Anti Virus software

[bkeeler]

I did a search but came up with nothing. What anti virus software should I get? My computer is being worked on to remove a virus and was wondering what virus protection software to get. The one I had did not work very well. Look in the hate forum!

Thanks!

BK

[MT_Bear]

I've had several products over the years, and I believe Symantec's Norton series are the best. Once you install Norton with the default settings, it continues to update and operate without much notice or problems. Many other AV products (such as McAfee) get intertwined with every program and leave a lot of registry junk. Norton is usually one of the quickest to update their virus signatures and their web site with new virus info.

The one thing I seldom do is renew my subscriptions - I've found that you can usually buy the new product for less than their subscription renewal rates.

Good luck!

[The_Vigilante]

I use the free version of Avast AntiVirus. It updates itself. Haven't had any problems. YMMV. Are you also using Microsoft Security Essentials? If not, you should be. It is free also.

Edited July 19, 2010 by The_Vigilante

[bkeeler]

. Are you also using Microsoft Security Essentials? If not, you should be. It is free also.

Will that work with firefox?

[spanky]

Avast or Avira. Both have free versions.

Norton is garbage.

[j2fast]

I've been using the free version of AVG's anti-virus product on all my computers and my families computers for several years, I highly recommend it.

[Corey]

Trend-Micro has some pretty good stuff. I'm using their PC-cillin software. Also try to find something with anti-malware/anti-spyware. That craps seems to cause mroe problems than anything.

[JThompson]

Avast along with Zonealarm firewall works well for me, both are free versions for home use.

I would stay clear of any Norton product, they are resource sucking pigs.

JT

[gabriowillson]

Yes Avast is good but now a day the Microsoft Security Essentials is best antivirus. It is free to download and free to update so thats great now you dont need to pay for antivirus.

[cslafrain]

I have tried many over the years but Kaspersky Internet Security is the absolute best for active scanning. Passive scanning free-ware has several good ones but Malwarebytes works well for $0.

[CocoBolo]

Norton 2010 Internet Security. I put it on my new Windoze 7 machine I have been very impressed with how well it works. In the past Norton has been fairly resource hungry but this version is much better than all of the previous versions.

[Putty]

Vipre.

Norton is junk IMO. Malwarebytes is not up to the task on trojans.

[Jman]

I have had nightmares with (older versions) of Norton Security apps back in the W95 and W98 days. I am sure they have improved on the proprietary mess that they used to peddle.

My last "build" fried a year ago and I picked up a new tower. My first store bought system. I had all included apps removed but retained Explorer, Works, Web-Root Anti Virus and Spy Sweeper. Small, unobtrusive and very effective. Pretty cheap too.

I have the free Avast running on a couple laptops with no issues as well.

Edited July 28, 2010 by Jman

[DWPatriot]

+1 for Avast.

I have used most of the other major brands (McAfee, Norton, Trend, etc.) over the years both at home and at work (I work in IT). The big three all started out good products, but have become so bloated over the years that I can no longer recommend them for home use. I have used Avast for a couple of years at home with no problems.

[bkeeler]

Thanks everyone. I am now using Avast and Zonealarm.

[bkeeler]

P.S and staying away from FB!

[Graham Smith]

Some of the technically best software can also be very complicated. A lot of people who work with computers for a living (like me) have found that AVG Internet security works well, is easy to install and use and is reasonably priced.

[Pat Miles]

Do any of the above products offer ad blocking and pop up blocking. Norton used to have a free download that worked well. I lost it when my computer was hit with a virus (protected by Norton at the time). Now they don't offer it. I have had a terrible history with Norton and will be dumping them when my subscription ends. I run Firefox.

Thanks,

Pat

[Field]

why do people even bother getting anti virus software, waste of money and computing resources, i've had 2 computers both running a windows OS and did not have a lick of virus protection and i never got ANY viruses.

if you got a virus you either

A: wasnt careful when looking at some wierd file you were going to download

B: went on some sick animal porn fetish website

C: downloaded junk off napster or limewire or some crap which is stupid anyways

[bkeeler]

why do people even bother getting anti virus software, waste of money and computing resources, i've had 2 computers both running a windows OS and did not have a lick of virus protection and i never got ANY viruses.

if you got a virus you either

A: wasnt careful when looking at some wierd file you were going to download

B: went on some sick animal porn fetish website

C: downloaded junk off napster or limewire or some crap which is stupid anyways

I don't know how I got the virus but everything was fine until I opened a FB account and a few months later POW! I don't do the things mentioned above either. So no more FB for me YMMV.

[Field]

FB account what is that

[The_Vigilante]

Pat,

Firefox should have both a popup and adblocker as part of it's browser package. And if they don't I know it can be added on as a third party app.

[bkeeler]

FB account what is that

Facebook

[Graham Smith]

why do people even bother getting anti virus software, waste of money and computing resources, i've had 2 computers both running a windows OS and did not have a lick of virus protection and i never got ANY viruses.

And I've never been in an auto accident, but I still have insurance.

I've been using computers as part of my job since 1972. And I've used anti-virus software since it first was available around 1992 (that's well before Windows and the Internet). In all that time, I've never had a computer of mine get infected, but that's not to say that I have not been exposed. I've gotten files from perfectly legitimate sources (including a couple big companies) that were infected and the only thing that kept me safe was my anti-virus software.

You can go "bareback" if you want, but I'll stick with my protection, thank you. And I suggest that others do the same.

[SiG Lady]

I just yesterday dropped in at my local computer people's shop to re-up my subscription to CA Anti-Virus software (annual, $35, on CD, u-install). However, they announced that many of the familiar names in anti-badstuff software (free or otherwise) were allowing a lot of badstuff to come thru on many of their clients' systems... so... they researched a number of things and decided to recommend Microsoft Security Essentials [someone in this thread mentioned it]. It's free for the moment--but I'm willing to pay a little something for a security package if it WORKS. So that's the latest from MY computer techhies--and they've been pretty up-to-date and reliable in their services over the years.