Comments on: Give your overzealous security software the boot

When your antivirus, spyware stopper, or firewall keeps you from getting your work done, find an alternative.

[clagan]

Yes I have had all the problems you mentioned but also with Comodo. The documentation is not clear enough. I was unable to update my website, scan my photos etc after I installed it. I finally resolved all the problems, but I could have done without them in the first place. To use your example above... just how many users would know what the hell 'Allow outgoing FTP-PASV requests means'. Keep it simple, it's better that way. By the way I spent my life designing software.
Gerry

[doodler2]

You are absolutely 100% correct. I'm an "average" pc user and lived for a month with Comodo Firewall Pro. The horrors of that nightmare, including the computer surgery it took to get that monster off my system, are documented in my comments elsewhere in CNET.

[wirickal]

I just tried this program and it found all sorts of "viruses" unfortunately there are no viruses in these programs I know they are all old dos configuration files and unable to support a "worm.LJacker.win9x.........." this program is typical fare of the garbage scare ware out there pretending to be security software. Don't use it don't pay for it and by the way try to google that LJacker .4352 typical scareware.

[john55440]

"I'm happy with the Norton 360."

I'm happy with Norton Internet Security 2008. In it's default mode, it's a nonchatty program that just does it's thing in the background, but is highly configurable if you want to make adjustments. As for performance, I use it on my 2002 computer with only 512MB of memory, and have no complaints.

[ejevo]

It sounds like ZA was broke, rather than being overzealous. As others have said here, there are many different security products that have their own little foibles. Rather than indict ZA, I think you found out it is an only mildly great product, rather than a spotlessly great product.

I personally have used eEye's Blink Personal for AV, Spyware, & FW duty, although it isn't the most user-friendly item to configure. But it's free for a year, and free is usually good.

I've also used McAfee's Internet Security Suite and Trend Micro's Internet Security. Both are good products, but suffer from some minor (depending on your need) issues. McAfee's product liked to lose it's authentication for updates on occasion, and Trend Micro's technical support was MIA when emailed.

[ScotJP]

I found Norton 360 to be a resource hog and the backup feature buggy and slow. I've since installed Kaspersky 7 on two machines and it works great.

[Woodmon]

It would be good when referring to specific security utilities, or applications of any kind, that you would provide the specific application version number or the version of Windows operating system.

And it was stated "suppose I could try to figure out why ZoneAlarm all of a sudden threw a monkey wrench into my server access, but it's quicker and simpler to rely on another free firewall".

So is this what you recommend, when you have an issue with any application, rather than trying to resolve it, instead just toss it?

If you are married I hope your wife does not read your column.

Wow! If I did what you do I would end up with zero applications and no operating system installed on my PC. Actually I would have no PC. Nor an automobile or a home.

So you still have no clue on what was causing your connectivity issue and refused to research your issue? And when you come across a problem with Comodo Firewall will you just toss that too?

You've been dwelling in your cubicle for far too long.

[Jonathan Rothman]

I usually don't respond to either the articles or comments posted here, but I feel compelled to relate my own experience with "Comodo" firewall. I installed it a number of months ago and, at first, it seemed ok. Then one day, for no apparent reason, it completely "froze" my computer!!! I was totally unable to resolve the problem, other than to UNinstall it!! By then, ZoneAlarm issued a version compatible with Vista and I've been using it ever since. I've had NO problems with ZoneAlarm -- it does exactly what it's supposed to do and does it extemely well! "Comodo"? No thanks; I'll stick with a proven tool like ZoneAlarm

[beachcomber2]

I've used freeware products for some time, refusing to pay ridiculous amounts of money for ineffective, resource hungry, and too often "pushy" programs. As with most of the pay-for programs, as soon as companies lump together suites including anti-virus, anti-malware, and firewall products, the software becomes bloated and the aforementioned weaknesses appear. If you can find separate modules that work together without conflict, the result tends to be a machine that runs smoothly, without crashes, freezes, and inefficient performance. The "one button fixes everything" doesn't generally work with computers any more than any other electronics. Take some time to research, pick user recommended products, and forgoe the instant gratification syndrome of one click security. And, free can do all of that for you too!