Hi Preston,
You have a pretty decent setup with the ZA suite and the router,which
properly configured can be a very good (hardware) firewall.
Yes an All-in-One can do a decent job,although in most cases separate
applications tend to score higher.
As to offering the best protection - as you can imagine - the opinions
on this are extremely varied.
Replacing the ZA suite with freeware could give you almost equal
protection - saving some money .
> What freeware programs would do the job better?
Maybe not better but equal or close to it.
In most cases some features of the paid-for versions are missing.
Firewall > Comodo http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/index.html
see why >
http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php#firewalls-ratings
> Antivirus
Source > http://www.av-test.org/
> http://www.virusbtn.com/news/2008/03_13a.xml
> Although you may want to look at the website below
> which shows links for XLS versions at end of article:
> http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/march-test-results-of-antivirus.html
Avira is toprated > http://www.free-av.com/
Anti-spyware is a bit of a mixed bag - hard to say which is
best,although SuperAntiSpyware gets very good reviews.
Also check >
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm#trustworthy
Interesting thread > http://tinyurl.com/5j8d29
Finally - I can't resist :)
Quote:"> Is there anything else that I should be protecting against?"
Yes,paranoia. :)
Strictly personal opinion:Spend your energy and efforts on
backups,imaging and other restorative methods.
Use the toprated freeware versions of protective software.
Be judicious when surfing, opening mail etc
IE7 has security features >
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/features.mspx
So does Firefox > http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/features.html#secure
Peter E.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [PCSOFT] Firewall and Anti Virus/Spyware Programs
From: Betti Ann and Preston Smith <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: 21-May-2008 9:35:33 PM
Hello!
I suspect that this question is like asking "how many angels exist on a
head of a pin?"
I am using Zone Alarm's Security Suite Version 7.0.470.000 which has a
Firewall, and separate anti-virus and anti-spyware features. I operate
behind a D'Link WBR-2310 router
I keep wondering how effective the ZA suite really is -does an all in
one app do the job?
Does the ZA suite (which is updated at least daily) in conjunction with
the router provide me with the best protection?
Would I be better off replacing ZA's firewall and/or one or both Anti*
features with freeware programs?
What freeware programs would do the job better?
Is there anything else that I should be protecting against?
Thanks for sharing your experience
Preston
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