What Firewall + AntiVirus Combined package?

[beanbag]

The time has finally come and i'm giving up on Norton. I've been using the 2003 edition for quite some time now but I've lost confidence in it as it let through a couple of email viruses (which i managed to remove), and the subscription has come to a final end.

I don't want Norton 2005-06 since they are crap. Crap because they screwed up my PC the last time they went on and crap because my housemate still managed to hack into my PC even though it was "locked down" by the Norton firewall.

So I've started using a trial of ZoneAlarm Internet Security which he hasn't managed to get through yet. (That's a good start). The program is about $50 but before I shell out for that when my trial ends, does anyone have any good suggestions?

I heard about Panda Platium which is said to be good but i've not heard too much about them. McAfee are crap and full of junk "tools" as per usual so what other choices do I have?

Cheers!

BB

[Plotloss]

The free version of Zonealarm and the free version of AVG

Norton is the work of the devil.

[beanbag]

Plotloss said:

The free version of Zonealarm and the free version of AVG Norton is the work of the devil.

I thought about the free version of ZoneAlarm but it's missing a lot of the functionality of the Pro version which you get with the Internet Security pack.

Anyone know anymore about this?

[pdV6]

beanbag said:

I thought about the free version of ZoneAlarm but it's missing a lot of the functionality of the Pro version which you get with the Internet Security pack. Anyone know anymore about this?

Are there specific features in the Pro version that you would actually use? ZoneAlarm free version is prefect for what most people want it for, i.e. preventing unauthorised access to/from your PC. All the rest of the stuff in Pro is (IMO) just there to justify charging for it.

[Plotloss]

I've been running the free version for years without issue.

What functionality specifically do you need from the Pro version?

[beanbag]

Plotloss said:

I've been running the free version for years without issue. What functionality specifically do you need from the Pro version?

Well I'm running the ZoneAlarm Internet Security Trial. I like this "triple" firewall as it looks at program activity as well as IP traffic. For example, if a program wants another to lauch....say maybe a virus wants a windows scripting to start up, the Pro version will pick this up and ask you whether or not to allow it.

Maybe i'll simply go for the Pro version which is cheaper but then again are there any comparisons of AVG vs. ZoneAlarm AntiVirus?

[catso]

Plotloss said:

I've been running the free version for years without issue. What functionality specifically do you need from the Pro version?

Fully agree, I use AVG and Zone Alarm Pro, I was using the free Zone Alarm and to be honest I can't see any worthwile difference on the pro version, the only reason I 'upgraded' to pro was that I was given a PC (for the kids) which had the pro version on it and I somehow got 'confused' and ended up with it on my PC too.

[leosayer]

Yes free AVG and ZA for me too, for a couple of years now and pc is running sweet as a nut.

Oh and also Microsoft Spyware detector, Ad-aware and Spy-bot as well, just to be sure. Plus Firefox for browing instead of IE.

[beanbag]

Hey all....thanks for your help. I went for ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite in the end. It was only €45 so not a bad price I guess plus it has everything I need.

Cheers again!