Monday, May 08, 2006
x64 FREEWARE SECURITY APPS
Browsing Windows related forums, I noticed that mixing the free versions of AVG Antivirus and ZoneLabs' ZoneAlarm Firewall had become a popular combination. Well, who can blame Windows users? Both do a decent job of what they're supposed to do, and more importantly, they're both FREE for the personal user.
But what about if you have Windows Professional XP x64 since neither of these two applications are native 64 bit?
I had hoped to install the upcoming commercial version of Windows Live OneCare but found out only U.S. and Canada users are entitled to the special upgrade price for beta testers. So I guess I have to wean myself of it come May 1 (a hex on Bill Gates!).
The good news, of course, is that Windows x64, like XP Service Pack 2, comes with Security Center, so you have a "good enough" firewall built in. However, Security Center doesn't have a built in antivirus.
Searching the internet, I came across avast! Antivirus at http://www.avast.com. Like AVG, it is free for the personal user but it's main product is native 64 bit. One interesting feature of this antivirus is that you can "skin" it, just like Windows Media Player or WinAmp. There's even an almost poignant "Pirate" skin (Avast! Ye slimy virus!).
Although highly rated for detecting viruses, the jury still seems to be out on how good it is at removing them.
Apart from avast! (yes, with a small a) Antivirus, all you really need therefore is an AntiSpyware program. Microsoft has a 64 bit version of Windows Defender so you should be safe... for now. Remember OneCare goes commercial in May and ominously, the offer to beta testers boasts integration with Defender, so we might see Defender disappear as an independent application.
If that happens, and you still want to scrimp on costs, your only choice may be Tenebril software's SpyCatcher Express that, although 32 bit, Tenebril claims is fully compatible with Windows x64.
But what about if you have Windows Professional XP x64 since neither of these two applications are native 64 bit?
I had hoped to install the upcoming commercial version of Windows Live OneCare but found out only U.S. and Canada users are entitled to the special upgrade price for beta testers. So I guess I have to wean myself of it come May 1 (a hex on Bill Gates!).
The good news, of course, is that Windows x64, like XP Service Pack 2, comes with Security Center, so you have a "good enough" firewall built in. However, Security Center doesn't have a built in antivirus.
Searching the internet, I came across avast! Antivirus at http://www.avast.com. Like AVG, it is free for the personal user but it's main product is native 64 bit. One interesting feature of this antivirus is that you can "skin" it, just like Windows Media Player or WinAmp. There's even an almost poignant "Pirate" skin (Avast! Ye slimy virus!).
Although highly rated for detecting viruses, the jury still seems to be out on how good it is at removing them.
Apart from avast! (yes, with a small a) Antivirus, all you really need therefore is an AntiSpyware program. Microsoft has a 64 bit version of Windows Defender so you should be safe... for now. Remember OneCare goes commercial in May and ominously, the offer to beta testers boasts integration with Defender, so we might see Defender disappear as an independent application.
If that happens, and you still want to scrimp on costs, your only choice may be Tenebril software's SpyCatcher Express that, although 32 bit, Tenebril claims is fully compatible with Windows x64.
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