GNU/Linux. if you must use Microsoft Windows Vista, I recommend you do so within the confines of VirtualBox to simplify restoring Microsoft Windows Vista to a clean state by keeping a backup copy of the virtual machine instance. "It is so easy even a caveman can do it." (TM)
Use Microsoft Security Essentials: http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/ It's free from Microsoft, and was recently ranked as #1: http://lifehacker.com/5433229/microsoft-security-essentials-ranks-as-best+performing-free-antivirus I like how it's unintrusive, simple to use, and doesn't take up a lot of resources. What a rarity for MS!
Well said. In the last few months I've switched myself, my wife, a friend, and my Mom over to Ubuntu Linux, and all are happy with its superior performance. -=Steve=-
I am a security freak when it comes to my computer... mostly because I am a budget freak when it comes to my wallet and I do everything within the reasons of (borderline) sanity to keep it safe, secure, and best of all, free. AVIRA Antivirus.... 100% free. I have done the research from here unto Armageddon, and as far as its real-time virus detection services, it outperforms both Norton and McAfee by nearly 600% in EVERY SINGLE review site and test run I have ever seen it listed on. In fact, of all the different security software I have ever researched (hours and hours and hours of it), it usually ranks 2nd or 3rd behind a couple of unrealistically expensive exotic software suites you probably have never even heard of. For AVIRA's security scan feature, it ranks about as equal to both Norton and McAfee, which are excellent. For a free firewall, bar none I use COMODO. In the firewall area both Norton and McAfee are complete jokes... no kidding, you are paying for NOTHING if you ever use them because they are only slightly stronger than Windows Defender... which in itself is like trying to stop a bullet with a notebook. Comodo is not the absolute strongest free one... there was another that started with a J (forgot the name), but that one isn't user friendly and doesn't even work on Vista, so COMODO is one of the best and is completely free- again only beaten by some exotic insanely over-priced software packages. Comodo also features a heuristic scanner, which allows you to monitor all processes that occur on you computer, and, if you so choose, cancel any backround operation that you do not recognize. Not a complete necessity, but for a security freak like myself, I'm happy to have it. If having multiple software isn't something you want, you could use PC Tools, which has a really nice free security package that ranks high on strength (not quite as high as the software listed above). As far as spyware/adware detection... I have both Adaware and Spybot Search & Destroy. These are the best you will find anywhere and they are both free. Adaware has real-time detection plus a scan. Spybot has just a scan, however it has two scanning options- a quick scan, which in about 5 minutes goes over all of the areas in your system that 99% of all spyware usually hang out, and a full scan, which scans every bit of your hard drive. Other than that, on download.com you can actually find free versions of both Norton Security Scan and McAfee Security Scan. These are just SCANS, they can't detect real-time threats, nor can they even perform any actions once they detect a threat (hence, they are free)... but since these are the two have largest and most frequently updated known virus databases, I keep them both on my comp and do a scan about once a month. For my internet browser, Opera is natively more secure than Firefox, however, for Firefox there are TONS of plug-ins that help keep you secure. Therefore, I use Firefox. McAfee Site Advisor, Web of Trust, Finjan Web Security and AVG LinkScanner all plug in to FireFox and give you security information for each link when you do a search in a popular engine like google or yahoo. Basically, they will show an icon on the page next to the link showing the rating. Each has a completely different system: AVG and Finjan scan real-time for threats on a page, McAfee has a HUGE database of prescanned sites and Web of Trust uses user input to detect which sites are safe. I also use KeyScrambler as an add-on to Firefox... it combats keylogger software by masking your keystrokes to look random and protect your personal information. Obviously, you don't need ALL of this... but I noticed that (on my computer anyway) they don't effect performance noticably, they are all free, and once they are installed, you don't have to worry about them because they run in the backround. As a security freak, yes, I use all 11 free software that I suggested and have never had even a single problem. The key to security is to make sure you take the basic steps (frequently update your OS, keep your basic security software running, don't go to sketchy sites, don't open unsolicited email, etc.). Since most people don't, and identity theft on the internet is so easy, online criminals won't even bother wasting their time with you.
For Army folks, AKO has a free download version of either McAfee or Norton. If you're not in the military, then the above advice is good.
What are you thoughts on zonealarm? I used zonealarm for many years until vista came out. My vista operating system was slow with zonealarm installed. I upgraded to windows 7 and switched to norton. I'm happy with usability under norton 360 but I'm thinking about switching to the comodo's free internet security suite. Trying to cut down on cost and eliminate yearly update fees. I am currently using comodo browser and their antivirus/malware programs. However, I have problems accessing websites that run javascript. Perhaps it's my browser settings or missing features based on the google browser. I may contact comodo to get some answers. Is the "J" you are referring to called, "Jetico Personal Firewall"? The firewalls you mentioned are included in the security tests conducted by matousec. Kaspersky slowed my computer down to a crawl when I used windows vista and xp. Zonealarm performs better on windows 7 than vista. Norton 360 is very resource friendly but the costs are unwelcoming. I did like the zonealarm firewall router security wise, but the quality of the external antennas leave much to be desired, which affected my wireless connection. http://www.matousec.com/projects/proactive-security-challenge/results.php
I use McAffee Internet Security with my Vista PC (and my XP PC before that) and never had a problem. It does cost around $50 but covers three computers.
