BleepingComputer.com: Is Kaspersky enough? Any thoughts?

I just purchased a second computer (that the kids won't be using) and was sold Kaspersky Internet Security 2009. My state of mind when I went into the store made me ripe for an easy sale. My question is: should I have more, and if so what is compatible? The packaging makes it sound like the be all and end all, but who can believe packaging? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks

Hi ,notrojansplz.

Don't take off the packaging , take a look here. http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic3616.html

I wouldn't put any more stuff in. Kaspersky is quite comprehensive, a bit rough to set up, and dislikes other security programs more than others. If you managed to install it with no objections over any conflicts, you're good to go.
You might have luck including ocassional SuperAntiSpyware scan, but I wouldn't bother. You're covered. The less, the better and you've got plenty protection in Kaspersky. Just read their manual and help screens, and read again and again before adding conflicting things and to learn how to setup properly.

Disclaimer - I don't have it. I used their antivirus for a while and it was superb. I think the suite you have includes a firewall, so you're really all set. Don't look back.

tos226, on Mar 12 2009, 12:03 AM, said:

I think you misunderstood, me tos226, why use a expensive program, when freeware is just as good! donations can be made of course.

The delay of reading and writing got us
One of those instances of replying to NOT the last post. When I started replying your post wasn't here So my answer was to the first post naturally.
That said, I'm all for freeware and separate packages rather than a suite. But the user specifically asked about K-suite so I put in my few cents. A lot of people like suites.

This post has been edited by tos226: 11 March 2009 - 10:21 PM

I use Kaspersky Internet Security along with Outpost Pro Firewall. The two seem to get along like Jenny and Forest. I also have Malwarebytes for scanning purposes only. I don't run it in the background or anything.

The way I see it, it never hurts to have an additional firewall to Kaspersky, as long as the two get along (like Kaspersky and Outpost).

Thanks for the input. I had already installed the Kaspersky on the computer that I purchased it with before posting the question. Yeah, installation was not simple, but not too complex either. I like the idea of a second firewall. I'm gonna try that.
Fortunately a relative liked the Kasp. product and I was able to get a contribution towards the $79 purchase price. Apparently these things are packaged for multiple computers now with so many people having more than one. I guess that justifies the increased price.

The Weatherman,

Tonight I followed your link to the site listing and downloaded Outpost firewall from the MajorGeek site. Upon reboot I was confronted with a system error screen. I tried reboot one more time, same result. I removed the program in safe mode and rebooted with no problems. Any thoughts? This computer is running Tiny XP, AVG, Spybot, Superantispyware, Malwarebytes... Any thoughts?

Hi, notrojansplz.

I'm afraid I don't no what the problem may be, please read through this tutorial on firewalls, if you need to please feel free to post back here.

notrojansplz, More is not better ... read on.

notrojansplz, on Mar 13 2009, 08:48 PM, said:

I have thoughts.
Get rid of all of the stuff.
The cardinal rule is ONE FIREWALL. ONE ANTIVIRUS. ONE SPYWARE running (more ok to scan).

According to the description which I just confirmed, KISS contains
http://usa.kaspersky.com/support/home-supp...ected_topic_id=

Quote

Outpost never worked with Kaspersky AV. What makes you think you can work it with KISS?
Once you have decided to go the suite way, leave it alone. No point mucking up the system.
Uninstall those other applications. And, in case of Outpost and AVG - look in their respective support sites for a complete, clean uninstallation. It is not sufficient with applications as complex as firewalls and AV to just uninstall them. You need to remove all traces.

If I were you, considering it's a new system, I'd start over with a nice clean computer instead of trying to fix things. Totally reinstall the system you bought, install KISS you have and be fast and happy forever.

Please read at least Post#3 in this thread
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/ind...l=two+firewalls

This post has been edited by tos226: 13 March 2009 - 11:06 PM

I'm afraid I wasn't very clear before. I am working with two computers.
First, my family desktop became infected. I got paranoid about being secure when paying the bills and accessing the bank site, so I bought a laptop. The salesman, sensing my paranoia, suggested KIS. It is installed on the laptop only.
Second, I started trying to disinfect the desktop. I posted on a forum and got some advice. That is where the SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes came from. I wanted to test the outpost pro firewall on the desktop to see what it was like before attempting to put it on the laptop with KIS.
Sorry for the confusion.
As far as Outpost and KIS working together. PoliSciBri has them working together like "Jenny and Forest". Sounded like a good review to me. My experience with this stuff is so minimal. I am bound to make many mistakes. Thank goodness for hobbyists like you guys to help me when I fall down.

PoliSciBri has them working together like "Jenny and Forest" - yup. i saw the note as well, but i was commenting on KAV, and thought it would apply. It was like that for me, dead in the water. And if you read Outpost and Wilders forums there've been reports of conflicts.

I'm glad you answered and clarified that you don't actually have double and tripple protection on that new laptop!
Thank you

Piece of another advice: do read KISS instructions so you can make the most of it. It's a solid piece of protection. And no, I don't have it, but having used their KAV, I know the documentation is good, albeit rough to get through.

tos226, on Mar 14 2009, 04:10 PM, said:

Yup, they seem to work really well together. Outpost automatically shuts off some of its features that it knows Kaspersky is handling already. I haven't had any problems at all. I know some people say it's not good to have two, but those two programs work well together (in my experience, anyway) so I'm gonna stick with it.

PoliSciBri, on Mar 15 2009, 06:54 AM, said:

If you have those two programs working together then I am happy for you--but you are the very rare exception. Either you are very lucky or very good at configuring your system--or maybe it has something to do with Vista. It would almost be rare enough to contact the Vatican.

My experience is that Kaspersky does not get along with other firewalls. I ran the standalone antivirus for years and wound up uninstalling all third party firewalls and just using Windows firewall. If one looks around the internet and in forums there are many who have had the same problem. So when giving advice to someone, it is generally better to find a commonality of occurances to establish a foundation for your opinion that will be related in the form of advice, not just episodic experiences.

Maybe the programs have changed since my experience. There isn't as much on Kaspersky related sites and Outpost about how they clash with each other as there used to be. Or maybe you can share with us your setup and any configuration you did. What versions of the programs are you using? Is it Outpost Pro or the free version of Outpost? In any event, the sites still have articles on how to get the two to get along better with each other, one of which involves a registry hack.

http://www.kaspersky.com/support/kis6mp1/error?qid=193239309
http://www.agnitum.com/support/kb/article....&lang=en#15

You may, in fact be experiencing problems because of your setup and just haven't noticed because it doesn't seem directly related to your firewall. It's possible your question about RAM usage is because of running two firewalls. I would suggest uninstalling Outpost and then see if it makes a difference--also do a clean reinstall of Kaspersky.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic210499.html

The conventional wisdom is that you should never have two firewalls installed. It's also based on solid reasoning. Ask yourself, what benefit is there to having two? If one by itself blocks and stealths ports, why have another to do the same thing? And why have another heavy on resources program running all the time when it's not absolutely necessary? Security is a matter of risk reduction. A second firewall does not reduce your risk--if anything it will increase it.

So to get back to the original question; the Kaspersky Suite is a fine AV/firewall combination and my advice is to enjoy it and get you money's worth out of it. It used to be that the AV's detection rate stood head and shoulders above most others. Other vendors have caught up and gotten slightly ahead now, but KAV was the first to include what it calls "extended threats"--which is "spyware/adware/malware" that other antivirus companies wouldn't touch because it wasn't technically a virus. It is still advisable to supplement KAV with SuperAntiSpyware and MBAM as not even the best detection rate is a guarantee that ALL threats will be caught. But KAV isn't going to miss much.

When you get toward the end of your Kaspersky subscription, then you can look at the free AV's and firewalls.

I'm sorry to hear you paid so much money tho. Kaspersky's prices have gone up since I first purchased it. The thing about KAV tho is that the initial cost is high, but at the online reseller that I dealt with renewal was comparatively low and usually discounted.

Thank you all for the good advice. It is appreciated.