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286
 
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Last Login: Today @ 19:20:54
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Hi all,
I've been asked the question we all get asked, "What's the best Free software?" I did a search for answers here, but I wasn't sure what keywords to search for! there not being a sticky, also the dates on the results I got were a bit old, earlier '08 and '07.
I said, I use Comodo Firewall and Avira AV, I used to use AVG, but it didn't major-update properly once so I thought, as I had to do a complete AV reinstall, I'd try Avira, as it is well thought of here. They both have their quirks, on the interface front, I just had to adjust and RTFM!!  (I have never used anything else for long, 30 day trial of McAfee, see below, and forgot what that was like, also I was put off by everyone's view of them and Norton!!)
I know different firewalls need different amounts of user input (especially Comodo), but I don't know which others to recommend. I used ZoneAlarm on W98 in the past, and changed from PCTools earlier this year as it told me, too often, that something had tampered with its configuration, and it was restarting, or something like that, and that worried me enough to change!! Especially as I came across the following website below.
I've seen this website mentioned here before Matousec Firewall Tests so am recommending anybody who asks me to at least look there!
This doesn't help on the user friendliness though, especially if the person the software is for isn't very techy, i.e your mum, dad, nan or your auntie!! So as well as the best, user friendliness comments would be good too, if you've tried a few in the past.
I must admit, when I used ZA, PCTools and with Comodo, I sometimes am not sure if I should "Allow" or not! I did have McAfee suite installed when I got my new laptop, it didn't seem to ask me to allow much though, whether this is good or not I'm not sure 
If anyone can post links to websites that compare AV or Spyware software like the Firewall one I found above I would be grateful.
Include any comments on the friendliness of the interface too, if you can, with your mum, dad, nan or your auntie in mind!!
Thanks, hopefully next time you get asked, you will be able to point them to this thread 
Speedee 
Edit: reformatted for effect! Sorry I can't do concise! 
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Pentium
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 19:05:36
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http://av-comparatives.org/
Periodic on demand and retrospective comparatives can be freely viewed by anyone, in results and ratings charts on the site or more detailed reports downloaded in pdf format.
http://av-test.org/ is another.
You'd ideally use a hardware solution (router/firewall PC and maybe windows' own decent enough built in firewall) over any third party software firewall that demands you use application control/blanket system settings protection. 
Sooner set things up in advance and then not have to bother.
I've never had a problem with Antivir. It focuses on the scanning and real-time protection and stays out the way otherwise. It also plugs their commercial package with a popup ad during every update - but it doesn't bother me and there are plenty guides to hacking round it floating around the web, if it did.
Good place to go from for info and software, and actually updated now and again.
http://www.nowyoudo.co.uk/index.html
'Come down from your swell co-ops, you general partners and merger lawyers! It's the Third World down there! Puerto Ricans, West Indians, Haitians, Dominicans, Cubans, Colombians, Hondurans, Koreans, Chinese, Thais, Vietnamese, Ecuadorians, Panamanians, Filipinos, Albanians, Senegalese and Afro-Americans! Go visit the frontiers, you gutless wonders!'
Tom Wolfe, Bonfire Of The Vanities
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186
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 04/01/2009 20:18:57
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Visits: 78
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| Hi You have asked the question so many get asked "which is the best" This question normally results in a flurry of answers and surprises me it hasn't. Everyone has a favorite for one reason or other, virus and spyware detection rates by programs change all the time, one will be better today, another tomorrow, it just depends what new virus or spyware is released upon us unsuspecting souls each day. Websites like the http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/about/100procedure.xml run extensive tests to find out how good a program is at detection, but you also want user friendliness for as you say, " Include any comments on the friendliness of the interface too, if you can, with your mum, dad, nan or your auntie in mind!!" As you already found out the likes of Norton and McAfee tend to take care of it all, so you dont get lots of frightening or confusing pop-ups asking for access to the internet etc which makes it alright for your aunty or the not so tech savy, these are not free though, and I'm not saying these are the best or worst products either. The not so tech savy want to know the program is there and for it to do it all for them and not be bothered by it. The tech savy doesn't mind the interruptions or setting the program up. The security guy wants one that works !! I run the nowyoudo website http://www.nowyoudo.co.uk/ (Thanks for the recommendation boywander) and for this very reason I dont like to recommend individual programs unless I know the person using it or that it will remove whatever the infection the person has, as what is friendliest isn't always best, but all the good free security programs are listed on the website for you. smifff
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