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    Vanilla Vista: What security & protective software to use?!

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by sinnasmurfen, Jul 15, 2007.

  1. sinnasmurfen

    sinnasmurfen Notebook Guru

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    What combination of (preferably free-ware) antivirus, anti-adware, spyware, firewall etc etc ad infinitum offers the best overall protection for my new laptop? (I have Vista Home Premium)

    I've looked through the sticky threads on free-ware and so far I think I'll download the following:

    1) Antivirus: Avast or AVG. Which is best and why?
    2) Spybot S&D
    3) Ad-Aware personal
    4) CCleaner
    5) Firewall: Dunno- is Vista's firewall sufficient or do I need another one?
    6) What am I forgetting? Make recommendations! Remember it is about security
    7) Are the above compatible with Vista?


    Also, I used to run PC Tools' Spyware Doctor and Registry Mechanic. I had good experiences with these but I've heard bad things and would like not to pay. What programs would replace these? CCleaner for the registry obviously, but with regards to spyware I'm not sure Spybot and Ad-Aware is enough since I used to run Spybot in parallel with Spyware Doctor and they would always find different things.

    Thanks for your help!
     
    sinnasmurfen, Jul 15, 2007
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  2. the caveman

    the caveman Notebook Consultant

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    ZONE ALARM free firewall and avg antivirus is the best combo
     
    the caveman, Jul 15, 2007
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  3. -Recoil-

    -Recoil- Notebook Consultant

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    I got Vista Premium too with my new laptop, which i also wanted to be secure...

    I use AVG Internet Security 7.5 which has spyware, Anti-Virus, Firewall and more... it seems to do the trick, i have had no problems yet... i mainly got it because of the firewall, i never normally trust windows firewall alone.. i dont know why i just havent lol.

    I also use Ad-Aware SE Proffesional, as the new one (2007 i think) didnt work with my vista even though it said it did.

    AVG, runs on vista fine, no problems at all. Just that when i tried Ad-Aware 2007, it got half way through a scan and came up with an error... so i used the older version (which still gets program updates for spyware etc).

    Hope that helps abit.

    Also, Zone Alarm hasnt been released yet that works on vista... well there has been, but its only the beta versions, so it will be full of bugs...

    EDIT: i have just checked and didnt realise that the full version of Zone Alarm was released for Vista :)
     
    -Recoil-, Jul 15, 2007
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  4. System64

    System64 Windows 7 x64

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    You've pretty much answered your own question. :D
    Antivirus - AVG for 32bit Vista, Avast for 64bit Vista. I'd go for AVG if they also had support for 64bit OSes.
    I use Ad-Aware personal, although currently i'm using Windows Defender. Yes, Defender.
    Vista's firewall is so-so ok, basic protection. A great free firewall solution is Zonelab's Zonealarm
    They are compatible, don't worry.
     
    System64, Jul 15, 2007
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  5. sinnasmurfen

    sinnasmurfen Notebook Guru

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    Sweet. I'll go with AVG and add Zonealarm to my list.

    Thanks for the input guys
     
    sinnasmurfen, Jul 15, 2007
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  6. sA x sKy

    sA x sKy Notebook Consultant

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    Personally, I would go with Kaspersky but that is just me. Both are fine Anti-Virus programs.
     
    sA x sKy, Jul 15, 2007
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  7. R4000

    R4000 Notebook Virtuoso

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    I'm using AVG and ZoneAlarm on VHP. So far so good............
     
    R4000, Jul 15, 2007
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