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Author Topic: Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls  (Read 8542 times)

oldfogy

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Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« on: July 13, 2006, 01:36:31 AM »

I need to install Antivirus and Firewall on a HP laptop with a 300 MHz CPU, 64 Meg Ram, running Windows 98SE  which also does not have a very big HDD.

Although in the past I have managed to get away with Norton, the latest versions just slow it down far too much.
So I have now decided to install one of the Free versions of each.

With never having used any of the free programs I need your input as to which you would possibly recommend.
I appreciate that most if not all of them do not auto update, this will not be a problem.

The laptop will mainly be used just occasionally for surfing the net and  looking at forums. (Nothing heavy like P2P).

So, I am thinking of possibly AVG or Avast antivirus, and Zone Alarm firewall.

Your advice would be most appreciated, thanks.
Phil
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kitz

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Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2006, 02:26:17 AM »

The problem is a lot of "todays" Internet Security Suites are heavy on processing power and other resources on older machines.

In the past Ive used Norton AV (up to 2003) on older PCs without any problems at all.
I must admit I got a free version of NAV 2005 with a new laptop and I was extremely disappointed at how much resources it took up, so ended up uninstalling and replacing it.

If Im setting up a new PC or Internet connection for someone I normally use Avast for AV rather than AVG, and I prefer the Kerio Firewall.

However, I recall that you are using a router with a hardware firewall and behind NAT. If you are using the laptop at home behind your router its up to you or not if you think you need a software firewall too.

Put it this way, although I do have a firewall on my own laptops, I only switch the software firewall on when Im away from home.

When I first got adsl for the first couple of months I still ran a software firewall on all my machines, but after a while I realised that the hardware firewall in my router was catching everything first, and therefore as far as my own network was concerned the software firewall wasnt doing anything other than taking up resources on the PCs.
Over 3 years later and Im still happy to let my hardware firewall do its job.  You still need AV though.

[*] If you do decide to do this, go to somewhere like grc.com (shields up) and do a security port scan and make sure it gives you the all clear first.

The only thing I dont agree with grc.com reports is that it may frighten you if it says it can see your IP address (so what?) and also I personally dont believe in blocking ICMP pings. This stops ICMP (which is a valid internet protocol) from working and in turn can *break the internet* for some users.

Details where you can get Kerio etc from
http://www.kitz.co.uk/security/software.htm
[*] Dont forget anti spy/malware
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roseway

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Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2006, 07:48:14 AM »

I've no specialised knowledge on this, but I've seen it stated fairly frequently that Shields Up often gives inaccurate or misleading results. My personal preference is to use http://www.dslreports.com/tools which also has several other useful testing tools.

Eric
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oldfogy

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Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2006, 03:17:28 PM »

Quote from: "kitz"
However, I recall that you are using a router with a hardware firewall and behind NAT. If you are using the laptop at home behind your router its up to you or not if you think you need a software firewall too.

Thanks Kitz.
Yes I will need a firewall as most of the internet usage will be when not connected to my network.
i.e. on site, viewing websites that I intend to create, once I get started.
Probably only connected to the network for moving my own files files back or forth (Download links etc that I may come across).

Anyway, I'll give it a couple of days to see if anyone else wants to add anything before making a decision.
Thanks also to Eric for your input.
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feliscatusx2

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Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2006, 11:18:31 AM »

Two free firewalls you may want to have a look at:

Tiny Personal Firewall, re-released as Kerio Personal Firewall, try version 2.1.5

This is what I use, very light on resources and memory, and easy to set up.

Outpost Free firewall, all sorts of extra widgets but a bigger footprint.

I don't have links to hand but Google or Scroogle should find them, or try

http://www.oldversion.com/
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oldfogy

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Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2006, 07:59:52 PM »

I notice Kerio does not run on:

Windows Me or Windows 98

Any idea if it runs on Windows 98se

Thanks
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feliscatusx2

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Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« Reply #6 on: July 14, 2006, 08:58:42 PM »

Runs fine on 98SE, using it even as we speak.  I tried a later version 4 something or another, uninstalled it after 5 minutes.  Horrible interface and it kept asking difficult questions.

2.1.5. is best for older OSs, it's a 2Mb download.
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Some people are like slinkies: they don't really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

kitz

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Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2006, 09:00:15 PM »

Blahhh theyve been taken over :( :(

quote

Does the Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall run on my Windows 95, 98, 98SE or ME machine?
A: No. The Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall 4 requires 10 MB of disk space for installation and runs ONLY on desktop editions of Windows 2000 and XP.



edit

Sorry I see Feliscatus is talking about the old version which seems to be fine. thanks for that  Felis
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feliscatusx2

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Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« Reply #8 on: July 14, 2006, 09:07:02 PM »

Version 4 does run on 98SE, after a fashion.  It certainly does not complain about anything, just not as good as 2.1.5. on my PC.
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Some people are like slinkies: they don't really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

oldfogy

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Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« Reply #9 on: July 16, 2006, 08:30:16 PM »

Just a Up-date.

I installed Avast AV, along with Tiny Firewall v2015 and everything is running reasonably smoothly, (considering the PC) although after checking Kitz's link and checking the NAT Router firewall, this came back with good results, so I may just leave it disabled until needed.

Also as a mater of interest, I installed "Registry Mechanic 5" which is also a FREE DL, this also cleaned up the registry some what.
(Even after running Norton registry cleaner on my main PC, it still came back with 140 problems found) nearly all of which I recognised as probably being correctly identified. (Deleted files etc).
Available from: http://www.computeractive.co.uk/vnunet/downloads/2145036/registry-mechanic

User Name: removed for legal reasons
License key: removed for legal reasons
Reason:
It seems that the VNU DL is only a trial version, the "Full version" I had originally came from Personal Computer World magazine "Free disc" complete with User name and License key and is not transferable.
Sorry for any confusion this may of caused.
********************

So, thanks again to everyone for your input, "Multiple heads are always better than one" (mine) :lol:

Now for my next problem, because I just went to switch on one of my other PCs which is not very old, and it's "Dead" (probably the power supply).
It never rains but it pours.
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kitz

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Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« Reply #10 on: July 16, 2006, 10:29:51 PM »

Hope you get your pc sorted soon :/
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oldfogy

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Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« Reply #11 on: July 17, 2006, 04:12:57 PM »

Quote from: "kitz"
Hope you get your pc sorted soon :/
Problem sorted.
New PSU fitted, 450watt ?16.99.
I wanted a larger one but that was the biggest in stock.
Very strange really, because I hadn't used the other PC for some time.
But then thats PC's for you.
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hake

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Re: Your Opinion on AV and Firewalls
« Reply #12 on: September 18, 2006, 09:03:30 PM »

FIREWALL
With Windows 98, I use Agnitum Outpost 1.0 which is free.  It is reliable and stable.  It has one particularly nice feature which is DNS caching.
 ;)
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Windows XP