Security Suites:
Today many vendors have complete security suites that offer pretty much everything, including Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Firewall, and even Anti-Phishing (Phishing is a very large subject that will be covered in detail in another article) protection. Personally I would recommend that unless you really know what you're doing, that this is the path you go. It makes updates easier, as well as gives you one point of contact for support if you should ever need it.
» Microsoft - I have already gone over their offering in the Anti-Virus section, so I will only say here that out of all the suites they have the weakest firewall. However, when you use them in combination with a hardware firewall you get a really good deal.
» ZoneAlarm - Zonelabs has been in the firewall business a long time, and several years ago they started bundling services. The Anti-Virus engine is from Kaspersky, and is used by many companies. While it's a good Anti-Virus software, it's not the best.
» McAfee - One of the best Anti-Virus software makers out there, so this suite is worth looking into. It also offers maintenance and other nice to have features. Like Microsoft, they also have a 3 license pack available, however it's about double the retail price of Microsoft's suite.
» Norton - Another big player on the market. They offer a lot of protection, and from a well known company. Based on their price, and from the reports I've seen on the Anti-Virus software, I would have to say look at one of the other vendors if you already don't have one of their products.
» Others - Yet again, a list too big to go over. From companies like CA, TrendMico, Panda, and many MANY others. Take a look at your favorite software retailer to find a selection of different options to find one that works best for you.
Conclusion:
By looking at all of this, it looks like trying to secure your computer, safeguard yourself, your family, and even the Internet in general, appears to be a daunting task; and unfortunately it is. However with a few simple steps you can make great strides in this task. If you simply install all the updates from your OS and Software vendors, and install some sort of security suite, you will be among the most secure on the Internet. It surprises me to this day how many people and companies don't take these basic steps.
If you feel like being a little more advanced, check in at least daily with the SANS ISC (Internet Security Center), and see what the latest exploit, virus, or other security issue is on the hot plate. This site is generally geared towards the Professional IT Security person, but still has a lot of useful information for the average computer user.
I hope you enjoyed "Battlefield Home - Network Security" and learned a few things while reading it. As always, please feel free to stop by our forums for some general chat or advice on anything computer related; be it general trouble shooting, advice on building a new computer, network help, or security questions. Our staff, and user base will be happy to do their best in helping you out.
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to post any comments or questions.
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