What is your security setup these days?

Third-party firewalls don't add any value in comparison with Windows Filtering Platform, in my eyes there are only four reasons to use any third-party firewall:

• you do want to use the security suite version of your favourite security product;
• you are not looking for a firewall, but for an Host-based Intrusion Prevention System;
• you are still using Windows XP for any pathetic reason;
• you are a fanboy who actually doesn't care about the firewall itself.

Reasons 1 and 2 are legitimate, I do perfectly understand reason 1. Reason 2 is also legitimate, but you should be honest and say you are looking for an HIPS and not for a firewall.
Reasons 3 and 4 are silly.

End of story.

EDIT: Looking forward to the replies .

 

Eset NOD32 Antivirus. Maximun and proactive protection. [4.2]
COMODO Firewall & D+ (Safe Mode Firewall/D+) [5.3]
Malwarebytes installed, just in case. (on demand) [1.5]

 

good setup..what are your backup strategies?

 

Yeap, I'm a Windows XP Professional fanboy. I know I'm not the only one. Guilty pleasure, perhaps?

 

Hi Kernelwars, I use nothing. (Software).
Files (music, documents, pictures, videos, etc) burned on DVD's or in another HDD.
I store movies and series in a HDD "unplugged" from the Internet, just like files and so.
If anything goes wrong I can restore a Windows 7 Image in 5 minutes. (I never did).

Regards. MinDokan.

 

You're totally right.

 

I'm looking for a firewall and HIPS. I would never just use a stand alone firewall. If I was I would be using windows firewall w/ advanced settings.

 

Added MVPS HOSTS File.

 

PE Guard is in the house

 

Looking for a hips, right now judging between MD and PE-Guard. Other then those and OA/Comodo not many good free ones are out there.

 

Ibrad, not HIPS exactly, but Mamutu, or for a back-up scanner and something which can block severe changes to your disk, I'd go prevx.

 

@kjdemuthThanks for the feedback!
MBR guard would be a nice addicion, but i´m using win7 x64.
I think Appguard beta includes MBR protection, but i would prefer only MBR protection as a standalone.
Meanwhile i know that Keriver 1-CR keeps a MBR backup.

Just updated my setup:

Norton DNS - reduces the probabilities of accidentally enter a malware infected web page.

Sandboxie - force chrome into the sandbox, and is configured with execution and internet restritions, in order to act as a anti-keylogger and to block some other malware.

Shadow Defender - force entire C:\ . Second layer in case something escapes from the sandbox or get into the system through other application.

HMP and Coranti Av&As (on demand) - Third layer in case something bypass Sandboxie and Shadow Defender. If any malware is detected, i will not remove or repair infections, but simply restore a clean system image.

Keriver 1-Click to Restore - To restore a clean image through the boot screen in case any malware is detected, system instability and if i want to install new software or major updates.

Using HMP and Coranti Multi-Engine AV together i can easily and quickly scan on demand my computer with: GData, Prevx, Dr. Web, Ikarus, Emisoft, BitDefender, F-Prot, Norman and Lavasoft

Since i run the scans from Shadow Mode, i can download, install and use a trial version of Coranti whenever i need, and simply restore a clean image if something is detected! If not, i just reboot the computer and Coranti is gone.

Simply loving Sandboxie+Boot-to-restore+Imaging

 

that is the way to go, imo.

all the taste and none of the calories!

 

Been trying out avast! free and Panda Cloud (free) on client's machines. I'm actually impressed by both. Tho, PCAV takes a while to settle down on every boot. Also got a client to purchase a 1-year AVG Pro license, it's pretty much the same as the freebie but you know about the updates and the online shield, which is useful but not essential, IMO.

 

ah howz avast when it comes to zero day samples? PCAV has a lot of potential but need a lot of work IMO. how you setting up ur customers for image/backup..dont do it if you want them to call you again lol again thats IME

 

indeed

 

Really? I thought maybe you would have included that 3rd party firewalls might be used when someone cannot stand the idiotic interface to the OS firewall. Maybe one or two other reason might be legitimate too?

Sul.

 

There are two more reasons:
-You want an interactive firewall which prompts when a program wants to make a connection, allowing you to deny or allow and create detailed rules on the fly.
-Some third party firewalls have extra features like IDS and Safe Run.

 

I can't agree more

 

almost a month for me using Sandboxie and Rollback RX.

i've had a paid license of Sandboxie for quite awhile but wasn't using it because i fount it a little complicated at the time.
but the little time taken to learn more about it is time well spent.
stable and light, i think it's the only real-time security i need running on my machine.

Rollback RX i use rarely.
but it is quite useful when i need it.
it's fast and rock solid and i think a good addition to use with a regular imaging app.

 

Exactly the reason I added Look n Stop to my set-up. Just as light but easier to use.

Cheers

 

WINDOWS XP SP3

REALTIME:
Sandboxie( Forced browsers,messengers, removable drives)
Spyshelter Free
LookNStop

ONDEMAND:
Hitman Pro
MBAM

SOFTWARE UPDATER:
SUMo

NO BACKUP

 

Added Rollback RX
Not bad so far. Kinda reminds me of Comodo Time machine or vice versa. I think rollback came first.
Now I have to think which I want to install Sandboxie or Shadow defender.
Oh the choices are endless.

 

i found my antimalware choice now i am hunting for an antivirus maybe comodo

 

just use deep freeze