You can only have 4 Anti-Malware apps: What would you run?

And why would the majority of different peoples opinions here be perfect? Especially on a Process Guard and Reg Defend forum?

The only way to come close to what is the perfect configuration would be for some unbiased person(s) to perform the necessary tests to determine what is truly best. Only through rigorous testing of all mentioned products, done by a qualified and completely unbiased honest individual(s), would come close to yielding the best results.

Also the testing could not be funded by any of the companies who's products were being tested, to be completely fair. Such tests would be very time consuming, and expensive, and would most likely be funded by one or more of the products being tested anyway, and therefore could not be fully relied on.

Though Kareldjag has done some tests, I'm not sure how accurate and, no offense, but, honest they truly were. I saw it mentioned by Kareldjag himself that companies like DCS gave him a full copy of Process Guard for the tests, and to some that could be viewed as a payoff.

Anyway I like,

AntiHook
Msas
NAV or KAV
ZA

 

For me ....

Process Guard
RegDefend
NOD
and any imaging program (for me personally that would be Acronis) ... if worse comes to worse, just image back to a clean image.

*As a bonus I'll add RegRun Gold* ... I didn't mention a FW but I didn't think it was in the range of the question ... my pick in this category would LnS ... other than these I don't think anything else is needed.

Steve

 

Apologies. I understood run = install/use (passively), not in a real term running in the background.

If so, then I'd probably use MSAS.

I see many people include HIPS. To me personally, HIPS are too much hassle to use, with current design. I've tried RegRun and PG just a few days ago and I ran it for 10 hours before I uninstalled it. It doesn't rock my boat. I've tightened IE (Enough is Enough) and I started making myself use Firefox for past two weeks. HIPS doesn't provide much protection (to me) next to KAV and Outpost already running. If I had to use such software I'd go with something like PG or Antihook - registry monitoring software are nothing but a pain, to me. I install/uninstall and test software frequently and update a lot so switching such software (HIPS) all the time is nothing but unneeded protection which slows down my daily routines. Needless to stress, this is just my personal view on HIPS and my own experience. I am not saying using it is bad or am I discouraging anyone to use it

 

In addition to Zone Alarm I use:

1.VBa32 a/v.
2.Ewido(free).
3.Spyware Blaster.
4.Zero Spyware.

 

And even then, all that testing determines what is 'best' for a certain configuration and user.

Looking for a 'best configuration' among a diverse bunch of people with different needs is a fool's errand.

 

My choices are:

• either KAV or NOD32 (I have more than one machine)
• RegDefend
• RegRun Gold
• Process Guard

 

DrWeb
Online Armor (or is it Online Armour; or Online Amour?)
Watcher
a-squared

Beyond here, there be dragons.

 

And why not? would you seriously consider the majority here seriously biased in some way or another? If so please explain. It seems so far that you are dismissing the experience of every poster here (if not more) pertaining to their own experiences. Can you honestly say that all these folks are wrong in expressing their own decisions/opinions as to what 4 security softwares they would choose if they were allowed only four as the thread originator did specify? I think it's time for a little bit of good old fashioned unbiased thought - which this thread was full of up to a certain point.

 

Personally use..

NOD32
Outpost Pro 2.7
Boclean
S&D
Ad-aware

 

Thanks to everyone who posted and valuing/allowing everyone's opinion to count.

Here are the top ten results after 24 hours (158 total choices made - 58 different applications suggested):

Product - Votes - Percent
1. NOD32 - 19 - 12.0%
2. Ewido - 15 - 9.5%
3. ProcessGuard - 15 - 9.5%
4. KAV - 12 - 7.6%
5. RegDefend - 9 - 5.7%
6. Zonealarm - 8 - 5.1%
7. MSAS - 7 - 4.4%
8. Ad-Aware - 6 - 3.8%
9. SpywareBlaster - 5 - 3.2%
10. Online Armor - 4 - 2.5%

Just to let you know, I combined a few numbers when there were both free and paid versions (if someone didn't specify free, I assumed they meant the paid version).

Ewido (Free - 2 / Paid - 13)
KAV (Lite -1 / Web - 1 / KAV - 10)
Zonealarm (Free - 5 / Paid - 3)
Ad-Aware (Free - 5 / SE - 1)

I'll update the numbers in 24 hours if input continues.

 

that works - for the record my AdAware is the free version.

 

Aside from also running RegDefend, this is what I actually use and all I actually use at the moment (well, OK, RD is in there also, but I had to leave one off):

NOD32 or KAV WS (depends on specific PC)
BOClean
SafenSec
LooknStop

Blue

 

I only use 3 apps on my computer:

KIS 2006 (who cares if its beta )
Outpost
Anti-hook/Online Armor (still deciding between the two)

If i need to add something else it'd be between:
Ewido
A2 Personal

 

This is purely hypothetical as I don't run the following myself, because my security setup is a combination of speed/security/ease-of-use/stability.

If somebody wants to try out a little bit more secure setup, perhaps the following would be good:

1. AntiVir: G-Data AVK(KAV + Bitdefender defs, best defs, very good heuristics). Not KAV5Pro, because I don't trust it (it can shut itself off and not notify the user). NOD32, if you are willing to give up the speed of updates and slightly worse detection and have even better heuristics with less resource usage.

2. Anti-trojan: None (def based), if you choose G-Data AVK with KAV+BD defs. Really. I doubt even Ewido is better than the AT of those two great AV combined (see the recent c't test on this and DiamondCS's opinion on the issue).

Instead I'd pick a hosts file (combined manually from several sources, like I've done myself). Why? It's super efficient, it doesn't take a resources, slow down your system or cause unsolvable incompatibilities with various other security software. Also, it blocks a lot of ads, tracking cookies, malware, viri, trojans, etc. Takes a lot of updating and pruning manually though.

If you pick Nod32, then I'd Ewido as an AT (TDS no longer updates, BoClean second option). I think it's the best AT still being supported, but there are no 1:1 solid reviews on this, so it's subjective.

3. Anti-spyware/crapware: Counterspy (better than Microsoft, much better than the free competition). I think this is really a simple decision.

4. Application/DLL/thread protector. I'd choose processguard (paid), but it doesn't work with all games (or Punkbuster using games like BF2 don't work with it, depends on the way you want to look at it. Still if you play FPS net-games, PG is not an option). As such, I'd pick something else. Which one? Probably SSM if it's stable with my setup or Antihook.

I'm assuming you don't need outbound net access control for programs you have deemed safe. If you do, I'd pick up Jetico to replace selection from 4 as a combo of firewall + DLL protection.

Please note that the above combo may not be fully working. I haven't tested it myself. Also, it contains some overlap, but there is no full second line of defense for each protection (in each attack category). Hence for some specific attacks, there is a single point point of failure.

Why don't I run it? I don't have time nor the money to buy and try everything. If I did, I'd probably at least try the above combo out.

regards,
Halcyon

PS I'm tempted to replace AV/AT/Antispyware with the following: continuous User education, safe hex & continuous review/update of security practises/policies. But those are not products...

 

I concur. After all Belgium is a beer country.
This thread is IMO equal to the "4 word sentences" game in the subforum "ten-forward".

 

1. McAfee Virusscan Enterprise 8.0i (is it good?)
2. Ewido
3. Outpost PRO
4. Spysweeper

 

I also agree, a sixpack is the bare minimum...

 

@pmd - if u search teh forums u will find the answer, i believe bigc uses it and ive tried it before. i rele like it but i dont like the options for handling viruses and teh dialog when it finds a virus is a bit confusing.

 

If those Firewalls were outcluded, my choice will be like this,

DrWeb 4.32b w AntiSpy Beta defs + the browser link scan option in it
BOClean 4.12
Ewido 3.5 Plus
M$ AntiSpyware Beta

Best regards,
Firefighter!

 

Firefighter,

why MS Antispyware, when Counterspy has more definitions, doesn't exclude known spyware and updates faster?

Is it just because MS is free?

Just curious to know your opinion, as I respect it.

 

being free probably, we savonians dont like to waste our money

my choices:
drweb with spyware bases
boclean
process guard
win patrol plus 9.7

boclean/ drweb with spyware bases will catch most spyware, so no need for a dedicated spyware scanner
process guard wont let them run
win patrol nails their startups

or alternately
nod 32
tiny personal firewall, windows security module enabled, rest disabled like i run it( this computer has an enterprise grade HW firewall)
trojan hunter
again win patrol




in fact these are the setups of my comps now

 

Because MS is free.

Best regards,
Firefighter!

 

It has to be:
Anti-virus: Kaspersky has (nearly) the best AV capabilities on most tests
Firewall: how about ZoneAlarm?
Process/file Execution: I'm trying ProcessGuard
Anti-spyware: I will choose MS Anti-spyware (it purchased the good anti-spyware - GIANT)

I would highly NOT recommend anyone to use anti-trojan program.
Why? To save long explanation, I simply quote one result from a test (Aug 2004):
AV = anti-virus
AT = anti-trojan

AV List (from top to down) ==========Detection Rate for ITW Trojan
AntiVirenKit(Kaspersky-based, German)===99.80%
Kaspersky Personal Pro===============99.52%
...
Nod32============================71.37%
AVG=============================55.58%

AT List (from top to down)===========Detection Rate for ITW Trojan (%)
TDS=============================54.80
...
Hacker Eliminator==================10.82
Anti-Hacker & Trojan Expert===========00.01 (how dare you call yourself expert!!)

As a simple rule, you should not bother any trojan program unless you use bad anti-virus programs or you wish to have even some slightly more protection.

For details of the above, read https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?p=531007#post531007

By the way, if you wish to have your own investigation, a good place to start is: http://www.virus.gr/english/fullxml/default.asp

 

Here are the updated top ten results (192 total choices - 64 different products):

Product - Votes - Percent
1. NOD32 - 20 - 17.4%
2. Ewido - 18 - 15.7%
2. ProcessGuard - 18 - 15.7%
4. KAV - 14 - 12.2%
5. MSAS - 9 - 7.8%
5. RegDefend - 9 - 7.8%
5. Zonealarm - 9 - 7.8%
8. Ad-Aware - 7 - 6.1%
9. Outpost Pro - 6 - 5.2%
10. Boclean - 5 - 4.3%

Once again, I combined free with paid to determine top ten. The next post will contain all the choices and unless there is a spurt of new votes, I won't be totaling and/or posting results anymore. Thanks to everyone who voted.

 

Here are all the choices arranged in descending order based on number of votes (192 total choices - 64 products):

Product - Votes - Percent
NOD32 - 20 - 10.4%
ProcessGuard - 18 - 9.4%
Ewido - 16 - 8.3%
KAV - 12 - 6.3%
MSAS - 9 - 4.7%
RegDefend - 9 - 4.7%
Ad-Aware - 6 - 3.1%
Outpost Pro - 6 - 3.1%
Zonealarm (Free) - 6 - 3.1%
Boclean - 5 - 2.6%
Online Armor - 5 - 2.6%
SpywareBlaster - 5 - 2.6%
Antihook - 4 - 2.1%
Look n Stop - 4 - 2.1%
Counterspy - 3 - 1.6%
Dr.Web - 3 - 1.6%
Spybot S&D - 3 - 1.6%
Spysweeper - 3 - 1.6%
Zonealarm Pro - 3 - 1.6%
Ewido (Free) - 2 - 1.0%
Kerio Pro - 2 - 1.0%
MS Malicious Software Removal Tool - 2 - 1.0%
NAV - 2 - 1.0%
Prevx (Free) - 2 - 1.0%
RegRun - 2 - 1.0%
Sygate Personal Firewall - 2 - 1.0%
Acronis True Image - 1 - 0.5%
Ad-Aware SE - 1 - 0.5%
Admuncher - 1 - 0.5%
AntiMalware Pro - 1 - 0.5%
a-squared - 1 - 0.5%
Avast Pro - 1 - 0.5%
AVG - 1 - 0.5%
Bazooka Scanner - 1 - 0.5%
Benign - 1 - 0.5%
Bitdefender - 1 - 0.5%
Bitdefender (Free) - 1 - 0.5%
Bitguard - 1 - 0.5%
eTrust Enterprise - 1 - 0.5%
G-Data AVK - 1 - 0.5%
HijackThis - 1 - 0.5%
Jetico - 1 - 0.5%
KAV Lite - 1 - 0.5%
KAV Web scanner - 1 - 0.5%
Kerio (Free) - 1 - 0.5%
Kerio 2.1.5 - 1 - 0.5%
KIS 2006 - 1 - 0.5%
McAfee Personal Firewall Plus - 1 - 0.5%
Mcafee Virusscan Enterprise - 1 - 0.5%
Netveda (Free) - 1 - 0.5%
Port Explorer - 1 - 0.5%
Prevx1 - 1 - 0.5%
Safe 'n' Sec - 1 - 0.5%
ShadowUser - 1 - 0.5%
SnoopFree - 1 - 0.5%
Spyware Doctor - 1 - 0.5%
Tiny Firewall - 1 - 0.5%
TrojanHunter - 1 - 0.5%
UnHackMe - 1 - 0.5%
VBA32 - 1 - 0.5%
Watcher - 1 - 0.5%
Winpatrol - 1 - 0.5%
Winpatrol Plus - 1 - 0.5%
Zero Spyware - 1 - 0.5%