Best Anti-virus/firewall/spyware/spam software?

[ehasler]

I've been using Norton for the last few years, but feel it's time for a change, and I've been looking around for alternatives. There are loads of different apps around though, and I've not been able to find many decent review sites that do a proper comparison of the current products.

What's the general consensus on the best products for the following:

1) Anti-virus
2) Firewall
3) Anti-spyware
4) Anti-spam

So far, it looks like Trend PC-cillin v6 provides the best antivirus, and Zone Alarm is the best choice for a firewall. I've also seen good things mentioned about Spyware Doctor and Spy Sweeper. I've not found many anti-spam reviews though, so not sure what's good in this area.

Are there better options out there?

[wiggy001]

ehasler said:

1) Anti-virus

Antivir

ehasler said:

2) Firewall

Zonealarm

ehasler said:

3) Anti-spyware

AdAware and Spybot

ehasler said:

4) Anti-spam

No idea, never needed anything.

[Plotloss]

ehasler said:

What's the general consensus on the best products for the following: 1) Anti-virus 2) Firewall 3) Anti-spyware 4) Anti-spam

1) AVG
2) Combination of a hardware firewall in an all in one machine and Zonealarm on each machine
3) Combination of AdAware, Spybot and MS Spyware Killer
4) Cloudnet

[Podie]

ehasler said:

1) Anti-virus 2) Firewall 3) - SEE BELOW 4) Anti-spam

For general home users I'd always go for McAfee. Not to memory hungry, and updates in the background nicely. The anti-spam is particularly viscious

ehasler said:

3) Anti-spyware

I'd concur with SpyBot and AdAware, although the MS Anti-spyware Beta is pretty good...

[Podie]

Ed - YHM

[Don]

Podie said:

For general home users I'd always go for McAfee. Not to memory hungry, and updates in the background nicely. The anti-spam is particularly viscious

I've recently triec McAfee on one of my home PCs.

Very good. Very easy. Works.

[GregE240]

Second all the previous recommendations, although a couple of observations:

AdAware and Spybot don't sit well together - I've found that they don't really like each other. Out of the 2, I'd go with AdAware and couple that with MS Anti Spyware, which really is a great piece of kit.

For AV, I'd go for McAfee, as Pod says its pretty reliable, the update engine is pretty good, and theres always offers around for it. The only thing I have found with it is that when it expires, it doesn't actually tell you that it has, it just asks you to verify your install. Norton, on the other hand, simply tells you you've run out, so renew the product.

HTH,
Greg

[shadytree]

For the Spyware and general crap on your puter I like to use:

CRAP CLEANER

[Podie]

GregE240 said:

For AV, I'd go for McAfee, as Pod says its pretty reliable, the update engine is pretty good, and theres always offers around for it. The only thing I have found with it is that when it expires, it doesn't actually tell you that it has, it just asks you to verify your install. Norton, on the other hand, simply tells you you've run out, so renew the product.

Good point. Good deals to be had at PC World on both products, but I see Norton as the AOL of anti-virus...

McAfee is about £30 or something from PC World... peanuts compared to the hassle of a major trojan / virus...

[GregE240]

shadytree said:

For the Spyware and general crap on your puter I like to use: CRAP CLEANER

Seconded

Brilliant, and best of all, free!