McAfee trialware expiring on Win7 64-bit laptop

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Seems hard to believe that I had this notebook for 90 days already. But, so it is. McAfee trialware internet suite is expiring now. That includes firewall, antivir, etc. Win7 says that the windows firewall has been taken over by McAfee. I suppose that is Ok, but, it doesn’t sound nice. Not sure if that complicates replacements. Anyway, I now need to uninstall & replace everything. Looking for suggestions from anyone who has been this route. Please note: this is 64Bit Win7.
Thanks,
Michael

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If you have been satisfied with the use of the McAfee trialware internet suite, then you can anti up to the paid subscription.
I believe this would not involve having to uninstall McAfee suite to continue it’s paid usage, but check with McAfee on the details.

If you can’t afford to, or are not willing to go for a pain for subscription, then there are many freely available programs available to use in replacement.
You will not likely get an “all in one suite” without some form of paid subscription.

If you decide on using something other than the McAfee suite, make sure that you uninstall the program in it’s entirety prior to installing any other solution:
How to uninstall or reinstall supported McAfee consumer products using the McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR.exe)

Whst I use:
Windows 7, 64 bit default firewall
Microsoft MSE
Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware

Many others’ opinions to follow…

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Just a thumbs up on Clint’s recommendation. Clean, lean and complete enough for me….

I only use Malwarebyte’s free version for periodic manual scans to double check MSE.

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Win 7 64 Bit Ultimate

MSE
Malwarebytes for manual scans
Spybot S&D for manual scanss
Win 7 Firewall

Never had an infection. Very pleased.

McAfee has been having many well publicized problems recently. A Google searchhas many links to this. My wife work in an IT dept at a university and they recently switched from McAfee to Sophros because of Mcafee problems.

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McAfee has been having many well publicized problems recently.

I have no reservations for using freeware apps in this area. On my XP desktop I use Comodo &AVG & others. I am not necessarily a freeware fanatic, I just think Comodo is the best. Back when I installed AVG it was very popular. Since that time Avira Antivir seems to be rated higher in some forums. The primary reason listed is a reduction of about 20 seconds off boot time with Avira. Also, it seems Avira takes a smaller memory foot print. Hence it runs faster.
I am leaning towards removing McAfee trialware because of negative publicity. Not determined, just leaning.
At this point I am impressed with the many opinions about MSE. I definately am leaning in that direction.
What I am curious to learn is if the Microsoft firewall is reasonably comparable to Comodo.
Hope to hear how several others tackled this problem, including their choices.
Michael

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What I am curious to learn is if the Microsoft firewall is reasonably comparable to Comodo.
Hope to hear how several others tackled this problem, including their choices.
Michael

Hi Michael,

Like the others who posted, I use Windows 7 64 bit Firewall. If you have a router in your home network, the Windows 7 Firewall is just fine. I use Comodo Firewall on XP Pro 64 bit and it does a great job. But it has a larger footprint than the firewall in Windows 7.

Using the Advanced section of the Windows 7 firewall can be confusing. If you want an easy way to control outbound connections using Windows 7 Firewall, there is a free program available from Sphinx Software called Windows 7 Firewall Control available for download here. Be sure to download the 64 bit version. It originally came out to address the outbound weakness of Vista’s firewall, and is still great for use on Vista.

I use it, and it will halt any program or service that attempts to make an outbound connection until you give the permission to do so. And you get to decide to allow the connection one time only, or allow continually without bothering you again. It is a gui program that has a small footprint and takes minimal system resources.

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I agree with Clint, Mercyh & Ted

Windows 7 firewall
MSE
Malwarebytes

I also have a hardware firewall in my router so the Windows 7 firewall has little, if any to do!

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If you want an easy way to control outbound connections using Windows 7 Firewall, there is a free program available from Sphinx Software called Windows 7 Firewall Control

That sounds really great. i will look into that.

If you have a router in your home network, the Windows 7 Firewall is just fine.

Actually, right now I don’t have a router. Just curious how much difference this makes???
If it’s important, I would be willing to purchase one. But, then the next question = which would be best??
Thanks for great replies,
Michael

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Actually, right now I don’t have a router. Just curious how much difference this makes???
If it’s important, I would be willing to purchase one. But, then the next question = which would be best??
Thanks for great replies,
Michael

It makes a huge difference.

Here is Windows Secrets own recommendations:

http://windowssecrets.com/reviews/security-baseline/

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Actually, right now I don’t have a router. Just curious how much difference this makes???
If it’s important, I would be willing to purchase one.

It makes enough difference that I always advise friends and family to purchase one. Make sure that whatever you buy has a firewall in it. A significant amount of garbage internet traffic will never make it to your PC. It will be blocked at the router. You don’t really need to get a third party firewall to install on your PC. One less thing to install and keep up-to-date is always better. In addition to those mentioned at Security Baseline – Firewall, Security Suite, Update Management[/url] I am very pleased with a D-Link DIR-655. You can find it at Newegg.com – D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Wireless Router or Amazon.com: D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Gigabit Wireless Router: Electronics for < $100.00 USD.

Joe

--Joe

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I have a linksys 610N (I think, I’m at work and trying to remember). It’s a dual band. I am not as happy with it as I had hoped. It’s in another room, upstairs, but in the same house (regular construction), but does not always have the best connection. It’s fast enough, but sometimes drops off or doesn’t allow conn right away in the morning. I would most likely look at another brand if mine needed replacing right now. My previous was a netgear and that’s why I have the linksys now.

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Mike,

All of the above is good info, but if you want a third party free anti-virus program I highly recommend Avira-Antivirus Free Personnal Antivirus. It’s very good and has saved my computer many times. I always install it when I fix computers for friends and relatives.

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Adding my 2 cents worth, Microsoft’s Security Essentials is free and has been receiving some good reviews from the folks at PC Magazine, Maximum PC magazine, and even our own Fred Langa and Woody Leonhard. Of all the suites I’ve tried, MSE has by far the smallest footprint on my machine. Other suites used anywhere from 70 – 150MB. MSE uses just under 12MB. I supplement MSE with Malwarebytes, Superantispyware, and Trend Micro’s Rootkit Buster. All are free and are used as on demand scanners only. Windows default firewall has also served me well.

I remember what a much more experienced user once told me: “No anti-malware product will ever be 100% effective 100% of the time. Depending on what day of the week it is and the positioning of the sun, moon and stars, whatever anti-malware product is rated #1 today will not necessarily be #1 tomorrow. Use whatever feels right because using something is better than not using anything at all.”

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I supplement MSE with Malwarebytes, Superantispyware, and Trend Micro’s Rootkit Buster. All are free and are used as on demand scanners only.

I highly recommend Avira-Antivirus Free Personnal Antivirus.

If I was currently using MSE I probably would know this, but, unfortunately i need to ask;
Is MSE on demand or full time???
Does Avira-Antivirus conflict with MSE???
Michael

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Does Avira-Antivirus conflict with MSE???

Michael

You should only install one Anti Virus program.

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If I was currently using MSE I probably would know this, but, unfortunately i need to ask;
Is MSE on demand or full time???
Does Avira-Antivirus conflict with MSE???
Michael

Mike,

I never used MSE. However, Avira is a resident anti-virus program that is loaded on your computer. It does not intefer with any web based protection program. Keep in mind that Avira is strictly an anti-virus program with no bells or whistles. I addition to Avira use AdBlock Plus and SpyBot Search and Destroy. With this combination I have never been infected but they have caught many potential infections. Hope this helps.

Norm

PS…I just looked up MSE. I sounds very good and has good reviews. However, I would not mix the two programs. Keep in mind that Avira is strictly an anti-virus program with no bells or whistles. MSE requires MS Genuine Advantage. That in itself is not a problem but I don’t like restrictions. Will MSE work with Firefox or must I use IE? Avira has no OS or system restrictions.

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MSE is full time (real time) runs in the background and just does it’s job. Best I have ever used (Norton years ago, Avast, Avira, Bit Defender)

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Most of the ISPs offer free anti virus programs now. Comcast used to give you McAfee but now it’s giving Norton. Check with your provider. For Comcast go to Comcast.net and click on security. “Free is good”

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I never recommend McAfee or Norton to anyone. Most computer professionals I know also would never recommend them. I used to like Trend Micro, but again, most professionals I know have already have or will migrate away from them.

Many of the suggestions here are on the mark, and I have tested most of them and run various configurations on many of my machines.

Depending upon the expertise of the end-user, I would recommend for Windows 7 users:

Novices:
Win 7 Firewall
MSE
Threatfire
Malwarebytes (for occasional manual scans)
SuperAntispyware (again for occasional manual scans)

For more sophisticated users:
Comodo Pro (Firewall product only)
Avira Anti-Virus Free edition (just have to close the daily pop-up page wanting you to upgrade to their Pro edition) or MSE (one or the other)
Threatfire
Malwarebytes (for occasional manual scans)
SuperAntispyware (again for occasional manual scans)

For Businesses with a good hardware firewall (and can’t use free products):
Windows 7 firewall
Eset NOD32 Anti-virus Business Edition

Eset NOD32 is also good solution for older PC’s because it takes less system resources, but the downside is it’s not free.

Threatfire (from PC Tools) is more of a HIPS Anti-Virus solution and does not interfere with other A/V solutions (at least, not that I’ve ever found).

Arbra

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.

If you’re a Comcast subscriber or a customer of any cable company and have Internet through them you probably have access to a free software suite from them. Free is relative, you don’t pay specifically for the security suite but you are paying a monthly fee for cable service

Comcast now offers Norton Internet Security 2010 and in the past I would avoid Norton. But the latest versions of their software have improved on the load they put on pc’s and have gotten solid reviews from the industry and it’s free to subscribers. So I would look into that.

You’ve received lots of good info for other good free software and I’ve use lots of free software in the past. The reason I would promote purchasing a software suite is that I have found that the free versions while very good seem to be reactive, meaning after you get infected they’ll clean you up but they don’t always prevent infection. The paid versions seem to be more proactive or preventive.

I currently use Sunbelt Software’s Vipre – fast, small, very good, and has US support which is excellent. Great price for multiple pc’s. They offer a version with or without firewall. And they offer a full working trial version so you can check it out.

I’ve use Zonelabs free ZoneAlarm for years, Still works fine for me.

Good luck
R

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Just one caution about Threatfire and Malwarebytes in a 64-bit Windows 7 computer: These two programs are not fully native 64-bit applications, and they can leave you not fully protected. Super Antispyware and MSE are native 64-bit applications, as is Avast. Malwarebytes says they have no plans to go Native 64-bit, and PC Tools also has no plans to update Threatfire to a real 64-bit application.

Just wanted folks to know what they are really getting with these products.

-- rc primak

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