Need some good advices

Hi!

I'm looking for good antivirus and perhaps anti-trojan program for my wifes family. My first candidate was RAV but because of recent events, i think it's not good choice anymore. So question is: what's good and feature rich antivirus with moderate/good trojan detection and is light on resources ? DrWeb ? AVK 2.1 Pro ? Thanks for any advices

 

The 2 AV programs that are low on resources, easy to setup and have excellent virus detection are Dr Web and F-Prot for Windows. Check a recent thread here;

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=10489

Dr Web has the better trojan detection of the two but may be slightly more 'difficult' for a newbie as it will give slightly more false positives.

AVK is a top notch AV, but is I believe very demanding on system resources. NOD is another top notch AV program which is relatively light on resources.

The best all round program for malware detection is KAV, but depending on your computer, it may again prove too resource hungry.

The best advice is to wait for some more recommendations, check out some of the recent threads, use the search button here, then trial the software on the relevant computer(s).

If you require a layered defence, any of the top AV programs discussed here together with one of the top AT programs, TDS, BOClean or Trojan Hunter. Again check the relevant AntiTrojan section here, then carry out a trial (However, you cannot trial BOClean).

Good Luck

 

Hi Blackcat, thanks for your reply. So after reading some stuff in here, I have couple choices to make, first i will be helping them to take care of their computer so it really doesn't matter if those programs are little hard to use. Dr Web is looking good, and I maybe add some anti-trojan program and good firewall to have complete solution. How's this looking Dr Web + TrojanHunter + OutPost firewall 2.0 Pro ? Any comments ?

 

Hi Need Help,

Blackcat probably said -very well- all that could be said.
But just to let you know a noobies perspective.
DrWeb has been a very good av for me. Very light on resources, easy to set up, and the false postives are easy to recognise.
But, considering the recent misses on VB, I'm thinking that I want an av that concentrates only (or primarily) on viruses, like NOD.

HTH,
Douglas

 

Hi again

Sorry, I posted as you were posting.
I use Drweb and TrojanHunter. No conflicts at all between the two. Good combination.

Regards,
Douglas

 

Thanks for info, Douglas Hmmm, so they should be alright together How's resources ? Are there any conflicts between those and outpost firewall ? Does someone know ?

 

If you are planning on getting a dedicated trojan scanner, why not just go with nod32 (as much as I like DrWeb). The new version 2 of nod32 is looking really great and the interface has been really cleaned up. It offers a lot of features, low resources, unmatched ITW detection, (I believe they have) average/good trojan detection (just read a thread in their forum about them being all over optix, even adding detection to a silightly older build of it), and they have really great support at this forum if you run into any problems. That would personally be my choice for now.... and Im not even a nod32 zealot

 

Good Choices, Need Help.

I use Dr Web and if you use it as your sole AV, it is very good.

All 3 choices will offer you a good layered defence but I would still recommend you trialing all 3 together before any purchases just to see whether any conflicts arise on the computer(s) in question.

 

Should not be any problems with Outpost.

 

if you're not looking for a dedicated and separate AT then consider KAV or any av with derivative engines (i.e. AVK, F-Scure ect.) KAV posseses a strong engine that can unpack most packers that exist out there, and it has a fast update rate, but it, 4.xx versions, tends to weigh down a system unless you make changes in the configuration.

other options to look into if you don't want to run a separate AT are RAV, Dr. Web, F-prot and Mcafee. it just depends on your setup and what you're looking for.

a thing to remember is whether you choose an av or a combination of av/at there's no such thing as complete security. there's more to system's security than av and at that's protecting it, besides someone with enough determination,skill and time can just about exploit and take over most systems.

 

I use RAV and am going to stick by it. I tryed f-secure, KAV, and Mcafee and they all slowed my system down. The reason I went with RAV is because it was rated just behind those 3 in a lot of tests and it doesn't slow my system any. I also got a 2 yr. license for 38.00. That being said my son uses NOD32 and Boclean on his and plays alot of online games and sees no slow down at all.

 

Hello Need Help
Proper defences require proper software in place. Suggested is

A good firewall - such as Outpost: http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpost/

A good anti-virus program - such as NOD32:
http://www.nod32.com/products/95.htm

A good anti-trojan program - such as TDS:
http://tds.diamondcs.com.au/

A good anti-worm program - such as WormGuard:
http://wormguard.diamondcs.com.au/

A good anti-spy program - such as SpywareBlaster:
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html

An anti-spy tool (also functions as a browser anti-hijacker program) - such as Spybot S&D:
http://security.kolla.de/

Some you may have already. If you prefer other choices for the programs then alright but each categorie does something the others do not. A great anti-virus program does not necessarily catch all trojans; a great browser protection program most likely will not catch worms. A layered protection scheme is best to be protected. Hopefully this will not bury you in too much information. If you have any questions or need any kind of help at all you can come here to Wilders and the folks in the know will be happy to help.

Best wishes.

 

Thanks for good advices and I truly was right about this place, kind and very helpfull people here Yes I do know about layered defense scheme and planning to build that in my own system But this is now for my wifes family and they have little experience about these things. Is RAV still a good choice to pick ? After M$ buy-out ? I have couple choices now: 1. Drweb + TrojanHunter + Outpost 2 Pro plus spyware etc stuff 2. F-Prot/Nod32 + TrojanHunter + Outpost 2 Pro Are these suitable configurations for good defense ? I know KAV (it slowdowns computer in many cases), F-Secure is one of the good one's (also little too heavy for resources). I really would like to have good clean system to work and not too hard to understand.

 

Blackcat is correct in his recommendation how ever i would have to learn more about the family you are thinking of buying this software for.

First how old are they is it mainly for the man of the house and further more are they into security.

At first you may be thinking well the fellow asking all the question's is rather nosey.

In actuality I'm looking after what you truely need and not simply the best.

See the best can be complicated and with out let say a key interest in security they usually wont benefit from such applications if they never bother to want to learn what they are using.

So before i can recommend to you what you really should buy rather then security experts that know all the best programs that fully understand security.

I'm more on the lines of simple and what you really need.

If it were for you id throw some nice application recommendations for you

As you are here and have a key interest in security i know you will learn to use what you get.

 

I purchased RAV 4 weeks ago, just before the takeover by MicroSoft. It is an excellent program and has the best updater I have used. However, although updates etc have been promised for existing customers for the length of their contracts, I am not so sure .

We have already been told there will be no more new versions of RAV. Overall, therefore I would give RAV a miss.

The other choices you list would all do the job you want and it all boils down to what you and your system are comfortable with.

If you are only on dial-up and only use the Internet for e-mail and limited surfing, your requirements would not be as important as those on 24/7 cable, using Kazaar and having important data on their computers. Particularly, those who share machines with teenagers you need as many layers as possible!!!

My advice is that if you have chosen a layered defense, take one step at a time e.g. trial and select an AV program first, followed by a firewall etc. It may take you several weeks/ many months to finally reach your favoured defense system.

It has taken me quite awhile, with help from wilders, to reach the present layered defence I have. And I originally started many years ago with Dr Solomon's HomeGuard AV ONLY .

 

Ok, thanks for advices open source and info about RAW So RAV is out of question then. If you have to pick of these (DrWeb, F-Prot, Nod32, others) what would be your choices ? Because that family has no fear towards of computer, they should be ok with security in mind too But it should easy to update, have clean informative messages about viruses etc and have not much impact to resources. And Yes separate anti-trojan should be better than anti-virus with some anti-trojan defences, so TrojanHunter is good, easy choice to pick ? For me it's different story Their computer is pretty good, AMD 2000+, 512 Mt, WinXP SP1 and net connection is ADSL. I hope that info will help you to give me some more advices If it don't, just ask for more.

And to open source: it will be used by whole family and no teenagers at home anymore Ages are between 40-50 and I will help them to use computer if needed but I will not be here very often, so programs should fairly easy to use and understand. And yes security is important thing Can you now give some suggestions ?

 

If their computer has 512mb RAM the resource issue may not be that big a deal.

You're looking for easy to use and understand?.

There are quite a few good antivirus programs available.
*About RAV...I agree with BlackCat.

It's hard to recommend one program that any particular individual would like.Everyone has their own preferences.
You have presented 3 choices.I would trial those 3 one at a time and decide from there.

If they have a dsl connection,I definitely would recommend a firewall!
I use LooknStop 2.04p2 and I like that firewall a lot.

Layered defense is the best.
Find an AV program first,then decide what you need for trojan protection.
Prepare for the possibilty that support(for any of these programs) will be needed when you may not be available.
A forum is a plus!Contact the vendor(or forum) of a program while you test it.You can get an idea of how good the support is for that program.

Hope this helps ya.

 

I'm not a security specialist but I've been trying many antivirus programmes and I reached to some conclusions.
For people who want their computer to be quick and work fast, either because they run games and memory consumming programs or cause their computer is a little old, I think that NOD32, a good anti-trojan(like TDS-3), a good firewall and an anti-spyware program(like AD-aware) are a perfect combination.
If you are not so sensitive about computer speed, you'd better get other antivirus. Kaspersky and DR.Web are the most sensitive, and PcCillin and Norton are reasonably good tonly that Norton tends to take over computer.

Gladiator is also a surprisingly good on-demand scanner, I never understood why some people criticise it. It finds many viruses that all commercial programs miss(I know from my own experience), it unpacks most kinds of packed files, and, in some types of packed files, it's the only antivirus who can do that. But, being still a beta product, it is not totally reliable. Yet you should try it(it's free),. When you feel something is wrong about your computer and your memory resident antivirus finds nothing, try scanning with Gladiator, you may have surprises.

 

The best & small learning curve

Anti virus
Kaspersky® Anti-Virus Persona

cons
Minor problems with xp soon to be resolved.

Anti virus back up
Gladiator v4 free donate 15 bucks and get extra features such as real time protection (not needed as a back up) soon to be pop 3 support and scheduling

cons
One programmer if get sick or dies thats the end of the software gav

It detects dormant viruses that cant harm you that hide in system restore this usually makes you believe you have viruses or nasties.

easy fix disable your system restore and re enable it.

i cant remember i believe they hide in C:\_RESTORE

basically if you ever killed a viruse or had one

The old reference to it hides there

Gav detects it and even now that it cant harm you it still Gav rings out it has found a nasty.

Gav cant delete it or kill it even if it is harmless just disable system restore then re enable it and the problem is fixed.

Firewall
LooknStop

cons some getting use to and learning curve

Anti Trojan
TDS-3

Cons
To many features it can be the easy thing to use but the fact it has so much extra stuff leaves you confused but it is a must have

pricey 60 bucks however you need the best for trojans


The most easy but not necessarily the very best but so easy that it would take maybe an hour of your time teaching them if even that is the following software.

newbie set up of all time

Anti virus
Norton 2003

Anti virus back up
Gladiator v4 free

Firewall
Zone alarm pro 4

note
since there are no kids you don't need web filtering

Anti Trojan
BoClean i would add TDS with this if you had some money to spare but boclean would do nicely for newbies

All together maybe an hour of your time teaching them the basics.

Allot of people will fight me on this or some vendor but thats perty much the newbie set up of all time.

 

A very simple and powerful combo and light on resources. NOD32 and BoClean. Set them up for them. Show them how to update BoClean. NOD will update by itself. I never had a False Positive with that combo in two years.
I do like my DrWeb but not for newbes.
Regards
Tim

 

I agree with this setup.

Another consideration for speed and system resources is F-Prot with BOClean, as well. Both NOD32 and F-Prot are really light on their toes though, and will give great protection with minimal hassle.

If it gets by NOD, BOClean will apply the hammer!

 

lol the guy have 512 ram i dont think ram is a prob lol

 

i think what some are looking for is a reassurance that by say running KAV or TDS-3 or what not in their system.. that they won't ever get infected.

Though it's arguable, unfortunately that's not the case. For example, it's a certainty that there are recent classes of trojans out there that have been modified to an extent that they can go through both TDS and Kav undetected. With the advent of the senna avp offset and certain stealth, binders and packing tools, it has made it completely possible to immunize certain servers from either Kav or TDS, which are two of the toughest tools against malwares today. Hell certain coders even offer services for a price of course lol that they'll customize and make choice trojan servers undetected by elite avs and ats.

as much as it'll give you a feeling of a layered protection even having both TDS and Kav does not guarantee that you'll be completely protected. though they're of utmost importance you cannot soley rely on these tools and sit back thinking that nothing will ever happen. if your data is important it's critical to be able to repeat what you have meaning you should have access to an image backup in case something happens.

 

You are Correct in your statement how ever that isn't really the issue every one with at least some common since knows that nothing is 100%

In fact thats why i mention back ups like gav and boclean.

The issue here is best bang for your buck and easy and simple if need be.


But you did add something to be much desire.

It is always a good ideal to back up your hard drive.

If you really going to go all out with spending might as well add a Back up utility.

In this case Norton 2003 ghost best but very annoying and despite its simple tutorial is actually advance learning curve.

Most newbie friendly is True image easy as 1-2-3