Security Suggestions?

I'm currently using Outpost Pro (spyware protection disabled), Nod32 (real-time detection), SpywareBlaster, and Spyware Doctor (real-time detection).

I use these for on demand scanning once in awhile: Ad-Aware Pro, A-Squared, Spybot, and Hijack this.

I also browse with Firefox (with AdBlock Plus and FlashBlock) and use Opera occasionally. I'm trying to find the best security solution for a moderate-heavy internet user without having to use up too much resources.

Everything I have now works great, but I'm not sure I need all that stuff. My computer has slowed down a bit since I've been using these programs.

Outpost Pro is a bit too intrusive for me (using the rules wizard mode) and Spyware Doctor works great, but it takes a long time to load. I'm not sure how well Outpost protects against spyware, so I disabled the spyware protection. Nod32 is excellent BTW.

I'm looking for the best real-time virus protection, best real-time spyware+adware+trojan+keylogger (etc.) protection, and the best firewall. It doesn't matter if it's an all-in-one security suite or a combination of programs, as long as it takes up very few resources. Money is not an issue.

Note: I have Windows XP SP2 (Updated Frequently), P4 2.8GHz processor, and 1GB RAM.

 

AV - KAV 6 or AntiVir (Premium)
FW - Comodo; packet filters are really light if u dont mind creating a few rules.
general malware - ewido (try it first, just in case u find it heavy). a-squared is another choice.

 

theres nothing wrong with nod32's virus protection i know antivir and kav are great to but still. if you want to try kav i would surgest waiting till mp1 comes out.

 

Which of these uses less resources - Nod32, KAV 6, or AntiVir Premium?

Does Ewido or A-Squared prevent malware better than Spyware Doctor while using equivalent or less resources? And do you mean AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5 and a-squared Anti-Malware 2.0 or the free/older versions?

I put my Outpost Pro firewall on allow most mode, but I'm sure there will be a lot of leaks with that option. I'm considering Comodo, unless there is a better program that uses a low amount of resources and isn't too intrusive.

 

nod32 and antivir are both lighter than kaspersky. but kasperskt 6.0 is still quite light. as you say nod32 is great that means you like the av so its best to stick with it in my opinion.

 

id say they do a good job of preventing malware but ive never tried spyware doctor so i cant compare them.

yes i do mean the new version. old habit of calling it ewido

 

I think I'm gonna stick with Nod32 for antivirus. I'm leaning towards Comodo for the firewall. As for anti-malware... Not sure yet. CounterSpy, Spy Sweeper, and Spyware Doctor seem to be among the top rated anti-malware solutions. Haven't seen many reviews for the AVG Anti-Spyware or a-squared.

Is it a better idea for me to just get one of the internet security suites (AVG, Kaspersky, F-Secure, etc.)?

I'm still open to any suggestions you may have! Thanks again!

 

separates is better in my opinion because then all the apps are the best you can get.

 

Yeah I thought so. What do you recommend for anti-malware?

 

For anti_malware you won't do better than Spy Sweeper. I had Spyware Doctor although it has equal power against Malware as Spy Sweeper, I found SpySweeper takes less resources which concerns you.

All the freebie supporters will jump all over this post but if you study objective reviews on detection and removal rates, these 2 come out near or at the top in the long run.

It is better to pick separates not suites, since that way you get best of breed. Although it is possible to have compatibilty issues.

It's this forum that some show a bias against paid products. Not all mind you just some. Use the reviews ( more than 1 is better) and make your pick based only on performance not price.

I use a mix of freebies and paid products based on long term track records and user forum reviews which show problems.

If you can use a trial for 30 days or so that is an excellent way to "know".

Good Luck

 

I've heard that Spy Sweeper has had compatibility issues with Adobe products (which I use on my computer).

"One reason you might consider Spyware Doctor over Spy Sweeper is if you have some advanced Adobe products on your machine such as Adobe Creative Suite. As of this writing (May 2006) there apparently are some compatibility issues between Spy Sweeper and some Adobe programs."

Source: http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/anti-spyware-reviews/index.html

If this can be proved false, I'll probably go with Spy Sweeper.

This is what I've got it down to - CounterSpy vs. Spy Sweeper vs. Spyware Doctor vs. AVG Anti-Spyware vs. a-squared Anti-Malware vs. Windows Defender

If you can tell me any experiences you've had with these programs and what you recommend, please let me know.

 

Counterspy and spysweeper are both great apps but are heavy on resources compared to spyware doctor.

Are you using outpost in advanced mode? If so i'd suggest you change to normal mode is this has much less pop ups. I'd also disable most of the plugins as i find them pretty useless and the logging if you never look at the logs.

 

Trend Micro Anti-spyware is doing good for me right now, I'm trying out the trial. I also like counterspy, but I'm holding out on it right now, plus it's really cheap!

 

I've also heard great things about Spyware Terminator.. There's a lot to choose from. Can anyone recommend Spyware Terminator over these programs - AVG Anti-Spyware, a-squared Anti-Malware, Trend Micro Anti-Spyware, Spyware Doctor, or CounterSpy? I'm probably not going to use Spy Sweeper, because of the heavy resource usage and its compatibility issues with Adobe products.

I'm now running it in "Allow Most" mode. Would that be more efficient and less intrusive than Comodo firewall?

 

I have adobe 7 on my PC and Spysweeper running with no compatibility problems? To prove anything it's up to you of course, but why not ask Adobe and Spysweeper your question?

 

i couldnt recommend spyware terminator because of its bad past.


i could recommend trend micro antispy,counterspy,avg antispy and counterspy. spyware doctor seems to have to many fp's.

lodore

 

I didn't even think of that... I have the whole creative suite on my computer. Still, I think I'll go with one of the other programs.

Which has the lowest resource usage and which has the best malware protection of these - Spyware Terminator, CounterSpy, Spyware Doctor, Trend Micro Anti-Spyware, AVG Anti-Spyware, or a-squared Anti-Malware?

 

lowest resource usage I would say trend micro or avg. trend micro is very good. but so is avg. i prefer trend micro thou. a squred antimalware is great but the resource usage is a bit much.

 

Trend Micro Anti-Spyware vs. AVG Anti-Spyware vs. Spyware Doctor vs. Spyware Terminator

I forgot to mention that I'd like a program that doesn't slow down my internet connection.

 

I currently use trend micro antispyware on my laptop and it runs very well alongside nod32 and look'n'stop. It normally uses around 13mb of ram which is light compared to other AS apps. Its UI is very basic and plain but its security is very good imo.

 

You could try SUPER AntiSpyware as your AS. Reasonably light on resources and better IMHO than AVG AS or A2 and less of a resource hog than Spyware Doctor or Spysweeper.
I'd say there's very little between it and Trend Micro AS.
Another alternative is BOClean which is more of an anti-trojan than AS (but still very decent AS). The downside is that it is only a real-time agent and doesn't 'scan' your system. It plays nicely with NOD32 however and together with Comodo and PrevX1 would give you a pretty solid set up, at least comparable to what you have now.

 

Comodo would be good for the firewall.
BoClean is a great monitor!

 

Okay so I'm thinking of using this for my security setup -

Firewall: Comodo (unless you have a better suggestion)

Anti-Virus (real-time): Nod32, AntiVir PersonalEdition Premium, or KAV6
(Thinking of dropping Nod32 because the krn is using 23,400kb and the kui is using 4000kb of ram for some reason.. [while minimized with all protection enabled & not during a scan])

Anti-Malware (real-time): Spyware Doctor (uses 28,500kb of ram [while minimized with all protection enabled & not during a scan]), Spyware Terminator, CounterSpy, SUPERAntiSpyware, Trend Micro Anti-Spyware, or BOClean

Other: Prevx1 (is this necessary?) and Process Guard (is this necessary?)

 

I have finally decided on a security set-up.

Firewall: Comodo

Anti-Virus: KAV6

Anti-Malware: AVG Anti-Spyware

Would Prevx1 or Process Guard be necessary with this set-up?

Are there any known compatibility issues with this set-up?

What programs would be good for on-demand scanners (spyware, rootkits, keyloggers, etc.) to use once in awhile with this security set-up? It doesn't matter if they are paid or free programs. I need to know the best with minimal resource usage in mind.

One more thing. Is there a firewall that has equivalent intrusion detection as Comodo with lower resource usage while not causing internet speeds to slow down?

 

I meant when you installed it did you select the advanced option or the normal option? Selecting the normal option gives much less intrusive pop ups. Using the allow most policy is a little too unsecure imo.