[nobodyz]

Seriously. Do you really believe that the paid "security program industry" doesn't self-sustain itself? The free programs out there are not the industry: they are the exception, and a lot of blood, sweat, tears and free time are volunteered by serious and caring individuals to help us all the best they can.

Why?

If the industry (meaning all the paid professional stuff) wasn't self sustaining, what use would we have for a bunch of volunteers? They'd have nothing to do.

[nobodyz]

Excuse me, I'd like to know why this happened:

"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 Moderator

Edited by MPHEnterprises - Please Keep Your Posts Neutral"

What is meant by "neutral"? Does that mean we cannot criticize pc world? Or is this a comment regarding a cuss word?

[nobodyz]

I know Wolf, it's scary, isn't it?

[AuroraDizon]

Most likely the cuss word. Please refer the community standards.

[mphenterprises]

Okay, regarding Diamond777's post. His or her concern was essentially that security applications are designed to "create" a perpetual cycle of malicious applications just to validate why one had to pay for the application in the first place.

That being said, I do not think that any application, paid or free, is designed to invite viral problems to justify anything. Every single security application I have is free, or a fully functioning free version. I scan weekly and I never come up with anything more than questionable cookies. As you stated, and as I have mentioned in other responses, free applications are the exception. Those of us who frequent websites such as PCWorld on a regular basis are not the demographic to which vendors market their security applications. We know that there are free applications available and, most of us, would never consider paying money for security. I have the utmost respect for programmers who create and provide quality, free, security applications to the public.

The distinguishing reason as to why one product is free and one is paid is simply marketing. If a company feels they can charge $50 for a product, that is what they are going to charge. It's not because they purposely infect someone's computer to justify why he or she had to pay $50. This is not limited to security applications. There are paid applications for just about everything someone may need. If one looks hard enough, I am sure one could find a comparable free application that is the same, if not better, than the paid application.

In another post, I used the example of Microsoft Office versus OpenOffice. The most basic version of Microsoft Office costs $125 on Newegg.com. The standard retail version costs $325 on Newegg.com. OpenOffice is free. I personally have tried OpenOffice and feel it looks and performs like Microsoft Works. However, there are many people who swear by OpenOffice and will never use anything else. Microsoft feels it is justified for charging so much money for Office because this is the price they feel consumers are willing to pay.










Regarding Wolfieyahpillock's post. As I stated in one of my responses, anyone can post whatever he or she feels like posting. This includes making comments against the website. However, the post will be edited and/or removed if it violates the Community Standards. This was nothing personal against the poster. Going back two months, I do not remember the specific statement that was removed; however, I would not edit a post for no reason. If you have any further concerns at all as to why a post may or may not get edited, please feel free to contact Kellie, the Forum Moderator.

[SpiritWind]

Hi Everyone :

As far as I know, every security company uses the SAME Scanning Engine for BOTH their "Free" &

"Pay-for-it" ( "Professional" !? ) Versions ; the difference is that the "Pay-for-it" version has more

"Features", to make it more convenient to use. So basically one pays for convenience of Use .

[haystack]

I have tried a number of 3rd party Internet security program such as Cilion,Zone Lab and found that they all reduce the performance of my system.
Pendium D 3000, 1GB ram, Nvidea Graphics, Windows Vista Ultimat.

[k1mod]

Was using Zone Alarm Security Suite and it messed up my PC-Can't shut down,PLENTIFUL HANGS and can't go internet properly.So degrade to Zone Alarm(w/o AV and antispy)and end up hanged on startup.My worst security nightmare since windows98.

[martymeltz]

How does Spy Doctor get away with advertising that its spyware is FREE?? I have found no way to get its malware removal software for free! I can get malware DETECTION free but to remove it they require $30!!

[Wizard7]

Been using cptrs. since 1974 ; Used loads of software over the last 34 years. I also have used personal and business applications for decades. Zone Alarm is not the way to go! It has way too many false warnings & it slows your computer! If free is necessary, use Comodo as your firewall and AntiVir PE for anti-virus. For anti-spyware, ALWAYS use two. Lavasoft Adaware and AVG work well together. AVG alone misses too many! Spyware Doctor is not the best, either. Spybot is much better, but it has too many pesty warnings of which many are unnecessary. If you want the best, spend a little money and get Kaspersky. It has it all bundled, but still use the free anti-spyware programs Lavasoft Adaware and AVG to complement it. Trend-Micro used to be a real nice program, but they have ruined it and it has become inefficient by slowing your system considerably.

[Wizard7]

Most ads for FREE this and FREE that are bogus. They will send things to your computer when they scan them so it will show more negative results on your computer. Then they want money to fix them. The things they send to you are only temporary. Usually your anti-spyware, and the program CCleaner will fix all the crap on your computer for the average user as long as you continue to use Microsoft Update and have a good firewall/anti-virus program. Also, don't get too serious about Registry cleaners. They can cause more harm than good.

[Wizard7]

Get rid of Zone Alarm. That program is a joke.

[esklsnrq8]

What is maleware? See trend micro!!!

I was seriously thinking of purchasing trend micros security suite so a downloaded the "free" 90 day trial (ha ha). I'll probably be paying for my mistake until I re-format. After I decided it wasn't the one that I wanted I "tried" to uninstall it from programs and features only to be told I didn't have permission, and that wasn't comming from my user account controll, it was from trend micro. I still have remnents of CA Security Suite but luckily I was able to surpress them thru the use of WinPatrol, but I can't get rid of them, The title CA Security Suite remains of my programs and features list and won't go away. Can anyone explain to me the difference between that and any other maleware, be it virus, trojun, spyware, spam, scam, hi-jacker, root kit, keylogger or any other piece of unwanted junk that could infect your computer. If anyone has a solution to uninstall I would be for ever greatful!

[douchrti]

ZoneAlarm and Avast are great products for sure. I used em for years with great results.

[hunnbunn]

I have Avast, Zone Alarm & Ad Aware. Do I need anything else? My system comes up slowly.
If I need something else, which of the 15 should I get?

[esklsnrq8]

In reply to hunnbunn, as to what you need, everyone needs 1 anti-virous program, 1 firewall, and 3, 4, or 5 anti-spyware programs. You need to check out the information you can get from C-net download, or PC World download as to weahter the free versions of the programs you chose are severly limited as to what they can do as compared to the paid version. Some free versions don't update automatically, some scan and find problems but don't get rid of them. None of the anti-spyware programs catch everything, some will catch what others miss, thats why you need more than one. In my opinion the best firewall on the web is comodo 3.0 which is not only compatible with Vista but is also free for life. They don't even have a paid version for private use, so their not always after you to upgrade. If you read far enough you will also find most of the people who rate and compare such things will also tell you that Comodo is maybe the best firewall. Another great free program is Avira Antivir which is an anti-virus and is again free. There's so many free anti-spyware programs floating around you shouldn't have any trouble finding the ones you want. If you have Windows XP or Vista, you already have one good anti-spyware program and that is Windows Defender. If you don't you can download it from C-net or PC World. Its not only a good anti-spyware but double as a start-up manager and much more. I read just yesterday while reading different discussions, one posted by one of the experts that he would never pay for any security app because there's too many good free ones but you do have to choose carefully. Make sure they support you operating system and that you have enough Memory and Disk Space to accomadate them. Have fun searching and downloading, its what I like to do, try out different ones til I find the one that really works for me. If you decide on a paid version, make sure you get a 30, 60 or 90 day free trial so you make sure if you like it before you buy it. Good Luck and Happy Hunting!

[LindaA]

I've been using ZoneAlarm's free version for a long time. It IS great, it ALWAYS works for me, and never slows down my computer. I wouldn't want to run my computer without it.

[LindaA]

Believe me when I tell you that I have absolutely NO connection whatsoever with ZoneAlarm other than I use it. I've been using ZoneAlarm's free version for quite some time, and it is an EXCELLENT program. It does what it's supposed to do, does it extremely well, and it never slows down my computer. I have no idea what "damage" you're talking about, but ZoneAlarm hasn't harmed MY computer in any way, shape, or form. I wouldn't think of running my computer without it.


ZoneAlarm is NOT "evil." Firefox on the other hand, now THERE'S evil!

[esklsnrq8]

Its somewhat ironic to listen to car owners, not only espouse how good their choice is but how bad the others are. The same people will defend to the death the reverse should they choose to switch. Whatever product a person has seems to be the one that is the best, at least in their opinion. But you know what they say about opinions? So it is with PC's, software and OS's. The only thing you can be sure of when you're finished with their comments is that they didn't have anything better to do at the time. The more adament they are is usually an indication of how unsure they are. They are trying to justify their choice.. A wise man once said, "It is better to reinforce your argument then to raise your voice!". Really, "evil, spawn of the devil"? This would indicate a form of autonamy that I don't believe we can apply to inanimate objects. But perhaps in the hands of the uninformed it can appear that way.

[markedisonchua]

AVG Free is generous fine, but sometimes the AVG server "complaining", sometimes we can't get download. AVG Free is virus detector based on malware payload. The AVG Free is very popular during 2004, when Kaspersky came on power, AVG crazy a little, AVG get its throne a little bit around 2007. But Kaspersky still the best on top, with ESET and NORTON. AVG Antivirus is weak, but AVG Antispyware 7.5 is still cool.

Kaspersky even you can't get download, at least you have guard on applications (put the settings high security on hot environment), you will learn on apps processes. The bad is they aren't free, you always get blacklisted. I admired those previous version because of cracks. Kaspersky introduced the one-year license policy which I hate. Trial Version is weak.

ESET when you got one year license, then you're protected. Trial Version is weak, web scan is weak.

McAfee is antivirus that shreds virus file. Fine.

Trend-Micro is like AVG.

Norton protects you based on the exploitation of the virus. Much better than Kaspersky, ESET.