Confused about buying security software? Don't know whether to go for an integrated suite or separate firewall, antivirus, antispyware? Check out the new Free Security Software list at SpywareHammer.
OK, it's free so what's the catch?
Simply put, there isn't one. Many of the applications listed are designed to encourage the user to upgrade to the paid-for version. Having said that, everything in the list works well and often outperforms a commercial equivalent - I personally have the free versions of Antivir, Comodo and AVG (amongst others) on my systems. If I didn't trust them, I wouldn't use them.
One word of warning - some of these apps try to install the Ask! toolbar, Yahoo! toolbar or similar. (The ones concerned are highlighted in the list). Please remember to uncheck the option when asked during the installation process - you don't need them.
This list has been compiled by 1972vet - many thanks!
So, what are you waiting for? There's no excuse for running an unprotected system!
Saturday 28 February 2009
Sunday 22 February 2009
A Worrying Trend
Today I installed a free firewall on my Windows 7 Beta test machine. I have used Zone Alarm (both free and paid-for) for some years, but this didn't want to play with Win7. So I looked for another offering to kill two birds with one stone - test Win7 and test a new (to me) firewall. I settled on Comodo to supply my needs. Installation went smoothly and quickly. No, I didn't want the Internet Security features installing. Yes, I wanted the firewall. A few seconds later the installation was complete. Great!
But hold on, what's this? Do I want to install the Comodo Safe Search Toolbar, powered by Ask? No I don't. If I wanted a toolbar I would download one of my own choosing. So why is Comodo including this in their otherwise excellent piece of software? More to the point, why is the option to install the toolbar checked by default?
Obviously it all comes down to money. Install the toolbar and Ask will pay Comodo. Then Ask will get revenue from the sponsored links program. A win-win situation? Not at all, it's a win-win-lose situation, the loser being the user who inadvertently (or through inexperience) accepts the toolbar during installation. Whether the toolbar is good or bad is not the point, it's the principle of foisting anything unrelated to the software package on the user. If this sort of 'addon' is to be included in the package then at least have the decency to leave the default setting to 'opt out'.
It has come to my notice that other packages have adopted this ploy of including a toolbar in a package that should be dedicated to one purpose only, whether that be antivirus, firewall protection, cleaning or whatever. Others who include the Ask! toolbar include Symantec, AVG Free and Zone Alarm Free, while CCleaner includes the Yahoo! toolbar. This saddens me, not least because the free offerings from these companies are meant to provide a trusted service to users whilst encouraging them to upgrade to the paid version. Including a toolbar would only serve to encourage me not to upgrade.
Bill Pytlovany of WinPatrol fame has restored my faith in this respect by his blog on this subject when asked to include other 'features' in his own software:
"This may not be the best business decision I’ve ever made but I can live with myself."
As you say, Bill, it may not be the best business decision financially but your supporters and users respect you for it. Kudos, my friend!
But hold on, what's this? Do I want to install the Comodo Safe Search Toolbar, powered by Ask? No I don't. If I wanted a toolbar I would download one of my own choosing. So why is Comodo including this in their otherwise excellent piece of software? More to the point, why is the option to install the toolbar checked by default?
Obviously it all comes down to money. Install the toolbar and Ask will pay Comodo. Then Ask will get revenue from the sponsored links program. A win-win situation? Not at all, it's a win-win-lose situation, the loser being the user who inadvertently (or through inexperience) accepts the toolbar during installation. Whether the toolbar is good or bad is not the point, it's the principle of foisting anything unrelated to the software package on the user. If this sort of 'addon' is to be included in the package then at least have the decency to leave the default setting to 'opt out'.
It has come to my notice that other packages have adopted this ploy of including a toolbar in a package that should be dedicated to one purpose only, whether that be antivirus, firewall protection, cleaning or whatever. Others who include the Ask! toolbar include Symantec, AVG Free and Zone Alarm Free, while CCleaner includes the Yahoo! toolbar. This saddens me, not least because the free offerings from these companies are meant to provide a trusted service to users whilst encouraging them to upgrade to the paid version. Including a toolbar would only serve to encourage me not to upgrade.
Bill Pytlovany of WinPatrol fame has restored my faith in this respect by his blog on this subject when asked to include other 'features' in his own software:
"This may not be the best business decision I’ve ever made but I can live with myself."
As you say, Bill, it may not be the best business decision financially but your supporters and users respect you for it. Kudos, my friend!
Tuesday 10 February 2009
Symantec and Ask.com
Symantec, publishers of the Norton range of computer security products, have teamed up with Ask.com. The installation of Norton products now pressurises the user to install the Ask toolbar.
My view is that whether or not the toolbar is a good thing, anything additional to the core functioning of a software package should be on a strictly 'opt-in' basis. I run Mozilla Firefox with the McAfee Site Advisor extension. I have chosen to do this. Pre-empting a user's choice through implementing an 'acceptance by default' policy (or worse, forcing the issue by providing no choice) is an infringement on that user's rights.
Read more here
My view is that whether or not the toolbar is a good thing, anything additional to the core functioning of a software package should be on a strictly 'opt-in' basis. I run Mozilla Firefox with the McAfee Site Advisor extension. I have chosen to do this. Pre-empting a user's choice through implementing an 'acceptance by default' policy (or worse, forcing the issue by providing no choice) is an infringement on that user's rights.
Read more here
Saturday 7 February 2009
Windows 7 Beta - Part 2
So I've been struggling with networking Win7 since mid January. Either the network adaptor was not recognised or else a valid IP or DNS server was not available. I altered every setting I could find, tried automatic settings, even swore at it. No go. And each time I altered something Windows asked me if I wanted to submit a report. Well, yes - I'd love to but ...
This morning, on a whim, I bought a cheap NIC. Fitted it this afternoon, disabled the onboard LAN (an old Asrock mobo), booted up and got straight onto the net and instant access to my home network. Unbelievable!
This morning, on a whim, I bought a cheap NIC. Fitted it this afternoon, disabled the onboard LAN (an old Asrock mobo), booted up and got straight onto the net and instant access to my home network. Unbelievable!
What's in the Box?
OK, so you need to start afresh with a reformat and reinstall. Maybe you got a stubborn rootkit, your hard drive failed, you want to install a new version of Windows. Whatever the reason, you've got all your data backed up and you're ready to roll.
Or are you? You know all your passwords? Got all the hardware drivers? If you are a computer 'tinkerer', do you know the model of that NIC you picked up at the computer fair last year? Sure you can get the tools out, open the case and check (for the hardware, at least) but why not make things easy with a little preparation?
One of my favourite applications is Belarc Advisor - run this one now and save (or print out) the report. You get details of hardware, attached peripherals, memory configuration, Windows updates, software keys - in fact nearly everything you wish you had checked before you reformatted.
In say nearly everything because there are some software keys Belarc does not, for some reason, pick up. So I recently found another utilility - SIW (System Info for Windows) - that may extract a few more keys. It also provides more technical information on your hardware, peripherals and network. Again, I recommend you save or print the reports from this application before the 'I wish ...' stage.
Both these utilities are free. Both will prove their worth the next time you have a major problem.
So what are you waiting for?!!
Or are you? You know all your passwords? Got all the hardware drivers? If you are a computer 'tinkerer', do you know the model of that NIC you picked up at the computer fair last year? Sure you can get the tools out, open the case and check (for the hardware, at least) but why not make things easy with a little preparation?
One of my favourite applications is Belarc Advisor - run this one now and save (or print out) the report. You get details of hardware, attached peripherals, memory configuration, Windows updates, software keys - in fact nearly everything you wish you had checked before you reformatted.
In say nearly everything because there are some software keys Belarc does not, for some reason, pick up. So I recently found another utilility - SIW (System Info for Windows) - that may extract a few more keys. It also provides more technical information on your hardware, peripherals and network. Again, I recommend you save or print the reports from this application before the 'I wish ...' stage.
Both these utilities are free. Both will prove their worth the next time you have a major problem.
So what are you waiting for?!!
Sunday 1 February 2009
Invaluable Windows Utility - ERUNT
ERUNT registry backup (Free utility)
ERUNT - Emergency Recovery Utility NT - is one of those indispensable tools you wish you had used just after your computer crashes. It is basically a Windows registry backup and restore tool, easy to use and quick to do the job. The backups are stored as hives, so it is easy to restore just a single hive if desired.
Run ERUNT to back up the registry, run ERDNT to restore a backup (from the Recovery Console if need be). ERUNT can also be configured to run automatically on boot to make sure that vital registry copy is always available.
ERUNT - Emergency Recovery Utility NT - is one of those indispensable tools you wish you had used just after your computer crashes. It is basically a Windows registry backup and restore tool, easy to use and quick to do the job. The backups are stored as hives, so it is easy to restore just a single hive if desired.
Run ERUNT to back up the registry, run ERDNT to restore a backup (from the Recovery Console if need be). ERUNT can also be configured to run automatically on boot to make sure that vital registry copy is always available.
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