Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
January 15, 2006

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Volume 1, Number 31 — Sunday, January 15, 2006

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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6.  My Computer Security Software Recommendations

Philosophy: -- Many people want to pick their most economical solution and prefer an all-in-one anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall solution. In concept, that's a great idea. In actual practice, these can't be the best in all the protection types.

Other people want to pick the best of each type program. I'm one of the latter.

So, below are my recommendations for the combination packages, for those who want the all-in-one solution, and the individual products for people who want individual programs that each focus on one duty.

Antivirus:
For your anti-virus needs (and, yes, you do have anti-virus needs!) I recommend anti-virus software from Trend Micro or Panda Software. Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2006 offers anti-virus, anti-spam, and firewall for your PC and PDA. TrendMicro provides an easy-to-use product that is from one of the big names in the anti-virus world. Alternatively, Panda Software's Platinum 2006 Internet Security offers anti-virus, anti-spam, firewall and more. My personal choice is the ESET’s small, fast NOD32 Anti-threat System, which offeres a FREE 30-day evaluation license. Read more about anti-virus programs on my web site.

Firewall:
If you get either of the above, you are covered from a firewall point of view. Just don't count on the Windows firewall to provide your needs — it's better than nothing, but you need better than that. If you don't get either of the above, ZoneAlarm Pro or the ZoneAlarm free firewall are my recommendations. ZoneAlarm is my choice for a firewall. Read more about firewalls in The Internet Versus You.

Anti-Spyware / Anti-Adware:
CounterSpy, from Sunbelt Software, is getting the kudos from the computer press this year for its always-running and periodic full system scans. I use CounterSpy on my notebook, my wife's computer and my son's computer. I highly recommend this program.

Panda Software's Platinum 2006 Internet Security also includes anti-spyware. Anti-spyware is one situation where more than one scanner actually is better. Only let one program do the real-time, always running protection, but periodic scans with two different programs are a better solution to adware & spyware than only one scanner. No one anti-spyware program catches everything. Also, different companies differ in their criteria for classifying programs as adware and/or spyware.

Anti-spam:
In today's Internet world, the question is not "if" you will get spam, but when and how much. I recommend Mailwasher Pro, or the free version of Mailwasher (www.mailwasher.net) to handle spam before it ever gets into your computer's Inbox. Mailwasher Pro uses online Realtime Black Lists mail servers sending spam recently, "training" by you of what you think is spam, and your own "friends" and "blacklist" lists. Mailwasher Pro can even bounce spam messages, as if your email address was not valid, although the usefulness and appropriateness of this is questionable. The free version can do many of the same things. Mailwasher Pro also has "learning filters," can handle multiple email accounts, can access the Realtime Black Lists, has technical support, accesses the "FirstAlert! global spam database," and can access IMAP, Hotmail, MSN and AOL email accounts. PopFile (www.popfile.org) uses a different approach to spam — it does nothing to reduce spam but does a good job, after training, of identifying and segregating spam. PopFile, in my opinion, is not a good choice unless you are an advanced PC user.

Cable/DSL Router:
If you have a cable modem or a DSL modem, you need to have another layer of inexpensive protection between you and the Internet. A cable/DSL router isolates your computer from direct connection to the Internet. Your computer can easily request your email, web pages, etc. through the router. The responses come back to the router and are smoothly routed to your computer. But, someone on the Internet side of the router can not initiate a connection to your computer — they can only respond to your request.

This will prevent you from falling prey to many worms that try to attack security holes in Windows itself. My pick is the Linksys WRT54G 802.11g wireless router, available from Amazon.com for $44.99 after rebate, and it is eligible for free "SuperSaver" shipping, too. If you don't want wireless now, or at any time, the function is easily turned off in the router's menu. You may be able to find a wired (that is, non-wireless) Linksys router on sale. Either way, based on my experience, I recommend Linksys routers. Read more on my Wireless Security web page.

Note: Many of the above links are affiliate links. If you choose to buy these products, please buy them via my affilate links to help support my Terry's Computer Tips newsletter and web site.

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7.  WinZip — and FilZip

Reader Harold wrote to ask:

I have been trying to find subject ["winzip 9.0 SR-1" -- Terry]. I have a registered 9.0 versionbut never got SR-1. Everywhere I go leads back to Winzip.com and version 10. Do you know where I might find SR-1?

Here you go, Harold: http://www.winzip.com/wz90sr1.htm

I did a Google search for "winzip 9.0 SR-1" — Google then suggested "winzip 9.0 SR1" which turned up a bunch of links.

That page links to the "upgrade to v10" page, but at the bottom, it says:

Note: if you are a registered user of a previous version of WinZip and install WinZip 10.0, WinZip 10.0 will not be a registered version. If you have a single-user license with a registration key of a previous version of WinZip and you want to try the evaluation version of WinZip 10.0, you do not need to uninstall your prior, registered version of WinZip. You can install this version of WinZip to the same location as a previously installed copy of WinZip. If after trying WinZip 10.0 you prefer not to upgrade to this latest version, you can continue to use WinZip 9.0 SR-1 by simply reinstalling it (you can download the distribution file of WinZip 9.0 SR-1 from here. If you have a multi-user license and you wish to try WinZip 10.0, make sure you save a backup copy of your current WinZip before installing WinZip 10.0, so you can go back to your previous registered version of WinZip, if you so desire.

Personally, I don't use WinZip, but not because of any problems with the software. The built-in zip file creator and zip file opener in Windows XP handles all the functions I need.

Before Windows XP, I used various freeware zip and unzip programs. I do use one program that can handle zip files among a lot of other file formats. It's called FilZip, and it is freeware. It was my Freeware Pick of the Week in my August 15th issue. Filzip handles a huge number of different types of compressed files.

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8.  Recommend my Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends

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Don't forget — the email newsletter has special Just For Subscribers articles that are available only in the email version. I also send occasional Special Edition Newsletters, too.

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The current issue and the newletter archives are available online at http://www.terryscomputertips.com/archives/, and, of course, via a link from the navigation bar on each Terry's Computer Tips web page.

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9.  Send me some email!

I always have time to read emails from you — the readers of Terry's Computer Tips.  I can not promise a personalized response, but I reply to many of the questions, tips, comments and feedback emails.  I also may use your email in my newsletter!

Send me your comments, send me your tips, send me your questions, and send me your feedback!

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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Volume 1, Number 31 — Sunday, January 15, 2006
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Copyright © 2006 Terry A. Stockdale.  All rights reserved.