# Computer security **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 16, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917 "2011-08-16T16:27:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eddiec3434](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cab0a1/32.png) [@eddiec3434](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eddiec3434)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917/1 "2011-08-16T16:27:42Z")
What are the best options out there for computer security? Does “Kaspersky” sound familiar? Please help the new guy with this problem. I’ve downloaded “Microsoft Essentials” for security for now. Who’s got the best security system? ---
**Author:** ![Bisected8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a4c791/32.png) [@Bisected8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bisected8)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917/2 "2011-08-16T16:57:25Z")
It depends on what you want to do. If you’re just trying to protect a normal home computer from viruses and the like then just get yourself some anti-virus software and you’re set. I use Avast personally, but there are others; [http://www.avast.com/](http://www.avast.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917/3 "2011-08-16T16:58:26Z")
There probably won’t be a factual answer as to which is the “best” but for Windows, Kapersky is very good, as is Avast (which is free for home use). ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917/4 "2011-08-16T17:55:29Z")
> [@Bisected8](#): > > It depends on what you want to do. > > If you’re just trying to protect a normal home computer from viruses and the like then just get yourself some anti-virus software and you’re set. > > I use Avast personally, but there are others; [http://www.avast.com/](http://www.avast.com/) I agree about Avast. I have been using it for years and put it on many of friends computers. I frankly don’t know how well it does at removing viruses, because installing Avast is one of the first things I do on a new computer. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917/5 "2011-08-16T19:06:02Z")
> [@eddiec3434](#): > > What are the best options out there for computer security? … Who’s got the best security system? Probably [OpenBSD](http://www.openbsd.org/security.html). ---
**Author:** ![MobiusStripes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@MobiusStripes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MobiusStripes)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917/6 "2011-08-16T19:22:31Z")
The best security is a cautious human. Humans are almost always the weak link in any security setup. Beyond that, I’m a believer in “defense in depth”. There isn’t one security system. There are layers of them (starting with me, the fleshy human). ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917/7 "2011-08-16T20:15:34Z")
On my home computer, Windows XP, I’ve used the builtin firewall and AVG free anti-virus for ten years (I think should be) and never had a security related problem. Since it works, is simple, and free, it’s the “best” solution IMHO. – The most important thing though is what \*\*MobiusStripes \*\*says. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917/8 "2011-08-16T20:42:11Z")
Microsoft Security Essentials has had good reviews from several places. It is free. Some of the others have a free version and a pro version. MSE is entirely free. It is what I use. MSE updates its definitions several times a day, and after each update, it performs a quick scan. I also use Superantispyware, Spyware Blaster, Malwarebytes, and Spybot Search & Destroy. A little overkill as far as spyware and malware. The experts in a newsgroup I’ve subscribed to ([news.annexcafe.com](http://news.annexcafe.com)) recommend MSE, Superantispyware, and malwarebytes. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917/9 "2011-08-17T17:59:24Z")
Any of the above-mentioned anti-virus are good. The trouble is all of them are playing a catch-up game with malware authors. I think a better strategy is to combat malware behavior rather than specific malware. Most malware I see now seems to come in through the web browser via malicious Javascript or Flash in ad banners. All browsers can be vulnerable, IE, Opera, Chrome, Firefox. For better browser security I would suggest software like [Sandboxie](http://sandboxie.com/). It runs your web browser inside a virtual “sandbox” so that any files the browser tries to save or changes the browser tries to make to your computer only happens inside the virtual sandbox and no changes are made to your system. The downside is if you download files through your browser, they will also be trapped in the sandbox. You will need to move those files out of the sandbox yourself. Small price to pay for safety IMO. Also in Firefox you can also run AdBlock to block ad banners and NoScript which blocks Javascript and Flash unless you allow it. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917/10 "2011-08-17T18:23:40Z")
> [@MobiusStripes](#): > > The best security is a cautious human. Humans are almost always the weak link in any security setup. Beyond that, I’m a believer in “defense in depth”. There isn’t one security system. There are layers of them (starting with me, the fleshy human). Absolutely! I think the major security software packages are fairly similar, though with differing levels of cost and intrusiveness. Kaspersky is fine. I admit to a bias against Norton products, but I think they probably protect your computer adequately. There are also some fine shareware/freeware products available as well. However, practicing appropriate internet _hygiene_, if you will, is the most important aspect of computer security. You might also check with your internet service provider. Mine offers free antivirus and firewall software to its customers as well as advice on avoiding all of the nasties infesting our digital neighborhoods. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917/11 "2011-08-17T20:03:19Z")
[F-Secure](http://www.f-secure.com/en_US/) used to be my favorite back in the days of DOS, when they were free for home users. The Windows version is no longer free, but they are still very good, and “try before you buy”, so it won’t cost you anything for the first month. The free-for-home-use one I currently use is [AVG.](http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage) I’ve also found them to be good. I’ve never tried their Pro edition, which costs money. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-security/592917/12 "2011-08-18T03:33:58Z")
I was going to send you to [AV-test.org](http://AV-test.org), which had very good tests and actually showed which antivirus tested the best. But they’ve went and totally changed their layout, and now the chart seems to be gone. I do know that MSE and Avast both did not test well this year, although MSE was much better on Windows 7 than Windows XP. I also noticed that, for the first time in forever, Norton actually tested rather high–higher than all the free antiviruses on Windows 7, although, on Windows XP, Avira still beat it.