Internet Suites Vs Individual Setup on one Antivirus,Antispyware & Firewall

[ultragunnerdcl]

I prefer individual setup but kaspersky internet security can be customized to run with a-squared & comodo by customize install.

[mercurie]

Hands down! Individual set ups. I have used both ways, but no question if you want to take the time and learn how to do it a mix and match of the best is the best security imho.

[WSFuser]

I prefer individuals programs so I can pick the av, fw, etc that I like best and works on my computer.

With suites, some components can be good and others lackluster.

[kurchatovium]

I am personally going through this debate right now. I use to use security suites but I am starting to change my mind about them. Most seem now to be lacking in one or two areas.

[davidw_426]

Internet Suite:

Pros:
1. Not much worrying about conflicts between individual software.

2. Can be easier to maintain due to only needing to updating one program instead of 2 or more.

Cons:
1. If problems on the computer do occur, well, you can't exactly uninstall one part of the suite or another to resolve the issue (well, not usually).

2. A security issue in one part of the suite may very well open up risks to the whole thing instead of one app having an issue but not affecting the others.

Individual Applications:

Pros:

1. Many great and free choices available alongside many great paid ones.

2. A security problem with one is not likely to open up a risk to the others, so the whole ship won't go down.

3. Much easier to solve conflicts as you can remove individual apps one at a time until you get to the bottom of it.

Cons:

1. It can be a pain to have to watch for daily updates for a bunch of individual apps.

2. You run the risk of becoming a software junkie

[sick0]

Originally Posted by ultragunnerdcl

I prefer individual setup but kaspersky internet security can be customized to run with a-squared & comodo by customize install.

then you don't need kaspersky internet security... what you need is kaspersky antivirus... that's kaspersky without the firewall so you don't have to custom install it and pay more for features you won't be using...

[LoneWolf]

Individual Setup of course.

[Kerodo]

I think it's generally agreed that you can usually get a little extra punch out of separates, but there are some pretty good suites nowadays too.

[trjam]

Suites are sweet. Kaspersky, Avira and F-Secure.

[solcroft]

I prefer suites myself for less resource usage than standalone apps, and of those I've tried, KIS, McAfee, Symantec and ESS were all satisfactory. But then again, I don't really place much emphasis on killer outbound control, and use ThreatFire + LUA + Returnil as the final word for my PC security.

[subset]

Individual setup.

And therefore custom installation options are a must have, like KIS shows us in a very good way.
OA is a great app, but with its lack of custom installation options it is unsuitable for a lot of users in my opinion.
Take it (all) or leave it

Every suite-like app should have custom installation options
So the user can pick his cherry

Cheers

[kurchatovium]

Well I have used Norton and Mcafee Suites before and that really burned me out on them I think. I wil never use another Norton or Mcafee product in all likelyhood. Kapsersky and Trend Micro are a bit more friendly in terms on ones online experience. Though Trend's firewall is a bit weak I think.

Definitely individual apps on both my own PC and those I maintain for others. Of the ones I've tried, the individual apps are easier on resources, use less disk space, and generally provide better protection. It's much easier to control and defend individual apps that it is when they're all one suite. When separate, they rarely if ever share the same vulnerabilities. With suites, one vulnerability in a shared component can take the whole thing down. When using separate, stand-alone apps, they can be configured to protect each other, even restart each other in some setups.

In addition to the general advantages of separate components, there's other considerations.
Security apps are constantly changing. At times, the changes aren't for the better. It's not unusual for a vendor to "update" their software to a newer version only to find users don't like the changes. When that happens, do you want to replace and reconfigure one application or your entire security package? Separate apps let you update and replace individual apps. Not possible with suites.

No matter how much we may like a specific security app, most of us can find some behavior about them we'd change. It could be a update schedule we'd want to alter, a "call home" we'd want to block, a nag screen, a separate useless process, unnecessary autostart entries, etc. With separate apps, one can be used to offset or completely neutralize the less desirable characteristic or behavior of the other. Try that with a suite.

If no other reason applies, you can easily find high quality single purpose apps for free. How many security suites are there that are both good and free?
Rick

[the Tester]

I go with individual setups.
I like a layered security approach with different developers.
I prefer to pick and choose myself.
You can use freeware where suites usually cost $.

The upside to suites I would think would be compatibility should be a non-issue.

[farmerlee]

Depends who using it. Personally i configure my own setup of individual apps. For my friends and family its suites all the way.

[HAN]

I know where the market is heading. Suite-land! Even Eset finally put one out!

That said, I guess I'm bucking the trend once more. I have yet to see any suite I would want to own. No one company is the best at all things...

[ankupan]

Kaspersky Internet Security suite

[kurchatovium]

Seems the trend for security software companies is to all make some kind of security suite. No doubt they probably make more money off of those then just an antivirus or a firewall.

[Ghostcloak]

Individual Setup is the best, Internet suites always has a weak link.

[ankupan]

I don't think so.

I installed KAV and OA, I saw slow booting and speed too during internet surfing too.

Now I am using KIS, booting is more faster and speed is good too.

Even I am feeling protected too.

Originally Posted by Ghostcloak

Individual Setup is the best, Internet suites always has a weak link.

[Hugger]

I just don't see any real advantage to using suites. No one company is good at meeting all of the many needs that pc security has.
Though I'm still new to all of this, I've found that by reading and using common sense I'm able to set up the individual programs to work together.
Who's right?
Only time will tell.

[Ghostcloak]

Originally Posted by ankupan

I don't think so.

I installed KAV and OA, I saw slow booting and speed too during internet surfing too.

Now I am using KIS, booting is more faster and speed is good too.

Even I am feeling protected too.

Well to each His own. Whatever works for you actually doesnt matter, as long as it work very well in your opinion & you are satisfied with it

[JerryM]

I have found that I prefer suites, slightly. If one wants to experiment with various applications then fine. It is somewhat fun, unless the system crashes.

I am pleased with the suites I have tried, KIS, FS, and Avira (for a trial.)

I won't argue that one might find a stronger combination using separate applications, but I like the fact that the suite offers the range of security that have been tested and determined to work together.

Best,
Jerry