For you techies...firewall & anti virus recommendations?

[dylanfan53]

I just finished repairing sceen and reformatting (XP) a notebook for my kid.  I need to download a firewall and antivirus.  I've had snortin' Norton and won't go that route again.

Any recommendations?  AGV, Zone alarm, etc.?
TIA


BTW, this is the kid who shot 71 yesterday in a qualifying tournament, beating many full ride NCAA scholarship golfers to earn an invitation to play in the Western Am in Michigan this week.  150 of the best amateurs in the country.  Former winners include Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson...(insert happy, mostly relieved father blathering on here)...   

[Scotty Ryan]

I don't know the first thing about software - but congrats on the golfing!!!

[spyderchick]

AVG by grisoft is what I've used for years for antivirus. The firewall I'm currently using is Comodo, also freeware for personal use. I used to use Zone Alarm, but they're not as hardy as they used to be.

Also, look for a good handful of anti spyware apps, there are many free ones out there. You need to run more than one because no single anti spyware catches all of that crap.

AVG also makes a free anti rootkit. You don't even need to know what a rootkit is, just know that they are bad.

Have fun!

[H-man]

S'up all my CCS peeps 

Don, this is the one you want.  Trust ole H. on this 

Comodo's stuff is FREE.  And works very well.  A little too well sometimes.  I'm frequently changing/revising parameters for the firewall. 

I think the virus software is working.  I receive automatic updates but I've never uncovered any thing during my sweeps.  Unlike Spybot (spyware that you definitely should have) which uncovers stuff every time I run it.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Avast and an older version of Zone Alarm (5.5).

[dylanfan53]

Thanks for the congrats and responses guys!  I'll take your advice on AGV and Comodo.

[H-man]

Hmmm... that hyperlink to Comodo sure is subtle.  Place your cursor over "this is the one you want."

[Mongo]

Been playing with Avast the last few weeks, really like it so far.