"Nobody > (Revisited)" <usenetharvested@aol.com> wrote in
news:JvWGp.42168$_z3.17624@newsfe04.iad:

> On 6/5/2011 6:41 PM, FromTheRafters wrote:
>> Li'l Abner wrote:
>>> I have a customer whose hard drive failed and I have now reinstalled
>>> WIndows 7 on a new drive.
>>>
>>> His provider is HughesNet. They have him on a plan where he has a
>>> ZoneAlarm
>>> Security Suite of some kind or another that is supposed to protect
>>> him from
>>> everything. But they are charging him $3.95 a month for it.
>>>
>>> He has never had malware problems and is not a risky surfer. He is a
>>> mule addict and practically every site he visits has to do with
>>> mules... :-)
>>>
>>> I have suggested installing the free version of Avira or Avast, or
>>> Microsoft Security Essentials.
>>>
>>> Does he even need a firewall other than the Windows firewall? If so,
>>> I could always install the free version of ZoneAlarm.
>>>
>>> Or should I just reinstall the ZA Suite and let him keep paying?
>>>
>>> Personally, I use the free version of Avira and the paid version of
>>> MBAM which runs resident. It's rare that either ever detects
>>> anything and I live
>>> a helluva lot more dangerous than my customer :-)
>>>
>> Avira and the firewall that came with Windows 7 is just fine IMO.
>
> I've had limited experience with Avira recently (used to be one of my
> fave recommends), but the present "freebie" Avast 6 is great. I've
> actually been recommending the Avast! Internet Security Suite to
> friends and relatives, mainly because "I get less support calls at
> 10PM". The biggest issue is the n00bie confusion when Avast decides it
> nees to open something in it's "SandBox" mode...

I have one machine that I use exclusively for a webserver. It also has
mail, FTP, news, and Shoutcast servers. I have had Avast on it ever since
Avira had a memory leak problem about a year ago. The other day I updated
Avast to the newest version and it wanted to run my mailserver (MDaemon)
in a sandbox. That was enough to turn ME off. It's now running Avira as
are my other 3 computers.
>
> Win 7's firewall so far seems to be just as good at "basic intent" as
> ZoneAlarm used to be.
>
> On my own machine, I do run the paid (and resident) MalwareBytes
> AntiMalware (MBAM), I caught a killer deal on that. But, I "kinda
> force" my "pigeons" (friends and family who want free IT advice) to
> install it (free version) as an "on-demand" thing.

We think exactly alike on that.

> Something else regarding "free":
> If you have some of those pigeons to deal with, have them install
> "TeamViewer 6" (http://www.teamviewer.com). There may be better
> "remote assistance" apps out there, but this one's extremely simple to
> set up.

And you know what's *really* good about it? User Account Control does not
kill it! I was previously using either UltraVNC or Show My PC on all my
customers with Vista or Windows 7. I always had to talk them through
turning off UAC. The only thing I don't like about it is that it nags me
to buy the paid version every time I go to get out of it.

Thanks much for your reply!

--
--- Everybody has a right to my opinion. ---