What virus scanner & firewall is everyone using?

[harvester]

Hi,

I have recently got my MCE 2005 working properly, now without McAfee virus scanner and firewall. I have nothing against the product and I use it on all my other machines but I cant get it to work with MCE. First it wouldn't wake and record from hibernation until it had the latest patch (ok fair enough I guess I should keep it patched but this is different to scheduled updates), but it also seems to constantly cause an error with my TV tuner (Avermedia PCI Hybrid) and locks up MCE. I have since uninstalled it and EVERYTHING works 100%. Perhaps this is just my system but still if anyone is having troubles and are using this product try uninstalling and see how you go.

My question is what software does everyone else use for the virus scanning and firewall? Currently I am relying on the hardware firewall (and not being a noob) which I think will be suffice.

Anyone else have any comments/ ideas?

[supafly]

the way i see it is if your only using that machine purely for MCE than your hardware firewall should be sufficient. My office computer i use Nod32 & Windows Firewall, Home I use OneCare and my MCE is my home machine too (just use 360 when i want to use it on tv).

But if i still had a seperate MCE box id just use the windows firewall if i wasnt behind a hardware firewall.

[vbap]

I think many have posted before that if your MCE machine is just a HTPC, the NAT provided by your router should suffice - no need for antivirus/antispyware/firewall.
That's how I have it setup.
Once you start expanding the HTPC uses (eg web browsing, IM/Chat), then you would need to think about these things.

For the family home PC and work laptop, I use NOD32 + Windows Defender (Windows Firewall usually turned off).

[arkay]

Absolutely nothing for my HTPC. Other than it being behind a NAT router.

Every other PC in the house has the perfect virus protection.. Called Linux

Cheers,

Arkay.

[Bugg]

If you are running your MCE purely to watch and record TV even the Windows Firewall should be enough - but if you browse the net, check e-mails or use MSN Messenger then you need a good Anti Virus Product.
And the best there is - Kapersky Anti Virus. I have been using nothing else since the late nineties when it was the only product on the market that could remove the win95.cih virus.
Since then I liked the product so much I now don't sell any other Anti Virus anymore.

[logifuse]

I've been using Avast Home (free) for about 12 months on my machines & haven't had an issue (& I visit plenty of dodgy sites). I run Firefox as my browser & my email comes from my own mail server, so that's not an issue. I don't run a firewall beyond the router & the Windows "firewall".

My theory is, if you're not using IE or IM, & you're not a complete f&%#wit, then a reliable antivirus & a defensive attitude are all you need.

Unfortunately, most people are complete f&%#wits & that's why viruses are rampant.

Justin

[DDH]

I'm a Windoze firewall and Vet (CA) virus kind of guy. Has all worked well for me both before and during MCE.

[monster]

Originally Posted by arkay

Absolutely nothing for my HTPC. Other than it being behind a NAT router.

same here no need.

Originally Posted by arkay

Every other PC in the house has the perfect virus protection.. Called Linux

almost except behind a BSD box go the daemon.

and NOD32 on the winboxes but no FW on them.

[JustinD]

I have been using Norton AV since it came preinstalled on my HTPC and have had absolutely no problems. I agree with those who say you are fine if you are behind a router and every other PC on your network is protected and if all you do is run MCE.

But on my HTPC, but I also surf the web occassionally and have a NAS drive that I use to back-up all my PCs including the HTPC. While I stick to downloading legal torrents, sometimes the torrent index sites (especially those that also carry suspect material) have viruses or other security problems. And while my NAS restricts access from the HTPC having a good security suite on the HTPC gives me extra peace of mind. Therefore, when I recently upgraded the rest of my network to Norton 360about 3 weeks ago, I upgraded my HTPC as well and to date am still living a trouble free existance. My only gripe with 360 is that the backup is not as good as Ghost(also by Symantec/Norton), which many users of this web site seem to recommend.

[Slightly off topic, but I am in no way related to Symantec]
By the way, if you are considering Norton, check out the US store as well as their Australian online store - with the $A so strong at the moment, I managed to get two years protection for 3 PCs for less than one year's protection from their Australian store and significantly less than their one-year boxed product.

[Jaiidan]

I use AVG on the htpc box and the standard windows firewall without issues ( also behind a router )

For laptop i use avast AV and comodo firewall and for other office PC i use AVG AV and comodo firewall

I reckon having 2 different products on your network is a good way to cover your bases in case something slips through....one of them should pick it up!

J

[logifuse]

Originally Posted by JustinD

While I stick to downloading legal torrents

No. No. I believe you. Seriously! There are so many.... legal.... torrents.... that.... can't.... be..... downloaded..... quicker..... elsewhere..... I'm sorry, I can't keep this sentence going!

[DDH]

Originally Posted by logifuse

No. No. I believe you. Seriously! There are so many.... legal.... torrents.... that.... can't.... be..... downloaded..... quicker..... elsewhere..... I'm sorry, I can't keep this sentence going!

And that's why I've only downloaded the Lego Starwars movie via BT, since its free and you are allowed to.