Comming from 8 years of Linux - Need advice on Free Security Products

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by Amanda, Aug 19, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2013
    Posts:
    2,115
    Location:
    Brasil
    Hello,

    It's been a long time since I needed to stay on Windows, and I'm on need of advice concerning Free products.
    I was a Kaspersky Internet Security client for a few years and really enjoyed their protection, but this month all the money I have left is 83 BRL, and KIS costs 99. Sadly I think I can't use my 2 years-old renewal e-Mail :p (or can I?).
    Bitdefender Internet Security also is more expensive than I can pay; as well as Avira.

    Unfortunately security companies don't take the country's minimum wage into account and that prevents people from buying their products.

    Now, for what I could see most free products are good in some areas and terrible at others, so I'm going to put my perspective into account for the products I tested.

    I'm a power user, I don't run software that is "unknown" (such as software which don't contain valid digital signatures or come from unknown publishers); I don't run software that installs adware or PUP (PowerISO, for example); for the most part my software is licensed under GPL; I know how to be safe online and only visit websites that I know are safe and that I trust, if not the case I run them on a virtual Machine running Linux with no java/flash/crapware on the browser; I have two e-Mail accounts that are private and no one except me knows, for other common e-Mails I have accounts at HideMyAss and other providers, for these I open them on a hardened Linux machine.
    I don't have Java, Flash or other not-so-secure software on my Host.

    I'm a little paranoid, but this kept me from trouble for over 10 years.

    Comodo Internet Security

    I like CIS for many reasons: it's customizable; it has many useful features; good (but not perfect) firewall; behavior blocker; auto-sandbox; among many other which I love. But one thing that bugs me the most is it's performance.

    The performance hit I got was huge, all my games were affected, they either took longer to load or had their FPS (frames/second) affected. I used to play Battlefield 3 on Ultra with Kaspersky, now the game has a high HD usage and freezes every time I move my mouse. Crysis 2 ran easily on Very High at around 50fps, now it runs at 30. X-Plane loaded very quickly (scenery and aircraft) and now it takes a lot longer.

    It's detection rate proved to be "not so good" according to some independent Youtube tests, but it's rated 4.5 stars at av-tests.org. I'm not on either side as both can be manipulated, but the Youtube ones are commonly more "open" to bad results. Also, when comparing numerous tests, most differ from one to another, and since I don't have a way of proving which ones are true, I go with the Youtube ones.

    Although it's behavior block and auto-sandbox features are great once the malware tries to run, it's detection rate doesn't appeal me for sitting files.

    It's web protection doesn't prevent malicious websites to download their files unless in rare cases where it's Secure DNS comes into action), it only prevents malware to run at real time which is a big security flaw.

    It's SecureDNS doesn't prevend phishing sites to execute.

    Avira Free

    I like Avira for some reasons: it has a good on-demand detection rate; it's light on resources; it's somewhat customizable, but nothing compared to Comodo.

    It's webfiler is almost non-existing; real-time scan sometimes let's crapware slip through.

    Bitdefender Free

    I'm still testing it, but for what I could see:
    It has a high detection rate; it's light; web filter works for all threats tested.

    The bad part is that is not customizable at all, I feel that I'm not in control of it. Hell, even it's Internet Security isn't as customizable as I'd like, like Kaspersky or Comodo.

    Avast!

    Although I love Avast!, it's detection rates are are big wall in front of us. But I'll do more tests with it.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Now for the Firewall programs.

    I don't know which Firewall to use, I used Kaspersky's while I was a client, and on Linux I use the mighty iptables with a custom configuration.

    Zonealarm doesn't want to install unless you agree to change your browser configuration, so I don't intend to use it.

    I'd use Comodo's Firewall hands down if it didn't come bundled with it's Internet Security program.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I noticed on New Egg there is this Kaspersky License. Anyone knows what differs the OEM to the regular one? I didn't see a Digital Download mention so I'm assuming it ships with the package, and I don't want that option since I'd have to pay 100% on taxes (our customs suck). I recently bought Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Gold on Amazon, but it never arrived. The seller (which is highly rated) didn't provide me with a tracking code ¬_¬

    Is Panda a good product? If so, I'd be interested to buy this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...internet_security_1_PC-_-32-152-088-_-Product

    If anyone knows of retail products that are in promotion, have digital download and are allowed to be used on Brazil, please tell me, I'd appreciate it a lot :)

    Regards,
    Amarildo.
     
  2. ginzon

    ginzon Registered Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2009
    Posts:
    80
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 19, 2014
  3. chillstream

    chillstream Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Posts:
    49
    Location:
    Croatia
    I'm just going to comment on the payware aspect of your problem and let others talk about their freeware recommendations.
    Be very careful if you eventually decide to purchase Kaspersky through various 3rd party online vendors as Kaspersky products are region locked so you also might run into activation problems.
    80 BRL is around 35 USD, right?
    That's plenty of money to buy a decent AV suite. For example, I bought Emsisoft Anti-Malware a month or two ago for only $9.99 and so far I'm very happy with it.
    Take a look at Downloadcrew's online store. They have very reasonable prices and are not some shady online licence dealer, but a reputable store.
     
  4. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2013
    Posts:
    2,115
    Location:
    Brasil
    Thanks! I'll try this method, but I'd love to pay for Kaspersky's products since I really appreciate their work ;-)

    82 BRL = 36,44USD, as cited on daily's dollar citation: http://economia.uol.com.br/cotacoes/

    Thanks for the heads up concerning the region locks :)

    I haven't considered EMSISoft yet, all I know is that it's on-demand detection rate is good. But a suite is much more than that.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 19, 2014
  5. fax

    fax Registered Member

    Joined:
    May 30, 2005
    Posts:
    3,899
    Location:
    localhost
    Not really, you just need to look more carefully ;). Discussed here: https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/new-zonealarm-release-13.361871/page-3#post-2395781

    So I would at least test the ZAfree+AV version (that comes with kaspersky engine) and see if it works on the system. If not, then you know you cannot use it but at least not for the wrong reason. :)
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2014
  6. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2013
    Posts:
    2,115
    Location:
    Brasil
    I tried that and yet it asks me to decide between one of the two ad options.

    Nevertheless, it's protection isn't all that great. I'm studying to get avast premier or internet security, I forgot how avast gives awesome discounts after you install their free app :)
    They're offering me the Premier edition for just 50 BRL and the Internet Security for 39.. I might get one of these.
     
  7. fax

    fax Registered Member

    Joined:
    May 30, 2005
    Posts:
    3,899
    Location:
    localhost
    nope, you didn't push the right button... at the bottom of the page "skip all". Its not easy to find if you don't know. ;)

    Trying to install the latest version, right? Anyway you seem to have found a solution already.
     
  8. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2013
    Posts:
    2,115
    Location:
    Brasil
    Yes, I did push the right button, to skip all offers. But still, yesterday even after doing so it said I needed to enable one of the two options, and that's when I decided not to install it.
    It's weird because I just tried it and it's downloading.
     
  9. ginzon

    ginzon Registered Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2009
    Posts:
    80
    Use it now Pay them later :D
     
  10. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2005
    Posts:
    3,418
    Location:
    Slovakia
    If you are a gamer, then BitdefenderFree or PandaCloud only. Windows Firewall with a firewall control would be probably the lightest or PrivateFirewall with HIPS off. In CIS you can disable standalone components to get only a firewall running, not that I would recommend anything from Comodo, they are worse than Iobit, they are evil.
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2014
  11. guest

    guest Guest

    Appguard is all you need
     
  12. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2013
    Posts:
    2,115
    Location:
    Brasil
    Care to prove your statement?

    iobit I don't trust since they stole Malwarebyte's database, but Comodo? What have they done?
     
  13. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2013
    Posts:
    2,115
    Location:
    Brasil
    Did my thread just got hijacked?

    THAT'S IT, I'M CALLING THE POLICE NOW!
     
  14. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2013
    Posts:
    2,115
    Location:
    Brasil
    I'm not sure what you smoked today, but this isn't a Linux section.
     
  15. oliverjia

    oliverjia Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2005
    Posts:
    1,926
    LOL, it's 4am in the morning my local time, time to go back to sleep.
    I'll delete all my posts in this thread other than this one.
    You don't deserve some insightful info regarding an av product suggested by someone in this thread.
     
  16. Lucy

    Lucy Registered Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2006
    Posts:
    404
    Location:
    France
    After 8 years you spent on Linux, on would strongly encourage you to keep the KISS principle.
    NO ANTIVIRUS or SECURITY PRODUCT, totally useless as brilliantly repeated so manys times by Dedoimedo:
    How to remove windows defender: http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/windows-8-1-defender.html

    Instead keep the standard windows firewall, and install EMET, "another Microsoft security product that is truly stellar": http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/windows-emet-v4.html
    Use Secunia PSI to get a flavor of the Linux automatic security updates for ALL the common programs: http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/secunia-psi-3.html

    Use the usual safe practices learned during your linux times (set up a standard user account), and read the following:
    Windows 7 & 8:
    http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/windows-7-security.html
    http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/windows-security-improve.html

    If you are very much into security or really paranoid, setup SRP or AppLocker (depending on your windows version). Many links in this forum will show you how to quickly set it up. This should be equivalent to the Linux feature, which prevents downloaded programs to execute (no execute right, by default).

    Nowadays, Linux and Windows should share the same level of security. So why change your Linux habits?
     
  17. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2013
    Posts:
    2,115
    Location:
    Brasil
    Hehehehe, no problem ^-^
    Not using an AV on Linux poses absolutely no security threat if the user follows some basic guidelines, but I'm not that confident on Windows. It's not like I'm the problem, I trust myself but not Windows.

    I'll take a look in EMET, seems like a great product.

    Scunia? No, thanks.

    AppLocker would be nice. Heck, I forgot Windows had this kind of software.

    Linux and Windows should share the same level of security? Sure, Windows should/could follow Linux's security model, but that's not what Microsoft wants. Right now they're far away from being alike and UAC was the closest Microsoft got to Linux.

    "So why change your Linux habits?". Because I'm not on Linux at the moment?
     
  18. Gullible Jones

    Gullible Jones Registered Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2013
    Posts:
    1,466
    [Disclaimer: I'm on still Linux. I'm not a security consultant. Take my advice with a grain of salt, etc.]

    I won't comment on AVs, but...

    For browser security, I think you want some way of blocking embedded third-party stuff on websites. Noscript is good for this (you can block iframes with it), Requestpolicy probably works too, but even a decent ad blocker would probably reduce the chances of compromise significantly.

    Sure, it's security by statistics, not by good engineering. But when you're using the most commonly attacked desktop platform, statistics matter.

    BTW Linux and Windows use pretty much the same (discretionary access control) security model. Windows Vista and later extend that further with mandatory access control via integrity levels, for some applications anyway. Most Linux distros don't do this, so it is kind of legitimate to say that the security model is better than for desktop Linux.

    (But in practice, who knows...)
     
  19. 031

    031 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2007
    Posts:
    187
    Location:
    Bangladesh
    If you Google you will find lots of extended trials (3/6 months) of bitdefender, mcafee, webroot, avg, norton, panda etc. So you can try them out for longer period before purchasing. Considering your safe browsing habit, i am quite sure that free avira/avast/panda free will surely serve your purpose.
     
  20. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2013
    Posts:
    2,115
    Location:
    Brasil
    I know. There's no way of comparing the security model between the two platforms. Windows is insecure by design, has a flawed security policy and doesn't even come near of what Linux offer.

    But this isn't the discussion of this thread, and I'm working on a whole page explaining how security in Linux is better than Windows'. It'll be ready in a few weeks, or months, depending on the amount of work I have.

    Staying on my original topic: now that avast offers me it's internet security for a good price, I thought I'd install BitDefender Free along with it and see how the results are, I'm imagining this setup is the same as having GDATA Internet Security. This, added with MalwarebytesPRO, should give a decendt amount of protection, and I'll install EMET too.

    I never tried any GDATA software apart from it's RescueCD, so let's see how it goes. I'm copying my Battlefield folder from a backup drive and I'll be playing it in less than 2 hours. I'm crossing my fingers hoping this setup delivers a good performance.
     
  21. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2013
    Posts:
    2,115
    Location:
    Brasil
    Thanks for the info, I'll take it into account. It'd really help having an extended trial period. BTW, are these legal for BitDefender?
    I'll do some research on Duckduckgo later. I don't use Google products/services :p
     
  22. Alexhousek

    Alexhousek Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    Posts:
    662
    Location:
    USA--Oregon
    Since no one else has mentioned this, the single best place I think that exists for discussions and ideas for advice concerning free products is Gizmo's. Please check out http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/top-freeware-picks-category-editors.htm for tons of information about freeware products. They mostly focus on windows, but the site also includes mac, android, and some linux software.
     
  23. Lucy

    Lucy Registered Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2006
    Posts:
    404
    Location:
    France
    I think you are mistaken, at least from an individual point of view (I don't know the situation on the server side or in IT administration). You mix up security model, and setting up security in order to achieve equivalent level of security.
    With the proper setup, Windows and Linux are nowadays perfectly equivalent security wise for the end user.

    Concerning your specific request on advice for free products, I would advise to stick with microsoft tools and use Windows defender, or security essentials (depending on your Windows version).
     
  24. Amanda

    Amanda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2013
    Posts:
    2,115
    Location:
    Brasil
    I'm not talking about proper configuration, Linux is more secure by default. Sure you can make Windows secure but no sane person would maintain a valuable server running Windows, not to mention it wouldn't be as secure/fast/stable as a Linux machine, specially a hardened one.

    I'm not sticking with Microsoft products, they're protection are not the same as some free products.
    And I'm running battlefield with no problem with 2 AV's, so I'm pretty happy with my current setup!
     
  25. fax

    fax Registered Member

    Joined:
    May 30, 2005
    Posts:
    3,899
    Location:
    localhost
    Two AVs at the same time? Not complementary? Uuuhm... not good unless you look for troubles, conflicts, AVs fighting for resources and blocking each other at the time of infection = less security :confused:

    Looks like windows world is really new to you... :)
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.