Time to reup security suite - would love some input

Well it is that time of year again when McAfee 3-in-1 Security Suite hits me up for their big renewal fees. I have seriously been considering going to a different security suite. I have a Dell Inspirion B120 laptop with the Celeron M processor - yes I know it sucks terribly but it is running so I am using it I have tried to change antivirus packages before to no avail. I have had AVG which had a lot of conflict issues with my system. I would really like to dump McAfee. I had some other one before that which I had to dump because it was too difficult to use.

I am constantly traveling and I use public wifi almost exclusively. What I have liked about McAfee is that it is pretty much mindless and does have a public websurfing option. Also it has never had system conflicts except that it does bog me down like crazy despite having 2 gigs of memory. I also have Webroot Spyware Sweeper, and MalwareBites Anti-malware. All of this is costing a mint! What I don't like is the cost, the lack of any real support when you need it $$$$$ and that I have to have all these other products just to keep my computer free of crap! The scan takes FOREVER - I mean hours - AND EATS UP ALL THE MEMORY.

I have been trying to find out if I could just upgrade the Webroot to their suite for $30.00. The Spyware Sweeper seems to jive with my B120. I can't really find many ratings or product comparisons of their suite. I need something which will protect me in the wild world of public wifi - end of story - which does not seize up my computer while doing so. I would also like a product which offers real support - not just by email like AVG, but will not charge me to remove a virus their stupid product should have protected me from to begin with. I am becoming frustrated with websites comparing antivirus packages because they all choose different ones as "the best" plus the consumer ratings tend to be very different from the editor ratings. Isn't there any real info out there on this stuff which is reliable?!

The website for Webroot is: http://www.webroot.com/productCheck/?pc=64150&origrc=1&rc=1&sfb=0&oc=75&mjv=6&mnv=1&rel=0&bld=128&lang=en&loc=USA&opi=2&omj=5&omn=1&avon=1&frq=1&dnv=20&kc=ppc%60fkab^^aehefvrduw&guid=2E38F96C-B7A5-498D-A145-BE53D3E52B06&sosacct=dlineberrys&storageUsed=4820382720
The only review I could find was here: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-security/reviews/34458.aspx

I am open to anything right now before I have to shell out more money....

Um I'm thinking overkill here

Uninstall the horrible (IMO) McAfee
Then run the > McAfee removal Tool (as there will still be parts of it left if you don't) Also you need to be logged in as an Administrator privileged account

Uninstall (horrible again, IMO) Webroot Spyware Sweeper

Restart so its all back to quick again

Download and run CCleaner

Then download; Install; and update to > free Avira Antivirus
I'd suggest to run a fully updated scan, to remove what McAfee missed


Then create a limited User account (Control Panel > Users)
And use that account when you are in transit

All done, at zero cost

here

kimsland said:

...create a limited User account (Control Panel > Users)
And use that account when you are in transit...

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I totally agree with Kimsland on using the limited user account in transit. That will prevent a lot of problems that could happen if you were on an administrator account.

As for your next anti-virus software, I use Trend Micro and I love it. Their support line is great, always someone who really knows what they are doing (and speaks fluent english).

Their firewall is excellent, so far mine has caught everything the web has thrown at it. I also adjust the parental controls to block web sites that contain: porn, violence, chat/im sites, hacking/proxy avoidance, spyware/virus risks, adult/joke program cookies, illegal drugs, and it also blocks all web advertisement sites.

It may sound odd to run a parental program on myself. But with the chance for redirects* (for instance), its so useful to have enabled.

Avira has the parental controls, but only on the premium package. If I were you, and on the go I'd get the premium package. However, it sounds like your worried about its compatibility with your system. So why not try Avira free for awhile and see how it runs?

AVG (and its free version) is good too, but not as many features as some anti-virus programs offer. Also, I find AVG's interface to be a little annoying and really bland.

BUT,
Some people would disagree on what I've said. I know some people who will not use an "All-in-One" program (anti-virus + firewall). I believe the basis is that if your anti-virus software is compromised, so is your firewall. I don't know about all that. But I would recommend that you not use the windows firewall, its worthless (IMO). I just find that the windows firewall misses a lot. Some people use a firewall from a different manufacturer, though I'm not really knowledgeable about which ones are best.

But whatever you decide on, you absolutely need a firewall, whether its windows or other.

(And if anyone wonders. No, I don't work for any of those companies. This is just my opinion.)

I will really have to consider what you're suggesting. I have tried a user account before but always found that it made it almost impossible for my computer to update because it requires an admin and this made the user account awkward to use. I would have to log in and out of the account everytime I got online. I live on the road so there is no such thing as "going home" to a normal mode of use. The "user account" would never be temporary. Being in this situation, I have always been wary to use any service which I got for free.

FWIW, I believe NOD32 has the lowest memory fingerprint of all the AV software (citation needed because I can't remember where I read that), but I can't say I have a lot of experience with that stuff since I only own one Windows box and it is strictly used for gaming. Everything else I do on my Linux box and my Macs.

tlarkin said:

FWIW, I believe NOD32 has the lowest memory fingerprint of all the AV software (citation needed because I can't remember where I read that)

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I'd like to see how Microsoft Security Essentials compares to NOD32.

wandergirl said:

I have always been wary to use any service which I got for free.

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Well in my opinion free Avira (or even "Microsoft Security Essentials")
Is arguably (as in, not arguably ) way better than bought Antiviruses

Yes some say, and stand by, paid Nod32, and possibly even Kaspersky Internet Security. BUT, I would not pay for any when Avira free Antivirus is usually in top 1 or top 2 of the world unbiased lists

Try free Avira, its free ! And will possibly find Malwares (Virus; Trojans etc) that McAfee missed

I think I will take Kimland's advice on Avira but have questions

Well, after much consideration, I think I will go with your recommendation Kimsland. I have read about Avira online and it has great reviews and would most likely kill McAfee in a duel. I also read that they do have some support. Is this true? If it is then I am sold considering that it is free and comes with a firewall. My Webroot Spy Sweeper expires in April - I could just leave it alone until then, I do get online backup with it. Does anyone else know of online backup services which are good and not costly? The only drawback is that I have read that Avira's features are hard to configure if you don't know much. What say you?

wandergirl said:

Well, after much consideration, I think I will go with your recommendation Kimsland. I have read about Avira online and it has great reviews and would most likely kill McAfee in a duel. I also read that they do have some support. Is this true? If it is then I am sold considering that it is free and comes with a firewall. My Webroot Spy Sweeper expires in April - I could just leave it alone until then, I do get online backup with it. Does anyone else know of online backup services which are good and not costly? The only drawback is that I have read that Avira's features are hard to configure if you don't know much. What say you?

Click to expand...

What kind of back up services?

If you want to sync documents between lots of computers you can try dropbox, which there is a free and pay for versions

www.getdropbox.com

wandergirl said:

considering that (Avira) is free and comes with a firewall.

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Avira AntiVir Personal comes with a Firewall? Might want to check into that.

avira does not have a firewall in the free version

According to their own website: http://www.free-av.com/ it seemed like they did but it was misleading - it only applies to the paid version. Doesn't ZoneAlarm offer a good one for free however? For those of you using the free version of Avira, what are you using for a firewall?

On the online storage, I don't have several computers - just my laptop. I only wanted online backup as a backup but I don't have to have it.

wandergirl said:

According to their own website: http://www.free-av.com/ it seemed like they did but it was misleading - it only applies to the paid version. Doesn't ZoneAlarm offer a good one for free however? For those of you using the free version of Avira, what are you using for a firewall?

On the online storage, I don't have several computers - just my laptop. I only wanted online backup as a backup but I don't have to have it.

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I'm using Comodo Firewall.

Wow. I went to learn more about Comodo firewall, and saw their other products too. I was very excited about their Internet Security Pro edition - because it offers wifi encryption in public hotspots - which is where I am always at. This would be a big plus for me because I have to be so careful about online purchases. Do you think this would be a good choice for $40?

wandergirl said:

Wow. I went to learn more about Comodo firewall, and saw their other products too. I was very excited about their Internet Security Pro edition - because it offers wifi encryption in public hotspots - which is where I am always at. This would be a big plus for me because I have to be so careful about online purchases. Do you think this would be a good choice for $40?

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I personally only use free software so i wouldn't think so but if someone else can vouch for it then...

wandergirl said:

Wow. I went to learn more about Comodo firewall, and saw their other products too. I was very excited about their Internet Security Pro edition - because it offers wifi encryption in public hotspots - which is where I am always at. This would be a big plus for me because I have to be so careful about online purchases. Do you think this would be a good choice for $40?

Click to expand...

Online purchases should all go through port 443 and HTTPS to begin with so it is already encrypted. However, more security is not a bad thing at times.

I know that the ports themselves are encrypted but I worry about that crazy hacker in the RV park somewhere. I have had my PC hacked before by a gamer who was booted off the wifi system. He disabled my McAfee firewall and was able to take over my netgear n adapter. I had to switch to my dell adapter and that was when I found out that my other adapter had been hacked into because when I went to unplug it, I got a message that I could not because it was connected to a game - well I unplugged it immediately of course. This does not have anything to do with wifi encryption, but it is the ID theft and other issues which I worry about in these parks. I often get a message that although the line is encrypted at the source, my info must first be sent over an unencrypted network - the wifi at my RV park. That is why I really was interested in the wifi protection part of the package. Plus considering the fact I do use wifi exclusively on a daily basis on who-knows-what wifi wherever we are at, I was thinking that the included remote access option fix-it program was also a good feature. What say you?

A support marathon of unbelievable proportions

After thinking over the wifi encryption feature - I decided that it was worth the $40. Also I learned that their technical support would install and configure the program. WOW!!!!!!!

The first thing that happened was that the program did not install right. It seized up during the update process and i had to force reboot. I could not reboot successfully! I must have rebooted about 10 times or more. I finally went into safemode and rebooted, closed down and tried again. This time I made it through and got back to remote assistance. That is when I got Jane who realized that the program was not installing correctly. She uninstalled successfully - but it was hard. Then after reinstall, the program could not update because the signature files were so large and my wifi connection could not sustain the downloading without breaking off the program. So she installed a downloader from IE. The downloader was corrupted. She installed it from firefox - still corrupted. She installed a different one which worked. One hour later she had to manual transfer the download to the program. Then we updated - it took three different updates to get it all downloaded - a very long time. By that time I was handed over to Thomas. We started scanning and the program crashed. He had to turn off most of my programs except for windows and the Comodo Pro. After reboot he had to go deeper into my processes and turn off more things. Then we scanned. We got rid of three threats on the computer which mcafee, spy sweeper and malwarebites had not. Then he had to manually remove from the registry the keys from mcafee which would not remove even after uninstalling, using the removal tool and ccleaner. Then we figured out what ran well with the system. It turns out that I could keep malwarebites but not in the startup menu. He reconnected the secunia psi - which I rely on heavily. But we had to uninstall webroot spysweeper. It was eating up 100 cpu frequently. So we did. After all of this we restarted and now this computer which was slow as molasses is zipping along.

I have a 30 day free trial. I have to admit when I was rebooting over and over I wanted to cry and did ask to have the program removed and my subscription canceled. But Jane said "please" give her the chance to fix everything - so I did. It is now 15 hours later. I started at around 7 pm and did not get done until 9:45am the next day. I am exhausted and giddy from the adrenaline which kicked in to keep me going - along with a big pot of coffee. I would have to say that although the first install which went wrong was due to a bad download of their program - THEY DO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT! THEY STAYED ONLINE WITH ME FOR 15 HOURS FREE OF CHARGE AND FIXED AND CONFIGURED EVERYTHING. For this very reason, despite everything I am happy.....and my computer runs like new now....and I do have wifi encryption now. I have definitely learned how to use the remote support tool!

Hopefully I will not be using it any time soon.

wandergirl said:

Then we scanned. We got rid of three threats on the computer which mcafee, spy sweeper and malwarebites had not. Then he had to manually remove from the registry the keys from mcafee which would not remove even after uninstalling, using the removal tool and ccleaner.

Click to expand...

You must have missed post#2 reply

kimsland said:

Uninstall the horrible (IMO) McAfee
Then run the > McAfee removal Tool (as there will still be parts of it left if you don't) Also you need to be logged in as an Administrator privileged account

Uninstall (horrible again, IMO) Webroot Spyware Sweeper

Restart so its all back to quick again

Download and run CCleaner

Then download; Install; and update to > free Avira Antivirus
I'd suggest to run a fully updated scan, to remove what McAfee missed

Click to expand...

Thanks for the update though
By the way I wouldn't be paying for any program

No I did not miss you're post at all and was just about to take your route. I even stated that. Don't be offended. I decided that I needed the wifi encryption. It had nothing to do with the fact that Avaria is a not a paid program - it is a great program. I had already changed my mind after researching the product on your recommendation. If you lived like I do, maybe you would not be so judgmental. I in fact did follow your suggestion here for uninstalling McAfee - before even going to Comodo. Like I said, despite all of this McAfee would not completely remove - including using the tool which I did download from your link. I am glad I had the help because I am not very technical and could never have done all of this by myself. Yes there were incompatibilities and issues, and 15 hours of torture - but I paid $40.00 for a program and got work done on streamlining my programs too - something which honestly I would have had to pay Dell to do at an even higher price. Not everyone has computer prowess. This is the only computer I have ever owned.

wandergirl said:

maybe you would not be so judgmental.

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I have signed back on just to apologize to you
Basically I was (well, am) leaving computerforum, and I answered you too quickly (I replied to about 5 posts in 5 mins)
This will be my last post at CF, may as well leave with an apology.
Please do regular (say fortnightly) at least, quick scans with free Malwarebytes

Comodo was once a software firewall company only (actually about ~ a year ago) for many years
They provided a free version of their firewall (and still do HERE).
Out of the two big time players (Comodo and ZoneAlarm) Comodo was (and still is) the best free personal firewall

Comodo then started doing/including Antivirus (and a little on other malwares)
Although still newish in this area, they still have the respect from just the personal firewall alone, not many argue with that.
I am not an Internet Security fan, as I believe that a good Antivirus and then a separate firewall, always works better than an Internet Security package (this being acknowledged by most)
I note that free Comodo can be installed without the antivirus still

If you are happy with your Comodo package, then so be it
My satisfaction has always been the customer/user is happy with the ending result.

I haven't decided where I'm going yet, but I think probably back to my real > Home
I have learned a lot from here and another forum I was on as well (with the extra accumulation on an extra 2,500 posts, whilst taking a break)
I need to be less "judgmental"

kimsland