LandzDown Forum

pastywhitegurl,
Either of them try them both out, both are as good as each other so it would be down to personal choice.

GR@PH;<'S   

Hey gurl!
I personally am really liking AVAST on my windows boxes, have tried AVG in the past but now use AVAST. I really like that I can set up the screen saver scan so that when my pc is sitting idle the AVAST screen saver scanner comes on and scans, stops when I use pc and restarts where it left off next time, no need to schedule scans either.

I still use an older version of zonealarm pro on my windows, note that the new zone alarm free will try to install those dreaded "extras" we do not want, and make sure you are actually getting the free basic firewall not the free trial one, they are making it harder and harder to find the actual free basic firewall on their pages these days, just today there was an article on windows secrets about that in the paid version.

The decision is yours of course so do what you feel will be right for you.

here is what the article had to say
Quote:
"Playing 'Where's Waldo?' with ZoneAlarm Free

Frank Foster wrote in to tell me he thinks the ZoneAlarm firewall program is no longer free. After checking the vendor's site, I was able to find the download link for the version of ZoneAlarm that's free for noncommercial use, but doing so wasn't easy.

If you go to the ZoneAlarm Free Firewall page
 
, you'll find it says "free" in several places and even lists the conditions (individual, not-for-profit) under which you can use the free version. If you click the Download Now button, however, you're taken to a page where you're presented with a 15-day trial of the ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite with TrialPay. Clicking that option signs you up for TrialPay, under which you view ads rather than pay cash for the ZoneAlarm suite.

Instead, click the download button in the right pane under Get Basic PC Protection: Basic Firewall Only. You can download the program without having to jump through hoops by visiting the product page
 
at Download.com or the equivalent page
 
on Softpedia.com.

I installed the free version, and have been using it on a test VM for several days. It works like it's supposed to. It does invite you to upgrade to a trial or pay version with more functionality at every opportunity though, including when you're just updating the free program."
end Quote:

Of course the choice is yours, pastywhitegurl.  However, for another point of view, I stopped recommending ZoneAlarm a long time ago.  See Beware of ZoneAlarm!.

In time, I think you will want to install Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE).  However, it is still in Beta but based on initial evaluations, it looks to be a real winner -- and free too!  Sorry for another blog link, but here's the preliminary evaluation:  Microsoft Security Essentials Makes the Grade.

Taking that a step further, MSE is essentially based on WindowsLive OneCare, which came out on top in recent tests:  Windows Live OneCare Bests Kaspersky, Symantec, McAfee, Nod32, BitDefender - But not Avira - Softpedia.  Note that it was the professional version of Avira that came out ahead.  Based on information I have obtained from various security folks, both Avira and Avast are good, but Avira does come out ahead. 

^^^ He's one of the experts I would listen to. 

I did install the free ZoneAlarm firewall.  The editors at CNET.com gave it a 5 star rating, so I felt good about that...I did have to uninstall the ask.com toolbar that came with it, but that was not a big deal...there was an uninstall link right on the toolbar itself.   

Other than a little glitch with the Windows firewall  not turning off for some reason that prevented my messenger from connecting, on a second reboot all is well.  It's already 100 times friendlier than the CA firewall and simple to configure. Once I allowed my frequent programs, it is not bothering me with alerts or anything.    From what I've read, it is better than the Windows firewall, which doesn't  stop outgoing information, only incoming.

Thanks for the tip on the MSE though..I will watch for that to come out and switch when it does.

I'll check out all the links y'all posted and get back after I digest some of that.
I have 2GB of RAM, so maybe the Avira is the one to look at, but I'll check out Avast too.  AVG just got eliminated.

I had the same problem a few days ago, it seem to sort its self out after a definition update but! I can’t be sure. Right-click the umbrella on your system try is it showing
A tick next to AntieVire Guard enable ? also try updating the definition files manually
To do this do the same as above only selecting > Start Update. Also close all open windows before you up-date and after you up-date reboot the computer and see if the problem is fixed.


I never did find out why mine was doing the same as yours ..


Paddy..

My husband has our two computers set up to network. They are both running windows XP.   We have a file called Sharing File that we can each access to add or copy files.   (We have RoadRunner cable. My machine is the second computer on it, but I have a hard connection, not a wireless one.)  He also has a Linux/Ubuntu laptop that he wants to be able to access that sharing folder from, but hasn't been successful yet.


I couldn't highlight and copy for some reason, so here is a screenie of what I saw. There is no other information below what shows on the image..it's all there.
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/9637/07052009144811.png