Freeware Antivirus, AntiSpyware, Firewall, and AntiSpam Applications Thread | Windows Vista / 2K / XP

[AMDZen]

Why isn't this stickied?

 

[Schadenfroh]

I am seeking to improve the antispam section of this thread, if anyone can tell me of some good freeware antispam tools, it would be appreciated. I have updated the antispam section to include a few that I have used in the past (like mailwasher) and included short descriptions of them.

As always, this is YOUR thread and I will gladly add any good freeware applications (in any of the thread's sections) that are safe and effective that the community may find helpful. Full credit to the person who found it will be given (inside the consolidated security thread's change log section).

With updated links to the new Antivirus detection rate tests at Virus.gr, the updates to the now independent AntiSpam section, and the addition of more online virus scanning tools, revision .037 goes live, enjoy and do give feedback!

 

[IEC]

Make this a goram sticky already

 

[Schadenfroh]

This thread has now been updated to match the massive update/revamp that I finished up with The Consolidated Security thread on the 10th. Outdated applications have been either removed or replaced with up-to-date alternatives. I also added two new antirootkit applications that John found. A few links have also been fixed. Hopefully, this revision will last for a long time.

Revision 4 is now live, enjoy and do give feedback.

 

[nbarb99]

Originally posted by: ariafrost
Make this a goram sticky already

You misspelled it (yes, I watched Firefly with the subtitles on)

Great resource, Schadenfroh!

 

[Schadenfroh]

If any users of Avast, Antivir, AVG, AOL AVS, or CLAM could provide me with a screenshot of the ram usage of one of those programs, it would be greatly appreciated. I will add ram usage information to the OP with credit to you.

 

[jr8rulz]

I have the AVG screenshot for ya

 

[1Cheap2Crazy]

Is this what you wanted Schadenfroh? Avast version 4.7 updated to this new version an hour ago.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Thanks to all those who sent memory usage results from the various antivirus applications. In the future, when I have the time, I plan on testing ram usage from all the freeware Antivirus products and freeware firewalls out there to fill in the gaps.

I have also just received word from John that AOL/Kaspersky has updated the AOL AVS system, fixing many bugs including the grayed out options in some menus that were reported.

 

[Evander]

this month a new free firewall has been released by Ashampoo:
http://www.ashampoo-root03.com/webcache/html/1/product_2_0050_.htm
It claims to be easy for noobs and low and resources. This company has been around for a good while

here's another free firewall:
http://www.ghostsecurity.com/ghostwall/
They are claiming very low resource use, download is very small at less than 700KB

AS3 Personal Firewall was freeware, apparently now is trialware. Claims low resources. Older free version listed at nonags.com, rated 5/6 by users. I have a newer freeware version 1.4.13 on my HD though. Official website:
http://www.software4u.tk/

Note I have not tried any of these personally. They are all listed as low-resource firewalls, which is what I'm after for my p3 win2k lappy (previously used kerio 2.15 but it caused BSODs, currently using Comodo based on recommendations but it takes up 22 meg so I'm looking to replace it with something lighter). I don't know enough about firewalls to make any judgements so I'd thought I'd post these links so the pro's can tear through them and give real feedback.

Also I found this site for enabling some sort of built in firewall for Win2k:
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~mchugha/w2kfirewall.htm
Is that an acceptable replacement for a 3rd party firewall? Takes some effort to get it set up...

 

[bf1942]

AVG now has a Firewall with Win Xp 64 bit support, it runs very much like Zonealarm
and passes the leak test from grc.com,

It currently is in Beta but works great for me, they are offering a 1 month free trial then you can purchase a 2 year subscription, it comes with anti spyware, and anti spam also.

I have been using ther free anti-virus off and on for years and have been happy with it and
Will pay them so I can finally have a decent 64 BIT Firewall.
Thanks AVG I have been waiting a long time for this
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/35776/lng/us/tpl/tpl01

I have tried every other 64 bit firewall i could find and none worked well for me.
P.S It also comes with Anti-Virus

Use this code for the full internet security sweet,
AVG Internet Security (Anti-Virus + Anti-Spy + Anti-Spam + Firewall):

75IN-TH14Z1-IP-P0F-C11-X00-S252M8-MCC-K5L1
it's from there web page, the others are liter versions without some of the features.

 

[ironk]

Also, the best and most comprehensive spyware/malware removal guide available which is constantly updated:

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

I doubt that even most major computer shops go through all those steps or even a quarter of the steps for that matter.

 

[thesurge]

There's this pretty awesome program called "TuneUp Utilities".

It can clean your registry (if you've deleted large amount of programs), you can undelete stuff, (try to) permanently delete stuff, etc.

 

[bf1942]

Yes tuneup utilities is very nice, but
the program is only 32 bit last time i checked,

But they said 64 bit support coming very soon.

very slick interface , I love the syartup and shutdown screens options.

It's only a 30 day free trial, but it keeps working after that , but will not update.

 

[Pulsar]

Spam:

SpamBayes is an excellent baysian filter that "learns" and is free. It filters spam mail into a junk mail filter and is compatible with microsoft outlook and outlook express.

Ewido free - Now AVG Spyware is excellent and gives real time protection against spyware. It's a top notch tool.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Just a headsup for ipod owners, some ipods made after September 12, 2006 have a trojan loaded in it from the factory. Any of the antivirus programs listed in the OP should fix it.

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4592
COLD DEAL

Apple Computer has posted an article on its support site admitting that it has shipped a small number of fifth-generation Video iPods that contain, for your convenience, a pre-loaded Windows virus.

The iPods contain the Troj/Bdoor-DIJ trojan, which allows an attacker to access and control your system remotely. Apple has traced the source of the trojan to a single infected Windows machine at one of their manufacturers

 

[Schadenfroh]

Our very own John has updated his removal kit!

linked:
http://www.elitekiller.com/files/rogueremoval.zip

Here is what he sent me in the PM:

Are you receiving fake windows security alerts that prompt you to install/purchase a rogue antispyware application? Here's a removal kit that I put together. It contains noahdfear's smitrem, combofix, VundoFix and much more so check the readme! It will remove Spyware Quake, SpyAxe, Spyware Strike, SpySherriff, Winhound, PSGuard, Smitfraud, QooLogic, Vundo variants, Surf Sidekick, Look2me, and several other rogue applications.

We should all thank him for taking the time to compile such a comprehensive removal kit and making it available to us.

 

[maxxxxel]

Originally posted by: Evander
this month a new free firewall has been released by Ashampoo:
http://www.ashampoo-root03.com/webcache/html/1/product_2_0050_.htm
It claims to be easy for noobs and low and resources. This company has been around for a good while

Does anyone know if ashampoo's firewall is 64bit? i cant seem to find any info on 64bit support

Thanks

 

[jaws]

Thanks.

 

[John]

Schadenfroh, thank you for your continued support to me and this wonderful community. I've added another excellent tool to the rogue removal kit that was created by S!Ri

SmitFraudFix v2.112

Get rid of AdwarePunisher, AdwareSheriff, AlphaCleaner, Antispyware Soldier,
AntiVermins, AntivirusGolden, AVGold, BraveSentry, MalwareWipe, PestTrap, PSGuard, quicknavigate.com,
Security iGuard, Smitfraud, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, SpyGuard, SpyHeal, SpySheriff, Spyware Vanisher, Spyware Soft Stop,
SpywareQuake, SpywareSheriff, SpywareStrike, Startsearches.net, TitanShield Antispyware, Trust Cleaner,
UpdateSearches.com, Virtual Maid, VirusBlast, VirusBurst, Win32.puper, WinHound, eMedia Codec, HQ Codec,
iCodecPack, iMediaCodec, IntCodec, Media-Codec, MediaCodec, MMediaCodec, MPCODEC, PCODEC, PowerCodec,
PornPass Manager, PornMag Pass, SoftCodec, strCodec, VideoCompressionCodec, VideosCodec, WinMediaCodec,
X Password Generator, X Password Manager, ZipCodec and much more!

I had trouble getting rid of virusburst on a computer until I ran this wonderful tool.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Microsoft has released the final version of Windows Defender (ex GIANT AntiSpyware), it is free to all legal owners of Microsoft Windows.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

 

[WildHorse]

Schadenfroh,

Good job!

 

[Engineer]

Well, after noticing that one of my PC's was spamming my network (router) last night, I checked my daughters PC. I removed the AntiVir and installed the AOL (Kaspersky) version. It found 23 Virii (5 variants). I then run A-Squared and found a trojan.backdoor that was the actual spammer.

Thanks Schadenfroh for keeping the list current and having a great choice. Network is much more peppy now!

 

[Schadenfroh]

It has come to my attention that some users are misreading a notification of AVG Free Edition in that they believe that it is going to end or expire. Nothing could be further from the truth. AVG Free Edition 7.0 updates are going to be discontinued soon in favor of AVG 7.5. Link to the new version of AVG Free Edition, as well as the new free edition of AVG AntiSpyware:
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free

 

[Schadenfroh]

I finally got a chance to play around with AVG antispyware free version. It scans and removes things just fine, but it has no real-time protection (what you pay for with the nonfree version). It should be noted that either it is really good at detecting tracking cookies OR it has loads of false positives. It detected 8 tracking cookies that adaware and spybot missed.

AVG antivirus is based off of Ewido, which they bought, I am not sure how much has changed from the last version of Ewido to this AVG antispyware.