Which INTERNET SECURITY software should I purchase for internet security and all related system protection?

Question

What is the difference between internet security software and anti virus software? how are the free internet security able to sustain themselves?

Answer 1

★★ FIREWALLS ★★

◙ What is a firewall? This is a program that protects you from the dangers of the internet. It helps to stop adware, back doors, cookies, dialers, hijackers, key loggers, spyware, thiefware, trojan horses, viruses, worms, and zombie pcs and a host of other nasties getting into your computer. There are two types of firewalls. There are one-way and two-way firewalls. The one-way type stops most things from getting in. The two-way type stops things from getting in and stops the few that slipped through from reporting back to their owners.

◙ The firewall that comes with Windows XP is a one-way. But it's better than nothing at all. To turn it on click the Start Menu > Control Panel > Windows Firewall. But I suggest that you don't use it. Instead do the following.

◙ Every computer that is connected to the internet should be behind two firewalls. You should have both a hardware firewall (a router with a firewall built into it) and a software firewall.

◙ Even if you never plan to network your home PC you should still use a router. The most common way for hackers to get into your computer is by using a port scanner program. It sends packets of data to your ip number and reports back to the owner if there are any vulnerable ports in your computer. Look for a router with a firewall with both SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) and NAT (Network Address Translation). Most modern routers have this but be sure when you buy it. This type of router will slam the door on port scanners.

◙ A really good two-way software firewall is Zonealarm http://www.zonelabs.com/ . The problem is that it will drive you insane for awhile until it figures out what programs are supposed to automatically "phone home" over the internet and which ones aren't. Let's say it asks you if it's ok to allow AcroRD32.exe to communicate over the internet. Unless you know that AcroRD32.exe is Adobe's Acrobat Reader looking to update itself over the net you will be left unsure of what to do. But with everything you have to start somewhere. You'll catch on after awhile. BE SURE TO READ THE HELP PAGES AT ZONELABS' SITE.

◙ Another thing about Zonealarm to is that if you install any new software that updates itself you'll have to put up with this all over again. But only for that one program. Not all of the others all over again. :)

◙ Every firewall has an "Exceptions" section. This is where you allow certain programs to be ignored by the firewall. One such program would be Yahoo Messenger etc. The more "Exceptions" you select the more vulnerable your system will become. You have to decide between lots of cool programs that update themselves or TIGHT SECURITY!

◙ Hackers usually start by using a port scanner to enter your computer. Here are some lists of port numbers that you can use to close off entry to your computer in your firewalls.

☞ http://www.iss.net/security_center/advice/Exploits/Ports/
☞ http://www.iana.org/assignments/port-numbers
☞ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_TCP_and_UDP_port_numbers

◙ Firewall Help

☞ http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=firewall+help

◙ Here are two cool security places on Yahoo to checkout. These areas are good for more than just being safe at Yahoo. They will show you tricks that will work everywhere on the internet.

☞ http://family.yahoo.com/
☞ http://security.yahoo.com/

◙ Below is Mcafee's Site Adviser. Type in a URL in the form here and you will find out if the site you want to go to is known for phising (getting your personal info under false pretenses), viruses, spyware, and many other things. You can use the tool on their site or download an program to do that.

☞ http://www.siteadvisor.com/

★★ TEST YOUR FIREWALL ★★

◙ Firewalls just sit there on your hard drive in the background doing what they do. It's hard to know if they are really doing their job. Below are some sites that will check it for you.

◙ DO NOT TRY THIS ON A NETWORKED COMPUTER! THE SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR MIGHT SEE IT AS AN ATTACK AND PULL THE PLUG! THEN THEY WILL COME POUNDING ON YOUR DOOR ASKING WHAT KIND OF AN IDIOT ARE YOU! YOU DON"T WANT THIS KIND OF VISIT! ONLY DO THIS ON YOUR OWN HOME COMPUTER! I'm sorry for the caps but you can't bold text in Yahoo Answers. So this was the next best thing.

◙ Here are some sites that will send zillions of packets of info to your computer's ip address to see if your firewall is working. They will then list whatever vulerablities exist if any. Try them all to see which one works the best for you.

☞ http://www.grc.com/
☞ http://scan.sygate.com/
☞ http://www.hackercheck.com/
☞ http://www.planet-security.net/

◙ The source of this information was "PCs, The Missing Manual". If you have Windows XP you really need to buy this wonderful book. It is worth every penny they are charging for it. Ipoders will find some helpful information here too.

☞ http://www.missingmanuals.com/

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Internet security will consist of an antivirus, anti spyware, anti keylogger, firewall, site advisor, and some registry cleaning, system junk cleaning software. You can get them all for free. Make your own choice from each category.

Answer 4

In my spare time I test on my backup computer all antispyware/antivirus programs to see if the perform as claimed And especially to see which one have embedded trojans/adware either in their program or in the wizard installer used to guide you through the installation.

What is rate as 1-2-3-4-5 is not always the best. Especially when you can find free programs that are light years ahead in technology over the purchased.

In my computer I use the following free programs.

For antivirus you can only use one or you will have serious conflict with your system. You can use three or four antispyware without any conflict.

Avast in my opinion is the very best. Have you Avast for nine plus years and never had one virus. They are out of Prague.

http://www.avast.com This program is free and has one of the very best background scanner that will catch any virus in real time and destroyed the virus before it can enter you system.
Updates auto., two or three times per day. They will ask you for your email address so they can send you a free key that is good for one year. After one year you only have to request a new key.

Antispyware

http://www.ewido.net This company was out of Germany and has since been purchased by AVG. Now the name is AVG antispyware. Still the same program with excellent technolgoy. When you download the program it will come with all functions an if you don't purchase in thirty days they will just remove the background scanner and the auto updates. You will update on a manual basis. Scans all 195,000 objects in my system.

http://www.emsisoft.com This company is out of Austria. Almost the same as the new AVG. A2Squared free version download. They will ask you for you email address so they can send you a key that is good for life. You will get any new free version with the same key. Plus has rootkit protection and rogue dialer protection. (I have ADSL, but use for the added protection).

Firewall

http://www.zonealarm.com Excellent firewall free, if you download their free for home use version. You will get daily updates if any are due, plus if they come out with a new free version they will notify you via automatic and you just say yes, download the new version. The new version will remove the old version. Always best to do is clean install, instead of allowing the new version to copy the files of what you allowed or deny. You will just have to allow, or deny incoming/outgoing traffice again. If you check off remember on Zone Alarm, they will not ask you again if you want to allow or deny the same program.

For "zero day attacks", Attacks that hit before any security company has knowledge of the attack. I use a free software that is is excellent state of the art technology to identify any program that the behaivor is strange, like trying to download hidden files, etc. etc. Will get a pop up with indepth details, so you can decide for yourself if you want to allow or deny. Plus will block all malware. http://www.cyberhawk.com

If you want to spend money you can use what I use in my backup pc. http://www.filseclab.com Twister Trojan Antivirus. This program is used by the Government of China and you only pay a one time fee of $29.99 for live. Will include all new versions, auto, updates, an excellent support. Has a real great background scanner that really works, plus many other features that operate from the icon in the tray. Well worth the one time fee. Most other companies charge you an annual fee. China does not believe in the annual fee.

Clinical Psychiatrist, France

Excuse my english

Clinical Psychiatrist. France.

Answer 5

you should do the mcafee security, normally it comes with your comp, but if you didn't get it then you should. It is actually good for both computer as well as internet. Basically the only way you are going to get a virus is really through the internet or email.

Answer 6

security software is in the same good as anti virus
since in secuirty it would include anti virus, firewall, anti spyware checker
i would advise install all these free programs
zone alarm - firewall
AVG - anti virus
adaware SE - anti spyware
all free to use and upgrade, u can google for any of these.

Answer 7

Do not spend any money. I recommend Safety and Security Center. It covers all the bases and it is free.

Answer 8

Download AVG for free from grisoft.com. Download Ad-Aware from lavasoft.com. Then go buy CyberDefender for $46 month. These will cover you quite well. No package covers everything. (CyberDefender.com) I use Windows Firewall, others use ZoneAlarm (free). Norton will bog your computer down.