What Security Products Should I Use?
Finding The Best For You
I am constantly asked for my recommendation on what is the “best” antivirus, or “most effective” anti-Spyware, and, “which security suite should I buy?” Who has the best firewall? Makes sense: I am a Tech, as well as a World Renown Tech Blogger. (ahem)
I have posted my advice here several times (use the “Search” tool) over the course of 1,000+ Tech – for Everyone articles. I also have published a list, including links, of free AV’s (click here) and AS’s (click here).
But my advice has been pretty general.
There’s a reason for that –> you. I don’t know you. I do not know your Geek skilz level. I do not know if you are a pirating/Bit Torrenting maniac. I don’t know if you’re still on Windows ME and all you do is e-mail, or if you are on Windows 7 64-bit and you have a Run as command prompt shortcut in your QuickLaunch… or are somewhere in between.
Do you watch porn?
Needless to say, different people have different security needs. How you answer the questions above will have a huge impact on how I would advise you. Fortunately, I have found an answer — Gizmo’s Security Advice Wizard. And I have added it to my Blogroll.
Gizmo’s Security Advice Wizard asks you a series of questions, analyzes your answers, and then provides you with a customized, personal recommendation — a complete recommendation — including download links. Bottom line? I have run through the Wizard several times, as various types of users, and each time the recommendations the Wizard provided was spot on with how I would answer. Great minds really do think alike.
I enthusiastically endorse Gizmo’s Security Advice Wizard and encourage you to go there and give it a try. Odds are good you will learn something. The folks there at Gizmo’s freeeware get a tip of my geek hat, and my thanks for going through the effort of creating this wonderful advisor “wizard”.
Today’s free link: Gizmo’s Security Advice Wizard
“This Wizard has been designed to help you select the best free security software for your PC based on the version of Windows that you use, your technical computer skills and your general level of security risk.”
Copyright 2007-2010 © Tech Paul. All Rights Reserved. 
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• About Tech Paul
I am a Retired computer & network technician. I used to think the machines were pretty cool. Now I don’t.
They’re anything but.
I regularly posted how-to’s and tricks & tips and general computing advice here starting in 2007. (Use the Search tool to find answers. But be aware, many are rather dated.) Sometimes I answered (your) specific questions in an article if I believed the answer was generally helpful to “everyone”. All the writing you see was my own, typos and all. There always is/was an implied “IMHO” in what you see here.
Note: You are responsible for using this blog and its content. I am in no way liable for any losses caused by user error, viruses and/or other malware, hardware or software failure, or any other conceivable reason.
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Tech - for Everyone 
I just bought my best friend a netbook and I decided to load some software on it for her. I installed PC Tools threatfire, Microsoft Essentials and Super Antispyware Free edition. She is not too techie and thought before I give it to her I would get setup for her and feel better that I know she has some protection on her machine. I use the same on my netbooks but two of them use Panda’s Cloud Antivirus which I like very much.
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Cappydawg,
That is right inline with what I would suggest too.
Very nice of you to ‘look out’ for your less-savvy friends and family!
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But that is all adjective and not security.You can tell anyone what is best!Youre a fraud then money warrior.
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udtlearner,
I have no idea what you are talking about. The Wizard – which is not mine – provides links to free (keyword = free) antivirus, anti-Spyware, and other essential security products.
If you look at my articles, you will see that I am no slouch when it comes to educating people to the dangers that they face online. You might also note that there’s not a single advertisement or money generating device on the site.
Nice try at getting a linkback though…
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Paul,
I forgot to mention I also installed WOT for IE and Firefox on her machine. These also help with another layer of protection I think.
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Cappydawg,
All winners. I consider WOT a ‘must install’, and have reco’d it here many times. On my own machines, I combine it with either LinkScanner Lite or McAfee SiteAdvisor.
One nice ‘fringe benefit” of WOT, is the “average user” can’t help but notice all the red circles in ads and search results, and magically their naivete about the state of the Internet is greatly diminished.
(Yes folks, the cybercriminals have enough money to run ads on the Search engines for their poisoned sites and scams. Or they outright hijack them.)
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WOOO! Great minds…. (not sarcastic)
Yes, I’ve tried, and recommended, Gizmo’s security Advice Wizard before. It is a great tool of Gizmo’s site.
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Adrian,
I agree. I wish I had found it sooner. It essentially automates the “needs” evaluation process by asking the questions I have to ask. Better yet, its answers are often exactly the same as mine are (and when they’re not exact, they’re close enough) when the solution needs to be freeware.
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