Windows 98SE Internet Security? in Off Topic

ID:184853
 
Jun 21 2006, 2:16 pm
My Norton Internet Security 2005 subscription is running out. My operating system will no longer be supported by Symantec so I can't upgrade. Symantec's store tells me that even a subscription renewal would require Windows 2000/XP. (I tried emailing them on the subject. They said to call them. Forget that. They charge for calls.)

ZoneAlarm is supposed to be great, but it's ditching Windows 98 too.

The following tools claim to work with Windows 98SE: AVG Anti-Virus plus Firewall Edition, eTrust Internet Security Suite, F-Secure Internet Security 2006, McAfee Internet Security Suite, and PC-cillin Internet Security.

I'm leaning towards AVG Anti-Virus plus Firewall Edition. It offers a 2 year license for less money than most of the other options. It does not have all of the tools, but I question my need for them. There are no children to block things from. I never use Outlook and IE is only used through Dream Seeker so I don't care about toolbars. I use free versions of Spybot and Ad-Aware for anti-spyware.

Suggestions/opinions are welcome. (That is, if you're not taking the time to bash Norton. I've heard it and I already said it's not an option.)
#1 Jun 21 2006, 2:20 pm
I'd personally vouch for AVG as I've been with them for years.

If I had to diss any, it would definitely be PC-Cillin, it's a whole bag of pance in my experience with it.

Though all in all they are all ok in their own ways, but in my opinion and experience I wouldn't go for anything other than AVG.

--Lee
#2 Jun 21 2006, 2:55 pm
Personally, I would just go with AVG free and find a firewall program. I really don't know a good firewall though.
#3 Jun 22 2006, 12:01 am
In response to Scoobert (#2)
When I last looked I couldn't find any decent free software firewalls. ZoneAlarm popped up annoying dialog boxes all the time (I don't care that an intrusion attempt was blocked, shut up now) and Tiny Firewall was paranoid.

I make do with a NAT router, AVG Free Edition, Windows XP SP2's firewall, regular spyware scans with Spybot and/or Ad-Aware, not being stupid about opening files from untrustworthy sources, and avoiding Internet Explorer like the plague.
#4 Jun 22 2006, 3:33 am
In response to Scoobert (#2)
I would if I could, Scoobert. I'd even be able to ignore some of the annoyances that Crispy mentioned. However, few companies are going to give away updated software for outdated systems. It does not appear to be an option for Windows 98SE.
#5 Jun 22 2006, 3:36 am (Edited on Sep 29 2006, 5:56 am)
In response to ACWraith (#4)
Well with Vista comming out soon the prices on windows xp are going down and Amazon.co.uk is doing a 50% off on software you might find something on there.
#6 Jun 22 2006, 4:10 am
If you're good enough you can use AVG Free and skip on the firewall. It is possible to run a computer and not getting infected or hacked without a firewall. That being said, im doing the same but behind 2 routers and seeing i just upgraded my motherboard yesterday it also has a hardware firewall :D
#7 Jun 22 2006, 4:23 am
In response to Critical (#6)
I wouldn't connect a computer to the internet without some kind of firewall. A NAT router or a router with a built-in firewall is quite sufficient if you know what you're doing, but connecting directly to the internet without either a hardware or a software firewall is not generally a great idea.

Sure, you can do it, but it's a bit like sticking a sign on your front door saying "burglars welcome".
#8 Jun 22 2006, 5:24 am
In response to Crispy (#3)
I run the same security setup on my XP machines. I feel my biggest security feature is my brain, but not everyone has one of those, they are actually considered pretty rare. Also, like in AC's case, 98 just isn't secure enough, even with a smart user. It takes nothing to bust in and start messing with stuff, even with almost no fault on the user.

I would suggest that he gets a hardware firewall of sorts(most routers have these), and uses AVG free. Other than that, I can only suggest he switches to linux.
#9 Jun 22 2006, 5:52 am
In response to Scoobert (#8)
Scoobert wrote:
I run the same security setup on my XP machines. I feel my biggest security feature is my brain, but not everyone has one of those, they are actually considered pretty rare. Also, like in AC's case, 98 just isn't secure enough, even with a smart user. It takes nothing to bust in and start messing with stuff, even with almost no fault on the user.

I would suggest that he gets a hardware firewall of sorts(most routers have these), and uses AVG free. Other than that, I can only suggest he switches to linux.

Thats the solution to everything isnt it.
You know why the dinosaurs died out, because they didnt switch over to linux.
#10 Jun 22 2006, 5:55 am
In response to Critical (#9)
Exactly.



Well, he wants security and he wants it for cheap or free. That is his solution.
#11 Jun 22 2006, 5:58 am
In response to Scoobert (#10)
New OS = Time to Install and Configure
#12 Jun 22 2006, 2:38 pm
In response to Scoobert (#10)
If I knew I could get BYOND to run, then I wouldn't mind switching to Linux.

However, I mentioned a bunch of possible solutions to my problem. I just wanted to know if anyone had dealt with them.
#13 Jun 22 2006, 4:25 pm
In response to ACWraith (#12)
ACWraith wrote:
[...] However, I mentioned a bunch of possible solutions to my problem. I just wanted to know if anyone had dealt with them.

ZoneAlarm -- Dealt with and was absolutely brilliant, the popups can be turned off, so they are not a pain for some people.

AVG Anti-Virus plus Firewall Edition -- Never used their firewall, but since AVG have been going I've never had a problem with their Free Edition and it's always kept my PC clean and smug, I'll never stray from these, ever.

eTrust Internet Security Suite -- Never used before.

F-Secure Internet Security 2006 -- Never used before.

McAfee Internet Security Suite -- Only encountered once, had to get rid because it bogged my system down at the time to a nightmare. In my experience with it, it was a waste of time for me because it couldn't leave me to do what I wanted with my PC because of how resource-snagging it was at the time. (Norton did the same, and it did with the 2006 Suite I bought and had to give away as it really annoyed me, which is when I went back to AVG + ZoneAlarm as I've never had a problem with them ever, and I was just trying Norton and McAfee because I was "recommended" to.)

PC-cillin Internet Security -- Had encountered but never used myself a few times, every computer I scanned and removed this from, it stated there was no "viruses", yet when I removed it and installed AVG on each machine (Free Edition), it picked up at the very least 27 Viruses, the most which was on my best friends at the time 307. Yea, he nearly threw his PC out the window, which he did not, he snapped the PC-Cillin installation disk in two and got on the phone to Customer Services and gave them a bollocking, seeing as at the time he had his computer built, installed that before he went on the computer and 2 weeks after being on the internet his computer bogged down very badly.

Anyway, those are my feelings and dealings with those apps, hope it makes it a little more clearer for you, ACWraith! Good luck!

Also as a side note, the only ever Firewall I would recommend but you need to know how to use the Firewall well enough to make sure you can play your games online is BlackIce. Not once, EVER did anyone get through to my computer with that installed. I even had a friend at the time who was well into his hacking and cracking and even he couldn't break through the PC, he now lives in America somewhere for an American company. (This was over 5 years ago, so he might not be living in America now :/)

--Lee
#14 Jun 22 2006, 4:35 pm
In response to Mellifluous (#13)
Mellifluous wrote:
Also as a side note, the only ever Firewall I would recommend but you need to know how to use the Firewall well enough to make sure you can play your games online is BlackIce. Not once, EVER did anyone get through to my computer with that installed.

Sadly, nothing's totally secure: http://www.eeye.com/html/research/advisories/AD20040226.html

Unless of course it's 50 feet underground, in a reinforced concrete safe/vault, with the internet disconnected, and no power, and even then you can't be too careful. :P

I personally like hardware firewalls. If a hardware firewall does fail then you still have another line of defense against the intruder, your system(possibly with software firewall).
#15 Jun 22 2006, 5:15 pm
In response to Jon88 (#14)
Jon88 wrote:
Mellifluous wrote:
Also as a side note, the only ever Firewall I would recommend but you need to know how to use the Firewall well enough to make sure you can play your games online is BlackIce. Not once, EVER did anyone get through to my computer with that installed.

Sadly, nothing's totally secure: http://www.eeye.com/html/research/advisories/AD20040226.html

Unless of course it's 50 feet underground, in a reinforced concrete safe/vault, with the internet disconnected, and no power, and even then you can't be too careful. :P

I personally like hardware firewalls. If a hardware firewall does fail then you still have another line of defense against the intruder, your system(possibly with software firewall).

Ouch, very nice catch there Jon88!

Thanks for that haha, I think I'll take BlackICE from off of my most valued recommendation list =)

--Lee
#16 Jun 22 2006, 8:39 pm
In response to Mellifluous (#15)
I don't know how long it took ISS to provide a fix. If it took them a long time then I might be worried. However, that report seems to be from two years ago and it gives an alleged link to the patches.