Need suggestion regarding Free AV+Firewall

Hello

I am in process of setting up my friends computer who squarely depends on me for all the matter related to tech. Now what I am not sure about is which AV+firewall combo should I suggest him. Both must be free though as it is his home PC.

I have searched the net a lot but honestly that made me more confused. The AV that I use personally does not publish any free version so that is out of question. The avcomparitives.org never compares or reviews any free AV, so that could not be much of a help too.

Anyways, after giving the mater some thought I have thought of the following:

• AVAST Home Edition+Comodo Firewall Pro
• Comodo Internet Security

The last time I visited Comodo's site the AV is still in BETA stage, and I rather prefer to shy away from any BETA version. So is Comodo AV out of BETA now? And could the members here please suggest which of the above will be better or is there any other alternative that I may have missed?

Thank you in advance.

 

Yes Comodo is out of beta.
I would use Comodo Internet Security I recently made the move to it and I'm a happy camper.

The other alternatives AVG Free Edition or AntiVir Personal Edition and comodo firewall.

 

The advantage in selecting avast! is that they've been doing this since the late 80's or early 90's. They are established, respected and have more experience in developing antivirus solutions.

 

i would suggest you to use avg 8.0 free+comodo without the AV..........i think you will be safe...

 

The other nice thing (well, one of many) about Avast is that the detection/disinfection of the Home version is the same as for the Pro. So what you see on av-comparatives, at least concerning Avast, should give a pretty good idea.
CIS contains a highly regarded (by many) firewall, with a HIPS component, called D+. The whole package needs to be downloaded these days -the firewall can't be downloaded as a standalone -but the unwanted components can be de-selected during the install. So I've read.
Avira is highly regarded by its users, also. No idea how good the protection offered by the free version is.
A bit of immunity would go a long way, too. Such things as a Hosts file, or SpywareBlaster, or the immunity provided by Spybot, perhaps. All prevent known bad sites from loading. All are free.
Threatfire is a free behaviour blocker that runs nicely alongside Avast. I don't know if it would be advisable-nor necessary- to run it alongside Comodos' D+, but if you install a different firewall without HIPS (as I have) it works a treat.
In my sig is an application for monitoring software, so as to keep it up to date. (Secunia.) Very important. Have a browse around some forums that do HijackThis analysis. Most of the logs show out of date software. 'Specially Java.
Hope that helps a bit.
BTW I've run a full scan today with MBAM - a highly regarded antimalware scanner - and it found nothing. I used to run scans daily. Then weekly. This is the first I've run for about two weeks. The protection I'm using clearly is doing something correctly.

 

Avast! is ok ,but maybe Comodo firewall is only suitble for advanced users..
I recommend PcTools firewall , which is more intelligent

 

Thanks for the inputs and suggestions.

I don't think the user will bother much about the alert pop ups from Comodo, but still a new firewall can always be tested.
But one thing that I could not assure myself from the PC Tools website, whether one can do Port Forwarding in the Firewall's Free version. Could anyone please confirm that? And what about leak test? Is PC Tools FW better than Comodo in Leak Test?

 

Yes you can do Port Forwarding and about Leak tests take a look here
http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php

Comodo is the leader of leak tests ( it isnt in first place because the version tested had some bugs , already fixed now).

Comodo Internet Security ( with antivirus and D+ , very ligth) has my choice but you can try Avira free + Online Armor ( very ligth too).

 

Which OS or did I miss that?

 

Yes need to know the OS. Some of the free firewalls mention will not work on Vista64 and if he is running Vista64 I would stay away from Comodo firewall 3.8 versions.

 

Ooopsssss....you did not miss it, I forgot to mention it..

Windows XP Pro with SP3

Thanks for the links....

Problem with Online Armour is that it is not free. I am only looking for Free ones.
So it can be AVAST!+PC Tolls FW or Comodo IS...pretty tough choice. :|

BTW, from this link http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html it seems that XP SP3 is not supported or have they forgotten to update their site? :?: :!:

 

Avast & Comodo IS PC Tools FW has caused blue screens on my machine

 

Avast + PC Tools FW IMO, pc tools fw is quieter, lighter (IMO) and much less noisy while still providing decent protection.

 

Thanks guys...for your input

BTW, from this link http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html it seems that XP SP3 is not supported or have they forgotten to update their site?

This is the first time I have heard that PC Tools firewall causes BSOD. Does this FW offres application control like Comodo provides as Defense+? Again it seems that the product info page is pretty unhelpful or I may havemissed it completely

 

CIS is compatible with SP3 they just havent updates the site i guess. and pc tools FW does have application control, its HIPS is much quieter, might not protect as many things as CIS, but provides good protection against most things and would be sufficient for most.

 

Online Armor has a free version http://tallemu.com/free-firewall-protection-software.html
I have also used Comodo with XP SP3

 

Thanks everyone

What exactly is HIPS? Could you please post the link where I can find a detail info and preferable a technical review?

 

For someone elses computer I like Avast home & GhostWall. Me I'd probably use good old Sygate. Never did like Comodo. I'm on Vista64. Thats why it sounds like that.

 

Avast and rising free firewall also goes well together with very little popups
ellison

 

Hi


I switched to using Avast from NIS09 .. Just over a week ago!

And you know what?
I'm thrilled to bits with Avast

You couldn't even pay me to go back to using NIS now

My Firewall Is - PC Tools Firewall Plus : 5.0.0.37
Here : http://www.pctools.com/firewall/

The Blue Screens That ance Mentioned...
These are caused by just one of the firewall Settings - Enhanced Security Verification


PC Tools Firewall Plus .. Is A Fantastic Little Firewall
Inbound & Outbound - Protection!
However!
It does have just one little problem - Enhanced Security Verification ( ESV )
ESV = One of their newer Firewall features .. They're struggling to get right
ESV Can Cause.. Freezes and Blue Screens
In my opinion .. Best Left - OFF .. Till they get it right!

Don't Be Put Off!
But Just make Sure...
Once you've Installed PC Tools Firewall Plus .. Wait a few minutes while the Firewall settles in. ( e.g. You may get 1 or 2 - Allow or Block - Pop Ups )
Then...
Double Click the Firewall Icon in your Taskbar - To Open It!
Click On - Settings
Click On - Filtering Tab
Untick - Enhanced Security Verification
Click On - Apply

That should ensure... You Wont Have Any Problems!

 

Thats a very helpful and detailed post Zeena, thank you so very much.

Did you switchto AVAST! home or pro? And this ESV feature, what exactly is it supposed to do?

 

ESV is their HIPS, protects for stuff like dll injection, etc etc... not sure about the exact details but thats about what it does. and i have NEVER had an issue like that with ESV enabled, so as i said before in ur copy and paste post zeena, its probably a compatibility issue with something u have running, or have uninstalled and wasnt cleanly removed.

 

src2206

I'm Using - Avast Home

..........................................................................

RE : ESV

Like firzen771 said... It's something like HIPS

Maybe firzen771 has a point
However!
It's not just me that's had problems with ESV
Many people have had problems with it
PC Tools Forum : http://www.pctools.com/forum/index.php

If you're wondering what firzen771 meant when he said..

I gave the same advice to someone yesterday - Re: PC Tools Firewall Plus
So rather than...
1/ Just give you the link to what I'd told them.
OR
2/ Type the whole thing out again.
I simply copied and pasted some of what I'd said yesterday

As you can see here : https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=233957

 

Thank you, maybe I'll try it again!

 

Hi ance

You're Welcome!