Best Free security Combo!?

I will start this off by saying that i posted this as an answer to another question, but thought it might be of interest to others here who are fiscally challenged.

There might also be something else that others might want to contribute, as far as filling holes not mentioned here, but im not a super dangerous surfer, prefering the steady tubes than the Haiwian dumps!


Ive been using zone alarm pro 6.5 build for a number of years and im quite used to the set up now. I found the newer versions a bit buggy, so swapped back to an earlier build. Primarily i use it as a stand alone firewall, and use a combo av system....bit sneaky! ........im using avira classic and its excellent process guard, and also have avg installed with the resident shield turned OFF!, so that my pop3 email is covered, as the avira classic doesnt cover pop3 support. The SSM (free)hips I also run doesnt seem to have a problem with this combo, and system resourses are well within limits.

Im often online for 10-12 hours per day, and have yet to find any significant conflicts with this combonation...and the good thing about it is that its FREE!.

As a combo option it is worth having a look at. The reason that i chose that combo was that all of the applications are configurable, so i dont run processes that conflict with the other progs im using. Stick to the core elements of what each does best.

AVG free--- good pop3 support, and nice back up on demand alternate scan.

Avira classic--- excellent process guard, and main virus scan. Limited email support with the classic though, however its free, and with the avg you dont need it.

Zone Alarm pro 6.5.722.000.....great early build, stable, and doesnt conflict with the av or hips. Offers some email support, but not necessary, although i havent noticed any conflict with either AVG or Avira.

SSM..... Fantastic if a little complex...it seems to be as complex as you want it to be, and since the others dont offer onboard hips, the rule set doesnt conflict, and can be easily configured to allow the right mix.

If im going to dodgy sites, i use sandboxie.

Ive tried spyware terminator with its onboard hips, and extra clam av gaurd, but im afraid i had numerous conflict problems with zone alarm, and the other two av progs. In the end i decided to divide up the tasks amongst a few progs and stick to the ones that they were specialties at, turning off supurfluous add-ons. This seems to have done the trick nicely.

I should also mention that i dont use outlook or IE, prefering the zilla combo of firefox, with all of its excellent configurable packages, and thunderbird as the pop3 mail client. These two give me greater resourse access, im used to them, and they are security conscious without being INVASIVE data mining programms...i have had no problems with conflicts using these combo's. I should also menion that i dont use my machine for gaming much, so if your a pure gamer you might want to rethink the config, but i still believe that it would be useful for a low/no budget user to configure the way i have.

Get yourself CCleaner also!, and clean up the system regularly, and 'clean ram' will trim your ram up nicely for the gaming experience whilest not taxing your system resourses, both free/DONATION ware.

and use spywareblaster(although the firefox with no-script addon works if your ZApro is not enough), ad-aware, spy-bot search and destroy,and ewido all as on demand scanners used infrequently during the week. The root kit scanner is a toss up between sophos and f-secures blacklight, (but ive heard good things about icesword but have never used it so cant really comment), but if your interested in blacklight its a time limited offer until oct, so get used to the sophos!

all this for donations only!.....god bless those companies for caring!, and if you are a stuggling artist, then this could be your magic security combo!....or you could always duel boot with UbantU linux, and surf free from the fear of being attacked at all! LOL

 

The only other alternatives that come to mind are;
Antivirus-Avast.
Browser-Opera.
Free scanners-SAS and A-Squared.

 

There aren't many free firewalls,but Comodo is a good option.
K-Meleon is another gecko-based browser worthy of consideration.

*edited double post.

 

Is SAS a free online scanner or on demand TT?

 

SAS is a free on-demand scanner.It is updatable also.

 

Well,
Best is really relative. I would say by using a solid firewall, a decent anti-virus and Firefox (extensionized), you're pretty much set up, and the first two would most likely be Sygate and AVG.
Mrk

 

Ok ive been running this free set up for about 4 months now and have made a few additions, i have to say that its been pretty tight, and not a heavy resourse hog.

The additions ive made were as mentioned before by Mr Kvonic, namely firefox with no-script and ad-block plus extensionized. This certainly cuts down on the javascript intrusions

the avg email scan has been working perfectly, with the guard not operational. I did this so that i could download the avira classic with the active guard which is a superior active scan as far as i could see. The AVG however acts as a perfect secondary viral scanner on demand, and of course an active email scan, with no conflicts.

SSM, is in my estimation a fantastic hips, and really lets me decide what it is that i want to run or not, a few times its saved my bacon, and i have to say that along with the next addition, sandboxie, it is a perfect little programm that gives active online protection and acts as a very good process guard.

so in short, ive opted for:

sandboxie
SSM
avira (with active process guard)
AVG (without guard downloaded, but email protection)
Zone Alarm Pro (Commodo is sufficient, although a router is prefered)
spywareblaster
firefox 2 with ABP+No-Script
spybot search and destroy
AVG anti spyware (on demand scan) ex ewido product.
ad-aware SE personal
F-secure blacklight rootkit scanner


all for free!, although the firewall was an older product that i have had for a long time, Comodo has a good rep as a free product, but i think ide opt for a router firewall config to be sure!

ps: just started assesment on SAS, as opposed to the excellent ewido product, now of course AVG anti-spyware

 

The best way to manage a computer is to keep it clean and simple. The wide variety and range of systems, hardware and software choices available may seem confusing to some users.

For starters, configure your security setup according to your needs and your activities on the computer, that way you will have a security configuration that suits you perfectly and this minimizes overlap.
Part of the suite:
-Tweak and change default settings for all applications installed. Use common sense when changing settings.
-Security programs install.
-Harden your operating system.
-Update your operating system and all programs installed on the computer.
-Practise safe surfing and computing habits. If you want to test any malware, like game cheats, or porn files and movies, do that in a virtual machine and not on the physical computer no matter what you do.
-Use a spare machine (if you have one) for testing and experimental programs and/or purposes.
-Use creativity and imagination. That's security the way you want it to be. A dumb user knows nothing, but a expert will be capable of ripping your system apart within seconds, exposing some of your secrets if you have any.
-Look at the people, not at the computer after you have finished securing it to your best. The computer is what you make of it.
-Discipline yourself. Don't start toying around with your system in an unsafe manner even after you've secured it. If you are confident enough, go and do it.

To simplify management, come up with a standard procedure for all your systems. Security is guaranteed only by the user's knowledge and commitment, not the security programs on the computer. Knowing all of this should give you a very good foundation from which you can learn more advanced computer skills.

These are general tips. Compare yourself to those tools out there, nothing beats user knowledge and skill.

 

How many people use the AVG/Avira combo? It sounds pretty good. Also, how much does use in terms of resources to run both programs at the same time, minus the AVG resident guard?

 

comodo fw
avast
cyberhawk
arovax shield

 

Hi all

Kerio 2.1.5 or Comodo

Antivir or Avast

Sandboxie or GeSWall free

LinkScanner free

Arovax Shield or Winpatrol free

MaB

 

I'm satisfied with my F-secure (triple engines), SpywareBlaster, Winpatrol, Sygate and SSM.
Every 10 days scanning whole system with Spybot - Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware and Webroot Spy Sweeper.