Whats the best anti-virus software?

[admin_exported]

Helllo, I currently have some form of norton anti-virus software on my pc and its run out.

What I would like to know is whats the best anti-virus to get for home computing and are there any decent freeware ones available.

Thanks.

 

[margetti]

Norton (Symantec) & McAfee are the big ones, Kaspersky is the IT geeks favourite.

ÿAVG is ok for free, but you get what you pay for. Problem with the free ones is that although they offer a reasonable level of protection, they can be slow to react to new vulnerabilities, leaving you open for a longer period than you would with the paid-for products.ÿ

 

[Gerrardasnails]

margetti:
Norton (Symantec) & McAfee are the big ones, Kaspersky is the IT geeks favourite.

ÿAVG is ok for free, but you get what you pay for. Problem with the free ones is that although they offer a reasonable level of protection, they can be slow to react to new vulnerabilities, leaving you open for a longer period than you would with the paid-for products.ÿ

I must be a geek!

 

[margetti]

Gerrardasnails:margetti:
Norton (Symantec) & McAfee are the big ones, Kaspersky is the IT geeks favourite.

ÿAVG is ok for free, but you get what you pay for. Problem with the free ones is that although they offer a reasonable level of protection, they can be slow to react to new vulnerabilities, leaving you open for a longer period than you would with the paid-for products.ÿ

I must be a geek!

ÿAnd moi!ÿ

 

[John Duncan]

Mac OSX.

But I must be a cheapskate, since I use the free AVG on my laptop to good effect.

 

[Anonymous]

I rely on Bitdefender! In some tests, it was the best av software.

If you get the Internet Security package, you also get a bunch of goodies (firewall, game mode, file vault, parental control, anti-phishing, IM ecryption).

The free edition is also a good choice, but you do not get real-time support.

 

[Dave_]

Well I got McAfee free from my bank last year (which expired last friday) and had been impressed by it so bought the McAffee Total Protection 2009 to replace it, and it is/was available at less than half price in the pc world sale atm(£25 for 3 user edition).

Have also used Norton's in the past which i didn't find anywhere near as good as McAfee and a complete PITA to completely remove/uninstall from your pc when done with it.

 

[Ravey Gravey Davy]

daveh75:

Well I got McAfee free from my bank last year (which expired last friday) and had been impressed by it so bought the McAffee Total Protection 2009 to replace it, and it is/was available at less than half price in the pc world sale atm(£25 for 3 user edition).

Have also used Norton's in the past which i didn't find anywhere near as good as McAfee and a complete PITA to completely remove/uninstall from your pc when done with it.

Likewise McAfee- doesn't interfere too often and pretty good on the updates. Ditched Norton 2 years agur IT support push Kaspersky as well.

 

[Craig M.]

comodo firewall/anti virus/malware. free as well. a year or so ago, comodo where beating everyone in security tests - don't know if that's still the case.

 

[kena]

I use Bitdefender , have no issues with it , also McAfee is very good, switched purely due to price. Norton is slow and hard to uninstall and I think quite poor value for money.

 

[russ74]

I use the free version of AntiVir which has a good reputation. Free version does have a pop up when it updates asking you to buy the full product & won't scan emails if you use email client software.AVG, Comodo and Avast! are other alternatives.Mac's cost money, Linux is the ultimate free alternative!.

 

[RodhasGibson]

I"m not a geek but I do have Kapersky, Do find it okay though so far.[had it since oct 2008]

 

[southdownswolf]

Being a "cheapskate" at the moment with AVG. However laptop is clear of infection and I never run into problems as I update daily and run tests weekly.
I used to use Kaspersky and would thoroughly recommend it if you want the added piece of mind.It doesn't hog resources like Norton and McAfee.

 

[ElectroMan]

BitDefender! Which updates every 60 minutes, and includes encryption, system tools, game mode, browser anti-phishing utility etc.

BD's updates are done in the background, and are non-intrusive (you don't have to have a browser open, unlike some others).

Personally, I think both Norton's and McAfee could really do with a make-over, as in my experience they are slow and clunky.

You should also look at (free!) anti-spyware utilities such as SpywareBlaster and Spybot - Search and Destroy.

 

[up the music]

My AVG install worked fine until it kept falling over and refusing to update even with a new OS install.

I'm currently using free versions of AntiVir for viruses, ZoneAlarm firewall and AdAware 2008. Touch wood, all is working great.

It's probably true that to some extent you get what you pay for. Antivirus software is not a replacement for regular back ups.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd avoid mcafee, didnt have a problem until i tried renewing the subscription when i ended up having to reinstall the whole system to stop the mess it caused.

Used Kaspersky with no problems for a while though.

 

[aliEnRIK]

Mcafee is awful

if your going to buy ~ NOD32 or Kaspersky

for free ~ AVIRA or AVAST

I fix computers for fun so have a fair idea what im talking about

For extra protection use SPYBOT, MALWAREBYTES and SUPERANTISPYWARE

PCTOOLS FIREWALL (Especially if you dont have a NAT router)

and for browsing use FIREFOX with the NOSCRIPT plugin

(All programs free bar NOD and Kaspersky ~ feel free to ask any questions)

 

[idc]

I have used Mcafee for years on various computers with only one issue, it runs on every startup and can slow everything down to a point that I give up and have to leave the computer for a few minutes to settle.

 

[aliEnRIK]

Heres some comparitive tests

Notice how LOW Mcafee is (And thats not even taking into account the resources it uses and how much it slows down computers)

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

(id have sent the DIRECT link, but for some reason you have to navigate to it yourself)

 

[manicm]

They're probably more hated than Microsoft, but without question plain vanilla Norton Anti-Virus 2009, it's effective, efficient and fast. Norton got on the right track with 2008 which was also pretty good.

For efficiency geeks like me just turn off Automatic updates, it frees up a few precious resources, and one is still reminded to download updates which is fine.

 

[aliEnRIK]

Nortons terrible with basic 'windows viruses'

When I clean (or help clean) people computers. MOST of them have Mcafee, Norton or AVG free

Youd be amazed at the amount of spyware gets on their machines

If anyone thinks their computers 'clean' but want to double check. Run these 2 ~

Download MALWAREBYTES (Make sure you click 'DOWNLOAD NOW')

http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html
UPDATE and FULL SCAN

Post the log here AFTER youve deleted everything it finds

Download SUPERANTISPYWARE (Make sure you click 'DOWNLOAD LATEST VERSION')

http://www.filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/
UPDATE and PERFORM COMPLETE SCAN

 

[Cliff1]

I had McAfee for 8 years,didn't have any problems apart from it taking forever to load.I had seperate anti virus & firewall.On renewal i found that they were now in a bundle so wasn't going to pay for the firewall again,i downloaded the free Avast,this seems to update every day.

My McAfee firewall has now expired & i now run Avast anti virus,the Vista Windows firewall & Windows defender.

Must be doing something right because i just downloaded & ran the Malwarebytes program,it took 43mins to complete but didn't find anything.Can only assume that the 3 i run are doing a good job.

 

[aliEnRIK]

For anyone thats removed Mcafee (Or indeed Norton or AVG)

Download HIJACK THIS (Make sure you click 'DOWNLOAD LATEST VERSION')
http://www.filehippo.com/download_hijackthis/
SCAN and look through the log. Any AVG, Mcafee or Symantic in the log indicates theres still some in there

Use the relevent removal tools

Norton ~

http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

Mcafee ~

http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100507

AVG ~

http://www.avg.com/download-tools

Getting 'nasties' on the computer is more to do with 'surfing habits' than the software used to protect you against them

 

[margetti]

This thread has reminded me of my early days in IT, before the internet came along, when we'd visit each and every PC and update the anti virus with floppy disk. The virus definition files were only updated about once every 3 months... them were the days.

 

[kena]

margetti:This thread has reminded me of my early days in IT, before the internet came along, when we'd visit each and every PC and update the anti virus with floppy disk. The virus definition files were only updated about once every 3 months... them were the days.

They didn't even have terminals when I started in IT, used to control the mainframe via golf ball typewriter filled a large room and was only 1 Meg, Lots of flashing lights tho..