Which paid version prefer: AVG or ZA?

I bought a used Compaq running Win7 and am thinking about buying a firewall/av. In the past I used to use the free versions of (at different times) Zone Alarm & AVG. Been using a Mac for a few years so haven't kept up with things like that.

If you were going to actually purchase a full-scale package (not just use the freebies), which would you prefer between the two of those and why?

Or, if there is another purchased package brand (not named Norton or MacAfee), what would you recommend and why?

Thanks!

 

Hello, in my opinion out of paid security I would choose Avast or BitDefender because they seem to be very reliable and thorough. Out of AVG and Zone Alarm, again this is just my opinion, AVG wins hands down on detection out of the two. Hope this helps.

 

I am currently using Mcafee total protection paid at the moment and not had any problems with it on windows 8 and it's windows 8.1 compatible aswell.

 

I use the Fully unlocked AVG and i must say it works well with the firewall.

 

Avast is my choice but if I was only picking between your two choices I would pick AVG.

BigDozer66

 

Agree.

On a related note, at one time I was using a cable modem for the one computer I had connected to the internet. Today of course, I have a router/modem. A router modem can be used with a single computer or several computers in the house.

Most newer good quality modem/routers will come with a Stateful Package Inspection (SPI) hardware firewall included. Port Scanning is one of the things SPI equipped devices protect against very well.

That said, a software firewall is necessary in addition to the protection the hardware provides.

I use exactly the setup plodr recommends and have no problems. Safe Surfing, i.e. Best Practices, is critical in keeping your machine clean.

Read this article and follow the link at the end:

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=257028

 

Thanks for the advice and links; will check them out shortly.

I am thinking about getting a modem and going wireless but I am so un-tech-savvy that haven't had the gut to do it yet.
It's been a while since I've had to bother with Windows, so I don't even know the basics anymore (which is one reason I beat a hot path to majorgeeks when I got the nouveau laptop). Used to be you'd have one or two a/v programs (like malwarebytes, AVG, and Super Anti-Spyware) and one firewall (NOT using the Windows one).

Is it still the same, or have a/v programs melted into an all-in-one firewall/av package? And is it still no two firewalls but whatever you want to scan & protect?

Thanks for your patience with this slow learner.