Topic awaiting preservation: antivirus software a firewalls - recommendations?

Hi, my subs to virus defs with norton has recently run out and I'm trying to think whether I should keep NAV and Personal Firewall, or whether there are any better options out there. I'm not too fussed about pop up blocking (my browser can do that, why should my firewall aswell?) - what I do like is something that stops those bloody crap msn messenger pop ups / alerts / notifications (not the system tray deal, but those spam ads that pop up with the 'ok' buttons)

Price is no object, so based on pure functionality and ease of use what is best?

Thanks guys, Have a nice Christmas and New Year,

Jon

<A HREF="http://www.cryokinesis.co.uk" TARGET=_blank>visit

Ah, thanks for reminding me that I need a new antivirus package as well... haven't been able to update the definitions for a few months already.

I've been hearing only good things about BitDefender lately, so that's the one I'd get if I had the money
http://www.bitdefender.com/bd/site/solutions.php?menu_id=8

And those Messenger Service popups can be disabled pretty easily:
http://faq.ozoneasylum.com/853


kuckus

Did a quick Asylum search and came up with these related links:
Best anti-virus?
Norton Insecurity
The same thing happened to me not so long ago smonkey, I'm now using AVG antivirus and the firewall that comes with XP.

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
Now Tyberius Prime expects him to start complaining that we removed his 'free speech' since this message will replace all of his posts, past and future.
Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.

IIS is a source of problems.
The best thing to do is just not to install it - I think this is the default.
For those not aware of it, take a look at Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs/Add-Remove Windows Components and check if Internet Information Services (IIS) is installed. If it is, uncheck it. I don't know exactly what this stuff is for, but I never needed it, and it's full of security holes (I use third party softwares for webserver - Apache stuff - and FTP server and I don't use FrontPage extensions).

Thanks for the heads up on the XP firewall InI, I'm following your recomendation and am downloading Sygate Firewall as I write. I hope it's not too complicated to install. (That sounds pathetic but I seem to have developed the knack of missing the obvious)!

Well you didn't state if you were on dial-up or not.

I realy like Sygate Professional Firewall or the lightversin. But I recently need to upgrade my network and didn't what to by 5 liences so I tried a new router with a built in hardware firewall. I picked up the D-link 604+ for around $50 us. So far I have been very happy with it. It elminates all problems, It got rid of the only problem I had with Sygate, effecting ping times when running Battlefield 1942. It works well with all games I tried and Perfectly with my server. The only problem so far is it's a little tricking to get gamevoice Working. But I have since switched to teamsound. But Universal Plug and Play works for Gamevoice and MSN file transfers.

I still run Sygate on my primary workstation and server just in case as I tested it. Haven't seen a DOS or other hit since it's install. Not that it matters realy as I run Apache 2.0 and Bullet proof FTP but they are still anoying.

J. Stuart J.


[This message has been edited by jstuartj (edited 12-23-2003).]

hi all,

I just read this thread and also have a question about firewalls.

I am looking to get a firewall for my laptop computer. I use it at coffee houses and various places that have public wifi networks. I saw at one place that the network didnt have an encryption key and therefore what I was doing could be seen by other people on the network.

I heard that certain firewall programs are best for DSL or cable, not wifi.

What would you suggest?

I second InI's suggestions

grisoft.com's AVG Antivirus and Sygates Firewall are both working very well for me.


______________
Is This Thing On?

Bleah...

In XP, enable the Internet Connection Firewall, a built in packet-level firewall that's pretty good. I'd rather spend 150 bucks and get a hardware firewall, like the Netgear. But if you're bent on software, do the ICF in XP. BTW - in the coming SP2 for XP, the ICF will be enabled by default.

For antivirus, Norton's a pretty decent product, even though I hate how resource intensive their stuff is. But it's typically a stable product. If you can't get something for a while, go to http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ and run the House Call scanner. It's an ActiveX virus scanner that's come in handy with us at some client sites.

I like Norton Firewall, that comes with Norton Internet Security. It's fast, not resource intensive and trustable.
I hate ZoneAlarm, because as more and more apps are added to the rules, it becomes very slow, specially when starting.

As for anti-virus, Norton is really really resource intensive, but it's the best one I know, the one that has caught more virus in a very infected machine that my wife had. I tested all online scanners available against NAV (Symantec also has an online scanner), and NAV has beaten them all.

As of now, I'm not using an anti-virus software. Only my Norton firewall.

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I saw at one place that the network didnt have an encryption key and therefore what I was doing could be seen by other people on the network.

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AV and/or firewall software will do nothing to remedy this situation

That's right. I'm assuming you're referring to a WEP key. But even if you did, I can sniff that out of the air in 5 seconds and still get on your network.

99% of businesses I deal with (and we've got HUNDREDS of clients - mostly law firms) have no security other than a user name & password that hasn't changed in years.

I've yet to see a firm whos network I couldn't access before I walked past the receptionist. All someone needs is a PDA with either a wireless or LAN card.

When I explain to the client how lax their security is, they just dismiss it. Then I explain how fast/easy someone could get all their client and financial data. Then they start to listen.

Install a HARDWARE firewall
Install a reputable antivirus solution
Install an antispam solution
Install a spyware solution
Enforce password changes regularly
Chop the fingers off of people who write down password
Duct tape their mouths when they say their password out loud
Configure your wireless access point to deny access to everyone except the supplied MAC addresses
Put everything on a UPS
Backup everything every day - EVERYTHING - EVERY DAY - and store a recent copy offsite
Enable auditing on everything
Enable security permissions on everything
Train the users to recognize security issues & report them

Once this is done, security goes up a billion percent. And most of that work doesn't cost anything other than time. Anything less than that and you're just fooling yourself.

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And most of that work doesn't cost anything other than time.

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But time is money !?

quote:

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...I've yet to see a firm whos network I couldn't access before I walked past the receptionist. All someone needs is a PDA with either a wireless or LAN card.

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So how good are you at spoofing a Mac Address? Limiting a wireless network by specific Mac Addresses seems like the most secure (even if inconvienent) way to secure things, so that's the way mine is set up. I realize that with a Brute Force attack and lots of time it could be cracked, but I doubt anyone wants to waste those kind of resources for such little return.

[This message has been edited by norm (edited 04-07-2004).]

[This message has been edited by norm (edited 04-07-2004).]

By that I meant that I can either jump onto the unsecure wireless net, or jack into it via a port in the reception area. It amazes me how many companies leave jacks connected in public areas.