Paid is best?

I maybe bias but the statement about security software companies being greedy was made out of ignorance, I am a OA beta tester and I can tell you that Tall Emu are as from being greedy as you can get, just read the thread where Mike Nash asked the users of OA how they felt about the Ask Tool bar, Tall Emu could have made a fair wack of money but chose to listen to those who make any software developer what they are, successfull or not, the users, so due to that listening Tall Emu is without the Ask toolbar.
Nessy90

 

Someone making a profit for a product is what makes the world go around IMO. If everything became free we would no longer have an economy and everyone would be poverty stricken. People like Benard Madoff are greedy. Software companies are just like any other company in a competitive field trying to sell the best product and make a profit off of it. People that work for these software companies are just trying to make a living just like everyone else.

 

Nothing is ever truly free.

Creating, maintaining, improving and supporting security software creates costs.

This holds true for even the 'free' software.

You don't see many classic freeware/shareware security software, made by hobbyists.

Whether the bills are paid by toolbars, selling security (SSL) certificates, free versions of security software that are made to entice users to buy the non-free products (with nag-screens or otherwise) or otherwise, the bills have to be paid. And good support for a product can save time (although most users on this forum don't need it), time=money.

 

There is no such thing like not greedy company. I am joking.

Each company that provides free software or free version of paid software should not be considered greedy. IMHO, it is as simple as that.

 

SAndboxie , Defencewall , are both made by a single developer I think.

 

Not all companies are greedy.
To expect a company to give away a full product for free is ridiculous.
Each of us can choose what we want on our pc for protection.
I'm not a big fan of suites so I use different products. Some are free and others I pay for. And I'm happy to pay for what I want.
Keep it simple.
Hugger

 

Damn you and your greedy company Mike!

It's actually quite a common thing that smaller companies are the best, since they haven't lost perspective of what they're doing. But there are exeptions.

 

First of all, I'm sorry if you got offended. I didn't mean it that way and was probably tired after the day. ***, I'm having a headache right now after most probably not coming into the university I was aiming for, but discussion of this area (security) is still a big part of the hobby, so I'm writing this anyway.

I've never liked what they, or any other company, do to bash other companies as a part of their PR program. The same happens here on the forums with Panda and Prevx in a discussion about "the cloud", and I'm not surprised a company like Microsoft would get this kind of ~Snip~ when releasing such a competing product. I think it's completely wrong that they get this thrown at them by other companies, who clearly in reality feel threatened. Sadly that's always a part of the business world, to try and argue why things are not as good as or won't be competing with what they offer themselves. Smart, but very sad business which will never end.

So what you're saying is, Dynamic Definitions were a part of OneCare as well? Cause that's one of the highlights of the release of MSE. Sure, the generic detection might be the same, and no fault with keeping it around the same if not better, simply because it's proven great - but the point still stands that MSE is an improved version of OneCare when it comes to the AM area, which is all it consists of. Most importantly proactively, and most importantly simply because proactive protection is what matters now.

What I was refering to with "hater" (which is not meant literally, which I thought you knew - it's only used as a term for people who do pretty much anything in a discussion about a product or company they're a "hater" of, to make it look as bad as possibly for that part), was that you post that result when it's clearly not current today. Cause the point still stands; those results are not on what's out today. What's out today is NOT OneCare, and NOT Norton 2009. What's out today, the year 2009 (literally), is available for anyone to download and use for whoever wishes to do so. I suggested that you knew this when you posted what you did, and because of that assumed that you did because of, I'll quote "I couldn't care less about Norton".

And that's the thing too - I DO stick to numbers. What I don't do is stick to numbers that are irrelevant today, which you did. Those products were released last year! I don't know if I can stress this enough.


To sum it up, there are many things I thought you knew, cause that's simply what I expect on this this knowledgable forum, and that's a reason I get "hot" when the opposite seems intentionally posted, or when assumptions are being made instead of things being based on facts - again I'm refering to "the cloud-discussion".

 

Great! Let's have them.

 

May be... but consider this most of the free products out there have paid counterparts, you know... the counterparts that put food on the table for developers?

Its great that there are free apps... but if you can afford it, BUY THE PAID COUNTERPART.

They don't owe you anything, so to those who are being cheapskates, stop being cheapskates!

 

Um, were not talking about putting food on the table, we're talking about putting Ferrari's in the garage, you can call people cheap for not paying, we can call you foolish for wasting your money. It balances out.

 

I don't see where spending habits are relevant to the question of which is better free or paid?

 

I did buy the paid applications, nine in all last year including security suites (see post number seven in this thread) and in addition to those, I got a free six month trial for the Avira Security Suite and a free one year license for A-Squared antimalware and the Zone Alarm Pro firewall.

Back and forth I went, swapping out hard drives about every other day, each drive with a different Windows 2000, XP, or (occasionally) Vista install with a particular configuration of security applications.

My experience last year into this year using the paid apps was materially no different in terms of system security than it has been and continues to be with freeware. In either case, I felt I was, for the most part, very well protected.
To be sure, the paid applications generally offer more features, but that doesn't automatically equate to better protection. The key to achieving the best security possible is to use high quality and complementary applications, learn to properly configure what you are using, and to use common sense.

As far as my decision regarding free versus paid, the big change for me was when I (finally) gave the free versions Sandboxie and Returnil a chance to impress, and that they have.
Even with those, however, I still use the free versions of Prevx, MBAM, WinPatrol, and a few other goodies when the mood strikes.

With any application, I try to honestly assess the benefit(s) of paid versus free, and given the wealth of truly excellent freeware, I choose to keep my money.
I paid to experiment last year;
I see no compelling reason to do it again as long as the free stuff is of the quality as those I've mentioned.

 

Hello,

It depends. I'm sure some free antivirus programs are better than paid ones, and some (probably more) paid antivirus programs are better than free ones. I would assume companies that charge for their security products would have more funds to further develop and improve their products but free antivirus companies appear to be doing well so I'm probably wrong. I wouldn't say that a paid antivirus is better over a free one simply because it's a paid antivirus. It depends on the actual program. Free antivirus programs often don't have as many features as paid antivirus programs which can be good because it eliminates any annoying bloatware but may lack essential features like real-time protection. Just use what you think you need to stay protected as best as possible.

Regards,

Mark.

 

I believe Defencewall isn't free ? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

DefenseWall is not a freebie but worth every penny!

 

I sense you being hot now.


Norton 2010:

http://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2009/07/norton_2010_beta_benchmarks.php

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2349865,00.asp


MSE:

http://remove-malware.com/antimalwa...for-prevention-microsoft-security-essentials/

http://remove-malware.com/antimalwa...s/microsoft-security-essentials-review-video/

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=nl&sl=nl&tl=en&u=http://security.nl

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2348996,00.asp




I'm gonna take back my apology since you couldn't calm down yourself and seem incapable of taking one.

 

Yes, sure it is because making a software that is really interesting for others is very complex task nowadays. It even can't be your hobby to be successful, it must be your strong dedication.

 

Yes, sure it's not free. My last name is not Rockefeller and I have to pay my bills, remember?

Also, I don't believe in free security. "Free" here mean "free of obligations". And, if in case of graphic viewer it's acceptable, in case of security it leads to death of the project itself.

 

I only have one regret, to entertain a conversation with a Symantec shill. I should know better in the future.

 

And "I couldn't care less".

 

I use both free and paid programs sometimes to show my support of vendors and to get support from them when it is needed. But free or not free does not equate to the qualities of programs. I think that some paid security softwares are well worth the money and R&D for future versions is expensive to keep things going.

Cheers.
Lu Chin

 

Good honest answer!

 

I don't understand the above quote. What does free Prevx does?? It can't clean! Can it?!

 

No but it will tell you exactly where the infections are so you can clean with other means if wanted (Also worth mentioning is that we do clean select infections in the free version, including the MBR rootkit and some low-risk adware)