Need advice on replacing essential software

[HatoriTakaya]

I looking for new alternative software to replace relative functions since I was advised that it conflicted with a particular online game. *Shrugs* With that said, decent performing freeware alternative that can replace particular functions and possibly outperform the packaged software or my aging software that will be provided below for discussion.

These are the Software to be replaced and the functions stated next to it:

• Zone Alarm [Firewall]
• Spybot Search and Destroy [Anti-Malware and possibly a anti bad site host file modifications]
• ASUS AI Suite [Fan Control Ultility and BIOS Updater]
• Foolbar 2000 [Music Platyer, looking for a something that can play CUE+APE files that is usually released from the Comkit]
• mIRC [Internet Relay Chat, considering it since I used it to personally get XDCC files]

If you can provide a name or review of the software including the home site, I will have a look in it and trial the software out to see whether it user friendly enough.

 

[Anistahp]

• Zone Alarm [Firewall] -> Comodo firewall (get an older version, newer ones are sh!t ie, ones from June-Nov 2012)
• Spybot Search and Destroy -> No replacement, good enough runs only on-demand why would it cause a performance drop?
• Foolbar 2000 -> try http://mpc-hc.org/ or VLC www.videolan.org/vlc/
• mIRC -> Use HexChat http://hexchat.github.io/