antivirus/firewall for computer illiterate?

[weizilla]

i'm building a computer for a friend who is sort of computer computer illiterate.
i know most people here know how to set up firewalls, rules, antivirus and update them (and so do it) but my friend doesn't anything about computers and i would like to know if there's a easy to use (and explain) firewall and antivirus for them.

 

[Diasper]

I'd go with AVG and Zonealarm Free (5.5.094.00) - you can't get any simpler than that really.

AVG auto-updates (can set time) and scans automatically also (set time also).

AVG is pretty simple to use (more so than Anti-Vir) and a little clearer - less bloated than Avast.

With Zonealarm, just explain the difference between a plain jane internet access connection and a server and it should be fine. He'll obviously need to be able to set up connections himself although you could set them up initially for him.

Set up firefox with Privoxy as his main internet browser and then IE on default medium settings thereafter.

Have CCleaner run up at start-up to remove cookies and crap he'll build up.

Outside of that educate him into running weakly scans with other (freeware) programs like ewido, a-squared, adaware and spybot. Ewido and a-squared will be the particulalrly important ones to fill in the weak points of AVG (ie particularly Trojans). Set up a folder shortcut on the quicklaunch bar at the bottom for that.

MS anti-spyware you can get to autorun when you want.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Please see Sections E and F of the Consolidated Security Thread. I just added new information covering the best antivirus/firewall for the less tech savvy, both are freeware to home users.

This is how i concluded the results:

The choice for Antivirus was Avast.

Avast has a far superior detection rate to AVG according to these detection rate tests, but less than Antivir:
http://www.av-comparatives.org/
http://www.virus.gr/english/fullxml/default.asp?id=69&mnu=69

It has a worse detection rate than Antivir BUT it does have several features that antivir lacks, such as autoupdates and it is easier to use than Antivir. Both critical to those who are not tech savvy and do not keep their machines updated. It is also easier to schedule scans in avast than in antivir.


It uses more system resources than both Antivir and AVG, but this does not matter for the computer illiterate as much as it does for gamers.


Firewall choice was Kerio 4 free edition. It has an easy mode that requires very little intervention on part of the user, a critical need for the less tech savvy.


See also Section D for prevention information, hint: use a limited user account.