Archived from groups: microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (
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McCarty,
I couldn't agree more with you comments and recommendations. I've used Ca
anti-virus since the days it was free and have used ZoneAlarm free for the
last 3-4 years. Here's my slate of "protection" software that has served me
well, is either free or of minimal cost expensive, and does not interfere
with the basic operation of my computer or with each other:
CA my-eTrust V 7.0
ZoneAlarm, free version
AdAware v 1.05
SpyBot Search and Destroy
SpywareBlaster
SpywareGuard
Pop-Up Stopper, free version
I run CWShredder on occasion but since it's never fouind a problem, I
probably don't need it. I also ran a HOSTS manager for awhile but found it
to unnecessarily limit some of my web surfing so I no longer use it.
The key to a clean machine is to use good protection, update it (and your
OS) regularly and show some restraint in what you open yourself up to during
your surfing. My 98SE, P11, 300 MHZ machine is solid as a rock. I average
about one BSOD a month and then only when I try to run a week or so without
rebooting.
"R. McCarty" <PcEngWork-NoSpam_@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:xLMUd.2446$wy3.867@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> For a year or more I recommended Norton to my customers.
> Allot of that decision was because I used it myself. I had used
> other Anti-Virus products (Excluding McAfee) and just settled
> on Nav and made the mistake of starting to use NIS.
> Starting around Summer of 2004, I started running into all kinds
> of errant installs/upgrades and subscription issues. Some issues
> took hours and hours to resolve or get a workaround in place.
> I actually spent 5 weeks testing all the Anti-Virus & Firewall
> products I could. After testing, I finally decided on eTrust 7.0
> for Anti-Virus and Zone Alarm Free for the Firewall program.
> I'm now strongly against almost all of Symantec's products.
> I actually spoke to some of their marketing folks about the
> issues with Bloatware, Subscription pricing and the way the
> company "Hides" by removing customer forums and only having
> paid Telephone support. Just like you would image, the response
> was one of "Who Cares, Go Away". After that, I'm done with
> Symantec and would advise anyone who uses their software to
> look for alternate/leaner/cheaper solutions.
> What's funny is the CEO's commentary that Symantec isn't
> afraid of Microsoft and will beat them in the marketplace. Unless
> he gets some real idea of their consumer problems, that comment
> will likely not come to pass.
>
> "Ken Gardner" <KenGardner@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:423EE7A9-8FB0-4A8F-8C1B-C18035CFF65C@microsoft.com...
> > Second try:
> >
> > "Ken Blake" wrote:
> >
> >> In my view, the question is irrelevant, for several reasons.
> >> First, this should be three separate questions (anti-spyware,
> >> anti-virus, and firewall); there's no reason to assume that the
> >> company which makes the best product in one of these categories
> >> necessarily makes the best product in any of the others.
> >
> > In my experience, when you mix up different vendors for interrelated or
> > interacting software (antivirus, antispyware, firewall), you are asking
> > for
> > trouble even if, standing alone, any one product can be shown to be
better
> > than the others. I have had better results sticking to one vendor.
This
> > is
> > an area where the whole may be greater than the sum of the parts.
> >
> >> It also makes no sense to restrict the choices as to which is
> >> best to these three companies. There are many other vendors in
> >> these arenas, and many of them make excellent products.
> >
> > Right, e.g. Trend Micro.
> >
> >> Finally, when it comes to anti-spyware software, no single
> >> product does a good enough job, and you should use multiple
> >> products. Read
http://spywarewarrior.com/asw-features.htm
> >> It states "as testing with these anti-spyware applications has
> > > demonstrated, no single anti-spyware application will remove
> >> everything. Therefore, users are advised to install and use at
> >> least two anti-spyware applications."
> >
> > Notwithstanding what I said above, I agree completely. I personally use
> > Ad
> > Aware SE in conjunction with the Microsoft antispyware product.
> >
> > Ken
> >
>
>