$200 Complete Package Challenge

Not sure where to ask this...hope it's okay here.

Here is my challenge and my question. If you had a budget of $200 to spend on complete "at home" PC "protection" software (no hardware please), what exactly would you get.

Let me be just a bit more specific:

1. No hardware can be purchased.
2. No Freeware allowed (it all has to be purchased and licensed).
3. System will be a regular garden variety Windows XP design with ample CPU and RAM to handle any software within reason. System will be hooked up to the internet via Roadrunner cable.

Here is one such example:

1. Mailwasher Pro $40
2. Sygate Personal Firewall Pro $40
3. NOD32 $40
4. TDS3 $50
5. Process Guard $30

Total $200. As you can see, I failed to include any specific spyware blocking in that example...

Well...that's one $200 package. What can you put together for the same $$$ ?

 

Process Guard $30
RegDefend $30
Kerio Personal Firewall - $45
NOD32 - $40 -or- if you're concerned with Trojan Detection without having a dedicated AT - KAV - $40
RegRun Gold - $50

Total = $195

But I'd break the bank by a $100 and also grab Diamond's Action Pack (TDS 3, WormGuard, and Port Explorer) $99

 

Hi Samjax, as your question is in regards to Security Software in general, I have shifted your thread to this forum where it should receive better attention.

My choices would be:

1. Acronis True Image - $31.50 at NewEgg.com (download, not boxed) ~ Thanks Notok for the better pricing
http://www.acronis.com
$31.50


2. Nod32 Anti-virus
http://www.nod32.com/home/home.htm
$39.00


3. Look ‘n’ Stop
http://www.looknstop.com/En/index2.htm
$39.00


4. Process Guard 3
http://www.diamondcs.com.au
$29.95


5. RegDefend
http://www.ghostsecurity.com
$29.95


6. CounterSpy
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/CounterSpy.cfm
$19.95


7. SpywareBlaster with auto-update
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
$10.00


Total $199.35


Cheers

PS. There are a number of FREE programs here that I would use as well, such as a Hosts Manager with a Hosts file.

 

Another hard drive to download all of this forums answers?

 

I guess I have a hard time getting my hands around the constraints since I would spend money on a router well before a software firewall, even with the requirement of no free software. This is what I would actually do with my own money today:

• Linksys BEFSX41 router ($80)
• NOD32 ($40)
• BOClean ($40)
• SafenSec with AV ($35)

As I've mentioned elsewhere, while I do see the value of a software firewall, it is the last layer added and first to go in my configurations. The router, on the other hand, is my first piece added regardless of system performance. If you insisted I play by the rules with which I disagree, I'd probably put the router cash towards Process Guard($30)/RegDefend($30), take SafenSec off the list, and use Outpost Pro($40) as a firewall, but I'd be complaining all the way to the store.

For those wondering about SafenSec, watching it go about things in "Total Control" mode is fairly impressive - it looks to be a good diagnostic fallback program if there are unclear issues afoot with a system.

Blue

 

I don't think I understand - closest to $200? Anyway, I feel this is a good approach

Opera - - reduced/eliminate spyware for the most part
NOD32
RegRun
Process Guard
True Image - just in case - my last resort
Outpost Pro
ShadowUser or similar

Winsonar - free but great
Prevx - free but just as great

 

giant antispyware or mSoft beta for free so thats free so far. so is adaware and A2 squared so there r sum freebies already..

pc cillian 2005 *sorry ppl wont budge lol *..includes firewall spyware scanner in it..

then i would buy trojan hunter 4
then install firefox which is free 2..


I use pc cillian..Giant antispyware..and trojan hunter and its gaurd..and havnt caught 1 virus yet?...But i have 2 pc's one with Nod32 on it..

now that last 50 dollars u can buy first defence ISR for peice of mind to when u stuff sumfn up..u can snap back..

hope that helps
MD

 

I am kind of in the same boat as BlueZanetti.

Get a router, anything with NAT plus SPI will do, budget $50. My AV preference is KAV 5.0 for $40. I don't know what your objection to freeware is, but I consider using a browser other than IE to be essential and my choice is Firefox. Likewise, I consider Outlook Express to be nasty and recommend you find a different mail client, or use a browser based mail system exclusively. Some of the sysinternals freeware programs are useful for hunting down problems: rootkitrevealer, regmon, filemon, tcpview, and process explorer. Other than your brain, you do not need anything else. Spend the leftover money on beer.

 

Hi,

This is what I would recommend to anyone who wanted to put up an extremely strong first line of defense.

Kaspersky AV Personal - $35
Process Guard - $30
RegDefend - $30
ZoneAlarm Pro - $35
Image for DOS - $19 (http://www.terabyteunlimited.com
____
Total $149

The image copy capability is for fail-safe situations and I believe everyone should have one. However, it does require the purchase of an external harddrive which is against the rules.

Rich

 

I also agree with the router purchase, but staying within the rules:

1. BoClean $40
2. NOD32 $40
3. Your favorite imaging software here (I use 7tools Partition Imager-$25)
4. RegDefend $30
5. ZoneAlarm Pro $50

 

Ewido, Spysweeper, eTrust (vet+inoculateit), true image

That leaves enough money for a nice souper for two.

Gerard

 

NOD32 - $39
Ewido - $29.95 (right now)
Look n Stop - $39
SpySweeper - $20.07 (after coupon code SCAPESPY)
Acronis True Image - $31.50 at NewEgg.com (download, not boxed)
ProcessGuard - $29.95
SpywareBlaster w/ auto-update - $10
Total: $199.47

Then I would still have to throw in a few freebies like Prevx, a registry monitor like MJ's or WinPatrol, and the hardening tools in my sig. I also like to schedule scans w/ any freebies I can get.

 

Since the PC I am on at the moment is mostly used only for the internet, and I store no files on it, I would go totally free.

Sygate FREE
Avast FREE
AdAware FREE
Spyware Blaster FREE
Bitdefender Online Scan FREE

Telling my wife I spent $200 protecting the PC, then going out and blowing that money on myself PRICELESS.

Unless she finds out, then I will use $200 on hotel room!

 

Here we go people:

BOClean: $39
Process Guard: $30
Drweb: $30
Ad Muncher: $25
Look N Stop: $39
Kaspersky AV: $35
____________________
$ 198.00

There you go. You even have a little left over to buy a cheap, flimsy mouse pad.

Barney

 

My 2* cents:

NOD32 v.2 39.00

Outpost 2.6 39.95

Ewido 3.0 29.95

ProcessGuard 3 29.95

RegDefend 29.95

Spyware Doctor 3

Total = 198.75

or

NOD32 v.2 39.00

Outpost 2.6 39.95

Ewido 3.0 29.95

ProcessGuard 3 29.95

RegRun 4 Gold 49.95

Spybot S&D/auto update 10.00

Total = 198.8

Hope this helps,

Chris

 

hmm
1. Defender Pro PLus -KAV lite 4.5 $5.00 link
2. McAfee VirusScan v7 $5.00 Link
3. CounterSpy $20.00
4. Process Guard $30.00
5. Outpost Firewall Pro 2.6 $40.00
7. Ewido 3 $30.00
8. Shadow User $ 69.95

Afraid that the above AV won't be given support?... I don't go to support. WSF has been kind enough... though McAfee's v7 may not be able to update anymore

Oh, and you'd still need freebies...
IE Spyad, Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware, MSAS, BitDefender Free, eScan MWAV toolkit v4.4.7, opera, firefox, HostsMan 2.0[beta is really good], total uninstall 2.0, GAIM [replace MSN mess'er].

And there's more.... openOffice instead of MS Office, metapad for notepad [just for kicks] and then some... it's endless.

 

Outpost firewall $39.95

Process Guard $29.95

Kaspersky Personal 5.0 $41.50

Spy Sweeper $20 (after coupon code SCAPESPY)

Ad Muncher $25

NTI DriveBackup 4.0 $39.99- Will burn a bootable cd/dvd directly to disc without any need for additional steps/plugins etc, just three easy steps.

Total $ 196.39

 

Hi

to be honest: admuncher would be definately in my list too, this probably is one of my best tools here thanx to the built in IP scrambler.

this would be my list:

Tiny Firewall (replacement Processguard and Regdefend and Outpost) (50)
Nod32 (40)
Ewido (replacement M$AS, SpySweeper, ...) (29)
Admuncher (25)
ISR (50)

total: 190