Looking for Some Help in Picking a Suite...

I'm trying to find an excellent security suite for my family (3 PCs), one of which runs Vista and two which run XP. I'm a software developer by trade and have *some* knowledge of systems security, and my PCs sit behind a good h/w router/firewall.

I've tried a bunch of software, but haven't found the perfect fit yet:
Kaspersky Internet Security: Fast, but don't like the ID / chkdsk issue; I know its probably nothing and affects only a minor subset of users, but it gives me pause personally
NOD32: Nice, but doesn't have a firewall or other components - Suite is still beta
Norton 360: Seems sluggish, and not enough information for me

Here's my requirements:
- Most importantly, I'm looking for something that historically as well as currently is excellent with regards to all-around protection: Rootkits, viruses, spyware, you name it. We're all safe surfers, but its good to have the protection just in case. Frequent updates are good as well.
- Second in importance, we all play online games of different sorts, so I need something that is low on resource usage and does not slow internet / PC performance
- I'd like something that is certified with Vista, and is known to really work with the OS, not just avoid errors. This is really important - A LOT of AVs say they work with Vista, but do so with occasional errors and/or with some features turned off.
- I'd prefer something that is well regarded by corporate security specialists, and has a following in large corporations; If a Visa or Oracle trusts their systems to a particular brand, I know I'd feel comfortable that its good.
- I'd also prefer something that is available in brick-and-mortar stores; I'd like to avoid online-only software, as I don't feel comfortable with it securing my machines.
- I'm looking for a suite

I know its alot, but there's just so many choices that I feel by the time I find something, Microsoft will have a new OS going live I hope that one of the experts here will have a suggestion that fits all of the above. At least I hope something fits all of the above. :wink:

My apologies for the long-winded post, and I look forward to any replies!

 

Bitdefender Internet Security 2008 fits what you are asking above, but not the last 2 below.

For no 1, most corporation have Norton or Mcafee or Trend Micro for a really simple reason, they are about the only one with a good management console to monitor and deploy. But it's not because the AV itself is the best(although Norton always gets good detection score)

For no 2, I don't understand why it would cause a problem. Beside having a CD there is not much more advantage. As soon as you'll install it, most of the time many DLL will be changed after the first update. You will miss on many good AV if it's really important for you to be able to buy in a store.

Kin

 

Try out Norton Internet Security 2008. It is more configurable than 360 though it has lost some options since '07. AntiSpam is still one of it's weak points though.

PC Mag just did a review of NIS 2008 last Friday which covers a lot a observations I have made myself (be sure to click on "read full review" towards the bottom of page):

PC Mag's Review of NIS 2008

 

the choices are minimal for what you request,

the suites i would recommend you try:

F-secure Internet Security 2008
AVG Internet Security
Norton internet Security 2008
Bitdefender Internet Security 2008

if you really dont need application control, why not try just an AV, your hardware firewall should keep the bad people out, there are plenty to choose here.

honest opinion is i think your asking a little much of a security suite, are you a paranoid user?

Historically is Norton and Kaspersky.
Most Frequent updaters are Kaspersky & Bitdefender for the suites.

out of my recommended selection, AVG will meet your needs here.

Bitdefender 2008 does have a 'game mode' that keeps your protection high, but keeps anything such as notifications etc that will slow the system down when playing a game.

The more i read your comments, the more i think you should go with Norton Internet Security 2008, if you need the parental control and antispam, please install the free add-on aswell.

 

First Choice : KIS 7.0.0.125

Second Choice : NIS 2008

 

Id pick Kaspersky IS.

 

in simple terms,

your looking for a suite thats not heavy, great security, vista compatible and a big corporation.

Kaspersky and Norton enter my mind.

 

Absolutely

Thanks for the replies all -- BitDefender did cross my mind, but I'm going from an experience about 4 years ago where I tried it and it brought my machine to a crawl - Performance / resource utilization has improved then I take it? Also, I can buy BitDefender from Amazon, NewEgg, etc so that counts to me. Its corporate presence is what I don't know, but many vendors have client lists on their site - I may have to check BitDefender's out.

I've heard NIS 2008 slows down the machine as well, and there's no way to remove the anti-phishing bar (which adds about 20MB to a Firefox instance). I'm curious if I'm hearing wrong on this though.

 

Oh, by the by, I posted the same question in CastleCops and someone there convinced me that a suite isn't necessarily the best way to go. Same criteria, but allowing individual apps - Any changes in the recommendations?

 

of course,

forget a suite and get drweb

its not vista compatible ... yet, but the beta has been running for AGES and it should be released soon.

but seen as you mentioned XP too, why not

have a look on ebay (from some reputable sellers) for some good/great prices for antivirus, i know bitdefender licences are good prices on there, and well .. so is f-secure if you look in the right places. lol

 

Based on the criteria, I would say F Secures 2008 Internet Suite would fit the bill.

Some possible answers for my suggestion.

http://www.f-secure.com/partners/technology_partners.html

 

Norton AV and use teh Windows Firewall or if you have a router, use that. I dont know many software firewalls available in retail stores.

 

The OP has already rejected Kaspersky along with NOD and Norton 360 and this is the second time you've mentioned it.

 

The best install and forget suite that I have tried is F-Secure. It is a little slow at start, but it has been less intrusive for me than any other. I never found that it slowed my machines in spite of the number of processes used.

Regards,
Jerry

 

Sorry Ive editted my previous post to recommend NAV instead.

 

If the OP does not like it does that mean that no one can talk about it? Is the decision of the OP final? Is the OP the judge? Do we serve the OP by trying to find the best of the remaining choices? What if the OP is wrong?

Signed,
The Screwdriver

 

Although I have not tried it, I would suggest consideration of AVG 7.5 Internet Security Suite.

I notice that on the site they show it is compatible with Vista, and the price for 2 years and 3 computers is $86.95. AVG 7.5 Anti-malware performed well on the latest AV Comparatives tests.
There are some auctions on ebay for 2 years, but I think for only one computer. As always check out the seller.

Regards,
Jerry

 

I'm not debating the benefits of Kaspersky; I just have an issue with the rare yet present chkdsk debate with the product. I'm not wrong nor am I saying the product is wrong (in fact, I would install it if not for that issue), I simply don't want to install Kaspersky on my machines presently until its resolved.

The reason I phrased my original post as I did is for exactly the reasons LowWaterMark presented: The going rule is to lock threads that deviate into "This AV is better than this AV". I'm simply looking for suggestions based upon the requirements above, and as usual the Wilder's community came through and quickly. If there are any other suggestions I'd love to hear 'em.

With regards to Bitdefender's suite: I thought this was a memory hog (at least in older versions) - Can someone confirm how it performs (both at idle and while running scans)?

With regards to F-Secure: Same question as above!

Thanks again everyone!

 

F-Secure is sometimes criticized for loading the system. While I never experienced that it is obviously a possibility. Normally when I scan I just go off and leave it.

There is just no substitute for trialling each one you think might be satisfactory. Without doing that you risk buying one that will not run for you, or won't run on all your computers. No one can assure that the one recommended will run well on your particular system. Some do have better reputations than others.

Regards,
Jerry

 

No kidding. Especially with today's notebook computers. Those babies are loaded up with all sorts of drivers. They may have been tested with nothing but Norton, Mcafee and Trend Micro.

 

As you are an Administrator, your comments in this regard carry a lot of weight. However, as I read the OP, it appears to me that there is a built in contradiction in terms of of the OP's requirements and his findings with regard to certain suites. Absolutely, unsupported statements to the effect my suite/AV is better than yours should be avoided. (But its OK to say my daddy is tougher than yours ) At any rate, I was reacting to some statements that I felt would make it impossible to ever examine this contradiction.

After all, what I see here is a list of requirements that fit one product very well, and that product is dismissed as the OP "felt" it slowed his system. Perhaps it is true, and perhaps it is too subjective a judgment. Perhaps nothing fits the bill. Should that make any discussion of the product in question off topic?

-Ron

 

I was just going to post a reply about the advantages of stand alones when I saw this fellow beat me to it. Stand alones are a much more sensible choice. First of all you can pick the best software you can find for each job, and secondly if one turns out to be not to your liking after all, you can dump it and try something else. You can't do that with a suite. All you can do is disable the unwanted part of the software and get a stand alone to replace it. Now your HD has 2 apps and double the space. I could go on.