Help please, need suggestions and info.

I have been out of the PC security loop for a good while. I have no idea what are the best programs are to install on your computer since my computer died about a year ago and was not able to afford a new one until now. My new machine will run Win7. So my question is what are the best FREE programs out right now? My last PC was running Comodo Firewall without D+, Threat Fire, Spyware Doctor (paid version) and Avast. Are these programs still pretty much top of the line as far as free security programs go? Or is there a better replacement? Is there other programs I should add? I’m simply looking for what do I need to fully protect my computer .Thanks.

 

Avast 5 beta/Avira , OA free/ Comodo. Either AV/Firewall combo would be great. You can also throw geswall/sandiebox in there for good measure. All of it free and all good.

 

Avast/Avira free, Windows 7 firewall has outbound protection too, Sandboxie free, Returnil free and Macrium free for imaging.
Firefox with Noscript and Keyscrambler.
Some people like Threatfire yet others have complained that it eats their system.
Enjoy your new pc.

 

For a normal Windows user with no special exposures or routinely risky computing habits...

Microsoft's Security Essentials is within spitting distance of as good as any anti-virus out there, paid or otherwise. Windows Firewall is within spitting distance of as good as any firewall out there, paid or otherwise. Sandboxie (free version) for when you're out and about using hotspots. Let the bad-site warnings in Firefox suffice unless you're really paranoid about that kind of stuff.

If you really want to layer it on a bit thicker, you can add the free Prevx. But I'm convinced most people are quite well protected with MSE and Windows Firewall plus keeping their O/S and browser up to date.

P.S. Oh, and use the Panda (free) anti-autorun innoculation for your USB ports.

 

if you want to pay for your security
go then for A-Squared AntiMalware 4.5 + Online Armor Premuim
also Avira Premium Security Suite has great protection, Prevx 3.0 is also a great Program with great protection its your choise

 

All good suggestions.

I've had no problems with avast and threatfire, I think both are great, but adding more applications may create problems. You might find the new avast will be enough (coming soon), so I'd definitely stick with it.

If you want a firewall that won't create conflicts, and uses the in-built windows firewall, and will give you control over outbound/inbound traffic, install the free Windows 7 Firewall Control ( http://www.sphinx-soft.com/Vista/order.html ). For example, you can set all your browsers to outgoing only, disable windows media from updating continually etc.

Another option would be using avast and online armor ( www.tallemu.com ). Online Armor has a free version, and if you spend a few minutes reading the help file, you can enable features like 'run safer'. You'll soon realise how versatile and powerful a program it is.

 

You could check out the free security software recommendations here.