cookies deleted on closing pretty much solves any need for a lot of minor applications

Look n stop ( firewall )
Kav lite ( anti virus/ trojan/ wormz)
Benign (complete email anti virus protection)
process guard

the above 4 are all either 5 yr licences or life time ( free upgrades) and have cost me around $110 all up.
this is currently all I am running.

[bigc73542]

trend Micro internet security 2005
processguard
spywareblaster
ewido

I would never have just four but, if they were all I could have??

[Capp]

NOD32
Ewido (free version)
Ad-Aware SE Personal
SpywareBlaster

[JerryM]

I am pleased with my own set up.
All are paid versions.
Bit Defender 8.0
LnS Firewall
Ewido
Counterspy.

Jerry

[why]

-{ Quote: "Is anyone keeping score so that we all know what is the "perfect consenus" configuration? :D

Rich" }-

And why would the majority of different peoples opinions here be perfect? Especially on a Process Guard and Reg Defend forum?

The only way to come close to what is the perfect configuration would be for some unbiased person(s) to perform the necessary tests to determine what is truly best. Only through rigorous testing of all mentioned products, done by a qualified and completely unbiased honest individual(s), would come close to yielding the best results.

Also the testing could not be funded by any of the companies who's products were being tested, to be completely fair. Such tests would be very time consuming, and expensive, and would most likely be funded by one or more of the products being tested anyway, and therefore could not be fully relied on.

Though Kareldjag has done some tests, I'm not sure how accurate and, no offense, but, honest they truly were. I saw it mentioned by Kareldjag himself that companies like DCS gave him a full copy of Process Guard for the tests, and to some that could be viewed as a payoff.

Anyway I like,

AntiHook
Msas
NAV or KAV
ZA

[dog]

For me ....

Process Guard
RegDefend
NOD
and any imaging program (for me personally that would be Acronis) ... if worse comes to worse, just image back to a clean image. ;)

*As a bonus I'll add RegRun Gold* ... I didn't mention a FW but I didn't think it was in the range of the question ... my pick in this category would LnS ... other than these I don't think anything else is needed.

Steve

[richter]

-{ Quote: "
BTW - SpywareBlaster doesn't run, so you can have that as an extra. ;)" }-

Apologies. I understood run = install/use (passively), not in a real term running in the background.

If so, then I'd probably use MSAS.

I see many people include HIPS. To me personally, HIPS are too much hassle to use, with current design. I've tried RegRun and PG just a few days ago and I ran it for 10 hours before I uninstalled it. It doesn't rock my boat. I've tightened IE (Enough is Enough) and I started making myself use Firefox for past two weeks. HIPS doesn't provide much protection (to me) next to KAV and Outpost already running. If I had to use such software I'd go with something like PG or Antihook - registry monitoring software are nothing but a pain, to me. I install/uninstall and test software frequently and update a lot so switching such software (HIPS) all the time is nothing but unneeded protection which slows down my daily routines. Needless to stress, this is just my personal view on HIPS and my own experience. I am not saying using it is bad or am I discouraging anyone to use it

[the Tester]

In addition to Zone Alarm I use:

1.VBa32 a/v.
2.Ewido(free).
3.Spyware Blaster.
4.Zero Spyware.

[cnt32]

-{ Quote: "

-{ Quote: "Is anyone keeping score so that we all know what is the "perfect consenus" configuration? " }-

And why would the majority of different peoples opinions here be perfect? Especially on a Process Guard and Reg Defend forum?

The only way to come close to what is the perfect configuration would be for some unbiased person(s) to perform the necessary tests to determine what is truly best. " }-

And even then, all that testing determines what is 'best' for a certain configuration and user.

Looking for a 'best configuration' among a diverse bunch of people with different needs is a fool's errand.

[puff-m-d]

My choices are:


either KAV (http://www.kaspersky.com/) or NOD32 (http://www.eset.com/home/home.htm) (I have more than one machine)
RegDefend (http://www.ghostsecurity.com/index.php?page=regdefend)
RegRun Gold (http://www.greatis.com/security/)
Process Guard (http://www.diamondcs.com.au/processguard/)


;D

[bellgamin]

DrWeb
Online Armor (or is it Online Armour; or Online Amour?)
Watcher
a-squared

Beyond here, there be dragons. :o

[Detox]

-{ Quote: "And why would the majority of different peoples opinions here be perfect? Especially on a Process Guard and Reg Defend forum?

The only way to come close to what is the perfect configuration would be for some unbiased person(s) to perform the necessary tests to determine what is truly best. Only through rigorous testing of all mentioned products, done by a qualified and completely unbiased honest individual(s), would come close to yielding the best results.

Also the testing could not be funded by any of the companies who's products were being tested, to be completely fair. Such tests would be very time consuming, and expensive, and would most likely be funded by one or more of the products being tested anyway, and therefore could not be fully relied on.

Though Kareldjag has done some tests, I'm not sure how accurate and, no offense, but, honest they truly were. I saw it mentioned by Kareldjag himself that companies like DCS gave him a full copy of Process Guard for the tests, and to some that could be viewed as a payoff.

" }-

And why not? would you seriously consider the majority here seriously biased in some way or another? If so please explain. It seems so far that you are dismissing the experience of every poster here (if not more) pertaining to their own experiences. Can you honestly say that all these folks are wrong in expressing their own decisions/opinions as to what 4 security softwares they would choose if they were allowed only four as the thread originator did specify? I think it's time for a little bit of good old fashioned unbiased thought - which this thread was full of up to a certain point.

[PnP]

Personally use..

NOD32
Outpost Pro 2.7
Boclean
S&D
Ad-aware

[InfinityAz]

Thanks to everyone who posted and valuing/allowing everyone's opinion to count.

Here are the top ten results after 24 hours (158 total choices made - 58 different applications suggested):

Product - Votes - Percent
1. NOD32 - 19 - 12.0%
2. Ewido - 15 - 9.5%
3. ProcessGuard - 15 - 9.5%
4. KAV - 12 - 7.6%
5. RegDefend - 9 - 5.7%
6. Zonealarm - 8 - 5.1%
7. MSAS - 7 - 4.4%
8. Ad-Aware - 6 - 3.8%
9. SpywareBlaster - 5 - 3.2%
10. Online Armor - 4 - 2.5%

Just to let you know, I combined a few numbers when there were both free and paid versions (if someone didn't specify free, I assumed they meant the paid version).

Ewido (Free - 2 / Paid - 13)
KAV (Lite -1 / Web - 1 / KAV - 10)
Zonealarm (Free - 5 / Paid - 3)
Ad-Aware (Free - 5 / SE - 1)

I'll update the numbers in 24 hours if input continues.

[Detox]

that works - for the record my AdAware is the free version.

[BlueZannetti]

Aside from also running RegDefend, this is what I actually use and all I actually use at the moment (well, OK, RD is in there also, but I had to leave one off):

NOD32 or KAV WS (depends on specific PC)
BOClean
SafenSec
LooknStop

Blue

[.....]

I only use 3 apps on my computer:

KIS 2006 (who cares if its beta ::) )
Outpost
Anti-hook/Online Armor (still deciding between the two)

If i need to add something else it'd be between:
Ewido
A2 Personal

[halcyon]

This is purely hypothetical as I don't run the following myself, because my security setup is a combination of speed/security/ease-of-use/stability.

If somebody wants to try out a little bit more secure setup, perhaps the following would be good:

1. AntiVir: G-Data AVK(KAV + Bitdefender defs, best defs, very good heuristics). Not KAV5Pro, because I don't trust it (it can shut itself off and not notify the user). NOD32, if you are willing to give up the speed of updates and slightly worse detection and have even better heuristics with less resource usage.

2. Anti-trojan: None (def based), if you choose G-Data AVK with KAV+BD defs. Really. I doubt even Ewido is better than the AT of those two great AV combined (see the recent c't test on this and DiamondCS's opinion on the issue).

Instead I'd pick a hosts file (combined manually from several sources, like I've done myself). Why? It's super efficient, it doesn't take a resources, slow down your system or cause unsolvable incompatibilities with various other security software. Also, it blocks a lot of ads, tracking cookies, malware, viri, trojans, etc. Takes a lot of updating and pruning manually though.

If you pick Nod32, then I'd Ewido as an AT (TDS no longer updates, BoClean second option). I think it's the best AT still being supported, but there are no 1:1 solid reviews on this, so it's subjective.

3. Anti-spyware/crapware: Counterspy (better than Microsoft, much better than the free competition). I think this is really a simple decision.

4. Application/DLL/thread protector. I'd choose processguard (paid), but it doesn't work with all games (or Punkbuster using games like BF2 don't work with it, depends on the way you want to look at it. Still if you play FPS net-games, PG is not an option). As such, I'd pick something else. Which one? Probably SSM if it's stable with my setup or Antihook.

I'm assuming you don't need outbound net access control for programs you have deemed safe. If you do, I'd pick up Jetico to replace selection from 4 as a combo of firewall + DLL protection.

Please note that the above combo may not be fully working. I haven't tested it myself. Also, it contains some overlap, but there is no full second line of defense for each protection (in each attack category). Hence for some specific attacks, there is a single point point of failure.

Why don't I run it? I don't have time nor the money to buy and try everything. If I did, I'd probably at least try the above combo out.

regards,
Halcyon

PS I'm tempted to replace AV/AT/Antispyware with the following: continuous User education, safe hex & continuous review/update of security practises/policies. But those are not products...

[ErikAlbert]

-{ Quote: "Yeah! ...but it's just like beer to me.....4 is never enough! ;)" }-
I concur. After all Belgium is a beer country.
This thread is IMO equal to the "4 word sentences" game in the subforum "ten-forward".

[Pmd]

1. McAfee Virusscan Enterprise 8.0i (is it good?)
2. Ewido
3. Outpost PRO
4. Spysweeper

[Don Pelotas]

-{ Quote: "I concur. After all Belgium is a beer country." }-
I also agree, a sixpack is the bare minimum... ;)

[WSFuser]

@pmd - if u search teh forums u will find the answer, i believe bigc uses it and ive tried it before. i rele like it but i dont like the options for handling viruses and teh dialog when it finds a virus is a bit confusing.

[Firefighter]

-{ Quote: "Hi,

I had a post last week looking for advice but unfortunately it mainly turned into a discussion about one product. So I thought I'd make it easier to get advice by posing the following question:

Assuming you have a router (NAT Firewall) and can only run 4 anti-malware applications (freeware, shareware, or commercial), what would you run/install?

Thanks for you help and am looking forward to your responses. :)" }-If those Firewalls were outcluded, my choice will be like this,

DrWeb 4.32b w AntiSpy Beta defs + the browser link scan option in it
BOClean 4.12
Ewido 3.5 Plus
M$ AntiSpyware Beta

Best regards,
Firefighter!

[halcyon]

Firefighter,

why MS Antispyware, when Counterspy has more definitions, doesn't exclude known spyware and updates faster?

Is it just because MS is free?

Just curious to know your opinion, as I respect it.

[illukka]

being free probably, we savonians dont like to waste our money ;D

my choices:
drweb with spyware bases
boclean
process guard
win patrol plus 9.7

boclean/ drweb with spyware bases will catch most spyware, so no need for a dedicated spyware scanner
process guard wont let them run
win patrol nails their startups

or alternately
nod 32
tiny personal firewall, windows security module enabled, rest disabled like i run it( this computer has an enterprise grade HW firewall)
trojan hunter
again win patrol :)




in fact these are the setups of my comps now

[Firefighter]

-{ Quote: "Firefighter,

why MS Antispyware, when Counterspy has more definitions, doesn't exclude known spyware and updates faster?

Is it just because MS is free?

Just curious to know your opinion, as I respect it." }-Because MS is free.

Best regards,
Firefighter!

[Wai_Wai]

It has to be:
Anti-virus: Kaspersky has (nearly) the best AV capabilities on most tests
Firewall: how about ZoneAlarm?
Process/file Execution: I'm trying ProcessGuard
Anti-spyware: I will choose MS Anti-spyware (it purchased the good anti-spyware - GIANT)

I would highly NOT recommend anyone to use anti-trojan program.
Why? To save long explanation, I simply quote one result from a test (Aug 2004):
AV = anti-virus
AT = anti-trojan

AV List (from top to down) ==========Detection Rate for ITW Trojan
AntiVirenKit(Kaspersky-based, German)===99.80%
Kaspersky Personal Pro===============99.52%
...
Nod32============================71.37%
AVG=============================55.58%

AT List (from top to down)===========Detection Rate for ITW Trojan (%)
TDS=============================54.80
...
Hacker Eliminator==================10.82
Anti-Hacker & Trojan Expert===========00.01 (how dare you call yourself expert!!)

As a simple rule, you should not bother any trojan program unless you use bad anti-virus programs or you wish to have even some slightly more protection.

For details of the above, read http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=531007#post531007

By the way, if you wish to have your own investigation, a good place to start is: http://www.virus.gr/english/fullxml/default.asp

[InfinityAz]

Here are the updated top ten results (192 total choices - 64 different products):

Product - Votes - Percent
1. NOD32 - 20 - 17.4%
2. Ewido - 18 - 15.7%
2. ProcessGuard - 18 - 15.7%
4. KAV - 14 - 12.2%
5. MSAS - 9 - 7.8%
5. RegDefend - 9 - 7.8%
5. Zonealarm - 9 - 7.8%
8. Ad-Aware - 7 - 6.1%
9. Outpost Pro - 6 - 5.2%
10. Boclean - 5 - 4.3%

Once again, I combined free with paid to determine top ten. The next post will contain all the choices and unless there is a spurt of new votes, I won't be totaling and/or posting results anymore. Thanks to everyone who voted. ;D

[InfinityAz]

Here are all the choices arranged in descending order based on number of votes (192 total choices - 64 products):

Product - Votes - Percent
NOD32 - 20 - 10.4%
ProcessGuard - 18 - 9.4%
Ewido - 16 - 8.3%
KAV - 12 - 6.3%
MSAS - 9 - 4.7%
RegDefend - 9 - 4.7%
Ad-Aware - 6 - 3.1%
Outpost Pro - 6 - 3.1%
Zonealarm (Free) - 6 - 3.1%
Boclean - 5 - 2.6%
Online Armor - 5 - 2.6%
SpywareBlaster - 5 - 2.6%
Antihook - 4 - 2.1%
Look n Stop - 4 - 2.1%
Counterspy - 3 - 1.6%
Dr.Web - 3 - 1.6%
Spybot S&D - 3 - 1.6%
Spysweeper - 3 - 1.6%
Zonealarm Pro - 3 - 1.6%
Ewido (Free) - 2 - 1.0%
Kerio Pro - 2 - 1.0%
MS Malicious Software Removal Tool - 2 - 1.0%
NAV - 2 - 1.0%
Prevx (Free) - 2 - 1.0%
RegRun - 2 - 1.0%
Sygate Personal Firewall - 2 - 1.0%
Acronis True Image - 1 - 0.5%
Ad-Aware SE - 1 - 0.5%
Admuncher - 1 - 0.5%
AntiMalware Pro - 1 - 0.5%
a-squared - 1 - 0.5%
Avast Pro - 1 - 0.5%
AVG - 1 - 0.5%
Bazooka Scanner - 1 - 0.5%
Benign - 1 - 0.5%
Bitdefender - 1 - 0.5%
Bitdefender (Free) - 1 - 0.5%
Bitguard - 1 - 0.5%
eTrust Enterprise - 1 - 0.5%
G-Data AVK - 1 - 0.5%
HijackThis - 1 - 0.5%
Jetico - 1 - 0.5%
KAV Lite - 1 - 0.5%
KAV Web scanner - 1 - 0.5%
Kerio (Free) - 1 - 0.5%
Kerio 2.1.5 - 1 - 0.5%
KIS 2006 - 1 - 0.5%
McAfee Personal Firewall Plus - 1 - 0.5%
Mcafee Virusscan Enterprise - 1 - 0.5%
Netveda (Free) - 1 - 0.5%
Port Explorer - 1 - 0.5%
Prevx1 - 1 - 0.5%
Safe 'n' Sec - 1 - 0.5%
ShadowUser - 1 - 0.5%
SnoopFree - 1 - 0.5%
Spyware Doctor - 1 - 0.5%
Tiny Firewall - 1 - 0.5%
TrojanHunter - 1 - 0.5%
UnHackMe - 1 - 0.5%
VBA32 - 1 - 0.5%
Watcher - 1 - 0.5%
Winpatrol - 1 - 0.5%
Winpatrol Plus - 1 - 0.5%
Zero Spyware - 1 - 0.5%

[richrf]

Thanks for the tabulation!

Regards,
Rich

[HD rider UK]

For what its worth, here is my selection

ZA Free (or if software firewalls are not included - Avast)
Ewido Full
Online Armour
Webroot Spysweeper Full

HDriderUK

[muf]

1. Any known respectable firewall. Take your pick!
2. KAV with extended bases.
3. BOClean
4. Regrun Gold

[Blackspear]

Nod32
Process Guard 3
RegDefend
Look n Stop

Though I would want to add in CounterSpy and Acronis True Image 8.0

Cheers ;D

PS. this would have been good as a Poll.

[Alantir]

1. Outpost Firewall Pro
2. NOD32
3. ProcessGuard
4. RegDefend

[gerardwil]

At the moment, but changing every now and then:

BitDef Pro
Ewido Plus
Spy Sweeper
Pest Patrol

[hollywoodpc]

Very simple for security .

Online Armour
AntiMalware by Trustware
Good firewall ( Preferrably Outpost Pro )
Good AV ( Preferrably NOD 32 )

[Osaban]

1) ShadowUser Pro 2.5
2) Outpost Firewall Pro 2.7
3) NOD32
4) ProcessGuard full version

[Wai_Wai]

-{ Quote: "1. Any known respectable firewall. Take your pick!
2. KAV with extended bases.
3. BOClean
4. Regrun Gold" }-

What is KAV with extended bases?
How can I get this?

[Wake2]

After giving this some thought ..

1) Kaspersky
2) OutpostPro
3) Firefox w/SpywareBlaster
4) ProcessGuard

Wai_Wai extended databases in Kaspersky are in settings,
threats and exclusions, antivirus database in use, and the
choices are to use standard or extended.

Regards,

Wake

[richrf]

-{ Quote: "After giving this some thought ..


Wai_Wai extended databases in Kaspersky are in settings,
threats and exclusions, antivirus database in use, and the
choices are to use standard or extended." }-

In the Pro version, there is also a redundant database setting. I do not believe Pro is available in the U.S market anymore, though ICE Systems may be still making it available to their customers.

Rich

[Don Pelotas]

-{ Quote: "In the Pro version, there is also a redundant database setting. I do not believe Pro is available in the U.S market anymore, though ICE Systems may be still making it available to their customers.

Rich" }-
The redundantbases are not available anymore, the option is just still there in the GUI, but they are not on the server and AFAIK are only available to sysadmins who request them.

Kaspersky Pro is still sold through http://store.ice-kav.com/, the Us-distributor and i think it's also available the official site, can't test that because i'm located in europe, but it was only pulled for a while AFAIK, you can see for yourself if it's there now: http://www.kaspersky.com/store

[Wai_Wai]

-{ Quote: "
Wai_Wai extended databases in Kaspersky are in settings,
threats and exclusions, antivirus database in use, and the
choices are to use standard or extended.
" }-

Just my first thought.
Does that option make sense?

Everyone wishes to have more protection, so they should choose "extended".
Any ideas why KAV would offer such options?
And in your opinion, which do you think should be chosen, standard or extended?

[muf]

Extended bases include detection of spyware, adware, Keyloggers, dialers etc. I've always used extended for the further protection.

muf

[richrf]

-{ Quote: "The redundantbases are not available anymore, the option is just still there in the GUI, but they are not on the server and AFAIK are only available to sysadmins who request them.
" }-

Thanks for the updated info Don.

Rich

[richrf]

-{ Quote: "Everyone wishes to have more protection, so they should choose "extended". Any ideas why KAV would offer such options?
And in your opinion, which do you think should be chosen, standard or extended?" }-

The only reason I can think of for the options is that there may be more false positives with the extended database that some users may not want to deal with. I use extended databases, and don't remember ever getting a false positive but other users have reported such occurrences.

Rich

[Don Pelotas]

The extended don't generate more false positives than the standard, hate that word actually, because they are more than adequate for most users and by far the biggest, the extended "only" adds 8500 sigs ATM of adware, pornstuff and riskware, the most important thing with the extended is to not set Kav to auto delete and you are warned not to do this when you switch to the extended, the reason for this is the riskware catagory, the are not infections, but detections of programs that are potentially risky to use and much of the FP's you hear about from the extended are actually from this riskware catagory and not really FP's, but it is of course annoying if you have deleted a program you like and use daily this way. :)

[toploader]

only four hmmmm that's a tuffy, lemme see now - i've still got a lot of research to do on this subject so my answer will probably change directly after i hit the post button.

if online armour fulfils it's early promise then i can see myself giving it serious consideration as my primary defence shield around ver 1.4 if the firewall makes it into the setup.

that should stop most things from running - though i'm not sure if it will be able to handle the next generation of invisible root kits.

i would want a second layer of defence in the shape of a good spyware/trojan scanner - i'm not sure there are many that cut the mustard at the moment - most scanners only find a percentage of what's out there and malware is getting more and more sophisicated according to the black hat briefings. it would be between spycop and counterspy at the moment.

i would want a good windows cleanup program something that could fix registry errors with one click but would have full manual editing as well for more inticate work if needs be. i'm not sure at the moment what that might be.

my 4th application would be a good anti-virus again my knowledge is sketchy here - Norton is the market leader so i would probably go for that until i understood better what else is out there. at the moment i'm using AVG which i'm not sure is up to the job but then it's hard to tell until i get a virus and find out just how good AVG is.

[trojan]

1 kav pro with (redundant) database lol
2 port explorer
3 sygate pro or outpost
4 spyware doctor

change the question to 6 apps so i can have tds-3 and keen sence hidden process viewer 8)

[donsan]

kav 5.0 personal pro
process guard
regdefend
outpost pro 2.7

[PnP]

NOD32 2.5025
Zonealarm 6
BoClean
Regdefend

[rawr]

Nod32
Spyware Doctor
Spyware Eliminator
Ewido


.. plus both my software & hardware firewall. ;D

[Paranoid2000]

Better late than never...my current setup:

Outpost Pro (firewall plus simple web/email filtering)
System Safety Monitor (program control plus registry monitoring)
Process Guard (more robust than SSM but less control)
Proxomitron (with Grypen's filterset plus custom filters - top class webpage filtering)

No anti-virus (I have been testing KAV2006 but it's been removed after a day due to problems) since my risk profile is minimal (I've only encountered one virus, in an email, during the last 6 years). The emphasis in my setup is filtering what comes in and controlling what gets run.

[Rmus]

Better late than never...my current setup:

1) Kerio 2.1.5 Firewall
2) ISP with email filtering (spam/malware)
2) Anti-Executable
3) Deep Freeze

No AV/AT since my risk profile is minimal - and no AV/AT program can match the 100% prevention rate that I have experienced in many years.

The emphasis in my setup is filtering what comes in and controlling what gets run.

EDIT: Just informed that ISP filter is not an application that I run; oh well...

-rich
________________
~~Be ALERT!!! ~~

[TNT]

Well, on a Windows PC I would use:

First and foremost, Deep Freeze -> with the "C" drive where Windows and the programs are always boot frozen (except for upgrades), plus another disk not frozen where I would save my documents.

Then Kaspersky Personal Pro as the antivirus, with redundant database.

Ewido Security Suite, as an additional scan on demand in case Kaspersky ever misses something.

SpywareBlaster as a basic browser protection.

As a matter of fact, that's what I use (not that I use only these, but I would keep these if I had to choose only four).

EDIT: it must be noted that I'm behind a hardware firewall, however. If that was not the case and I still had to choose only four, I most definitely would take off SpywareBlaster and replace it with a personal firewall, like Sygate.

[TNT]

-{ Quote: "
EDIT: Just informed that ISP filter is not an application that I run; oh well..." }-

Yeah. I would have said "Sneakemail", but that's not an application that I run, either. However, that's certainly one I wouldn't wanna live without. With it, I haven't got one spam message in who knows how long... years.

[abhi_mittal]

I would go for:

Avast Prof
ProcessGuard Full
Ewido Full
Spybot S&D

[InfinityAz]

Here are the updated top ten results (72 different products - 257 votes):

Product - Votes - Percent
1. NOD32 - 26 - 10.1%
2. ProcessGuard - 25 - 9.7%
3. Ewido - 21 - 8.2%
4. KAV - 19 - 7.4%
5. RegDefend - 13 - 5.1%
6. Outpost Pro - 12 - 4.7%
7. Zonealarm - 11 - 4.3%
8. MS AntiSpyware - 9 - 3.5%
9. Online Armor - 8 - 3.1%
10. Ad-Aware - 7 - 2.7%
10. Boclean - 7 - 2.7%
10. SpywareBlaster - 7 - 2.7%

I combined free with paid to determine top ten. The next post will contain all the choices. I'll check every week or so and if there are additional votes, I'll update these the totals.

[InfinityAz]

Here are all the choices, arranged in descending order based on number of votes and then alphabetically (72 products - 257 votes):

Product - Votes - Percent
NOD32 - 26 - 10.1%
ProcessGuard - 25 - 9.7%
Ewido - 21 - 8.2%
KAV - 17 - 6.6%
RegDefend - 13 - 5.1%
Outpost Pro - 12 - 4.7%
MS AntiSpyware - 9 - 3.5%
Online Armor - 8 - 3.1%
Boclean - 7 - 2.7%
SpywareBlaster - 7 - 2.7%
Zonealarm (Free) - 7 - 2.7%
Ad-Aware - 6 - 2.3%
Look n Stop - 5 - 1.9%
Spysweeper - 5 - 1.9%
Antihook - 4 - 1.6%
Spybot S&D - 4 - 1.6%
Zonealarm Pro - 4 - 1.6%
Counterspy - 3 - 1.2%
Dr.Web - 3 - 1.2%
NAV - 3 - 1.2%
RegRun - 3 - 1.2%
Spyware Doctor - 3 - 1.2%
AntiMalware Pro - 2 - 0.8%
Avast Pro - 2 - 0.8%
Bitdefender - 2 - 0.8%
Deep Freeze - 2 - 0.8%
Ewido (Free) - 2 - 0.8%
Kerio 2.1.5 - 2 - 0.8%
Kerio Pro - 2 - 0.8%
MS Malicious Software Removal Tool - 2 - 0.8%
Port Explorer - 2 - 0.8%
Prevx (Free) - 2 - 0.8%
ShadowUser - 2 - 0.8%
Sygate Personal Firewall - 2 - 0.8%
Acronis True Image - 1 - 0.4%
Ad-Aware SE - 1 - 0.4%
Admuncher - 1 - 0.4%
Anti-Executable - 1 - 0.4%
a-squared - 1 - 0.4%
AVG - 1 - 0.4%
Bazooka Scanner - 1 - 0.4%
Benign - 1 - 0.4%
Bitdefender (Free) - 1 - 0.4%
Bitguard - 1 - 0.4%
eTrust Enterprise - 1 - 0.4%
G-Data AVK - 1 - 0.4%
HijackThis - 1 - 0.4%
Jetico - 1 - 0.4%
KAV Lite - 1 - 0.4%
KAV Web scanner - 1 - 0.4%
Kerio (Free) - 1 - 0.4%
KIS 2006 - 1 - 0.4%
McAfee Personal Firewall Plus - 1 - 0.4%
Mcafee Virusscan Enterprise - 1 - 0.4%
Netveda (Free) - 1 - 0.4%
Pest Patrol - 1 - 0.4%
Prevx1 - 1 - 0.4%
Proxomitron - 1 - 0.4%
Safe 'n' Sec - 1 - 0.4%
SnoopFree - 1 - 0.4%
Spycop - 1 - 0.4%
Spyware Eliminator - 1 - 0.4%
Sygate Pro - 1 - 0.4%
System Safety Monitor - 1 - 0.4%
Tiny Firewall - 1 - 0.4%
TrojanHunter - 1 - 0.4%
UnHackMe - 1 - 0.4%
VBA32 - 1 - 0.4%
Watcher - 1 - 0.4%
Winpatrol - 1 - 0.4%
Winpatrol Plus - 1 - 0.4%
Zero Spyware - 1 - 0.4%

[Cerxes]

pg, regdefend, ZA, Shadowuser :-*

[World Industries]

1. Online Armor
2. SpywareBlaster
3. Ad-Aware SE Professional
4. SpySweeper

Additional: Spybot, AntiVir, Look n stop, Arovax Shield, A-squared

World Industries

[Vikorr]

ShadowUser
Online Armor
Kaspersky
Process Guard

<this is assuming one is allowed to have a hardware firewall...otherwise I'd drop one for a software firewall>

[webmedic]

nod32 paid
spybot s & d
adaware free
webroot spysweeper paid

I also use mwav escan toolkit free (kav with extended bases) I find this is a good back up to the others. and also points out spyware that may be left out by adaware for instance on purpose)
and have a2 installed but find it really doesn't offer anything beyond kav and nod32 combined

[ReGen]

Online Armor
TrojanHunter
SpySweeper
Port Explorer

[Brandon]

BOClean
Online Armor
SpywareBlaster
ArovaxShield

[Sxperm]

Too many in my signature but If I've to choose only 4...here
1. KAV 6 Pro ;D (Soon)
2. Regdefend
3. Spybot 1.4+
4. Processguard

;) sounds good huh

[samgar]

Mc Afee Virusscan
Kerio Personal Firewall
Counterspy
Spamfighter

[Dexter]

KAV
Spy sweeper
Trendmicro antispyware
Ewido(full)

[best16888]

KAV PRO
Counterspy
spysweeper
SpywareBlaster

[InfinityAz]

Here are the updated top thirteen results (76 applicatons - 296 votes):

Product - Votes - Percent
1. ProcessGuard - 28 - 9.5%
2. NOD32 - 27 - 9.1%
3. Ewido - 24 - 8.1%
4. KAV - 23 - 7.8%
5. RegDefend - 15 - 5.1%
6. Online Armor - 12 - 4.1%
6. Outpost Pro - 12 - 4.1%
6. Zonealarm - 12 - 4.1%
9. Spysweeper - 10 - 3.4%
10. SpywareBlaster - 10 - 3.4%
11. Ad-Aware - 9 - 3.0%
11. MS AntiSpyware - 9 - 3.0%
13. Boclean - 8 - 2.7%

I combined free with paid to determine top thirteen. The next post will contain all the choices. I'll check and update the totals, if necessary. ;D

[InfinityAz]

Here are all the choices, arranged alphabetically (76 applicatons - 296 votes):

Product - Votes - Percent
Acronis True Image - 1 - 0.3%
Ad-Aware - 7 - 2.4%
Ad-Aware SE - 2 - 0.7%
Admuncher - 1 - 0.3%
Anti-Executable - 1 - 0.3%
Antihook - 4 - 1.4%
AntiMalware Pro - 2 - 0.7%
Arovax Shield - 1 - 0.3%
a-squared - 1 - 0.3%
Avast Pro - 2 - 0.7%
AVG - 1 - 0.3%
Bazooka Scanner - 1 - 0.3%
Benign - 1 - 0.3%
Bitdefender - 2 - 0.7%
Bitdefender (Free) - 1 - 0.3%
Bitguard - 1 - 0.3%
Boclean - 8 - 2.7%
Counterspy - 4 - 1.4%
Deep Freeze - 2 - 0.7%
Dr.Web - 3 - 1.0%
eTrust Enterprise - 1 - 0.3%
Ewido - 22 - 7.4%
Ewido (Free) - 2 - 0.7%
G-Data AVK - 1 - 0.3%
HijackThis - 1 - 0.3%
Jetico - 1 - 0.3%
KAV - 21 - 7.1%
KAV Lite - 1 - 0.3%
KAV Web scanner - 1 - 0.3%
Kerio 4.x - 1 - 0.3%
Kerio 2.1.5 - 2 - 0.7%
Kerio Pro - 3 - 1.0%
KIS 2006 - 1 - 0.3%
Look 'n' Stop - 5 - 1.7%
McAfee Personal Firewall Plus - 1 - 0.3%
Mcafee Virusscan - 1 - 0.3%
Mcafee Virusscan Enterprise - 1 - 0.3%
MS AntiSpyware - 9 - 3.0%
MS Malicious Software Removal Tool - 2 - 0.7%
NAV - 3 - 1.0%
Netveda (Free) - 1 - 0.3%
NOD32 - 27 - 9.1%
Online Armor - 12 - 4.1%
Outpost Pro - 12 - 4.1%
Pest Patrol - 1 - 0.3%
Port Explorer - 3 - 1.0%
Prevx (Free) - 2 - 0.7%
Prevx1 - 1 - 0.3%
ProcessGuard - 28 - 9.5%
Proxomitron - 1 - 0.3%
RegDefend - 15 - 5.1%
RegRun - 3 - 1.0%
Safe 'n' Sec - 1 - 0.3%
ShadowUser - 4 - 1.4%
SnoopFree - 1 - 0.3%
Spamfighter - 1 - 0.3%
Spybot S&D - 6 - 2.0%
Spycop - 1 - 0.3%
Spysweeper - 10 - 3.4%
Spyware Doctor - 3 - 1.0%
Spyware Eliminator - 1 - 0.3%
SpywareBlaster - 10 - 3.4%
Sygate Personal Firewall - 2 - 0.7%
Sygate Pro - 1 - 0.3%
System Safety Monitor - 1 - 0.3%
Tiny Firewall - 1 - 0.3%
Trendmicro Antispyware - 1 - 0.3%
TrojanHunter - 2 - 0.7%
UnHackMe - 1 - 0.3%
VBA32 - 1 - 0.3%
Watcher - 1 - 0.3%
Winpatrol - 1 - 0.3%
Winpatrol Plus - 1 - 0.3%
Zero Spyware - 1 - 0.3%
Zonealarm (Free) - 7 - 2.4%
Zonealarm Pro - 5 - 1.7%

[HandsOff]

I just stumbled on to this doing a search and thought I'd post mine, and also admit...I don't even know some of these apps. And they are probably quite good!

The following work well for me

1) NAV
2) Trojan Hunter
3) RegDefend

(and I may be stretching the definition of anti-malware apps with number 4, but I don't think so. It does allow you to spot stuff and put an end to it)

4) JV16 (a registry cleaning and editing tool with a few other services)


- HandsOff

[Stann]

1. AVG
2. SpyCop
3. SpyBot S&D
4. n/a

[danny9]

Kav Security suite
BoClean
Spywareblaster
Spywareguard

Also use Counterspy as on demand only

[Rock Smasher]

Here's what's been working for me:

1. AVG Antivirus Free version.
2. Sygate personal firewall.
3. PREVX Home.
4. Spyware Blaster.

8)

[Termoil]

My Votes would be for:

1. Prevx 1
2. Windows XP Firewall
3. Grisoft Free AV

nothing else.

[YeOldeStonecat]

NOD32
Opera for my usual browser
Windows Updates keeping my system up to date
My router for NAT protection

So it's really only 2x apps, plus a router, plus using my common sense.

[Liz8]

1. Spybot sd
2. Outpost pro
3. NOD32
4. Spycop

[ComputerDebugger]

Ghost Security Suite
ESET NOD32
ewido
Look 'n' Stop

[TECHWG]

_____________________________________
Outpost Firewall Pro 3

Tiny PersonL Firewall (Custom install withought firewall) {this for the windows security}

Process Guard (for driver/service installation prevention + anti terminate)

NOD32 antivirus
______________________________________

if you have or can get hold of these . . . Try it. Its a winner combonation + extras Those are "The Four" But for extra information here are All the tools i use for everything in my security, Inluding detection and tracking.
WARNING: Some of these programs need to be custom installed/configured to work together, I am only listing the programs i am not going to go and explain all the config.

Outpost Pro 3
Process Guard (paid version)
Tiny Personal Firewall (latest)
NOD32 (latest)
Port Explorer (latest)
ShadowUser (latest)
NeoTrace Pro 3.25
Process Explorer (latest)
WinSpy 2 and orinal version1
UnHackMe
MOZILLA FIREFOX (latest)
PGP (9)
TrueCrypt (4.0)
Privacy Keyboard (6.2) - They are working on this to detect new Hyped up Kernel based keyloggers such as ELITE Keylogger.
Unlocker (for releasing programs control over a file so it can be deleted withought need for reboot)
Advanced Process Terminator
Advanced Process Manipulator
AutoRuns (sysinternals)
NetworkActivSnifferV1.5
AntiSpy
AXE Hex editor
And i was told about Ewido but only tried it once not sure about it.


This is from memory about the best comprehencive list of "sht you will need" i am a CompTIA qualified technician and believe me when i say most qualifications are crap and dont teach you 1/4 of what you need to Survive Cyber Space. all those tools mentioned above are all in use by me and are either EXE ready to run or installed on my system. If you have anything that you think i would like (since you should see the capabilities i like to have from the list) please email me at computech_0 {AT} Yahoo.co.uk

[brjoon1021]

Just use a Linux Live CD. I am not trying to be clever... but it is safer than any of the configurations mentioned... and free! Work with the apps you need in windows, surf safe while in windows, then boot into a Linux Live CD to surf with reckless abandon.

I like

BOClean
Avast Free
MSAS
Netveda or Kerio 4.2 with BZ ruleset.

[octogen]

ProcessGuard
RegDefend
KAV (with extended databases)
LookNStop

[TECHWG]

You cant live your online life in a Linux Live Bootable Cd!!

and its not all about surfing either.

When you are using windows you need the ability to be secure every which way, other wise you would have several systems eg "Oh yes i word process on my OFFLINE windows xp pro! i surf web pages on linux live i use macintosh for my photo editing OFFLINE and i use windows 3.1 for the kids"

Dont work that way . . I have tools for stoping programs running, Controlling programs actions, Controlling access to files and registry entries, Preventing attacks from out side in (firewalls) i have tools for tracing and tracking individuals that are insistant on trying to get to me where by then i report them to their ISP and i have had several malicious CounterStrike servers disconnected for briech of TOS. i have tools for checking programs to look inside such as Hex editors, Resource Hackers and Process checkers/Dumpers all these tools have their place and are not often used, But the way i work is i have everything i can and use it when i need to. It is better to have and not need, than need and not have

[brjoon1021]

All of the problems that your/our multitiude of software protect us from relate to being online with windows.

I really don't know what the following is about:

"Oh yes i word process on my OFFLINE windows xp pro! i surf web pages on linux live i use macintosh for my photo editing OFFLINE and i use windows 3.1 for the kids"

!?!?!? Irrelavent scenario in every way

because...

yes it is mostly about surfing. People don't get crap on their computer from BBC.com, PBS.org, Yahoo.com, Forbes.com, MS Word, Photoshop, Excel, etc... they get it from porn sites accessed with IE on a windows platform, for the most part.

While working or using basic apps: Word, Excel, Access, Photoshop, etc... use a basic security setup: firewall, AV, AT and antispyware (and not a paranoid, boatload of security software).This is feasible and sensible. Then when surfing for extended periods of time, boot into a Live Linux CD. It hardly inconvenient or difficult. This wouldn't require anything like the scenario suggested. It requires a PC and a CD.

* And actually you can live your life in a Linux Live CD. More people use Linux now than Mac according to some sources. The Live CDs do what the installed OS's do, just more slowly.

[HandsOff]

I both agree and disagree with the preceding two posts. Not to mention that they did not say what their Fab Fours were. (I already did earlier).

the first of the two's argument could amount to "you should be able to handle the threats" Well, knowledge is power, but one can't know everything. Personally, I think it's probably not possible to completely protect xp. I'm guessing there are as many holes not yet discovered as the ones that have been.

On the other hand the second poster thinks xp + pornsites = malware. that is probably indisputable. But I think there are more than enough cases of malware finding its way into legitimate software. Additionally, I don't quite agree with the way some of the examples programs work. Consider internet explorer and index.dat files. These have been around for years. I doubt many people are aware of the extent of what these index.dat files reveal. The sites you've been to, the things you have downloaded. Why don't you take a look? download index.dat suite, run the program and then choose a file and click view contents (with internal viewer). what about the metadata that word and photoshop store? I have to consider it spyware since there is no way to view and edit this information without using third party programs. What happened to voicing an opinion annonymously, reading what you like without having others able to go through the list for whatever reason?

But maybe linux is the answer...is it really that easy? boot up to a cd? I may just have to give it a try!


- HandsOff

[james246]

Processguard
Regdefend
KAV
ISS RealSecure Desktop Protector

[TECHWG]

hands off err i posted mine ages ago . . read 1 page ago or so . . . i also listed all of what i use in the same post.

[brjoon1021]

Just for the record, I too posted my four favorite security apps before my Linux Live CD evangel:

BOClean
Avast Free - a lot for the money : )
MSAS - " " "
Netveda or Kerio 4.2 with BZ ruleset.



As far as using the said Live CD, yes it is that easy. I am no computer wiz. In fact, I wish that they would all go to hell, but they are the only way I know of to reasonably access man's most recent claim to greatness: the internet (joining fire and the wheel). Even I can use a Linux Live CD and surf ,etc... with it. I have only used one with a cable connection....

Try:
PCLinuxOS
Mepis
Ubuntu
Kanotix
-all are Live and can be installed with a few really easy mouse clicks. Look at
www.distrowatch.com if interested.
My last post on the subject. I do not want to hijack the thread to a Linux vs. Windows or whatever it can turn into thread.

[zapjb]

Wow enjoyed reading this thread. Belong to a few forums & am finding reference to security programs I never heard of. Agree with a previous poster who said, "It's better not to need, then to need & not have."

My bare bones 4 running (Still fuzzy on that. I think that means active & eating memory.)

1. NOD32
2. pf = Sygate or LnS or GhostWall etc. As long as they pass ShieldsUp & PC Flank.
3. ProcessGuard
4. Trend Micro Anti-Spyware

[b00sfuk]

Avast!
Filseclab
Online Armor
BoClean

[HandsOff]

TechWG and BrJoon1021 I stand corrected on my incorrect statement that you had not posted your four favorites.

BrJoon1021 - You sure don't sound like someone whose idea of a good time is spending months trying to get Linux to run. I suppose I will have to see it to believe it, so I will give it a go, when I get the chance.

...still this notion of people don't get crap on their computers by...

I just happened on to a couple of blogs by Mark Rusinovich (sp?) of sysinternals, a top authority on windows o/s, and saw some things that suprised me, and I expect the worst from corporations. If you haven't done so everyone even slightly interested in computer security should read this. Sony has software on some of the cd's they sell that install rootkits onto a user's computer that hide several processes, are uninstallable, and .... well, just read it!

http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html




- HandsOff

[olcay]

1-Nod32
2-Ewido full
3-Spysweeper
4-Process Guard

[brjoon1021]

HandsOff,

I read that link. That is insidious. It makes me want to pirate as much software as I can. Sony obviously doesn't hold the consumer in high regard. I pretty much think the same of MICRO$OFT. That is why I hope that Linux makes up the small distance that is left between it and Mac & Windows. Too much money and no real competition to a complete monopoly (Microsoft) makes for laziness and even malice (Sony).

Several foreign countries, cities are spending government money on Linux: Munich, Brazil, China, Spanish cities, Portuguese cities & Sun Microsystems, Novell, IBM. But I digress....

Thanks for the link.

I also like:
spybot Immunization
Adaware
Filseclab (it just wouldn't work on my computer)
Spyware Guard & Spyware blaster

[Rios]

1. Kaspersky
2. Ewido
3. Spy Sweeper

[ErikAlbert]

1. A pure firewall.
2. ShadowUser.

I don't work with softwares, that collect the bad stuff of the bad guys.

[Xmen]

1) Zone alarm Pro - with triple defense firewall +antispyware
2)Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2006 -includes prodefense module
3) GSS Suite - Including Regdefend and AppDefend
4) Online Armor

[tuatara]

First of all, this is the wrong question:

It is like asking, which of your children would you choose
to go with you, if you had to leave your country,
and could take them all with you.

Or which leg, do choose to keep, if you have to
loose one.

The question should be:
Which are your 4 favorite Anti-Malware apps?

My Answer:
Of course, the best option is NOT to choose Windows as your OS.
Every other OS i have ever worked with, is safer.
Like FreeBSD or Solaris and EVEN Linux etc.
You can use OpenOffice 2.0 for free and Gimp for your photo's for free
en use your favorite webbrowsers as well all for free.
Mail with thunderbird for free etc. etc.

But if i had to run (a) Windows,
the most expensive and unsafe OS there is,
and i had to select only 4 apps. (is certainly not enough here)

These were the first i would install:

1 Kaspersky Internet Security 2006 (Beta)
2 Ghost Security Suite (with both licensed modules)
3 ShadowUser
4 Tiny Personal Firewall pro 2005

And if you don't mind paying that much for a OS (see XP Pro)
then why bother to spend some more money to get your system
a bit safer on tools like:

A2 or Ewido or Adaware (payed versions) or Regrun Gold
Spy Sweeper, CounterSpy , True Image 8 , NOD32, illusion, deepfreeze
etc. etc.

And/or use: freeware like: Adaware, SpyBot S &D, hijackthis, Hitman Pro

But to be honest, i've worked almost all other OS-es there are out there,
and although they are better, it became a hobby for me to
get a Windows system safe, this is a nice challenge.

It is not difficult to have a uptime of 5 years on a Unixserver.
But try to keep a Windows system up and running and free of malware
on a family pc for a year.

[HandsOff]

Just a couple responses to the previous post.

If photo graphics are your hobby, then photoshop cannot be replaced by gimp.
The only reason I bring it up is because it is high end graphics that pretty much chain me to windows. I wouldn't mind switching to Apple, only, again, my software would not run. At this point in time I can not see ever being able to part with windows. My best hope for the future is some sort of windows lite type product. The good news is that MS Office is easily replaced, and by better products.


- HandsOff

P.S. - which of your children would you choose
to go with you, if you had to leave your country
For me this is not a difficult decision

Or which leg, do choose to keep, if you have to
loose one.
I could choose if I had to. There should always be a best when compare non-equivalent things.

Or which dog would you keep if you could only keep one.

WHAT? There is no way I could choose. They are all different and I love them all. Okay,
I think I see what you were getting at!

[shek]

Paid version
tiny personal firewall pro 2005(fw+process protection+registry monitor)
+
choose one from each group(up to personal preference)
AV---Kav/nod32/bitdefender/mcafee(with tiny, there is no need for AT)
anti-spyware---counterspy/adware plus/ spy sweeper/ msas
image software---ghost/true image

Free version
antivir
MSAS(anti-spyware+reg protection)
jetico
process guard free(+jetico's process attack prevention=pg full)

[HandsOff]

You are so right Shrek!

I forgot to include backup software as security, which it definitely is!



- HandsOff

[masqueofhastur]

Nod32 2.5
Ewido 3.5
MS Anti-Spyware
-not sure I'd want a 4th, I like as few programs running as possible.

[xmen]

-{ Quote: "Paid version
tiny personal firewall pro 2005(fw+process protection+registry monitor)
+
choose one from each group(up to personal preference)
AV---Kav/nod32/bitdefender/mcafee(with tiny, there is no need for AT)
anti-spyware---counterspy/adware plus/ spy sweeper/ msas
image software---ghost/true image

Free version
antivir
MSAS(anti-spyware+reg protection)
jetico
process guard free(+jetico's process attack prevention=pg full)" }-

I agree or get antihook.

[jirka_c]

ZoneAlarm Pro
Virusscan Enterprise 8.0i
CounterSpy

[InfinityAz]

Here are the updated top twelve results (85 applications - 372 votes):

Product - Votes - Percent of Total Votes
1. NOD32 - 34 - 9.1%
2. ProcessGuard - 33 - 8.9%
3. KAV - 30 - 8.1%
4. Ewido - 28 - 7.5%
5. RegDefend - 18 - 4.8%
6. Online Armor - 14 - 3.8%
6. Outpost Pro - 14 - 3.8%
6. Zonealarm - 14 - 3.8%
9. Spysweeper - 12 - 3.2%
9. SpywareBlaster - 12 - 3.2%
11. MS AntiSpyware - 11 - 3.0%
12. Boclean - 10 - 2.7%

I combined free with paid to determine top twelve.

[Cscampxp]

My Choices are:

Nod32
MSAS
OutpostPro
Spyweeper

[UYE]

NOD32
A²Guard
Zonealarm PRO 6
McAfee Enteprise 8.0i as a Backup Scanner

[Rivalen]

A really low budget defence for Windows 2000/XP/2003;

- The jewel in the crown - antitrojan - would be DefenseWall HIPS 1.0[Sandbox]
See to it that ProcessGuard is in learning mode when you install DW and that your browser and e-mailclient are among the default untrusted apps - if not - add them. USD29 - no yearly subscribtions needed. (Alternative here is BufferZone or maybe SandBoxie(free??).

- Free Zone Alarm (Alternative is of course OP 3.0 - but its not for free)

Maybe you could stop here, but since there are other good stuff for free for homeusers I suggest we add on;

- MS Antispy free.

- Free ProcessGuard 3.15

- Free AVG 7.1


Next step - or maybe the first step?

- A hardware firewall. Are they built into routers? I dont know much about these things - prices? But its my next step if I ever feel I need to.

Best Regards

[funkymonkeyboy]

KIS2006
AD-AWARE
SPYBOT
SPYWARE BLASTER

[Fernando Villegas]

I tried DefenseWall crashed my system. Had to use system restore.

Thumbs down!!

[Rivalen]

I suggest a mail to their support. I dont now what apps you are running.

You can also read the beta test thread on this forum - maybe something there is of intrest.

Runs soo smooth for me.

Best Regards

[Mele20]

In Real Time:
Process Guard or BoClean
The Proxomitron
Firefox

On Demand:
Spyware Blaster
BitDefender Free
Spybot

[MaB69]

Hi all,

NOD32
LnSp3
Online Armor
Ghost Security Suite

[cheetah]

Outpost
Nod32
Ghost Security Suite (App-, Regdefend)
Acronis TrueImage

This is what im using and have on my "must-haves list". I havent had any use from my other non-resident apps in months (even years or ever actually), that is antispyware etc. I know Outpost got antispy now but it hasnt alarmed even once yet ;)

[dadkins]

KAV Pro w/ext bases
MSAS
TrojanHunter
Outpost Pro
___________________

Other machine
Avast
MSAS
ewido
Outpost Pro

[divedog]

1) Nod32
2) Sygate
3) BoClean
4) Deep Freeze

[ettu]

Ms Antispyware
Adaware
spyware scanner
Zonealarm

[2hook or not 2hook]

Donationware central without a Botkiller in sight!!!

1)Winpatrol

2)Avast home user AV

3)Spywareblaster

4)IE Spyad

With a patched up OS & IE browser behind Kerio 2.1.5


Many happy hours surfing the darkside+P2P without an infection ;)

[Termoil]

AVG free
Windows XP firewall
Prevx1
Spybot free

[Sully]

Greetings. I have browsed here before, but never posted. I was looking for some info on a BSOD involving Prevx when I came across this. Interesting thread.

Having tried every free/demo firewall I have ever seen, as well as every antivirus free/demo, and nearly every process security app, as well as most of the spyware/adware/malware apps, I have came to use these. Also Spybot,Adaware, etc I use, but do not consider them neccessary.

Outpost FREE
Prevx (older version, not the Prevx1 series)
Proxomitron
Opera
F-prot AV

These may not be the most powerful, nor the most feature rich. They are however some of the smallest users of resources. Or they are very fast at what they do.

I prefer not to rely on an application to protect me, but take a more aggressive appoach. Mainly, neuter windows wherever possible. Including killing most services, manually keeping ports closed, heavy registry editing, lot's of alternative software.

Since XP came out I have been learning. Lot's of reinstalls. But I finally have my set of tweaks and apps that pretty much allow me to be worry free. But then again, I don't surf like most, and my rig is probably not really 'friendly' to most either.

Taking control of XP is where security is at.

Also, I would like to comment that Jetico Personal Firewall has a lot of promise. It is pretty technical. But when they get the wrinkles ironed out, I dare say no other firewall I have seen allows such detailed control. Mind you it is just a firewall/proccess guard, no fancy ad killing or spyware stuff.

Cheers. Good thread.

[BartPe]

AntiVir
SSM
OutPostPro
Powerquest's DriveImage 2002

[boast]

avg free
kerio 2.1.5
regdefend
processguard

[InfinityAz]

Here are the updated top twenty results (92 applications - 431 votes):

Product - [Votes/Percent of Total Votes]
1. NOD32 - [39/9.0%]
2. ProcessGuard - [36/8.4%]
3. KAV - [32/7.4%]
4. Ewido - [26/6.0%]
5. RegDefend - [19/4.4%]
6. Outpost Pro - [18/4.2%]
7. Zonealarm - [16/3.7%]
8. MS AntiSpyware - [15/3.5%]
8. Online Armor - [15/3.5%]
8. SpywareBlaster - [15/3.5%]
11. Spysweeper - [13/3.0%]
12. Boclean - [11/2.6%]
13. Spybot S&D - [10/2.3%]
14. Ad-Aware - [9/2.1%]
14. AVG - [9/2.1%]
16. Look 'n' Stop - [8/1.9%]
17. Counterspy - [6/1.4%]
17. ShadowUser - [6/1.4%]
19. Ghost Security Suite - [5/1.2%]
20. Sygate Personal Firewall - [5/1.2%]

I combined free with paid to determine top twenty.

[RuntimeWare]

my current rig:

- AVG 7.1
- Spybot
- Hijack This!
- Zone Alarm

[mrisis]

This is what I run.
Sygate 5.6
Prevx1r
Ad-aware
Symantec Corp Ed.

[mercurie]

Things can change, but my current set up is as follows:

1. BoClean (longest running security app. on all machines).
2. OutPost Pro most current version (unseated Zone Alarm starting with version five problems. Impressed with this firewall).
3. Anti-Virus, whatever the "best deal in town" or the net on any major brand, (out of all the ones I've used the only one I did not like was Norton 2002, 2003 and 2004). :P None used have ever let me down in the infection detection or cleaning area. This would include free and pay products. Free used when deciding which pay one I will go to.
4. Spybot Search and Destroy (I just like it as a second opinion app.) :-\

This has been my set up on my machine for at least a year and I do not see any changes on the horizon.

Note: Number 4 could be replaced with up to date MS Patches as they come out but I did not think this would be a proper response, so Spybot took it's place. ;)

[A884126]

1. KAV Personal Pro
2. WormGuard
3. Outpost Firewall Pro
4. Process Guard

[TAG97]

1.DrWeb
2.BOClean
3.RegRun
4.Look 'n' Stop

[FastGame]

Kerio 2.1.5

ShadowSurfer

Avast!

ewido

[gerardwil]

For a change (what happens often ;D):

Ewido
MSas
Sentinel
Previx1

[Hakuna]

Ad-aware SE Personal
spybot S&D
Arovax shield
Avast home Edition


Excellent freeware helping my PC protected!!!


__________________

Hakuna , 14

[paranonyc]

ProcessGuard Full version
Jetico Personal Firewall
Avast Home Edition
All-Seeing Eye (IDS) -
MJ Registry Watcher

Jetico Firewal get a lot of time to configure (lot of pop up), but after very light in ressource(7 mo).

[sweater]

Avast! Home Edition Anti-virus
ProcessGuard Full
GhostSecurity Suite Registered version
Ewido Plus

I'll turn on my built-in Windows XP Pro SP2 Firewall set to no exceptions, and I'll only use Firefox browser w NoScripts and SpoofStick extensions, and a limited user account when surfing the net. Also, w hardening systems.. SafeXP, Harden-IT and Windows Worm Doors Cleaners.

[WSFuser]

new list of resident programs:

nod32
ewido
regrun
processguard

id run this on a nLite'd windows xp with full services tweaks and hardening (harden-it, samurai, etc)

[twistedvincent]

Here's mine:

1)Nod 32
2)Look-n-Stop
3)Ewido-Full
4)Online Armor

It was a tough call,but I always use online armor and Shadoweruser Pro when surfing.I also use Computer Security Tool,Adaware Pro,Spybot S&D,Microsoft Antispy and periodic online scans.

[Osaban]

My final selection:

1) SHADOWUSER PRO
2) NOD32
3) PROCESSGUARD FULL
4) LNS

I have also RegDefend and AdMuncher but the four I've chosen make up my perfect system (IMO!)

[octogen]

ProcessGuard (Full)
SpywareBlaster
Kaspersky
RegDefend (once it supports restricted user accounts-until then Winpatrol)

[Heco]

Sunbelt Kerio PF 4.2.3
Nod32
BOClean
Spy Sweeper
DefenseWall HIPS
;D

[muf]

-{ Quote: "Sunbelt Kerio PF 4.2.3
Nod32
BOClean
Spy Sweeper
DefenseWall HIPS
;D" }-

*cough* That's five!!! Naughty naughty. ;)

[SwordOfSecurity]

hah, an interesting thread..i like it :P

well i don't know..guess my opinions could change but i'd probably go with:

1.) NOD32

2.) ewido full

3.) A-squared Pro

4.) SpywareBlaster OR Hijackthis ;) (haven't fully decided yet)

;D the best of the best i guess (theyre all paid :P)

[Alphalutra1]

1)CHX-I(configure a basic outbound not relating to apps and have the best spi available)
2)NOD32(should stop mostly everything before entering)
3)Proxomitron(should make my browsers pretty invulnerable)
4)HijackThis!(If i get infected, I can then research and get rid of the baddy, no problem)

Sweet, only 3 realtime programs ;D

Alphalutra1

[Heco]

-{ Quote: "*cough* That's five!!! Naughty naughty. ;)" }-
LOLLL ... forget Kerio and you have 4 anti-malware apps;D
cheers:D

[metallicakid15]

Etrust internet Secuirty

Ad-adware

MS-AS

EWIDO

[NAMOR]

Currently I'm only running 3 apps...

Norton IS 2006
BoClean
CounterSpy

[InfinityAz]

Here are the updated top 21 results (99 applications - 505 votes):

Rank. Product - [Votes/Percent of Total Votes]
1. NOD32 - [45/8.9%]
2. ProcessGuard - [42/8.3%]
3. Ewido - [35/6.9%]
4. KAV - [30/5.9%]
5. Outpost Pro - [21/4.2%]
6. RegDefend - [19/3.8%]
7. MS AntiSpyware - [17/3.4%]
7. SpywareBlaster - [17/ ]
7. Zonealarm - [17/ ]
10. Online Armor - [16/3.2%]
11. Boclean - [15/3.0%]
12. Ad-Aware - [14/2.8%]
12. Spysweeper - [14/ ]
14. Spybot S&D - [13/2.6%]
15. Look 'n' Stop - [11/2.2%]
16. Avast - [9/1.8%]
17. AVG - [8/1.6%]
17. Kerio - [8/ ]
17. ShadowUser - [8/ ]
20. Counterspy - [7/1.4%]
20. Sygate Personal Firewall - [7/ ]

I combined free with paid to determine top 21.

[someone]

1 - Outpost Firewall Pro (must have)
2 - Kaspersky Anti-Virus Pro (must have too)
3 - System Safety Monitor (well, yes, must have too)

Done...

Oh, wait, I still have one left... ehmnmnmnm...

Tough one, but I'll take:

4 - Spy Sweeper

[LoneWolf]

1. zass
2. ewido
3. spysweeper
4. winpatrol

[EASTER.2010]

1) System Safety Monitor
2) Ewido
3) AVG7
4) Kerio (untill CoreForce gets it's act together as in stable!) 8)

[aigle]

ZA Security suite
Process Guard
Spy Sweeper
RegDefend

[nsfi]

nod32
lns
regdefend(GGS is the same soft)
ewido:P

[ekwipt]

From what i've read from what everyone is using i'm going to choose between Ewido, Online-Armour and Process Guard. Could someone please explain do these programs crossover in their protection/detections, would it be beneficial to own all three or would i be wasting my money?

[dja2k]

Kaspersky Antivirus
Look'N'Stop
Online Armor
AppDefend\RegDefend

dja2k

[WSFuser]

-{ Quote: "From what i've read from what everyone is using i'm going to choose between Ewido, Online-Armour and Process Guard. Could someone please explain do these programs crossover in their protection/detections, would it be beneficial to own all three or would i be wasting my money?" }-
ewido is an antitrojan while pg and online armor are HIPS. HIPS may vary in their function but they usually alert if a process does a certain action, if certain files are modified that kind of thing. they dont rely on signatures much.

[ekwipt]

excellent, thanks

[G1111]

Outpost Pro
KAV (extended data base enabled)
ProcessGuard (full)
RegDefend

[redwolfe_98]

kerio 2.15
etrust ez av
processguard
trojanhunter

:)

[JimF]

-{ Quote: "Avast! Home Edition Anti-virus
ProcessGuard Full
GhostSecurity Suite Registered version
Ewido Plus

I'll turn on my built-in Windows XP Pro SP2 Firewall set to no exceptions, and I'll only use Firefox browser w NoScripts and SpoofStick extensions, and a limited user account when surfing the net. Also, w hardening systems.. SafeXP, Harden-IT and Windows Worm Doors Cleaners." }-
Actually, all you need is the limited user account, and you can forget the rest.

[ErikAlbert]

I'm waiting for a thread with the title :
"You can only have 30+ Anti-Malware apps : What would you run?"
It's the only one I can answer. :)

[Infinity]

* AD & RD (considered as 1 program cause if you install the appdefend beta, you'll get the other one too - why? fast reaction, tuneable to my needs, well it's basicaly appdefend I find one of the best programs I have)
* NOD32
* BOCLEAN
The router mentioned beneath is hardware (hehe) but if hardware cannot be incorporated into this poll then I would choose: Kaspersky AntiHacker cause it has a very low memory/cpu footprint - 1.8mb in mem (8mb VM), easy to use and I have a lots of faith in KAV team at the moment...
* US ROBOTICS Router (with a very nice feature list)

I am betatesting KIS2006 and you could replace all those programs just with this 1 security suite.

[Infinity]

I read several posts about the memory usage between nod32 and kis/kav2006 ... this is what I think of this:

some members posted that Eset should, at least, change the statement on their website about nod32 having the smallest footprint cause it should be kav/kis2006 having that 'award'....(there are others too having smaller mem footprint)

I have been told that it's more important to look at the virtual memory size and not the memory size (at the end it's not important at all if you have like 2*512mb of ram ddr)
but if I look at the VM of nod32 and kav/kis2006 I see a big difference of like 150mb vm for kis2006 and 60mb for nod32 ...

best wishes,

Inf.

[Moore]

Outpost Pro/Blockpost [ & spyware blocklist] ;)
Regrun
Processguard
Admuncher

[and Hosts File, though its not an app it still works to stop malware ]

I havent needed anything else to stop any malware so far.. Although Vmware is nice and handy and System Saftey Monitor is very effective to test against hijacks , but I already got 4 in the list.

[dja2k]

for now....

KIS 2006
ONLINE ARMOR
APPDEFEND\REGDEFEND
SPYWARE DOCTOR

dja2k

[InfinityAz]

Here are the top 19 results (103 applications - 552 votes):

Rank. Product - [Votes\Percent of Total Votes]
1. NOD32 - [47\8.5%]
2. ProcessGuard - [46\8.3%]
3. Ewido - [36\6.5%]
4. KAV - [33\6.0%]
5. RegDefend - [25\4.5%]
6. Outpost Pro - [23\4.2%]
7. Online Armor - [18\3.3%]
8. MS AntiSpyware - [17\3.1%]
8. Spysweeper - [17\3.1%]
10. SpywareBlaster - [17\ ]
10. Zonealarm - [17\ ]
12. Boclean - [16\2.9%]
13. Ad-Aware - [14\2.5%]
14. Look 'n' Stop - [13\2.4%]
14. Spybot S&D - [13\ ]
16. Avast - [9\1.6%]
16. AVG - [9\ ]
18. ShadowUser - [8\1.4%]
19. Counterspy - [7\1.3%]

I combined free with paid to determine top 19.

To make it a little easier to read, here's the same list in a slightly different format:

# of Votes - Product
47 - NOD32
46 - ProcessGuard
36 - Ewido
33 - KAV
25 - RegDefend
23 - Outpost Pro
18 - Online Armor
17 - MS AntiSpyware
17 - Spysweeper
17 - SpywareBlaster
17 - Zonealarm
16 - Boclean
14 - Ad-Aware
13 - Look 'n' Stop
13 - Spybot S&D
09 - Avast
09 - AVG
08 - ShadowUser
07 - Counterspy

[WSFuser]

update:

nod32
ewido
regrun security suite platinum
appdefend

[CogitoErgoSum]

BOClean
DefenseWall HIPS
NOD32
Look'n'Stop


Peace & Love,

CogitoErgoSum

[dja2k]

"Updated"

Kaspersky AV 2006
Look'n'Stop
Online Armor
GSS Appdefend\Regdefend

dja2k

[MaB69]

Updated for me too since nearly a month ago

NOD32
Jetico
Online Armor
Arovax Shield

[EASTER.2010]

Excellent configs, great choices.

Mine with changes.

KERIO 2.15
SYSTEM SAFETY MONITOR
CYBERHAWK
EWIDO

No AV 8) Online Scans Only! (Thanks HIPS)

[LoneWolf]

look'n'stop
nod32
ewido
online armor

[dja2k]

UPDATED

KAV 2006
RegRun Gold
Outpost Firewall
Online Armor

dja2k

[zapjb]

"Updated"

NOD32
Sygate Personal Firewall
ProcessGuard Full
Trend Micro Anti-Spyware

[WSFuser]

update:

nod32
ewido anti-malware
regrun security suite gold
online armor

[TNT]

Update:

Core Force
Kaspersky Antivirus
Process Guard
Sandboxie

Used to include Deep Freeze and I still think it is a useful protection tool (when associated with other stuff), but the inability of Faronics to provide any solution to Emiliano Scavuzzo's continuous "unfreezing" made me take it out. Sorry, I can't put too much trust in a security product that's continuosly exploited with the same technique. Deep Freeze is still useful, but without execution control it's a little too vulnerable, so I take it out of the four "essentials" (but I would definitely still recommend it when adequately protected).

[Lucy]

Hi,

I am part of the ones who think that 4 apps is already too much.

So here is my choice:
option 1:
Jetico
DefenseWall or BufferZone Home

Of course BZ or DW can be replace by Geswall, ghost softwares...

And as a number 3 app, a scanner on demand only and free (if possible):
Bitdefender or Antivir...

Virtualisation softares or sandboxes with a ring0 implemented driver protect both applications, data theft and registry by default, are alertless (so easy to use by novices). So the possible holes are reduced to a neglectable level and protect from the consequences of OS or prog vulnerabilities. Furthermore let's not forget that nowadays, malware creators focus on Return On Investment. As long as it will be so easy to highjack computers, malwares will be of poor tech, and therefore, the level of security provided by this kind of protection (firewall + HIPS) will be more than sufficient.

Regards

[arithona]

only three:
kv2006
skynet
ewido anti-malware

[vince35]

hi

NOD32 2.5
Outpost Pro 2.7
Spysweeper 4.5
Opera 8 ;) (internet browser)

:)

[chaos]

kav 6.0
ewido 4.0
SpySweeper 4.5.9
Outpost 3.5
SocketShield (still beta)
Firefox & Opera.

[dja2k]

Updated

"I WOULD USE THESE FOR NOW"

KIS 2006
Defensewall
Socketshield
Online Armor

dja2k

[Brandon]

Updated:

I would use:

ViruScape 2006
Jetico Personal Firewall
OnlineArmor
Ewido 4.0

[arneevillar]

i use...
bitdefender9 standard
zone alarm pro 6.1
ewido 3.5
trend micro venus spytrap

[<RiC>]

-{ Quote: "Hi,
... only run 4 anti-malware applications (freeware, shareware, or commercial), what would you run/install?
" }-
Current use -

AdMuncher (with specific rules - preventing loading dangerous script).
DrWeb beta with Spidergate.
Sygate.

only 3 ... ;)

[WSFuser]

update:

looknstop
nod32
ewido anti-malware
regrun security suite platinum

[dja2k]

Updated:

Nod32
Online Armor AV+
Look'n'Stop
Ewido Anti-Malware 4

dja2k

[Brandon]

updated:

viruscape 2006
jetico personal firewall
online armor av+
ewido anti-malware 4.0

[mrisis]

Here's mine, updated

Kerio 2.1.5
Avast on access scanner
Sandboxie

[gerardwil]

This week (active) setup:

ewido 4 plus
prevx1
SAS
router/nat

Gerard

[kai445]

Outpost Firewall Pro 4.0
Nod32 AntiVirus 2.51.26
Lavasoft AdAware SE 1.06r1 Professional
Ewido 4 Anti Malware

^ Yeah.. that would be ideal (version numbers for point of reference, newer ones obviousy when available)

And of course my Linksys WRT54G Router running Thibor too, cause that doesn't count... its hardware :-)

[InfinityAz]

Here are the top 22 results (107 applications - 583 votes):

Votes - Product
52 - NOD32
46 - ProcessGuard
42 - Ewido
35 - KAV
27 - Outpost Pro
25 - RegDefend
19 - Online Armor
19 - Spysweeper
18 - Zonealarm
16 - Boclean
16 - Look 'n' Stop
16 - MS AntiSpyware
15 - SpywareBlaster
14 - Ad-Aware
13 - Spybot S&D
10 - Avast
08 - AVG
08 - ShadowUser
07 - Counterspy
07 - Sygate Personal Firewall
06 - Kerio 2.1.5
06 - RegRun

I combined free with paid to determine top 22. Also, if you updated your picks, I subtracted out your original picks and added in your updated picks. This is why some products' number of votes may have decreased.

In the future, it would be nice if you listed your original picks followed by your updated picks. Not only will this make it easier for me to do the calculations but I think people would find it interesting to see what changes you've made and optionally, why you made those changes.

As an example, a couple of people who updated their picks only changed one item but a few others changed all four. It would be interesting to see what the changes were and, if you choose to explain, why the changes were made. Just my $.02 ;D

[Brandon]

My original picks (first post here):
-{ Quote: "BOClean
Online Armor
SpywareBlaster
ArovaxShield" }-

My previous picks (my last post here):

-{ Quote: "viruscape 2006
jetico personal firewall
online armor av+
ewido anti-malware 4.0
" }-

My updated picks (my new post here):

viruscape 2006
jetico personal firewall
online armor av+
a-squared anti-malware beta

I switched from ewido to a-squared because a-squared seems now to be better in there beta then the current ewido 4.0 beta. But I currently still run both of there guards in realtime with no problems. If I had to pick 5, ewido would be in there.

[WSFuser]

my setups:

v1

NOD32
ProcessGuard
Microsoft Antispyware
Online Armor

nod32 would handle viruses and MSAS would take on spyware. online armor can handle web traffic and guard my HOSTS file while processgaurd would handle app filtering, hooks, drivers, etc.

v2

nod32
ewido
regrun
processguard

OA would be kinda redundant and i barely had experience with it, so i switched to regrun which i am much more familiar with. i felt ewido could better handle spyware as well trojans so bye bye MSAS.

v3

nod32
ewido
regrun security suite platinum
appdefend

appdefend is a lot more flexible than processguard so i tried it for a while.

v4

nod32
ewido anti-malware
regrun security suite gold
online armor

i decided to go back to online armor. simple app control seems sufficient.

v5 (current)

looknstop
nod32
ewido anti-malware
regrun security suite platinum

i noticed other people included their firewalls even if a router/firewall would cover inbound attacks.

im waiting 'til the next release of OA before trying it again.

also i sometimes switch between regrun gold and platinum...i like the platinum because it includes unhackme but i sometimes think it also slows down my comp a bit.

[lifehacker]

For me it would be
-NOD32
-RegDefend
-Ewido
-Process Guard

[WSFuser]

v6

looknstop
nod32
a-squared anti-malware
regrun security suite gold

[carlo555]

Four free applications that would give you protection are:

Antivir (antivirus/resident)
Zone Alarm (firewall/resident)
Ad-aware (adware/spyware-removal/on demand scan)
A-squared (overall malware-removal/on demand scan)

Best wishes,

Carlo

[WilliamP]

Here is my 4 NOD32,Process Guard,LooknStop,Online Armor,Ewido and Defence Wall. So I can't count.;D :blink:

[dja2k]

Updated

I would use the newest version beta or final of these apps:

Online Armor AV+
System Safety Monitor 2
Looknstop 2.05p3
Ewido Beta 4

dja2k

[Rivalen]

The 3 noted in my sig on realtime + I would pick Ewido from the on line scanner list.

I have uninstalled MSAS/Defender and stopped the antispyware plugin in Outpost because they never do anything anyway. When I have tested its always Antivir that pops and anyhow at the end all the malware end up in the big black sack - the silent - neverpopping - Defensewall!

Best Regards

[redwolfe_98]

Update to my favorites:

Kerio 2.15
etrust ez av
BOClean

number 4 is open.. currently, in addition to the three mentioned, i am running "processguard 3.15", "a-squared personal", ewido, and regdefend..

for some reason, trojanhunter 4.5's "THGuard" will not work on my computer, but i can still use if for manual scans..

[Chubb]

My choices:

KAV 6
Ewido
Outpost Firewall Pro
Spy Sweeper

OR

NOD32
ProcessGuard
Outpost Firewall Pro
Spy Sweeper

[mrisis]

1st:
Sygate 5.6
Prevx1r
Ad-aware, (Dropped, when on last update decided it was going to make a few to many connections)
Symantec Corp Ed.

2nd:
Kerio 2.1.5
Avast on access scanner
Sandboxie

Current:
FilseClab Pf 3.0.0.8686: (liked the other 2 but this one seems easier to set up & administer)
Symantec Corp Ed. 8.1.1.823
Sandboxie
Ewido 3.5

[ashishtx]

1) Nod32
2)tiny personal firewall pro
3) webroot spysweeper
4)first defense isr
Thats all i need.

[j2callie]

-{ Quote: "everything else I've got is either "set-it-and-forget-it"
Pete" }-

I'd like to know what you have that you set and forget?? I need to find something I can recommend to friends/family that really don't know what they're doing and would be thrown by the kind of alerts I routinely get from my own anti- programs.

Callie

[ghiser1]

-{ Quote: "I'd like to know what you have that you set and forget?? I need to find something I can recommend to friends/family that really don't know what they're doing and would be thrown by the kind of alerts I routinely get from my own anti- programs.

Callie" }-

Try Prevx1 ABC - www.prevx.com

[dja2k]

OA AV+
XPL SocketShield
Ewido 4 (when out of beta)
Look'n'Stop

dja2k

[G1111]

No changes:

Outpost Pro
Kaspersky AV 5 Personal
ProcessGuard Full
RegDefend

[Brandon]

ViruScape 2006
Outpost Firewall Pro beta
A-Squared Anti-Malware beta
OnlineArmor AV+ beta

[MikeNash]

-{ Quote: "ViruScape 2006
Outpost Firewall Pro beta
A-Squared Anti-Malware beta
OnlineArmor AV+ beta" }-

Hi Brandon - AV+ is out of beta now :)