Re: OT: Software Recommendations
 

I scored 1.233 down and 858 up. Not bad for a hick. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

So Nortan does not scan downloads for bad things huh? Well what program does a good job of scanning everything you download and does it effectively?

Re: OT: Software Recommendations
 

deccan:
You don't want anything directly exposed to the internet, not even in a corporate environment. There's ALWAYS a router in front of a computer. Routers are pretty much MEANT to be border devices, though they do serve a purpose within the network as well you generally won't need to put a router anywhere but directly behind your WAN connection and won't need multiple routers.

My lan consists of five host PCs, a Linky router/switch and an Airlink 5-port switch. It looks like this:
Cable -> Router -> 3 PCs + Switch -> 2 more PCs

Software firewalls should be run on each individual PC, as they apply only to the PC they're running on. They can't make sure program X on PC Y doesn't talk out, because they don't know program X on PC Y is TRYING to talk out. Kerio is very light and quite powerful, definitely not bloated like other "user friendly" firewalls out there. Also, most software firewalls have a free Version which is quite sufficient, so it doesn't cost you anything.

Anti-Virus programs are another matter entirely. Real-Time Monitors vary widely between the vendors, and the detection rate of the RTM is often vastly different from the on-demand scanner. This is because to be effective, an RTM must have signatures loaded in memory. Thus, there's a direct corrolation between the memory footprint of an AV product's RTM, and that RTM's detection rate. Some AVs load a smaller subset of signatures for their RTM (in fact, probably all of them do http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif ). If you're looking for a cheap AV for multiple computers, F-Prot by Frisk International is the way to go. For a mere $30 USD, you get to install it on every computer in your home. Compare that to the $80+ price tag of a 3 computer license from Symantec.


As for spyware protection, just switch to an alternative browser. Anything that is not just an IE front-end will do. Keep Spybot and Ad-Aware around however. You never know what's in that latest download from cnet, after all.

Atro:
Sure Norton scans downloads. If you leave the Real-Time Monitor on it scans everything it's configured to (which could be all files, or executables). Any RTM that scans on file creation, modification, or close will scan downloads real-time.

Re: OT: Software Recommendations
 

Don't know if anyone else said this, but I would recommend pulling the plut on the internet when you're not using it. Cuts down on exposure time. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Re: OT: Software Recommendations
 

Our Norton service scans everything on the computer weather it's going in out or just sitting there like a lazy data file. I'm not quite sure on all the specifics of it, as my dad set it up.

Re: OT: Software Recommendations
 

For Antivirus I have been testing AVG 7.0 professional. Seems a good as norton and costs less.

For the firewall, get a router with firewall and NAT built in. You can get one that has a few LAN plugs, wirless and a print server for next to nothing these days. Software firewalls are better than nothing, but they are easy to bypass and a pain to keep locked down.

Re: OT: Software Recommendations
 

At least there is a lost of selections you can go with. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: OT: Software Recommendations
 

Yeah, lots of choice. Some, like Norton, are poor choices though...

Re: OT: Software Recommendations
 

Okay, another line of inquiry. Is there lots of different types of ADSL, or only one? The reason I'm asking is I have to decide whether I need to rent the modem from the phone company or whether I can buy one cheap elsewhere and get it to work reliably.

Re: OT: Software Recommendations
 

Renting will cost you something like $10+ a month. Unless you plan to be moving in the near future, or your home environment is very tough on electronics (violent/hairy cats/kids?), its best to buy one.

Re: OT: Software Recommendations
 

Hairy kids?