I currently run Zonealarm Security Suite on my XP Pro machine, and I love it. After a week or so it is totally passive and it catches everything. I paid 10 for a license key on ebay 2 years ago for $10 and I still have 58,000 days left until it expires. Best of all, it leaves an un-noticeable footprint on my machine.

I have 2 AMD 64 4200 Dual Core machines. I recently installed Vista Ultimate 64 on one of them to see how it goes. Unfortunately, Zonealarm won't work on Vista 64. I don't like paying for Security programs but I am not entirely sure free ones up to the task.

I don't trust Microsoft with its firewall, defender, or live one care (They can barely build an operating system let alone defend or ensure it runs properly). Everyone who has ever asked me for PC help usually has McAffee or Norton. McCaffee (at least in my experience with other users) consistently fails to protect a machine, not to mention bogs down the system. Norton 2005 was a decenet product but everything after that seems to be garbage same as Mcaffee.

My question is, is there a Zonealarm alternative out there for Vista 64?

I desire an all in one suite that leaves a minimal footprint that is passive and cheap like my Zonealarm.

First I would like to here suggestions for an all in one and also maybe a combination of free stuff. I hear comodo firewall is free and good along with a free version of avast.

My ears are open

GSG

GSG: Your right, Comodo offers a free native x64 FW that works great. Its rated the best. As for AV, I suggest NOD32. There is a native x64 version but its not free. Avast or Avira both offer excellent free Avs and I belive Avast has a x64 free version. I cant swear to Avira having a x64 version but I am probably wrong.

Good luck, and let us know what you settled on.

Originally Posted by Asky

Yep Comodo for FW and NOD32 for AV.
If you want an all in one package then get KIS(Kaspersky Internet Security).

I have heard more bad things about Kaspersky than good, this also goes for TrendMicro as well. Anybody else use any of these?

I guess I want the best all in one suite, which one uses the least power?

GSG

Your right about kaspersky. It really should be avoided, it actually flaged IE as a treat once and locked all its users out of the internet.

As far as security suites go your better off avoiding those as well. They may have a good AV or FW but usually lag behind in one or both catagories.

Using Comodo with NOD32 and a couple of spyware apps like spybot, A-Squared free and SuperAntiSpyware will keep you system squeaky clean.

Originally Posted by joel406

Your right about kaspersky. It really should be avoided, it actually flaged IE as a treat once and locked all its users out of the internet.

As far as security suites go your better off avoiding those as well. They may have a good AV or FW but usually lag behind in one or both catagories.

Using Comodo with NOD32 and a couple of spyware apps like spybot, A-Squared free and SuperAntiSpyware will keep you system squeaky clean.

I was eyeballing BitDefender but read someone who purchased it on this forum and they said it was crap, anyone else use BitDefender? I disagree about all in ones, my Zonealar is awesome. My ZA tells me it has stopped 26,000 intrusions and 18 viruses. Why can't Zone Labs just get on the ball?

GSG