Back in the “old days” (say, seven or eight years ago), it was a good idea to have multiple programs to deal with multiple computer problems. Antivirus programs took care of viruses, antiadware programs took care of adware, antispyware programs took care of spyware, and so on.
Things have improved since then, with good protection products taking care of all those problems. The problems known as viruses, adware and spyware are now collectively known as “malware” (MALicious softWARE), and a single, high-quality “antimalware” program will cover most situations. Good security programs like Avast Antivirus can be had for free, and can take care of most people’s needs.
Modern operating systems like Microsoft Windows Vista, 7 and 8, as well as Apple OS X, now include good firewall protections, so there is usually no need for third-party firewall programs like ZoneAlarm or Comodo. Third-party “popup blockers” for website browsing and “antispam” email add-ons have also, over time, become redundant and downright useless.
Browsers (those programs that let us see websites) have evolved, too. While I still prefer Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer has improved dramatically, both in security and performance. I used to move people away from Internet Explorer with haste, but now, if that’s what they want to use, it’s fine with me.
Apple’s Safari browser has gotten somewhat better over the years, but is still too clunky and dumbed-down to get my thumbs-up. Google’s Chrome browser is a rising star, especially with the under-30 set, who seem to be erroneously convinced that it is somehow “faster,” but I have no use for it. Chrome is so dumbed-down and comparatively difficult to secure, and Google’s intrusive and deceptive ways of tricking people into installing Chrome are so widespread they have soured me to the whole idea of even using Google Chrome. Many people have also been tricked into thinking they must use Chrome in order to use their Google Gmail account, a belief that is not true.
On a happier note, I can wholeheartedly recommend using what may be the world’s least known, yet possibly the best, browser: Opera. Visit opera.com, download it, install it and give it a try; it’s a great product.
My preferences for email programs lean towards Outlook and Windows Live Mail, simply because of their contact management and calendaring features. I no longer recommend Mozilla Thunderbird. Thunderbird is a good program as a stand-alone product, but if anything ever goes wrong, and you have to backup, transfer or move your email to another computer, Thunderbird makes the process worse than pulling teeth. The Apple Mail program, found on Apple iMacs and MacBooks, is atrocious, undependable, buggy and awkward. Apple users will be better served by spending ten hard-earned dollars and using Airmail (www.airmailapp.com).
I still believe dedicated email programs such as Outlook and Airmail are superior to webmail interfaces where you actually go to your service provider’s website to handle email. This is because most webmail interfaces do not use your installed antivirus programs to scan incoming mail, leaving you to rely instead on whatever flavor of antivirus scanning that your provider may have in place. Webmail interfaces like Yahoo and MSN are also pretty clunky when it comes to advanced functions like managing large mailing lists and maintaining contact information; they also force you to look at annoying ads.