Battle Avast Free + Comodo Firewall (or) Avira Free + Comodo Firewall

[Sloth]

Hi all,

I'm totally rusted as I was out of the windows arena for the past 6.5 years.

I would like to use free security products at the moment. So as the title says, I would like to know if its better to go with

• Avast Free + Comodo Firewall
• Avira Free + Comodo Firewall

Please help me. Thanks.


PS: Here is my introduction thread if you are interested to read it.

 

[Andrew999]

I think Avira free plus Comodo Firewall

 

[Anupam]

My vote goes for

Avast Free + Comodo Firewall.

You can even try Comodo Internet Security instead.

 

[frogboy]

Avast Free + Comodo Firewall would be my choice from the above options.

 

[Sloth]

@Anupam & @frogboy Thanks. So Avast + Comodo it is.

Thank you very much.

 

[Sr. Normal]

My vote is for ... Panda + Comodo Firewall. My second option is Avira free + Comodo Firewall

 

[King Alpha]

Avast Free + Comodo Firewall would be my choice from the above options.

+1

I've used this combo in the past.

 

[Kate_L]

I'm using Avast Free (no hardened mode) and Windows Firewall + WinPrivacy.

PS: Next version of Avast will have HIPS

 

[Sloth]

@King Mellow @OpenSecLabs Great, thanks.

My vote is for ... Panda + Comodo Firewall. My second option is Avira free + Comodo Firewall

So why you don't recommend Avast? Any specific reasons or just a personal preference?

I have used Avast before but not Avira or Panda. From what I've read, it seems that Avira does not provide 0-day protection.

I can't just mess with the installation testing different AV as it will be used for some serious work.

 

[Tony Cole]

avast! is very good, my mate uses it on his XP system, why I'll never know, but he assures me he has come to know harm whilst using the net.

P.S. avast! has hardened mode, which stops everything. As you rightly say Avira has little, to no zero day protection.

 

[porkpiehat]

Panda + Comodo Firewall.

yep, that's what I'm using... no probs

 

[songoku316]

AVAST free + Comodo Firewall for me

 

[Sr. Normal]

@King Mellow @OpenSecLabs Great, thanks.



So why you don't recommend Avast? Any specific reasons or just a personal preference?
I have used Avast before but not Avira or Panda. From what I've read, it seems that Avira does not provide 0-day protection..

The truth is that Avast antivirus does not seem bad, but I think is not as good as it was.
3-4 years ago we would recommend in first or second place. Now I think there are better free alternatives, to me, like: Avira, BitDefender, Panda, Qihoo and Tencent (I've put them in alphabetical order, not by priority), here are some links so you can verify, from these testers, the place of each.

http://chart.av-comparatives.org/chart1.php

http://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/

https://threatcenter.crdf.fr/?Stats

 

[Kuttz]

Honestly avoid Avira Free. Avira Free is a weak single layer protection antivirus with just a file system realtime shield. Avast Free 2015 is currently the most feature packed antivirus you can use for free. I also recommends Panda Free 2015 which is also a top notch AV which has one of the best Zero day protection .

 

[Tony Cole]

To be 100% honest, I would choose none of the above - as one member states free is no good. Get a good quality security suite that does it all, not avast for this, then Comodo for that.

 

[Davidov]

ESEt antivirus + comdo firewall very slow system or bitdefender free + comodo firewall nice detection.

 

[jamescv7]

Avast Free = lots of features and even you may not receive a Deepscreen due to incompatible hardware virtualization support then Hardened mode is your another support. + With a fine tune Comdoo Firewall then everything is good to go.

If I'm not mistaken its untick by default so be sure to check that as its a vital protection


_____________________

Meanwhile Avira Free is purely an AV with their Cloud Protection as their backbone so better make Comodo Firewall configuration to be maximize on what areas are lack.

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Hello @Sloth. I wish I'd read this thread back in 2008, at a time Windows was left in favor of linux; but that would require getting into a time machine which would in turn mean all these trial and error experiences each of your friends & co-members here have brought with us might not have ever happened.., lol! The good news is that our time machines are in the shop being fixed!
I have used both Avira & Avast!, and my own personal choice between these (2) reputable (& free) alternatives, sorry @Sr. Normal, would be Avast!. Realize, as I say this, it is at risk of death by Sr. Normal's Mother-In-Law (Lol!) though we must surely guide you safely toward the proper 'boat' that shall hold back the waters better as you make your crossing with Windows over the River Styx!

..then again, I happen to have an Avira Pro Key if you're interested. I've not tested the Pro version, & have only read it has similar protection as their free. *Imagine Clint Eastwood's voice as Dirty Harry: "..go ahead. Do you feel lucky, Kid!!?"

Edit: *smiling* I know we'll be discussing the following points later (on your security configuration thread) but if you truly aren't feeling 'lucky' over zero-day exploits, whichever Av choice you make, here are (2) free options you might also consider adding for real "Magnum Force" protection:

1. https://www.malwarebytes.org/antiexploit/
   
2. http://www.sandboxie.com/index.php?DownloadSandboxie

 

[Sr. Normal]

Hello @Sloth.
I have used both Avira & Avast!, and my own personal choice between these (2) reputable (& free) alternatives, sorry @Sr. Normal, would be Avast!. Realize, as I say this, it is at risk of death by Sr. Normal's Mother-In-Law (Lol!) though we must surely guide you safely toward the proper 'boat' that shall hold back the waters better as you make your crossing with Windows over the River Styx!

LOL my friend ... but my avatar says it will fall fighting

Avira Pro has a great reputation

 

[Atlas147]

I would go avast free with comodo firewall, since I've used it in the past!

Avira taps on to enhance windows firewall so if you are using anything but the windows firewall, Avira would say that firewall protection is down and would ask you to fix it. Very irritating IMO.

Avira also is slightly more outdated in their UI whereas avast just recently updated it.

Avast also offers many more features than Avira like browser clean up, network security scan and outdated software scans. To me these seem like bulk but to you this may be something that you want to include in your overall protection?