Privacy Software: Freeware vs Commercial

[Kyle Thomas Pope]

I maintain the security of my system using many of the free
applications frequently referred to in this forum (Proxomitron,
Spybot, Ad-Aware, Hijack This, etc.). However, any stroll through a
computer store will reveal a wealth of commercial software which
ostensibly serves the same purposes. So are these applications worth
the money? Do they offer more than the free applications available or
are they simply taking advantage of the uninitiated?

-----
Kyle Pope

"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered!" - No. 6

Keeper of the Edit List -

(http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/columns/edit-list.php)


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[Robin T Cox]

Kyle Thomas Pope <kurokyle@notmail.spam.not.com> wrote in
news9mgqvch3ph6d10ttstv0r42k2eh0e1vn5@4ax.com:

> I maintain the security of my system using many of the free
> applications frequently referred to in this forum (Proxomitron,
> Spybot, Ad-Aware, Hijack This, etc.). However, any stroll through a
> computer store will reveal a wealth of commercial software which
> ostensibly serves the same purposes. So are these applications worth
> the money? Do they offer more than the free applications available or
> are they simply taking advantage of the uninitiated?
>

According to this review of what's available, you're better off using
freeware:
http://www.pcmag.com/print_article/0...a=39275,00.asp

[BoB]

On Tue, 04 Nov 2003 18:02:52 -0800, Kyle Thomas Pope
<kurokyle@notmail.spam.not.com> wrote:

>I maintain the security of my system using many of the free
>applications frequently referred to in this forum (Proxomitron,
>Spybot, Ad-Aware, Hijack This, etc.). However, any stroll through a
>computer store will reveal a wealth of commercial software which
>ostensibly serves the same purposes. So are these applications worth
>the money? Do they offer more than the free applications available or
>are they simply taking advantage of the uninitiated?
>
>-----
>Kyle Pope

Haven't strolled through the computer stores in a couple years.
I find everything I need/want for security purposes, on the net
and all freeware.

I assume your etc., includes a free firewall, AV or two or three,
SpyBlaster, WinPatrol, and hopefully a safe newsreader/email and
a browser other than IE.

BoB
For the duration of Swen, my address is inoperative.

[Kyle Thomas Pope]

On Wed, 05 Nov 2003 20:02:34 -0500, BoB <me@privacy.net> wrote:

>I assume your etc., includes a free firewall, AV or two or three,
>SpyBlaster, WinPatrol, and hopefully a safe newsreader/email and
>a browser other than IE.

Firewall = ZoneAlarm Free

Antivirus = AVG

Newsreaders = Forte Agent, Galaxy, XNews

Browsers = Opera, Mozilla, K-Meleon, Netscape (in reserve. Haven't
had to fall back on it yet.)

E-Mail = Outlook Express (only because I can't figure out how to get
Pegasus to log on to the MSN e-mail server. Somehow just giving it my
ID and password isn't enough.)

-----
Kyle Pope

"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered!" - No. 6

Keeper of the Edit List -

(http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/columns/edit-list.php)


----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

[BoB]

On Wed, 05 Nov 2003 18:34:17 -0800, Kyle Thomas Pope
<kurokyle@notmail.spam.not.com> wrote:

>On Wed, 05 Nov 2003 20:02:34 -0500, BoB <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>
>>I assume your etc., includes a free firewall, AV or two or three,
>>SpyBlaster, WinPatrol, and hopefully a safe newsreader/email and
>>a browser other than IE.
>
>Firewall = ZoneAlarm Free
>
>Antivirus = AVG
>
>Newsreaders = Forte Agent, Galaxy, XNews
>
>Browsers = Opera, Mozilla, K-Meleon, Netscape (in reserve. Haven't
>had to fall back on it yet.)

I heard K-Meleon 0.8 is now out, but Firebird is my preference.

>E-Mail = Outlook Express (only because I can't figure out how to get
>Pegasus to log on to the MSN e-mail server. Somehow just giving it my
>ID and password isn't enough.)

I've heard comp.mail.pegasus-mail.ms-windows is a good place to hang
out, if you're a Peg user. As an example, someone there mentioned
using a -z 128 command line switch if Pmail is locked from getting out.
Not being a Peg or MSN email user, I am at a loss.

It looks like you're covered and I'll repeat, I've seen no need for
commercial security programs for the average home user. There are many
people who will say, "You get what you pay for". As far as I'm concerned
that is just a saying like, "Step on an ant and you'll make it rain". If
all sayings were true, I'd never have to get out the sprinkler. :-)

>-----
>Kyle Pope

BoB
For the duration of Swen, my address is inoperative.