McAfee security

[vadek]

Has anyone tried out the free McAfee suite that's bundled with O2 Broadband? I don't know whether or not to replace my AVG/ZoneAlarm combi with McAfee.

[Saturday]

McAfee is either loved or hated largely depending on the computer literacy of the user it seems to me. So, it's either really good, or bloatware that cripples your system and is a nightmare to troubleshoot.

Personally, I'd never let it on my system.

AVG is OK. Used to be great but some of the recent cock-ups, false positives and sometimes 2nd rate detections have knocked it out of the top choices in my view. Have a look at Avast. I switched from AVG over a year ago and would never go back.

ZoneAlarm is OK too but has suffered like AVG e.g. falling over after a MS update I seem to recall. Comodo is an industrial strength firewall if you were thinking of trying another but can be just a bit tricky and demanding. I wouldn't recommend installing the AV part of Comodo though, just the firewall.

[Breed]

I haven't had any Firewall or AV software on my PC's since 2001. Personally, I think they're far too resource intensive. If your careful with your web browsing and downloading, you needn't worry about viruses. Keeping up Windows up to date will avoid most worms, and the in built firewalls routers have help avoid them too.

Honestly, they're easy to avoid. Just in case though, I do cheks every 6 month at Windows Live OneCare and have never had any malicious programs since 2000. I can see the need for novice users needing this sort of software though, the amount of my friends that got viruses through MSN a few years ago...

Honestly, somebody who opens a 20kb file with an MS-DOS logo deserves what they get.

[Mike8]

You will always occassionally get false positives and negatives for that matter with anti-virus. The important thing is to have a program such as AVG8 or Avast active in your system tray, and, have one or two other antimalware programs which can be called upon if you hit a problem, such as antimalwarebytes. AV programs are like a typical broad spectrum antibiotic, sometimes you also need to home in with something else when you hit trouble. However, I would never use top heavy programmes like Norton.

[vadek]

Originally Posted by Saturday

/snip/ AVG is OK. Used to be great but some of the recent cock-ups, false positives and sometimes 2nd rate detections have knocked it out of the top choices in my view. Have a look at Avast. I switched from AVG over a year ago and would never go back.

ZoneAlarm is OK too but has suffered like AVG e.g. falling over after a MS update I seem to recall. Comodo is an industrial strength firewall if you were thinking of trying another but can be just a bit tricky and demanding. I wouldn't recommend installing the AV part of Comodo though, just the firewall.

I used to use Avast, but read a review which said that AVG was much better at spotting viruses - I think it said that it's basically the same engine as Kaspersky anti-virus. I'm using AVG8 right now, but I turned the Link Scanner off (I use McAfee SiteAdvisor instead).

I tried Comodo firewall but got fed up of its constant chatter with popups asking me this and that all the time, so I reverted to ZoneAlarm.

Another product I'm keen to use is ThreatFire, but it doesn't get on with AVG8 and hangs my PC.

I feel pretty well protected as I have a huge HOSTS file c/o Hostsman (abelhadigital.com) as well as SpywareBlaster, SuperAntiSpyware and SpyBot (nothing resident, though).

However, a single security suite sounds like an attractive proposition, hence my query regarding the free McAfee.

[Mike8]

Unfortunately suites tend to be resource heavy. Everyone has their pet. Personally im using windows xp and although I have the paid version of avg8 for the rootkit and shields, its good to have avg8free plus zone alarm free (you may have a router hard firwall, but ZA free will let you know what is trying to get out!).
I would never use windows firewall. If using vista its ok to keep bit defender active. The important thing is dont have more than one av program active in a shield because often then can conflict. Spybot is always a good programme to use in your arsenel of weapons (I wouldnt use shields or teatimer) so is super anti spyware. If you try scanning with say 3 pieces of antimalware progs you can bet they will each find what the other doesnt although usually only traces.

[Saturday]

Originally Posted by Breed

I haven't had any Firewall or AV software on my PC's since 2001.

Then I really hope you have scripts disabled, ActiveX screwed down tight etc. In the last year there have been a number of day zero attacks using browser vulnerabilities and site hijacking. I'm very careful about what sites I visit but have twice now avoided infection through those routes.

If you're going to not run an AV can I suggest you consider another on-line test as well as Windows online. It's detection rate is not good. Try Kaspersky online and Panda online - and don't be too surprised if they find something, although hopefully they won't.

[Saturday]

Originally Posted by vadek

I used to use Avast, but read a review which said that AVG was much better at spotting viruses - I think it said that it's basically the same engine as Kaspersky anti-virus.

AVG better? Not in any review from a reputable source that I've read. They're quite similar but Avast is usually ahead, updates are more timely/frequent and no cock-ups (so far).

And I'm pretty certain that AVG is not the same engine as Kaspersky.

[vadek]

Originally Posted by Saturday

AVG better? Not in any review from a reputable source that I've read. They're quite similar but Avast is usually ahead, updates are more timely/frequent and no cock-ups (so far).

And I'm pretty certain that AVG is not the same engine as Kaspersky.

Sorry no - the review said that Steganos and Kaspersky were the same animal.

Re Avast vs. AVG, the same review said that AVG 7.5 (this was Apr 07) was far better than Avast! at detecting viruses and narrowly beat Kaspersky - and it "roundly thrashed" Norton and McAfee. This was a Software Labs test in Computer Shopper.

I have to say I've had more false positives in the past with Avast! than with AVG - which is one reason why I ditched Avast!.

[Undecided adrian]

I went over to Kasparsky as it was recommended by numerous people on SkyUser as I needed one that worked on 64 bit Windows XP and I got it for £15 off amazon.

As for not running any at all. my Bank and credit cards REQUIRE use of internet security packages otherwise if you get your account hacked they will not cover you for any losses.