What do you guys know about Internet Security suite software?

[LAGC]

I've been running Norton Internet Security since they revamped the engine back in 2009. Earlier versions were widely known mostly for their bloat, just like McAfee still to this day -- the two main players from the early pioneering days of anti-virus software under MS-DOS. But the post-2009 NIS line was pretty damn well streamlined with an only 15MB memory foot-print, fast scan times, high detection rate, and ran well both on desktops and laptops/netbooks. Well, I just found out that Symantec (who bought Norton out years ago) is doing away with their old versions (NIS and Norton 360) and merging everything into their new plain-Jane "Norton Security" line. It's main "selling point" is it's universality, being able to work across all sorts of devices, including smartphones to tablets -- up to 5 devices under one license now, although the new product costs a whopping $80 just for one year of protection. I'm just afraid a unified interface like that is only going to bring back the bloat, so I'm now exploring other options since I always try to renew right around New Year's to remember when it's time.

I've seen all the good reviews about Bitdefender and Kapsersky, the latter which is kind of appealing because it's made in Russia, so less likelihood of them white-listing U.S. law enforcement agency trojan horse software like the FBI's "Magic Lantern" tool that Norton was accused of white-listing and letting through several years ago. I've also heard from a couple system administrator types who swear by WebRoot, which appears to be the cheapest top-tier player right now, supposedly even quicker than Norton although with a less-than-stellar malware detection rate.

With all the hacking scandals and stories about identity theft in the news right now, it just seems like a bad time to let anything lapse when it comes to computer security, especially if you do any online banking or e-commerce. Having just a basic freeware anti-virus program doesn't really seem like a very wise choice these days, when most of the paid options at least offer two-way software firewall and active keylogger detection feature should any "zero-day" malware get through. Even Mac and Linux aren't entirely safe these days.

Any thoughts/recommendations?

[cevulirn]

Not a fan. Run antivirus. If you want a firewall, run a firewall. Browse responsibly. Be aware of your computer.

[LAGC]

Not a fan. Run antivirus. If you want a firewall, run a firewall. Browse responsibly. Be aware of your computer.

I guess that's another option -- just use separate products.

Those AdBlock and NoScript add-ons for Firefox are still my main line of defense against web-hijacking attempts when viewing iffy web-sites, but I like knowing there's keylogger detection going on in the background as well in case something gets through. At least on my main e-commerce/banking machine. My gaming system I don't keep or do anything sensitive on there, so I really don't give a damn if one of those indy Steam games is all back-doored to hell or something, although I still like to run AV on it just to prevent anything malicious from infecting and interfering with any of my gaming executables and causing them not to load.

[Krupski]

Not a fan. Run antivirus. If you want a firewall, run a firewall. Browse responsibly. Be aware of your computer.

^^^ this 1000% ^^^

I never use any "virus protection" and have never gotten a virus, malware or any other problem. How?

• Don't use WinBlows
• Use Linux
• Don't use MSIE
• Use Firefox
• Don't open "male enhancement" emails
• Use a hardware firewall/router
• Don't expose my internal LAN to the outside WAN
• Only open email from senders that I know
• Don't use ANYTHING from Microslop

Besides, what does a virus do? SLOWS DOWN YOUR COMPUTER. What does Norton, McAfee and other similar software do? SLOWS DOWN YOUR COMPUTER.

If A = B then B = A, right?

[Oswald Bastable]

^^^ this 1000% ^^^

I never use any "virus protection" and have never gotten a virus, malware or any other problem. How?

• Don't use WinBlows
• Use Linux
• Don't use MSIE
• Use Firefox
• Don't open "male enhancement" emails
• Use a hardware firewall/router
• Don't expose my internal LAN to the outside WAN
• Only open email from senders that I know
• Don't use ANYTHING from Microslop

Besides, what does a virus do? SLOWS DOWN YOUR COMPUTER. What does Norton, McAfee and other similar software do? SLOWS DOWN YOUR COMPUTER.

If A = B then B = A, right?

Still have to ask Roger...if you've never run an anti-virus program, how would you know you've never had a virus?

[El Laton Caliente]

I've been running Malwarebytes Premium (the pay version) it seems to be doing it's job. I have the firewall on and site/rediretion blocking with regular scans...

[ltorlo64]

I have used Norton about 3 years in a row and then last year switched to Kaspersky. It was alright. This year I am back to Norton as it is rated just slightly higher than Kaspersky, but those two are about the same for protection and price.

[Krupski]

Still have to ask Roger...if you've never run an anti-virus program, how would you know you've never had a virus?

Because:

* I run Linux
* I've never had a problem with my machine

[Oswald Bastable]

Because:

* I run Linux
* I've never had a problem with my machine

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_malware
* Not all virii, etc., cause problems with your machine.

[5.56NATO]

The thing about linux hax is that most of them are geared towards making the nix box a bot to be controlled for ddos attacks rather than theft of your bank account. Also note that most of the major routers that run teh innernets runs on linux, so serious hackers (meaning they're out to make a point rather than steal money) will be trying to exploit linux rather than ms products. For example, the xmas takedown of the xbox game network was done apparently by hackers attacking the routers in the undersea cables, wich I have to assume are running a version of linux.

Now to the root of the thread, for ms products I suggest ms essentials, ccleaner, and superantispyware.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...tials-download
https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download
http://www.superantispyware.com/

For adblocking, you might use a 3rd party router firmware and use one of the scripts available to stop them right in the router.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Ad_blocking

http://tomatousb.org/
http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php...locking.68464/

[Krupski]

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_malware
* Not all virii, etc., cause problems with your machine.

Well, of course you're right. Kinda like Shingles. The virus may be in my computer, just waiting for it to get old enough to strike!

Oh, by the way, from your link (Wiki):

There has not yet been a single widespread Linux virus/malware infection of the type that is common on Microsoft Windows; this is attributable generally to the malware's lack of root access and fast updates to most Linux vulnerabilities

Very true.

[JTHunter]

LAGC - I've been running 98 or XP since 1998 and I've only had one "virus" problem in all that time. And that turned out to be an infected email from, of all people, my mother!
I use a combo of AVG Free AV, ZoneAlarm's free firewall, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Malwarebytes free version. All are free and seem to be doing the job.