Freeware or Shareware Security and Utility Programs

[Budyzir]

I did a search and checked out some of the older threads and began to wonder what everyone is using today. On my laptop I decided to delete all the MS Office apps that came preinstalled and I run Open Office. For security I've been running McAfee on my desktop but, for my laptop I've decided to look at other options. Zone Alarm seemed to get mixed reviews in several threads.

So what do you all like in the freeware / shareware universe?

[sobi]

Interesting you brought this up. I just did a reinstall of my desktop last week and was wondering the same thing. I've ended up putting AVG, spybot, and adaware back on, but am also curious if trends have changed.

[ruckstande]

I was using SubBelt Personal Firewall for a while there but had so many problems with it I went back to Zone Alarm. It work fine by me, no complaints. I still run Spybot and it still beat Ad Aware in my opinion. For AV software I always chooses Avast. I like its boot time virus scanning option. AVG is good too though and I put that on everyone else's computer because I don't feel like registering Avast for them. I'm not aware of any other though. They haven't stopped working so I haven't bothered to check. The other thing I do run also is Spyware Blaster. It doesn't scan for spyware but it removes them from your host files so you won't download any from their sites.

Some other things too that I run for maintenance once a month is CCleaner. It cleans out your registry, cookies, temps files, history, and a ton of other crap too. Last but not least I run Revo Uninstaller. I find that the Windows Uninstaller leaves a lot of crap behind. Revo does a thorough registry check and deletes the files through a wizard.

[thelord68]

The new version of AVG (8) incorporates some spyware scanning features.

The 1.5.x version of Spybot Search & Destroy automatically updates the HOSTS file to block known spyware sites. Previous versions required you to do this manually from the advanced options. Plus running the Tea Timer gives you a good heads up if some program is trying to alter your system or settings.

I don't run Zone Alarm - blows up too often and I use too many apps that require me to use odd ports that it is too intrusive.

CCleaner is good for cleaning up the system occasionally.

HijackThis for nagging system hijackers, etc.

[DanaReevesLungs]

I use avast! as my AV and Spyware Blaster. Haven't had an issue yet.

[Budyzir]

I've been looking around on MajorGeeks.com, lots of stuff, problem is filtering through it all.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/

[Bobobie]

Avast is rated much higher than AVG. They are both free. I avoid behaviour that results in catching spyware and dont run anything but AVAST. I'm running Vista with D.E.P. enabled on all files. I'm as secure as you can get without bogging down your computer with a bunch of security apps.

[Dilly]

Avast is good, so is AVG, I also use spybot seek and destroy and ad aware.

I have a b.l. copy of tune up utilities 2006, works great for quick daily maintenance. Also im using Auslogics disk defrag which is free although I like diskeeper better, although you have to pay for that (another b.l. copy) and dr. tcp for maximizing my internet connection, you can do a lot of internet tweaking at www.dslreports.com and download dr tcp and read the instructions there as well.