Kaspersky Av or $30 more for Full Internet Security (includes firewall)

[Redrazor39]

I have Vista Business with 2 GHZ dual core, 2 GB DDR2 RAM, 335 MB vidram. I have Live OneCare but I hate this annoying piece of nagware that only catches about 80% of threats. I want to change to Kaspersky because it blocks 98.7% last time I checked and it's really good. The thing is, if I buy it for one year, should I get the AV that protects from Viruses, rootkits, spyware, crimeware, etc, but without a firewall, or should I get Kaspersky Internet Security and get all of that and a firewall (and a couple of useless features for me) for $30 more?

Also, should I get it for 1, 2, or 3 years? Will I get free upgrades (Let's say they update to Kaspersky 8 in a few months. Can I just download that for free as long as my subscription is active?)

Please help. Answer any of the questions you can and post if you need more information.

[LaRoza]

Get: http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Use a limited account.

Comodo is the best firewall, and has more features. I don't see a need for more than a limited account and this firewall. (It has some rather advanced features)

I have compared AV to a minesweeper. Good for the front. Shouldn't be needed for your backyard.

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/avsmart/a-vsmart_warranty.html

[Redrazor39]

I've heard "use a limited account" a lot but what exactly does a limited account restrict from? I'm running as admin right now (and I feel so vulnerable lol, it's like I opened my front door in a war zone)

[seanc7]

Get Kaspersky AV only then get the Comodo firewall that was linked in the previous post. Comodo is free and it's becoming the defacto free standard for Windows. It's less bloated then Zonealarm and unlike XP's firewall (don't know how Vista's works, I don't use Vista) it checks network traffic in both directions in and out. And run with a limited account as well.

Basically a limited account in Windows is like a normal user in Unix/Linux. While Administrator in Windows is like Root in Unix/Linux. Running as a limited user is good. In Vista you should just go to the equivalent to Users or User Manager or named something similar and create a user id that's "limited". You'll need to switch to the admin account to install certain things like OS updates or programs but it will help prevent malware from getting installed.

It'll take a change in your thinking to do it because most people are used to running Windows with an admistrator-level account and doing whatever they want without needing to enter any passwords. That has always been Windows biggest security flaw, by default setting up users as administrator-level. Anywho...

Save the $30 on Kaspersky since Comodo firewall will do the trick for a personal firewall on your PC.

[LaRoza]

I've heard "use a limited account" a lot but what exactly does a limited account restrict from? I'm running as admin right now (and I feel so vulnerable lol, it's like I opened my front door in a war zone)

Make a new account, and you will see a "standard" or "limited" account.

Basically, they can't do anything that affects the entire system.

If something goes bad, the OS is still fine.