[PCWorld]

Post your comments for 15 Great, Free Security Programs here

[tkresdev]

WARNING WARNING WARNING:Cannot recommend Trend Micro's Transaction Guard.At best this software is poorly designed.There is no start up entry and the program and datafiles are not installed under a normal program path ,nor does the program show up under the Add/Remove Que under XP.There appears to be no uninstall routine and when I tried to exit via the taskbar the icon vanishing was the last visible trace of any part of the program that was accessible via normal paths.At worst this is an already corrupted hijack vector.Why did the software attempt to dial out every time I invoked the password keyboard? And this program is protecting your passwords by pasting them to the clipboard ? Not good no matter how you slice it.

[diamond777]

do u all trust the antivirus softwares designers..? i would very much like to protect my computer from all the viruses out there but in the back of my mind i wonder if the same products that are suppose to protect the user, might be inbedded with programs to spy on users

[b003]

I've never used ZA pro but Zone Alarm free had a tendency to slow my machine and I'm not the only one. I use Sunbelt Kerio personal now. ZA is great when it works.

[mphenterprises]

Hi Diamond. I can understand your concern but seriously, do you really think the industry is designed to self-sustain itself? The antivirus programmers are not creating viruses and uploading them into the internet so that they can turn around and "save the day."If that were the case, all "anti-infection" (incorporating all types of problems) would cost money. There are SOOO many free applications out there that it would be pointless for the anti-infection programmers to create the same infections that they developed.

[emmachissit]

I agree with b003, Zone Alarm is absolute rubbish, how anyone supposedly neutral can recommend it as a good program is beyond me.It is bloated, (Nortonitus) does what it likes, slows computers down, slows down or even blocks Bit Torrents, even when disabled, and the only way to actually undo the damage it causes is to completely uninstall it then go hunting for all the crud it leaves behind.Zone Alarm is evil!!

[wolfieyahpillock]

tk is right trend micros program sent my pc into a fit and symantecs needs yahoo widgets are there a nuisance , does anyone at pc world test the crap they recommend to download??? Removed by ModeratorEdited by MPHEnterprises - Please Keep Your Posts Neutral

[ewirman]

I've found the best AV app is AVG Free. Updates itself everyday and blocks everything that it should. Quarrintine works well. I used all the others in that past and this is the only one I trust. I do use Spyware Dr ($$) and Registry Mechanic ($$) by PC Tools to run clean and lean.

[lilxkid24]

I just don't trust AOL Active Security Monitor because aol tends to install stuff without your knowledge

[wolfieyahpillock]

Well George Orwell and co have arrived at PC World welcome to room 101 , it would appear that comments made that are not neutral (whatever that is supposed to mean) are removed ie:- dont post the truth or it will be removed , whatever next ?

[mphenterprises]

Wolf, you can post whatever you feel like posting; however, we as member moderators and the forum moderator, reserve the right to edit any post that does not follow the Community Standards.If this is something that you would like to discuss further, you can send a message to Kellie, the Forum Moderator.

[Cosmo]

[quote name='wolfieyahpillock']Well George Orwell and co have arrived at PC World welcome to room 101 , it would appear that comments made that are not neutral (whatever that is supposed to mean) are removed ie:- dont post the truth or it will be removed , whatever next ?That's MPH's wierd way of removing insults. Yeah, If I hadn't seen the post before he edited it, I wouldn't know what he meant either. (:P MPH)As long as your post is not in violations of the community standards, you're golden ;)

[reetposs]

I had used AVG Free for many years with success. About a year ago I purchased a 2 year version of AVG 7.1 and continue to have the same experience. My experience with ZoneAlarm free is the same. I have been using it for many years and have been happy with the performance. It is very easy to use and has not affected the performance of my computers. :DI will also recommend SpyBot Search and Destroy as well as Ad-Aware, both freebies. These tools have done a fine job of keeping my machines free of bad things.I believe one key to avoid trouble on the net is to keep the tools updated and use all of them on a regular basis.

[wolfieyahpillock]

[quote name='reetposs']I had used AVG Free for many years with success. About a year ago I purchased a 2 year version of AVG 7.1 and continue to have the same experience. My experience with ZoneAlarm free is the same. I have been using it for many years and have been happy with the performance. It is very easy to use and has not affected the performance of my computers. :D> > I will also recommend SpyBot Search and Destroy as well as Ad-Aware, both freebies. These tools have done a fine job of keeping my machines free of bad things.> > I believe one key to avoid trouble on the net is to keep the tools updated and use all of them on a regular basis.Well i would still scan your pc with Trend Micro Housecall or Bitdefender you may be in for a surprise , i dont rate AVG never have and unless they dramitically improve i guess i never will , Zone Alarm is fine however but it can and does slow some pc's down , depending on the make ( generally caused by some PC manufactuers using cheap components eg:- cheap hard drives or other internal parts ) . As for free anti spyware programs i would suggest spywareblaster (from Javacool ) as it has its own custom blocking and also spyware guard (also javacool) which blocks unwanted browser changes and crap downloads , try Winpatrol too and Exploit Link Scanner to check out any sites url , bit like McAfee site advisor for IE , there are plenty of good free software out there , if you want a good paid anti spyware program forget AVG or Webroots Spy Sweeper use PC Tools Spyware Doctor best investment i made , if in doubt check any anti spyware program out at Spyware Warrior before purchase , hope that helps a few !!

[BubbaM]

Spyhunter is touted to be a great Zlob remover. I have been trying to remove Zlob.DNS Changer, for the last 3 weeksI ; using Spyhunter.No Luck. BubbaM

[wolfieyahpillock]

[quote name='BubbaM']Spyhunter is touted to be a great Zlob remover. I have been trying to remove Zlob.DNS Changer, for the last 3 weeksI ; using Spyhunter.> > > > No Luck. > > > > BubbaM> > > > How to remove Trojan.Zlob.CT ok bubba btw spyhunter is crap goto spyware warrior and download a anti spyware program off there , well there are 2 ways to do this bubba either manually or by using Trend Micro Housecall or Bitdefender online scanners , spyhunter wouldn't remove your shoes mate !Manual removal >restart in safe mode and do the following 1.Delete these files -bpmini.exe-bpmon.exe usually located in C:Progam FilesImage AX Object and C:Program FilesProtection Tools ( to locate Progam Files goto start >my computer double left click ,double left click on windows c drive and you will see program files listed , open that and look for the above files and delete ).2.Delete the following registry key ( if you are unsure of this make sure you export the keys (to desktop) that you plan to edit/delete etc or create a backup of the registry 1st (removal of the wrong registry keys can seriuosly f... your pc up ok)).remove the following HKCUSoftwareProtection Tools.To do this goto start >run> type regedit click ok .3.Reboot and check to see if its gone , if you are unsure of any of the above i strongly recommend using one of the online scanners i mentioned , as for paid anti spyware programs i would only recommend spyware doctor from pc tools ( on commission ...err joking ),also it does help to post what anti virus you are using as that should take it out , good luck hope this has helped you bubba.

[Marcomike]

Out of all the program listed, Zonealarm is the best ! Ive had zone alarm on my desktop and the free version on my laptop and I cantell you with out a doubt the it stops hacker dead on their track, on only does it stop them but it trace thier ip asdress right back, so you can report them to isp to create a permanent block.,my other favorite progran is avg root kit advisor, I looded it on a laptop that had a root kit infection and it found it and terminated it. ai now employ both programs on all my systems. :D:

[wowguru]

If only everyone in the world would take the time to learn Linux, then you wouldn't need 15 free applications to keep your PC's safe. However I'm stuck with a windows boot option thanks to my gaming addiction :rolleyes:

[klaude]

Hi Folks, i use the pc for work @ home and am not a pro-fessional IT person. I have found AVG 'OUTSTANDING'. Theinterface is xclnt and does what it is supposed to do. I imaginethe PRO edition must be tops. One humble opinion, klauden,

[nobodyz]

diamond777: You wrote (yes, I know, all the way back in July, sorry, I wasn't here until now)

"do u all trust the antivirus softwares designers..? i would very much like to protect my computer from all the viruses out there but in the back of my mind i wonder if the same products that are suppose to protect the user, might be inbedded with programs to spy on users"

I must say, it is nice to hear someone else asking this question. For instance, PCWorld's latest "Kill Spyware Dead! Six Top Tools Tested" on p. 100 of October 2007 issue, claims that 'PC Tools Spyware Doctor 5.0' is the best one, whilst flaunting a full page ad for the PC Tools Spyware Doctor and other programs by PC Tools on page 93 of the same issue. PC World also named 'Webroot SpySweeper 5.5' as the third top spyware program, whilst flaunting a full page ad for Webroot on page 27 of the same issue. One must wonder, at some point, who's watching who's bottom line? And what is the bottom line these days, but the almighty dollar or euro? It certainly doesn't seem to have much at all to do with OUR security.


To back up my affirmative answer to your question, I had uninstalled Spyware Doctor from my computer 11 months ago, disgusted with the fact that it had found NOTHING in the previous 9 months. Lo and behold, after not even having it on my system for 11 months, all it could do was find 2 items, one very low risk cookie and the other being a program Microsoft Customer Service had me download to RIP the CD key from my O/S so they could "track down" the "bad guys" who might have "stolen" the operating system: simply because I bought my computer second hand from a Salvation Army. Well, guess what? Less than a year after THAT incident, Salvation Army has to process it's freely donated computers from folks like you and me through Microsoft so that Microsoft can replace whatever is on the harddrive with a cheap, 30 day version of an operating system, forcing the poor soul who bought the only computer they could afford to either purchase a brand new operating system at full cost, or rendering the computer completely inoperable.

That program, given me by a Microsoft Customer Service Employee, was considered "high risk" by Spyware Doctor.

That's it. That was all Spyware Doctor found after 11 months of being in absentia from my machine. So ... Why did Spyware Doctor get such high results? My guess is their full page ad cost more (therefore, PCWorld made more money off them) than Webroot's. After all, it's a cooler ad.