Would like some input from the forum members on setting up a solid multi-layer security system, preferably made up of fee/low cost solutions, with avast! as the centerpiece.
Currently running on my WinXP SP2 machine:
avast!
Ad-Aware
Spybot Search & Destroy
Spyware Blaster
About to add Kerio Personal Firewall.
The machine is behind a router.
Does this seem like a fairly solid setup? Or too flimsy? Or overkill?
Thank you!
Jacob
Looks exactly like my own setup Jacob.I would recomend an alternate browser like Firefox Flock or Opera too.Should be fine as long as you keep all your programs updated, run regular scans and the most important thing is to use your head especially while surfing.Ohh and it wouldn’t hurt if you ran an online scan from time to time too. 
BTW Welcome to the forum!
Cheers
Mikey
I’ll just add full operational system updates, maybe a script blocker (or a browser extension), ewido (free) is a non-resident scanner for spyware and trojans (www.ewido.net).
Even behind a router, a firewall will be good 8)
Yes wabashjake,
And whenever you decide to occasionally run java on your XP machine, run Sun Java, the latest version. It is safer. I like your set up, but I would also like to include SSM, System safety Monitor (free and very good). So my multilayer security would be:
Antivirus Solution Avast, Anti-Ad- &Spyware Solution, the trio Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D, SpywareBlaster and the very fast Bazooka (also for their background site), Kerio personal Firewall seems a good Software Firewall Solution, behind a router is the good Hardware Packet Filter Solution, Alternate browser like Mickey’s proposal Flock, Opera or FF 1.5 or Seamonkey, in the browser Adblock and NoScript, Anti-Trojan Solution Ewido or A-squared, System Monitor Solution, I would choose the free System Safety Monitor. And that concludes Polonus’s multilayer safety suggestion, with this you really will have some rest, update and patch everything well, and run the machines for normal duty only with User Rights. Safe surfing with such a system is almost guaranteed,
polonus
I think it’s too much security programs doing the same: low level protection. SSM works good without other program that monitors injection (program being started by another one). SSM is for advanced users in my opinion. Could silent block things and avoid the normal working of the computer. Normal users won’t even know what is happening 
I agree with Tech SSM is only for advanced users and it has a tendency to suck up resources but if you are a little on the “paranoid” side and an advanced user you should definitely try it out. 
Otherwise your setup is good and like i said always keep your apps updated(especially windows) try to find a nice alternate browser(Opera is suppose to be the safest) and stay clear from porn and crack sites and you should be fine…
i think he don’t need SSM / Protect Guard if he going to buy and use Kerio PF …
best to get this new Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall (cost only 15 USD) with HIPS support
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Kerio.cfm
as SSM is for very advanced users
and Protect Guard is blacklisted by PunkBuster (it’s possible to obey it but it’s bit complicated)
so if You are gamer PG is like dead for You …
Well If we are talking about multiple residents listen to this:
[]Avast Pro
[]Ewido Guard
[]Ms AntiSpyware RealTime Agents (Except the Startup Files & Startup Registry Files Monitor)
[]Spyware Guard
[*]Zone Alarm Pro
No problems whatsoever!
I began with only Zone Alarm and an antivirus resident. I had no problems so I added up a Trojan resident. Still no sign of low memory usage and lag of system performance. Added two spyware guards.
I must tell you that I’m on 512MB.
P.S. Also, I have World Community Grid program (Voluntary science community research) running non stop at low priority and I have no problems opening larger applications (up to 40MB each in active mem)
Well, it is no Carl Luis but this is pretty god, don’t you think?
My Windows XP Pro SP1 machine:
Opera 9 TP 1
Avast Home 4.6.744
Zonealarm 4.5.538.001
Spybot 1.4
Microsoft antispyware Beta 1
I’m fine with this protection
SpywareGuard hasn’t had any developement for a considerable time, a year or more I think, I took it off my system after it stoped geting regular updates. A security program without updates is an out of date program and we all know what that means, a false sense of security and potential weakness.
SpywareGuard realy had no updates since year and a half I belive.
Programers at the Javacool Software swear that often updates are not important for SpywareGuard heuristics engine.
At their forum the daily basis question from their users is why are there no new updates?
Of course heuristics is also important to update, maybe not often as
malware signatures, but it needs new detection algorythms.
SpywareGuard has not protected me much since I installed it. But don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about malware passing trough. I’m talking about the rare cases of spyware infections. Anyway, since my MS Antispyware is doing all the work, I will soon uninstall the Guard
I will just list the rest of my protection, which is all non-resident:
[]Bit Defender Free
[]a Squared Free
[]Spybot S&D
[]AdAware SE Personal
[]TrendMicro AntiSpyware Web Scanner
[]Rootkit Revealer
[]F-Secure’s Black Light
[]Spyware Blaster
[*]Occasionally I’m experimenting with different new products
Note that I haven’t had any serious infection. Also my surfing habbits are very strict. Never visit suspicious links and sites. Scanning every downloaded file with multiple scanners…
As I mentioned in another thread, IF you have Spybot AND
SpywareBlaster, it has been reported by a few Users that
after a Spybot Update, some items in SpywareBlaster’s
“Protection” will become “unenabled” and will need to be
“reenabled” . Have seen nothing on the Spybot forums
under what circumstances this happens .
Really?Strange it never happened to me and i’ve been using both programs for quite some time now.Can you please give a link so we can read more about it?Thanks!
P.S: A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!!!
Greets from Slovenia,
Mikey
simliar problem seen when installling IE-Spyads, its best to use one program to add restricted sites (or activeX block lists etc):
“Here’s what’s happening: as of this writing, there are a few problems with invalid entries or outdated items in the Restricted sites lists used by Spybot and SpywareBlaster. Those invalid and outdated entries are removed during the installation of IE-SPYAD and not replaced. Spybot and SpywareBlaster will report that these invalid or outdated “items” or protections have been disabled.”
Hannu … you really should update to SP2 as the early problems with it have been solved. I have had no problem with SP2 since installing XP SP2 on this new computer 3 months ago. Then you will be even more secure!
ReVaN & other Interested Persons :
In regards to Spybot Updates, at times, "disabling" some
items in SpywareBlaster, I got the following from one of
their Advisor Team Members on 10-29-05 :
"If you do a Spybot > Immunize > “Undo” followed by an “immunize” there are 12 restricted zone entries that show up as unprotected in SpywareBlaster. This is because Spybot adds the sites to the restricted zone at a different level than SpywareBlaster does. I published the actual entries at one time in the net-integration.net forums, but I don’t remember what they are.
If you use multiple products that add entries to the registry for sypware protection and undo or disable the protection in one product, it may remove some of the protection installed by the other. You should re-immunize or re-enable the protection in the other products as appropriate. __________________ "
Haha you’re right!I just tried it out and it’s exactly like you said.Well thanks for the info!
Cheers
Mikey
Absolutely correct Stevejrc. I use Ie-spyad but I disable the Restricted Sites Protection In SpywareBlaster
(0nly use active-X and cookie blockers) and I don’t Immunize using my Spybot and its smooth sailing.
BTW to all…At last update ,Ie-spyad just passed the 16000 mark in Restricted Sites ,almost 4 times more then SpywareBlaster. Good Stuff!
Maybe… But I have only 2,72GB free space on my C drive (C drive is 9GB big). Microsoft recommends (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sysreqs.mspx) that SP2 needs about 2GB free space on hard drive during installation process… Would it slow down computer if there is not enough free space on C drive?