Anti-Virus

There are lots of anti-virus programs out there. I use Grisoft AVG. It is extremely reliable and it’s free! They also have a terrific rootkit detector at the same site.

I haven’t used any other anti-virus but AVG for the last seven years. I am aware that there are others out there (Avast, for one), but I’ve been so happy with AVG that I haven’t shopped around!

Firewalls

Every computer needs a good firewall. A few years ago, there used to be a few really good performance firewalls that were free. They seem harder to come by.

I used to use ZoneAlarm (and one computer still has it). The program worked so well for a few years, then they were bought out by a big software group in Israel. ZoneAlarm went through some changes, and I found that the performance went downhill. My computers crashed constantly, and frequently the firewall wouldn’t even start up, and I had to reboot. It was more trouble than it was worth. So I started shopping around.

I went to Sunbelt Kerio next. This firewall was OK. It worked for me for a while, but then suddenly got sluggish and kept crashing on the computers where I had it installed. Maybe an updat problem? Well, after countless hours tinkering and never able to solve the problem, I moved on to another firewall. [If you download Kerio, they give you the "pro" paid version for the first 30 days, then the program reverts to a basic free version. Firewall protection for both pro and free are the same.]

I am presently using Comodo on two computers. It seems to be working OK. It also does not hog my systems’ resources, which is a real plus for me. I’d hesitated using it, because I’d heard that it was very difficult to install and use. I haven’t found it any harder than the others (Kerio was the easiest, I thought), although there is a “learning curve” as there is with any big program. At any rate, I am satisfied with Comodo so far, although I have been keeping a list of second choices in case this one fails. So far, so good.

Outpost Agnitum is another free firewall that I have heard good reviews from. I’ve looked into Jetico because I heard good things about that, too, but have not tried it.

Free Browsers

There are some good browsers out there. I think I have tried most of them (and uninstalled a good 90%) of them. But no longer are we at the unilateral whim of Internet Explorer’s latest version. Here are the browsers I use.

Firefox. This is a Mozilla product. My favorite browser! They also have some outstanding add-ons that I love. Here’s a quick list of the best add-ons:

• Ad-Block: The best ad-blocker around. The only stipulation is that you must first view an ad and tell the blocker to block it (right-click and choose “ad block.”) There is also Ad-Block Plus pre-loaded filters with the most common ads automatically blocked; these filters need frequent updates. I use both add-ons, and therefore I see very few ads. The Element Hiding Helper is also handy for blocking pictures or text that you would rather not see.
• Groowe Search Toolbar: In my opinion, the best toolbar ever invented. Groowe has all sorts of various search engines in one convenient toolbar, and the toolbar is completely customizable. Groowe also searches TigerDirect, Dictionary.com, YouTube, Amazon, etc.
• Add Bookmark Here: This is an easier way to bookmark your favorite sites. I like it because I don’t have to go sifting through my bookmarked folders every time I want to bookmark something new. A real time-saver.
• Download Statusbar: This is a status-bar program. Your downloads are viewable in a small spot in your statusbar, rather than loaded into a separate window. It is fully customizable (colors, and all) and extremely convenient.
• There are close to a million more add-ons for Firefox– too many, really! Installing too many add-ons makes Firefox slower, so stick with the basics or things that you really need.

Opera. I use Opera when in a pinch or when I want something different. It has a techno feel to it. It is a bit bulky, has too many options to do one thing (in my opinion), but its fast. I love their “speed dial” which makes surfing to favorite websites a complete breeze.

The World. It is a strange name for a browser, but I do use it from time to time. It is an Internet Explorer “shell”; that is, The World is a coat covering an Internet Explorer body. I will use anything to avoid using IE, especially IE7. This works pretty well.

Browsers that got Thumbs Down: Internet Explorer (buggy, slow, bulky, and doesn’t block ads), Safari (too buggy), Netscape (awkward), and SlimBrowser (just another lame IE shell).