[Pikabanga]

I've always used ZoneAlarm Security Suite which has both Firewall and Antivirus, but since around two weeks it has slowed down my computer ALOT, disconnecting me from Skype, making opening new websites not working every ten sec etc. Disabling only the anti virus or firewall part didn't help, only closing down the whole program.

So now I am currently not using ZoneAlarm Security Suite but have instead enabled the windows vista firewall but no anti virus.

My question is, what anti virus would you recommend me (freeware) and is the windows firewall enough or should I be looking for another firewall too?

Any feedback is very appreciated.

[midders]

I recommend Avira for free anti-virus and Comodo Security Suite for the firewall part. That said, if there has been a noticeable change in your system speed, unless there was a concurrent update of Zone Alarm that might have caused the problem, I would look elsewhere for a cause.

Slainte

midders

[Pikabanga]

Thanks for the reply.

I am pretty sure the slowdown came with version 8 of ZoneAlarm because googling it I found people having the same problems with it (slow internet browsing mainly).

Comodo firewall, do you recommend that as a firewall IF I would use another firewall than windows' or do you think it's important to always use something else than windows'?

[extons]

Why not upgrade to the v9 of ZoneAlarm?

[midders]

Originally Posted by Pikabanga

Comodo firewall, do you recommend that as a firewall IF I would use another firewall than windows' or do you think it's important to always use something else than windows'?

I'd always recommend the use of third party software, if only because virus/malware authors tend to target the default software such as Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, that the majority of computer users don't bother to change.

Of course, with firewalls, the software firewall is very much your second line of defense (mostly for preventing unauthorised outbound connections) if you're using an always-on internet connection and don't have a hardware firewall (normally combined in a modem/router) then get one now.

Slainte

midders