Cumulus Support

I have tried many different Anti Virus programs and firewalls in the past and I must say at various costs, but for the last six months I have reverted back to the Microsoft Firewall built into Windows and Microsoft Security Essentials and so far have not encountered any problems.

The worse two that I have ever used is ZoneAlarm and Norton, they both took some removing from my p.c to me Norton is just a Trojan.

Hi Geoff,

I’m using KIS (Kaspersky Internet Security) for many years now, and no problems.
http://www.kaspersky.com/

I use Zonealarm with Avira Antivir and have never had any problems with either. Used Zonealarm for 8/9 years!!

I guess it depends on the software and drivers you have loaded.

geoffp wrote: Microsoft Firewall built into Windows and Microsoft Security Essentials

This. Totally free and offers pretty good protection. IMHO and from my day job experience anything else is a waste of money and resources.

I use MS security essentials and the firewall built in to my router.

geoffp wrote:I have reverted back to the Microsoft Firewall built into Windows and Microsoft Security Essentials

Ditto, plus as Steve said the I have configured the firewall on the ADSL router to my needs.

steve wrote:I use MS security essentials and the firewall built in to my router.

I will have to check to see if there is a firewall in my router (Thompson)

geoffp wrote:

steve wrote:I use MS security essentials and the firewall built in to my router.

I will have to check to see if there is a firewall in my router (Thompson)

I believe from memory that there is a Firewall built into the Supplied router by our ISP

It's probably on but on a low level by default?

I have several years using Avira Antivir and the built in Windows Firewall without any compliments.

I have a three seat license for AVG Internet Security. I have used AVG for several years without complaint.

There is a reason why people do not use the Windows Firewall. The Windows Firewall is one way. That is, it protects from INCOMING attacks. It has no protection from attacks originating from within your computer. An example is a Trojan horse programme.

Almost all residential gateway/ routers have an internal Firewall, but you should not rely on this a a safety net. The ways to breech a residential Firewall are well documented.

Carl

The QCC wrote: There is a reason why people do not use the Windows Firewall. The Windows Firewall is one way. That is, it protects from INCOMING attacks. It has no protection from attacks originating from within your computer. An example is a Trojan horse programme.

That was true of the older M$ firewalls. Vista, Win7 and 8 now have a complete firewall.

True, the Windows Vista and 7 have outbound protection. Only if there is a rule for the application.
By default, outbound protection is turned off except for core processes. The Windows user must turn on the protection.

In Windows 7. run wf.msc and see how many rules are turned off.
Look in the Action column. How many are Blocked / Allowed?

Full service Firewalls, even the free ones, turn on outbound protection for all outbound activity. Sometimes it is a real pain to have to select the OK or Block options, but the protection is there by default.

Adding Windows Defender to the Windows Firewall plus Windows Security Essentials is the bare minimum for Internet browsers.

Carl

I read just last week that Microsoft Security Essentials had Defender functionality built in, so when I find Defender not running it's no cause for alarm. Have I bad information?

The QCC wrote: The Windows user must turn on the protection.

Interesting Carl, I hadn't noticed that before. The MS server OS'es must have it enabled by default though.

AVG has always done for me plus back it with malwarebytes.
Not clicking on the wrong things also help...lol

I agree with first poster Nortons is big boggy and rubbish.