Archive for the ‘Firewall’ tag
Computer security: What to buy or download for free
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009
Although at NZ$55* for a downloaded version it is one of the most expensive standalone antivirus programs on sale in New Zealand, Kaspersky is the most effective. The company is also quickest off the mark when it comes to delivering updates to protect customers against the latest emerging threats. The program is one of the easiest to use with a polished user interface and clearly labelled options – though you’ll have to set up its scheduled scan yourself. I’ve not tested Kaspersky’s Internet Security 2009.
* When I visited the online store points New Zealand customers to an Australian site where the download price is A$55.
http://www.kasperskyanz.com.au/
Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009
The best-known name in PC security combines a first-rate antivirus program that also pounces on spyware with a solid firewall in its security suite.
All the security functions are accessible from a control centre which clearly shows when something’s wrong – clicking this will normally fix things in a jiffy. If you run a home network, you can inspect the security settings of all computers from a single screen.
Norton Internet Security 2009 will slow your machine a tad, but in practice I find it far less disruptive than McAfee’s products and a noticeable improvement on earlier versions of the Norton software. Norton also stays out-of-the-way when you are working. At A$99 or NZ$99 to protect three home computers the price is good too.
Trend Micro HouseCall
If you’ve been slack with your computer security and suddenly feel under threat Trend Micro’s Housecall (http://housecall.trendmicro.com) is a free web-based antivirus and spyware service that can check your system for problems and then fix them. It works with both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, you download some code and then set it to work in your browser while you get on with other tasks. It works just like any other anti-spyware product and is at least as good at finding nasty software. While using HouseCall isn’t as safe as having security software running on your machine, it is a great quick fix.
Kaspersky offers an alternative online scanner at http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner. It works fine, but is tricky if you’re running Windows Vista as you have to open your browser in administrator mode. That’s a non-trivial road block.
McAfee Total Protection 2009
In the past McAfee’s security tools haven’t been the best. I’ve found them to deliver less than first-rate protection while slowing down my computer and getting in the way of everyday work. What’s more, the company seems heavy-handed about extracting money from customers with pop-ups and constant email reminders.
And to cap it all, McAfee’s products are expensive. Total Protection 2009 costs A$130 in Australia and NZ$130 for customers buying direct from the web site. Computer stores may sell it for less but the rival programs are cheaper and have a better track record so why risk it? While I haven’t had the chance to test McAfee Total Protection 2009 personally, the marketing blurb says its simpler to user and uses fewer resources. It’s not the product I’d choose, but there are people who swear by McAfee.
Avast Antivirus
Avast is free for home users. You can’t argue with the price. Business users are expected to pay, but prices are low in comparison to other antivirus options. It’s a light program and uses hardly any computer resources which means it won’t slow you down. It’s also simple enough for non-technical people to use without being bamboozled. You’ll get regular automatic updates as required too.
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0
As the name suggests, the price tag on AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0 is a big fat zero. Unlike Avast, AVG makes the free version harder to find on its web site and goes to great lengths to persuade you the paid for products make more sense, but in reality it’s a good anti-virus tool at keen price.
Comodo Firewall
Don’t be lured into a false sense of security by the firewalls built into Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows XP, you need better protection. The paid-for internet security suites all include robust firewalls, Comodo is widely regarded as the best free option. You might find it a bit annoying at first when it keeps asking you about programs, but after a while it’ll settle down and keep the worst malware at bay.
Computer security guide: 4 how to buy security tools
Go for the suite spot
You’ll need antivirus, firewall and anti-spyware software to keep your PCs safe from most threats. While some expert users manage to run products from different vendors, the applications may not play nicely together. You may even cause your system to crash.
Applications dovetail smoothly in security suites. They also give you a single interface to control everything. What’s more, suites are cheaper than the sum of their components. You may need to find separate spam filtering, anti-phishing and adware software.
Check the extras
Many security suites go beyond the basics offering features like parental controls, spam filtering and tools to stop private information like passwords, account details or telephone numbers from being transmitted.
Don’t double up
It’s tempting to think that running two firewalls or antivirus programs will make your system doubly secure – it won’t. Overlapping security tools can create havoc, slowing your computer and making it hard to troubleshoot problems. Stick with one of everything, it’ll be safer not to mention cheaper.
Watch the calendar
Many commercial security software products come as one or more applications coupled with online links to an automatic updating service. Typically when you buy the product one year’s worth of updates come as part of the deal. When the year is up you can pay a fee to get a further year’s worth of updates.
That’s convenient, but typically the cost of an extra year’s subscription is the same as you’d pay for new versions of the applications. As security vendors are constantly updating their technology and adding more features to their products – buying a fresh product is the better option. What’s more, avoiding the subscription gives you an opportunity to avoid lock-in and move to a rival company’s offering.
Also, watch out for arrangements where a security software company takes your credit card details and automatically invoices for updates. They try to tell you this is a service to make life easier for you. In fact, they do it because they make a lot more money that way.
Computer security guide: 3 defensive software
Security products can help protect your computer. Some are traditional packaged software, others are online services. Here are the types of security applications you are most likely to need:
Anti-virus
Designed to keep your PC free of infection, anti-virus programs generally use two different approaches. First, they match databases – known as signatures – against incoming files to spot potential threats and block them.
Vendors update signature files regularly, some run daily updates, others update signatures every hour or so. This isn’t always enough. Virus writers aim to ‘fly under the radar’ with fresh malware.
The worst codes spread faster than signature updates. So most antivirus programs now include tools designed to spot suspicious virus-like behaviour from unknown files. These files are flagged as potential threats and treated.
Anti-virus is a misleading name these days. Almost every anti-virus program provides protection from a range of different mal-wares.
Firewalls:
Firewalls control the flow of internet traffic to and from your computer. Some are hardware devices – if you use a router it may have a built-in firewall – but in most home set-ups they are software.
Firewalls have two main functions. They act as a gate, stopping unwanted traffic from entering your system. At the same time, they should stop unapproved traffic from leaving your system. For example, if there’s a spyware program on your computer monitoring your activities, a properly configured firewall will stop that information from being sent. Equally, if a worm infects your computer, a worm, a firewall will stop it getting out and infecting others.
The firewall in Windows XP only stops incoming traffic; so it will only protect you up to a point. You should invest in a commercial firewall product – they are all bi-directional.
Unlike antivirus programs, which are forgotten once install, firewalls are complex. If you set things up incorrectly, you may leave your computer vulnerable. Alternatively, you may hinder legitimate traffic – this is especially difficult if you use a home network. The best firewalls will automatically configure themselves, but they tend to err on the side of caution blocking any unusual application.
Anti-spyware
Also known as spyware blockers. There’s a thin line between antivirus and anti-spyware tools – in fact some commercial security products now combine the two functions in a single application. Good anti-spyware products will detect and remove both spyware and adware from your computer. It should also block this kind of software from being installed. Firewalls may detect spyware it first attempts to send data back to base.
Spam Filters
A program designed to stop, or at least drastically reduce, the amount of spam turning up in your email in-box. Spam filters can save you time and money sorting through rubbish emails but most home and small business computer users don’t need to worry about filtering spam. That’s because many ISPs and web-mail providers now use anti-spam filters to check mail before downloading it to your computer or read in your web browser. Also, modern email programs, like Microsoft Outlook 2007, have built-in spam detection tools.
Computer security: Introduction
The question isn't whether the virus-writers, phishers, spam merchants and other assorted online nuisances are targeting your PC, your money and your privacy. The question is how successful will they be.
Your computer and your data are potentially vulnerable from the moment you hit the on button. The threats multiply when you go online. While there’s no sure way to make your system safe, there’s plenty you can do to minimise the risks.
Computer security
The risks are real. At the less worrying end of the spectrum, neighbours might hop on your wireless router and surf the web on your ISP account or pranksters may load your PC with troublesome viruses.
There are people, including some seemingly respectable companies, who want to spy on your online activities.
More seriously, there are crooks who’d like to control your computer so they can suck money from your bank accounts.
Others want to hijack your machine so they carry out their crimes or even terrorist acts at arm’s length leaving a trail that investigators may track to your front door.
Getting Started
It sounds scary, but a whole industry has evolved to help keep you safe. These days you need a variety of tools to fight a complex range of security threats (see the next post: Computer security guide: 2 what are the main threats).
At the least you should consider antivirus, a firewall and anti-spyware tools.
This may sound complicated and expensive, but all-in-one security suites make life easier and help you sleep at night.
These are particularly helpful if you’re not a security expert because the separate tools in security suites should interact smoothly with each other and offer overlapping protection from today’s nastiest threats which can use a blend of techniques to probe your defences.