[caseydilla]

i recently got my old computer up and running,

i have outdated Norton and Symmatic already installed, however my current financial situation won't allow for the extra 60 bucks it would cost to renew my subscriptions.
so i was curious as to what free security downloads [out of the thousands] are safe to install?

[perfume]

Dear caseydilla,
Welcome back! Now we have really good freeware softwares to protect our pc's.

1)You surely must have heard and read about Gibson's site:www.grc.com and his "shields Up" software to check how strong your Firewall really is! He comes to the conclusion that Zone Alarm Firewall is the best in that aspect. You may download the free version from:http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en...e-firewall.htm

The best free anti spyware is super anti spyware(SAS) and please download it from:http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html

As you know having a second anti spyware is an intelligent choice, you may download SpywareBlaster from:http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

THE best anti-malware, Malware Bytes Anti Malware may be downloaded from: http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes...-10804572.html

Regarding a free Anti-Virus software,plump for "Avast" and can be downloaded from: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

If i can be of any further help, i'll be happy to oblige.

[Squashman]

I like Avast but AVG is also an alternative for free AntiVirus.
R-Firewall is another decent free firewall alternative.
But I guess we should ask what operating system you are running on that old machine before we go and make suggestions.

[rainforest123]

Personally, I have abandoned the free AS & AV programs. I previously used AVG Free, but it no longer looks for rootkits.

SuperAntiSpyware Free & Malwarebytes Anti Malware free do not provide real time protection.
SAS: "Real-Time Blocking of threats! Prevent potentially harmful software from installing or re-installing!*"
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispyware.html

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
"Activating the full version unlocks realtime protection"

I gave up on Comodo's firewall because it has components that monitor installations and updates. It is very effective, but takes a lot of time, for me, to figure out its intricacies.

Just my 3 cents, adjusting for inflation.

I am not suggesting that perfume & Squashman are wrong; rather that my opinion is different.

[perfume]

Originally Posted by caseydilla

i recently got my old computer up and running,

i have outdated Norton and Symmatic already installed, however my current financial situation won't allow for the extra 60 bucks it would cost to renew my subscriptions.
so i was curious as to what free security downloads [out of the thousands] are safe to install?

Dear rainforest123,
My reply was solely based considering the cash crunch caseydilla is suffering from! Opinions differ. If every malware-related problem which can be identified and removed by an updated and a competent anti-malware were to be be posted in the malware forum for dissection using HijackThis log, the malware forum will be chocked and this forum will be just a stage to prove who has greater knowledge about computer security! Everytime you are posting the rules framed by TG.ORG about malware forums and you are simply shutting our mouths up. I can guarentee that if this trend continues, in a short time from now, you will be the only person answering all questions and since our enthusiasm to help has been crushed we will have to move on to other forums to hide! The forum is all your's!