F-Secure good?

[Rat River Cemetary]

My ISP offers F-Secure 2.0 security suite for free but not sure if I
should install it and remove what I have now or trust F-Secure to do it
all. Right now I use AVG for anti-virus, Spybot, Spywareblaster and
Windows Defender for anti-spyware, just use the built in Windows
Firewall too (also have NAT router). I think F-Secure has firewall,
anti-virus and anti-spyware. I will keep Spywareblaster and Spybot but
will remove AVG, Windows Defender and Windows Firewall if I go F-Secure.
Which way do you think is better? I haven't used F-Secure since the days
of Dos so don't know how well they are rated these days.

[Kayman]

On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:10:05 GMT, Rat River Cemetary wrote:

> My ISP offers F-Secure 2.0 security suite for free but not sure if I
> should install it and remove what I have now or trust F-Secure to do it
> all. Right now I use AVG for anti-virus, Spybot, Spywareblaster and
> Windows Defender for anti-spyware, just use the built in Windows
> Firewall too (also have NAT router). I think F-Secure has firewall,
> anti-virus and anti-spyware. I will keep Spywareblaster and Spybot but
> will remove AVG, Windows Defender and Windows Firewall if I go F-Secure.
> Which way do you think is better? I haven't used F-Secure since the days
> of Dos so don't know how well they are rated these days.

I am not a great fan of 'security suites'. I'd use *only* the F-Secure AV
function and remove AVG.
How to remove AVG Free Antivirus
http://askabouttech.com/how-to-remov...ree-antivirus/
Keep everything else incl the Win Firewall...
(Uncheck *all* Programs and Services under the Exception tab.)
Understanding Windows Firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...2_wfintro.mspx
Using Windows Firewall.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...nfirewall.mspx
....and use it in conjunction with:
Seconfig XP 1.0
http://seconfig.sytes.net/

Consider adding these wonderful applications to your arsenal
SuperAntispyware - Free
http://www.superantispyware.com/supe...freevspro.html
and
Ad-Aware 2007 - Free
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html

[Rat River Cemetary]

Kayman wrote:

> I am not a great fan of 'security suites'. I'd use *only* the F-Secure AV
> function and remove AVG.

Why keep Windows Firewall over F-Secure Firewall?

I've used SuperAntiSpyware before but find I don't really need it with
what I have. I use FF with noscript so it is hard to get bitten by
spyware anyway. I have removed Adaware 2007 from both my PC's now
because its "new and improved" update service and GUI is crap.

[Kayman]

On Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:21:43 GMT, Rat River Cemetary wrote:

> Kayman wrote:
>
>> I am not a great fan of 'security suites'. I'd use *only* the F-Secure AV
>> function and remove AVG.
>
> Why keep Windows Firewall over F-Secure Firewall?

For the average homeuser, the Windows Firewall in XP SP 2 does a fantastic
job at its core mission and is really all you need if you have a good
quality 'real-time' anti-virus program and other edge protection like
SeconfigXP and practise safe-hex.
The Windows Firewall deals with inbound protection and therefore does not
give you a false sense of security. Best of all, it doesn't implement lots
of nonsense like pretending that outbound traffic needs to be monitored.
Most importantly, the Windows Firewall is an integrated part of the
operating system (OS)!

> I've used SuperAntiSpyware before but find I don't really need it with
> what I have. I use FF with noscript so it is hard to get bitten by
> spyware anyway. I have removed Adaware 2007 from both my PC's now
> because its "new and improved" update service and GUI is crap.

Okay then, you're obviously on the top of things and have all bases
covered. Good luck

[Rat River Cemetary]

Kayman wrote:

> Okay then, you're obviously on the top of things and have all bases
> covered. Good luck

Yea, I agree with what you say about outbound protection and Windows
Firewall (that's what I have been using for years now) but outbound
protection can help with blocking legit software from phoning home if
you feel like doing that. I've played with the outbound protection in
Vista but it is a PITA to use and blocks it's own update service. Thanks
for the input and now that I think about it some more there is no real
need to use F-Secure when I already have everything set up to be pretty
tight. I don't like the idea of F-Secure checking for updates on a
frequent basis too. I check for all updates manually as it less of an
annoyance that way. There is not much more annoying than both AVG and
Windows Defender trying to get updates at the same time.

[Kayman]

On Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:40:56 GMT, Rat River Cemetary wrote:

> Kayman wrote:
>
>> Okay then, you're obviously on the top of things and have all bases
>> covered. Good luck
>
> Yea, I agree with what you say about outbound protection and Windows
> Firewall (that's what I have been using for years now) but outbound
> protection can help with blocking legit software from phoning home if
> you feel like doing that. I've played with the outbound protection in
> Vista but it is a PITA to use and blocks it's own update service. Thanks
> for the input and now that I think about it some more there is no real
> need to use F-Secure when I already have everything set up to be pretty
> tight. I don't like the idea of F-Secure checking for updates on a
> frequent basis too. I check for all updates manually as it less of an
> annoyance that way. There is not much more annoying than both AVG and
> Windows Defender trying to get updates at the same time.

Just keep in mind that you shouldn't worry about *trusted* software phoning
home; Especially when the (trusted) software monitors/protects your OS.
All the best

[Rat River Cemetary]

blessed style wrote:

> If it aint broke, then don't fix it.

Too late. Curiosity got the better of me. See my post about F-Secure
slowing my PC down, and I mean way down. It is now uninstalled and back
to good old AVG.