I use specific tools for specific jobs on my network at home.
Firewall: Zone Alarm Pro
Anti-Virus: Bit Defender Anti-virus 2008
Spyware: Spyware Doctor 5.5
My feeling on suites like Symantec (Norton), Network Associates (McAfee), System Suite (V-tech) is that they all have their good points, but, the problem is that as catch-all programs they fall woefully short of the mark. Norton is so ubiquitous in it's installation that it steps on other programs and causes mayhem in other areas. The interface is grotesque, the suite itself can slow your computer to a crawl, its feature set doesn't integrate well, and Symantec is once again offering fee-based services under the guise of technical support. McAfee has a smaller footprint but is still lacking in several areas Internet Security 2008 offers security updates only once a day, independent test scores (catching new viruses in the wild) could be higher, no tutorial or manual, and they charge for telephone tech support.
Anyhow, as stated above I use a set of different apps aimed at specific duties and they work very well. I had to strip down a laptop to get the stinking bug on our main page to drop onto it. When it did my apps running in passive mode went after it like rabid piranhas.
YMMV,
Cheers,
Oskaar
Firewall: Zone Alarm Pro
Anti-Virus: Bit Defender Anti-virus 2008
Spyware: Spyware Doctor 5.5
My feeling on suites like Symantec (Norton), Network Associates (McAfee), System Suite (V-tech) is that they all have their good points, but, the problem is that as catch-all programs they fall woefully short of the mark. Norton is so ubiquitous in it's installation that it steps on other programs and causes mayhem in other areas. The interface is grotesque, the suite itself can slow your computer to a crawl, its feature set doesn't integrate well, and Symantec is once again offering fee-based services under the guise of technical support. McAfee has a smaller footprint but is still lacking in several areas Internet Security 2008 offers security updates only once a day, independent test scores (catching new viruses in the wild) could be higher, no tutorial or manual, and they charge for telephone tech support.
Anyhow, as stated above I use a set of different apps aimed at specific duties and they work very well. I had to strip down a laptop to get the stinking bug on our main page to drop onto it. When it did my apps running in passive mode went after it like rabid piranhas.
YMMV,
Cheers,
Oskaar
