Anti-Virus/Firewall Programs

[frosty satan]

Does anyone use free downloaded anti-virus, and or firewall programs, which they would reccomend. I looked at the software reccomendations on the main HL page, but are downloaded programs like this safe? Do they work as well as retail programs like McAffe, Norton and such?

[Lead Head]

Yes, they are actually just as safe. In some cases, quite a bit actually, free products like Avast and AVG can work BETTER then commercial products. Plus if it wasn't safe, it wouldn't be on the recommendation page

[frosty satan]

theres a couple on the reccommended page, whats your pick?

[onebxr]

I use avg and zone alarm free. These are both good programs for av and firewall. Also I use adaware/spybot for spyware and adware.
-1

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by onebxr

I use avg and zone alarm free. These are both good programs for av and firewall. Also I use adaware/spybot for spyware and adware.
-1

AVG and ZoneAlarm are both quite good. AdAware and Spybot are the de facto spy/malware detection and removal tools that everyone should have. I would also reccomend HiJack This!, and TeaTimer which comes with Spybot to round out your arsenal.

[Computer-Ed]

I think MS Defender gets a bum rap it does not deserve. I have used it on a lot of machines and it has never failed. Good solid free antispyware program with real time protection.

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by onebxr

I use avg and zone alarm free. These are both good programs for av and firewall. Also I use adaware/spybot for spyware and adware.
-1

My sentiments as well. I'd also throw A-Squared into there too.

[Tyreal]

AVG free and Zone alarm are two very good programs that will perform well in conjunction. Right now I'm only using AVG because of my router firewall which provides all the protection I need. I'd also recommend Kaspersky anti virus.

[screwballl]

I was recently turned onto a few programs I had never heard before:
Comodo Antivirus
Comodo firewall
Spyware Terminator

I suggest the second 2 (Comodo firewall and Spyware Terminator) as the testing and comparisons of Comodo AV was ranked very low in the Feb 2007 testing at av-comparatives ( Comodo = ~30%, AVG = ~95% ) but plenty of other testing has proven that Comodo firewall is just as strong and works as well as Sygate and Zonealarm.

[frosty satan]

So do most of you use more than one AV/firewall program at once? Should i also get a spyware program? i thought Firewall programs did that?