Mostly free, I'd say. When it comes to security software: - Core Force - Sandboxie (not technically "free", but the free setup is enough for what I need). - Spywareblaster - Password Safe - TrueCrypt - GnuPG - Eraser - IceSword - Ethereal I really don't think any of these has many superior paid alternatives. Also free: - Ewido (see above) - Spybot Search & Destroy - Clamwin - Snoopfree Privacy Shield - VMWare Player - Lavasoft Ad-Aware (free setup) And of course the mighty OpenBSD (which reminds me, I really need to take time to set up a new system now... I neglected my favorite OS for far too long). Paid, just Process Guard (contrary to the above, the free setup is quite not enough to be of much for this one IMHO) and Deep Freeze. Other great free software, cygwin, Gimp (ok, Photoshop is still better, but GIMP rules nonetheless), Vim, Firefox, Opera...
"Rely" is a strong word for the freeware I use. A second opinion, and I use it to keep up with what is out there for users to have in the free arena. I voted both free and paid.
I can buy 3 softwares of $30 from my free lotto winnings. "Total Uninstall" will be the first one, because I can't install other softwares without "Total Uninstall". I will also use trial versions of several security suites, one after another. So it will be a combination of free, trial and paid. PS.: Trial is forgotten in the poll.
I rely on both. Free: Ewido scanner Opera and firefox SecurePoint firewall SpywareBlaster. Index.dat Suite Pay for: Vba32 antivirus BoClean Zero Spyware SuperCleaner Ace Utilities
At one time I had both, but now use paid Ewido, Spy Sweeper, SUPERantispyware, AVG, WinPatrol, and Look 'N' Stop. Works for me!
Temporarily : ZA Free + KAV Trial + Prevx1 Trial + Ewido Trial + Ad-Aware Free + Spybot Free. Free and try the trial.
I used to be firmly in the Free camp ... I find many freeware apps grow into bloated out of control monsters. I end up going back to the darkside - Paying for what suits my current needs. Just dumped Comodo.
Paid Online Armor 3.5.0.14 (firewall) Zemana 1.9.2.104 (anti-keylogger) Acronis 11 (for backup purposes) Free Geswall 2.8.3 SpywareBlaster 4.2 Malwarebytes' 1.37 Secunia PSI (for patching vulnerable softwares) JavaRa.exe (searches for Java updates and removes older versions) BitDefender Free Edition 2009 (antivirus) AnVir Task Manager 5.6.0 ( task manager with which you can check every process on your computer on VirusTotal, kill processes, suspend processes, free up memory etc.etc.) These above are all excellent softwares, using little memory resources and giving solid protection to the average user.
If you choose the best, you choose both paid and free. Some free ones are as good as or better than the paid.
None paid two free (MSE and Paragon 10 free) 3 built in (standard account with UAC on, firewall, DEP)
I too rely on free software I paid only once for Kaspersky 2009 that too very cheap about 450 INR (~ 10$) for single user license. And in most of cases I rely on promotions of any AV apps. Until now I have free licenses of OA pro,Avira,A-Squared,Panda IS 2010,PC tools (thanks to gizmos )and many others.
Good Evening ! Currently use MSE and Prevx 3.0 for realtime protection. And MBAM as an on demand scanner. Sincerely...Securon
Most of my security related stuff is paid for (but paid or free is largely irrelevant since what the software does is more important) - though I guess my KIS 2010 is somewhere in the middle since i keep getting given free one-year licenses for it every few months.
all freeware on an xp sp3 machine with LUA and SRP and router firewall + DEP all programs, no real-time programs. security software: Microsoft Security Essentials A-Squared Free Hijack This Malware Bytes Autoruns Process Explorer CCleaner FF with no script, adblock, privacy guard, and WOT
I suppose a good argument can be made for pro-paid and pro-free software. I rely on both (quite funny is the fact that my only paid software is PerfectDisk Defrag, lol). There IS truth to the consensus that paid offers more features than free, I mean, it doesn't take Captain Obvious to figure that one. Where people get way out of hand is in arguing how GOOD a product is when arguing paid vs free. Extra features does not equal better, never has, never will. People are also quick to judge free products because unlike paid products, there is only a handful out there to choose from. And, when two or three of 6 free products don't hold up as well to the other free products, let alone paid ones, it doesn't take much for the simple-minded to conclude free means the product sucks.
