Avast free with comodo firewall -PLEASE READ-

Hi,

Frankly I would run Avast and forget Comodo or any 3rd party firewall. Use the Windows Firewall
which is extremely effective. Most routers today also have a built-in hardware firewall which works
well with the Windows software firewall.

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Low cost 3rd party software firewalls are pretty much problems waiting to happen. They all have
compatibility issues and offer only a few enhanced controls. In fact their issues often actually lower
the overall security instead of raising it. The Windows Firewall has no compatibility issues and is
extremely secure if you know enough to bypass most of the hype. Quality software firewalls cost
thousands. Most routers have hardware firewalls built in and those are considerably better additions
for the buck than any cheap/low cost software firewall.

How to Change the Windows Firewall Notification Settings in Windows 7 - also see the related articles
section at the just before the reply section.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/523-windows-firewall-change-notification-settings.html

How to Manage Windows 7 Firewall.
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-manage-windows-7-firewall

How to Add or Remove a Windows Firewall Exception in Windows 7
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/542-windows-firewall-add-remove-exception.html

How to Use Windows Firewall With Advanced Security in Vista (also Windows 7)
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/92748-windows-firewall-advanced-security.html

What's new in the Windows 7 Firewall?
http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/Whats-new-Windows-7-Firewall.html

How to Turn Windows Firewall On or Off in Windows 7
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/522-windows-firewall-turn-off.html

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Avast and Prevx have proven extremely reliable and compatible with everything I have
thrown at them. Microsoft Security Essentials and Prevx have also proven to be very
reliable and compatible. Use MSE and Prevx or Avast and Prevx however not all 3.

Avast Home Free - stop any shields you do not need except leave File System, Web,
and Network running (Script and Behavior are also recommended in Ver 6+).

Prevx - Home - Free

Windows Firewall

Windows Defender (not needed if using MSE)

IE - Protected Mode

IE 8 - SmartScreen Filter ON  (IE 7 Phishing Filter)

I also have IE to always start with InPrivate Filter active if IE 8.
(You occasionally have to turn it temporarily off with the little Icon on LEFT of the + bottom
right of IE)

Two versions of Avast are available 6.x and 4.8x

Avast 6.x - Home - Free - Stop the Shields you do not use (except File, Web, Network, &
Behavior) - double click the Orange Icon in Notification Area - Real Time Shields - click the
Shield you want to stop - STOP. To stop the Orange Icon from showing an error indicator -
click the Orange Icon - Upper Right - Settings - click Status Bar - uncheck the Shields you
disabled - click OK
http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

Avast 4.8x - Home - Free - stop any shields you do not need except leave Standard, Web,
and Network running. (Double Click Blue icon - details next to OK. - upper left Shields -
Terminate those you do not use.)
http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download#tab4

Or use Microsoft Security Essentials - Free
http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

Prevx works well along side Avast or MSE

Prevx - Home - Free small, fast, exceptional CLOUD protection, works with other security
programs. This is a scanner only, VERY EFFECTIVE, if it finds something come back here
or use Google to see how to remove. 
http://www.prevx.com/   <-- information
http://info.prevx.com/downloadcsi.asp?prevx=Y <-- download

PCmag - Prevx - Editor's Choice
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346862,00.asp

Also get Malwarebytes - free - use as scanner only. If you ever suspect malware, and that
would be unsual with Avast and Prevx running except for an occasional low level cookie
(no big deal), UPDATE it and then run it as a scanner. I have many scanners and they
never find anything of note since I started using this setup.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

Hope this helps.

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Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.