Security Software -- A Strong Recommendation

As I briefly mentioned in another thread I started several days ago, I
mentioned the need for some sort of organization one could trust on
software security standards. Some arbiter.

As a very long time subscriber to Consumer Reports I nominate them. As
I'm sure some of you know they last reviewed security in the June 2009
issue and Sept. 2009 for recent contributions. I'll bet some of you
didn't think I knew that.

Just to go on record a bit here for those of you who do not subscribe,
they divided security software into A. Our Free Suite, free as in no $,
and B. Subscription Suites.

A is a short list:
Avira
MS Windows Defender
Spamfighter

B.
Eset
McAfee Internet Security
MS Windows Live One Care
....
11. PC Tools Internet Security

Note the list varies each time. That's certainly not unexpected, since
the game changes.

I leave the post at that and leave it open for discussion. Thank you,
but I'll be a non-participant.

Meanwhile I'm doing just fine.

 

W. eWatson wrote:<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> As I briefly mentioned in another thread I started several days ago, I
> mentioned the need for some sort of organization one could trust on
> software security standards. Some arbiter.
>
> As a very long time subscriber to Consumer Reports I nominate them. As
> I'm sure some of you know they last reviewed security in the June 2009
> issue and Sept. 2009 for recent contributions. I'll bet some of you
> didn't think I knew that.
>
> Just to go on record a bit here for those of you who do not subscribe,
> they divided security software into A. Our Free Suite, free as in no $,
> and B. Subscription Suites.
>
> A is a short list:
> Avira
> MS Windows Defender
> Spamfighter
>
> B.
> Eset
> McAfee Internet Security
> MS Windows Live One Care
> ...
> 11. PC Tools Internet Security
>
> Note the list varies each time. That's certainly not unexpected, since
> the game changes.
>
> I leave the post at that and leave it open for discussion. Thank you,
> but I'll be a non-participant.
>
> Meanwhile I'm doing just fine.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

....and when you make an ill advised decision based on a publication
that makes poor recommendations, then your PC may be one that the rest
of us may have to defend against. Please rethink your decisions.
Hopefully you will arrive at the right conclusions.

--
1PW

 

I'm not an expert on what anti-virus program is best.

However...
....as much as I respect Consumer Reports and I do on occasion read it, I
shudder at the thought of following their recommendation in this area given
their opinions in areas I do know something about. I would never base an
important decision on the opinion of one resource.


"W. eWatson" <wolftracks@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:h84cj4$oqv$1@news.eternal-september.org...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> As I briefly mentioned in another thread I started several days ago, I
> mentioned the need for some sort of organization one could trust on
> software security standards. Some arbiter.
>
> As a very long time subscriber to Consumer Reports I nominate them. As I'm
> sure some of you know they last reviewed security in the June 2009 issue
> and Sept. 2009 for recent contributions. I'll bet some of you didn't think
> I knew that.
>
> Just to go on record a bit here for those of you who do not subscribe,
> they divided security software into A. Our Free Suite, free as in no $,
> and B. Subscription Suites.
>
> A is a short list:
> Avira
> MS Windows Defender
> Spamfighter
>
> B.
> Eset
> McAfee Internet Security
> MS Windows Live One Care
> ...
> 11. PC Tools Internet Security
>
> Note the list varies each time. That's certainly not unexpected, since the
> game changes.
>
> I leave the post at that and leave it open for discussion. Thank you, but
> I'll be a non-participant.
>
> Meanwhile I'm doing just fine. <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

 

Helmuth Massat wrote:<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> I'm not an expert on what anti-virus program is best.
>
> However...
> ...as much as I respect Consumer Reports and I do on occasion read it, I
> shudder at the thought of following their recommendation in this area given
> their opinions in areas I do know something about. I would never base an
> important decision on the opinion of one resource.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

Amen...

--
1PW

 

"Helmuth Massat" <hmassat@necNOOSPAAMPLEEZ.org> wrote in message
news:ufCg$MWMKHA.5192@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> I'm not an expert on what anti-virus program is best.
>
> However...
> ...as much as I respect Consumer Reports and I do on occasion read it,
> I shudder at the thought of following their recommendation in this
> area given their opinions in areas I do know something about. I would
> never base an important decision on the opinion of one resource.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

Inasmuch as some "security software" is completely unneeded - I just
can't believe that any "arbiter" would be truthful about that fact.

The firewall in suite "A" has no *outbound* filtering but the one in "B"
does. (

The AV in suite "B" scans your e-mail while the one in suite "A" does
not. (

 

Unfortunately, it has become a paradigm that AV programs must now sprout
numerous junky additions like 'safe surf' modules. Even the ones which
perform well are starting to follow-suit in this trend. Mostly these
additions do nothing useful, and in many cases they cause serious trouble.

I can see the problem the vendors face, and it's not unlike the same
situation where a trashy, overpriced printer that also 'scans, faxes, copies,
emails.. etc etc etc' sells better than a printer that prints.

I tend to avoid anything named 'Internet Security' or 'Security Suite' -
these are generally the worst in this respect.

"FromTheRafters" wrote:
<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
> "Helmuth Massat" <hmassat@necNOOSPAAMPLEEZ.org> wrote in message
> news:ufCg$MWMKHA.5192@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
> > I'm not an expert on what anti-virus program is best.
> >
> > However...
> > ...as much as I respect Consumer Reports and I do on occasion read it,
> > I shudder at the thought of following their recommendation in this
> > area given their opinions in areas I do know something about. I would
> > never base an important decision on the opinion of one resource.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
>
> Inasmuch as some "security software" is completely unneeded - I just
> can't believe that any "arbiter" would be truthful about that fact.
>
> The firewall in suite "A" has no *outbound* filtering but the one in "B"
> does. (
>
> The AV in suite "B" scans your e-mail while the one in suite "A" does
> not. (
>
>
> <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->