Security Roundup

That kinda sucks. I use MSE. Looks like I'll have to dig into my backups and see If I still have BitDefender. Oh well.....

If you don't have an active license, and it isn't update-able you're asking for trouble, mate.

There is a 'free edition', but I doubt it'll give you any more than MSE. It is 'on demand' so no 'real time' protection, etc. 

http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html

 

That's the version I have. You know me and freebies. But thanks anyway Doc.

I knew there was a reason I don't use MSE.

Well, all I can say is this: I'm using Kaspersky Internet Security since beginning of 2009, and never changed. Meanwhile, I tested many security software, and still I do (I'm very interested in PC security) :BitDefender (good one), Norton(good one), F-Secure (good one), the new Comodo Internet Security (good one, besides freeware), Avira (excellent on detection the antivirus, probably the best one, but the security suite must be still improved a lot in many sector, starting from the firewall. At the moment, it simply can not be compared with Kaspersky one), and many others.

I can assure you at the moment there is nothing like Kaspersky available. Please, NOTE : I'm talking about Kaspersky Internet Security 2011, also known as KIS (last version is 11.0.2.556, soon will be available the first build of Kaspersky Internet Security 2012, now in beta testing) and not about Kaspersky Antivirus, known as KAV. Of course the anti-virus engine is same, but there is an absolutely big "GAP" between the 2 Kaspersky products.

KIS has got a lot of real time protection modules( e-mail, websites, phishing..), HIPS, an excellent firewall(probably the best one available at the moment, it doesn't matter free or shareware), geographical filter (introduced in 2011 version) that allow you to select additional checking for some country websites (for example Yemen, Iran, China..) or totally block the access. This feature can seem not so rilevant, but can be very useful, especially in case of some unwanted re-directing, antirootkit scanner, vulnerabilities scanner based on Secunia database and much more...

Besides all this security features, highly configurable, there are some very important security tools, such as Safe Run for Websites, Safe Run for Application, Virtual Keyboard Anti-Keylogger (absolutely great; everything is typed from there can not be "seen" from the O.S.,it doesn't matter what kind of info-stealing malware is stored in the machine. All happens like in a "separate", virtual O.S. and when you close the Safe Run or the Virtual Keyboard everything disappear, leaving no any traces in your PC. That's absolutely excellent if you have to introduce important info in a website, like in a on-line banking operation; of course if the website is a fake one you get warning at once).

well, there could be many other things to say. but then it could go too much technicals...

All I want to say is this: if you have to spend some money for security software (today is probably becoming  increasingly necessary) my suggestion is 1, and only 1: Kaspersky Internet Security

Oh, last thing: I'm just a Kasperky customer, not a worker... and thanks to DOC for providing always interesting and useful info.

I have tried Kaspersky, i know its one of the top tools, but if i would have to spend money on security, i would invest in Lavasoft adaware pro ( there is also a free version that does the job ) and this tool combined with Avira is in my eyes unbeatable. And both free versions cover almost all normal internet activity protection.

No doubt that Kaspersky is good im just saying you probably run better with adaware pro and a free version of Avira.

Btw: the thing with the phones- phone are becoming more and ore a new platform and set a new trend for cyber criminals i dont know if its already fact but i heard about poeple using their phones to shop online and also check their bank accounts via online banking and all with the phone.
I think there is a huge gap of security involved and poeple should be carefull i dont recommend anyone using their phone for such activities.Especially after the apple action who knows where your data is stored.Sure this sounds like fiction but imagine how sad it would be if you check your bankaccount the next time and all your money is gone.

Same here.

I thought MSE is a good one.

Well, I used Norton 360 for a couple of years but it's so damn expensive, but it was good.

I think you are right. There is always a hook in freeware, i think. Well there are some good ones but i don't have much of them.

KeePass is one of my favorite freeware because it works with every browser and Windows Live Movie Maker works great to upload videos on YouTube. But that's it.

So, I thought i would not spend my money in security suites anymore, but i think i was wrong...

Maybe i will try Kaspersky for a change.

 

Thanks Doc, for this info.

There is nothing "Good" about Norton.



 

First of all, one question: what kind of knowledge have you got about Kaspersky Internet Security? Average, good or very detailed one? This is very important; many people that has got KIS use no more than 40/50% of all his features.Kaspersky settings are very important and they can radically change the software behavior in some situation, increasing or decreasing the global security level.

Well, Avira,  as I wrote in previous post is an excellent antivirus; Lavasoft is a very good one NOW (in the last few years 2008-2009 software development had got some "stops"), so this could be a good solution, but you are talking about NO spending money for security.

Of course the main point is which kind of use you make of your PC. Above all, if you don't make on-line operation you can be quite safe. But  NOTE: Lavasoft + Avira can be good, but can not be compared with Kaspersky Internet Security; a lot of features and tools are missing (for example, Kaspersky firewall, vulnerabilities scanner and much more).

About freeware software, my suggestion is Emsisoft Emergency Kit (ex A-Squared free), probably the best one in his sector. It's same as the shareware version( A-Squared Anti-malware); just missing the real time protection. Excellent in detection of every kind of malware, included virus.The new version doesn't require installation.

 



There are many good things in Norton, first of all the firewall. Main problem with Norton is  a very deep (too much) integration with the system: this can cause some problems (often it does). Besides it's very heavy on resources.

@inthebloodofeden thats why i mentioned Adaware pro

This is your opinion. I tried it and it was a good security suite in my opinion. But the reason why i don't used it anymore is it's to expensive.

Well, i think i will try the free version of Ad-aware, because i don't need the pro functions. Maybe it's the right thing for me.

Thank you for the info, Rolo

Norton was a RAM hog in the past, and was murder to try and uninstall. Needed a special tool to do it. That's not the case anymore.

It's an excellent product. I'm using Bitdefender Internet Security 2011... just my preference.

What do you like about Bitdefender Internet Security 2011 compared to Kaspersky Internet Security 2011?

Best regards,
Steven.

 

Well, although the software has been improved , I know there has been still some users getting big trouble with Norton, and the Norton Removal Tool has been still needed. 

BitDefender Internet Security is a very good choice, but let me tell you something, DOC: have a look here http://www.matousec.com/projects/proactive-security-challenge/results.php ; these are the results of an accurate test published on www.matousec.com (in my opinion, and not only mine, the best AV-comparative site available, the more credible and reliable). This test has been made around 6 months ago (Kaspersky Internet Security was still the version 11.0.1.400; the new version, 11.0.2.556, that brings lots of improvements, is available since around 1 month after the test, and for sure has got now a better product score in the test, probably 100%).

As you can see, 2 of the top rated Security Suite has got a free version :Comodo Internet Security (already known for the very good free firewall, of course included in the suite) and Outpost Security Suite.

On the site you can get very detailed info about methodology and rules of testing, products features and much more. 

On this page http://www.matousec.com/projects/proactive-security-challenge/#latest-news, instead, you can get the latest news about security software,  all very interesting.

I'm sure you can find a lot of interesting and "surprising" info as well. 

Interesting that there are so many ratings.

You'd think that after so many years they could all get their acts together and agree on a "Gold Standard" for rating... but that would eliminate a lot of 'jobs' wouldn't it? 

I used to use Kaspersky Internet Security several years ago.  All the tests and many people said it was the top protector.  Then, my computer got a virus and my tech guy said it was so bad that my hard drive needed reformatting and Windows reinstalled.  I've always been very selective about my internet activities and don't vary from the "beaten path."  So, who knows.....

Well, that of course is not possible for a lot of reasons, as you certainly know, Doc

All I wanted to say is that testing results and global info published on matousec.com are very interesting, detailed and usually very accurate. Of course some mistakes are always possible, but tester knows about it, and always check for "false positive", positive or negative ones. Besides, the site is really indipendent, and make deep search about security suite and software. You can easily find some very good application, sometimes even freeware, that are very few popular, or not popular at all. I think that's a good thing.

I know there are other Av-comparative sites as well, such as AV-comparatives.org (very popular), but usually are not reliable and  accurate as matousec is, or not so "indipendent"...just my opinion, of course.

Oh, just one question Doc, although "off topic": why only .zip archives are allowed in skin uploading? Are there some specific reason ? Why are not allowed .rar or, above all, .7-Zip, at the moment the highest compression rating one? Now, in 2011, with just one software you can open all different kind of archives.

Again, sorry for the "off topic". 

Well,I started to use Kaspersky Internet Security at the beginning of 2009, and never changed, although I tested many security software. There is one thing that is good to know about this Kaspersky software: settings are VERY important, and can change in a radical way the application behavior in some situation. I don't know about which version (year) of Kaspersky you are talking about, but I can assure you that since 2009 (when I started to use it; I can not speak about before) if you got a good knowledge of the software, and apply the right settings, no any virus but only a nuclear conflict, an earthquake or a tornado could make reformatting necessary.

Well, inthebloodofeden is very persistent about Kaspersky and has given a lot of details and links so I will give it a try when i get a chance. I have been using MSE for a while and has worked fine but it doesn't hurt to change things up a bit. thanks for all the finding.

The Red Robins thing is interesting but I also find that Direct TV and other companies with similar systems use ones phone number to access account #s and I find this disturbing because my mother-in-laws husband wanted to request the Pacquiao fight this past weekend and when we called the system used the phone number to access the account and quickly asked if we wanted the fight. Without any other security request I was able to get the fight which the system specified could not be refunded. Now, granted I would need the phone itself to get in without any other security request but still, anyone with access to his phone could easily request for other PPV shows without any password or anything.

ONce burned twice shy.  Plus their firewall really sucked too (past tense).  But that is why many do not like it now.