Software Recommendations
The Nick Drake post is getting offtrack with computer talk, so I thought I’d start a new post. Randalf asked about spyware blockers and anti-virus programs. Here’s a quick rundown on various software and service recommendations. Anyone else, feel free to chime in with your favorites. Note: I did not perform anywhere close to an exhaustive analysis of available products/services, especially wrt ISPs. My choices are mostly based on a couple of positive experiences.
| Category | Name | Comments | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Browser | FireFox | According to site statistics, Firefox is the browser of choice for MRambler Central. For more info, see the Firefox post here. | www.getfirefox.com |
| Mac Browser | Camino | Camino is the only Mac browser I have found that allows you to use the tab key to go to a drop-down box, most commonly used for the State field in an address. It supports everything you expect from a Mozilla-based browser, including tabbed-browsing. | www.caminobrowser.org |
| Dial-up ISP | HighStream | HighStream is a no-frills dial-up internet service provider for ~$9/month. Check their Access Numbers to see if there is a local number in your area. I know a couple of people that use HighStream and are quite happy. | www.highstream.net |
| Spyware Remover | Spybot-S&D | If you practice safe surfing, then you probably don’t need an active spyware blocker; however, you should still remove inevitable spyware from time to time. Spybot-Search and Destroy is the only spyware removal tool I’ve ever needed. | www.safer-networking.org. |
| Free Anti-Virus | AVG Anti-Virus | Grisoft provides a very good, free anti-virus program for home users. It’s a little rough here and there, but keeps the bugs out. | free.grisoft.com |
| Pay Anti-Virus | eTrust EZ Antivirus | EZ AV is more polished than AVG, otherwise they seem comparable. One thing to watch out for is CA (makers of EZ AV) set your new yearly expiration date 1 year after the date you renew, not 1-year after your original subscription date. So if you renew early, you’ll lose those days. | www.my-etrust.com |
November 20th, 2005 at 9:41 pm
I fully endorse Firefox & the AVG anti-virus program. Both free, both seem to work very well. For spyware, I use Spy Sweeper and like it a little better than Spy Bot, but am not convinced one is better than the other. jek, have you had any experience with Spy Bot? I used it for awhile, and seemed to have a few problems. Not sure whether or not it was related to that program, but seemed to be.
November 22nd, 2005 at 6:35 pm
Thanks to Jek and his anti-virus recommendations I have been up and running for a long time without one crash or smash….. (I used to get the “Blue Screen of Death” more often than a 15 year-old gets pimples – I lost more info than the Smithsonian contains…..) I am presently using both spybot and eTrust EZ AV and have no complaints whatsoever… I may change over to AVG when my eTrust renewal date comes around again….. Just to save a few bucks……. Maybe….
November 23rd, 2005 at 6:06 pm
Sunn, I have experience with everything I recommended. SpyBot did have a problem getting updates a version ago, though I haven’t had any SpyBot troubles recently. I believe that problem was due to a name service change. In general SpyBot is rough and can be confusing to use. (What do you want for nothing? Rubber biscuit?) Fortunately the default values are pretty good. The typical usage is Update, Immunize, and Search.
I haven’t ever used Spy Sweeper. A quick search finds a very favorable review by PCMAG on Spy Sweeper 4.5. Here’s the link. The notable quote:
So Spy Sweeper sounds the way to go if you have some extra bucks or if you surf like a wild person.
November 24th, 2005 at 12:27 am
Jek, Sunn & MR,
Thanks for the suggestions. You guys are as helpful as Consumer Reports.