Anti virus

Flash · **on:** January 24, 2009, 11:27:31 AM

Dudes and dudesses,

I currently use Norton Anti Virus 360. It is due to expire

Can you recommend to me a good free anti virus that has no strings attached and is safe to use.

My operating system is Vista.

Thanks in advance gang,

Flash

Leatherman123 · **Reply #1 on:** January 24, 2009, 03:29:15 PM

I'm in the same boat, as my Mcafee is about to expire as well!

cryptrick · **Reply #2 on:** January 24, 2009, 03:31:52 PM

Yep, get rid of Norton once it expires. Remember though that uninstalling Norton through the usual Add/Remove Programs doesn't usually get rid of all the traces. Best thing to do is uninstall it normally then download the Removal tool from Symantec themselves which will get rid of the other little bits. Removal Tool - http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

As far as Free Anti Virus' go there are the main 3:

AVG 8.0 Free
AVAST
Avira Anti Virus

Some people swear by AVG, some AVAST, some Avira lol. IMO Avira is now the best out of the 3. The only little thing with Avira is that it will occassionally popup a little window asking if you'd like to buy the full version, but this is the only limitation for it. Its lighter on resources than the other two and has better detection rates than the other two.

AVAST used to be pretty good but I've gone off it a bit as it runs quite sluggishly on Vista compared with the other two, and isn't the most user friendly.

AVG is not bad actually, v8.0 now updates silently in the background and its detections are quite good, but not as good as Avira.

Its always hard to choose but my opinion would be to try Avira, if you like it, stick with it, if you don't just try AVG

If you decide to pay for an Anti Virus go with kaspersky (which I use, its fab) or Nod32, both are bloody good.

cgjones · **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2009, 05:35:04 PM

I use ClamWin on my laptop.

Mike · **Reply #4 on:** January 24, 2009, 08:54:22 PM

On my wife's Windows XP laptop I run AVG 8.0 free version:
http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition

I also occasionally scan it with Malwarebytes.org Anti-Malware free version:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Note: Malwarebytes.org helped me rid a friend's computer of malware that Adaware and Spybot Search & Destroy could not. And that AVG and McAfee did not detect, let alone remove.

I have used the free versions of AVG for many, many years and have found it to be a good anti-virus package. Since we are behind a NAT firewall I do not run any Firewall software for attempts at entering our computers. However, I probably should be running something like Zone Alarm because ..... firewall software is not ONLY for attempts at getting into your system, but to alert you of stuff leaving your computer that you are not aware of which could be an indication of a problem.

I run Ubuntu 8.04 on my laptop so I am less concerned with Windows related issues. Also, our ISP has a server side spam filter and server side basic anti-virus protection which are very effective and provide good first lines of defense.

Another good resource Major Geeks.com, here their review of Malwarebytes.org Anti_malware software:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download5756.html

Mike

Medic82 · **Reply #5 on:** January 24, 2009, 10:18:13 PM

I used Norton 360 for almost a year but I ended up buying ESET NOD32 Smart Security package a couple of months ago and I love it to death.

Comparing ESET NOD32 to Norton is very easy. Norton is a good AV program but takes A LOT of resources while NOD32 is very resource friendly. With Norton it takes ages to scan through my PC with almost 1 TB of crap, but NOD32 scans it very quick.

When it comes to computer security I’m really paranoid and for 40–50$ a year I am guarantied a safe PC.

Pacu · **Reply #6 on:** January 24, 2009, 11:01:17 PM

Norton doesn't use up way too much system resources as the ole days. They even put in a system gauge to prove it in their Norton Internet Security.

I'm happy with it on all 3 of my computers. Two XP Pros and a Vista laptop.

DaveK · **Reply #7 on:** January 24, 2009, 11:30:31 PM

Agree with Pacu here. Norton isn't anywhere near as bad a sit used to be and I'm currently giving them another chance. I bought the 3 computer licence for Norton 360, and it's running fine on all 3 machines. I also wanted the parental controls though which was a big factor in my decision.

Medic82 · **Reply #8 on:** January 24, 2009, 11:42:36 PM

Quote from: pacu on January 24, 2009, 11:01:17 PM

Norton doesn't use up way too much system resources as the ole days. They even put in a system gauge to prove it in their Norton Internet Security.

I'm happy with it on all 3 of my computers. Two XP Pros and a Vista laptop.
[/qu
Quote from: DaveK on January 24, 2009, 11:30:31 PM
Agree with Pacu here. Norton isn't anywhere near as bad a sit used to be and I'm currently giving them another chance. I bought the 3 computer licence for Norton 360, and it's running fine on all 3 machines. I also wanted the parental controls though which was a big factor in my decision.

I have had the complete opposite experience with Norton and I noticed a huge difference when I uninstalled Norton and got NOD32

Mike · **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2009, 12:02:20 AM

I think the factors for speed or lack of speed depends on the combination of your hardware, operating system, and what third party software you have running at startup and/or in the background and what all is downloading (possibly installing) updates.

The culprit you think might be slowing you down, may or may not be the actual guilty party.

Just my .02
Mike

Tinnie · **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2009, 12:24:54 AM

I use a combination of 3 freeware products

AVG Free
Windows System Care
Spybot Search and Destroy

With this combination for years now it has saved my a few dollars to go towards MT's

Leatherman123 · **Reply #11 on:** January 25, 2009, 03:33:58 AM

I recently downloaded the AVG Free and it seems to be just as good as Mcafee!

donvito · **Reply #12 on:** January 25, 2009, 03:35:45 AM

We use AGV at work, works really well from what I can see.

Whoey · **Reply #13 on:** January 25, 2009, 12:01:09 PM

I generally bounce between AVG and AVAST on windows machines, I recommend AVAST to my inlaws who don't want to pay for an antivirus since it comes in Spanish as well. AVG free is only english (or was last I checked). AVAST requires you to signup on a page to get a 1year+ key each year or so... I did my brotherinlaws vista latop the other day and they gave it 21month extension or something crazy. I assume they work fine as they keep the machines pretty much uninfected (as I don't get weekly phonecalls asking me to fix their PC). They don't however makeup for user stupidity and blind clicking of popuplinks etc.

Mike · **Reply #14 on:** January 25, 2009, 11:49:24 PM

Quote from: Whoey on January 25, 2009, 12:01:09 PM

They don't however makeup for user stupidity and blind clicking of popuplinks etc.

Amen!

Mike

Medic82 · **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2009, 12:47:51 PM

Quote from: Whoey on January 25, 2009, 12:01:09 PM

They don't however makeup for user stupidity and blind clicking of popuplinks etc.

There was a Norwegian computer magazine that tested that. They deactivated the firewall and AV program, started to click on every popup window and offer they could find on the web, including the spam mail they got. After 4 hours the BOT or some other surveillance program the ISP used shut down the line cause it registered that the IP address was used for spamming.

stressmaster5000 · **Reply #16 on:** January 27, 2009, 08:09:43 PM

I have been using AVG for a long time now. Yes the newest version 8 was definitely slowing me down and I had to turn off a couple of things on it to improve my computers performance. After reading this thread I have installed Avast and have seen a significant improvement in computer performance. It seems like Avast will take over where AVG seems to have buggered up.

Biru · **Reply #17 on:** January 27, 2009, 08:16:51 PM

I too use Avast and have been very pleased with it. Some reviews complain about the media-player interface, but you can now download some very cool skins for Avast. I've had excellent luck with Avast.

ecfiffer · **Reply #18 on:** January 27, 2009, 08:35:56 PM

let me get on my high horse here as this is what i do everyday. avg is good but.... i prefer comodo's internet suite. firewall and av. their firewall is insane! and their av is nice and tweakable as well. i'm still running xp as windows 7 is out there on the horizon. also fwiw comodo also has a whole host of other free products out there. what can i say i'm cheap

or you can scrap your vista box and reload it with ubuntu and go opensource!

ecfiffer · **Reply #19 on:** January 29, 2009, 03:38:42 AM

sorry for got to get off my high horse...

no wonder everyone was looking at me strangly today....

DoughDTD · **Reply #20 on:** January 29, 2009, 07:14:25 AM

Avg Free coupled with Lavasoft's Free Ad-Aware and your computer AND wallet will be much happier!

-Dough

Flash · **Reply #21 on:** January 29, 2009, 04:28:09 PM

Thanks for the advice gang

FYI I have downloaded AVG.

Seems to like Vista

Leatherman123 · **Reply #22 on:** January 29, 2009, 10:13:52 PM

I did the same, thanks for the help guys!

Whoey · **Reply #23 on:** January 29, 2009, 11:48:47 PM

with the money saved there better be new multitools on the way or even better an MTO charter membership

Leatherman123 · **Reply #24 on:** January 30, 2009, 12:44:41 AM

I already have a few Charge's on the way! Dang, I still can't believe I don't have a charter membership! I am going to get one soon!

Benner · **Reply #25 on:** January 30, 2009, 12:46:04 AM

Quote from: Leatherman123 on January 30, 2009, 12:44:41 AM

I already have a few Charge's on the way! Dang, I still can't believe I don't have a charter membership! I am going to get one soon!

Be sure that you do.

Could you really cope with the flood of pokey sticks if you didn't?

Leatherman123 · **Reply #26 on:** January 30, 2009, 12:47:23 AM

LOL, every single time I plan on getting one, I end up buying something else!

Mike · **Reply #27 on:** January 30, 2009, 01:55:10 AM

Quote from: Leatherman123 on January 30, 2009, 12:47:23 AM

LOL, every single time I plan on getting one, I end up buying something else!

Look deep into my eyes. Get a charter membership, get a charter membership. Now, cluck like a chicken, cluck like a chicken.

Mike

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #28 on:** February 03, 2009, 02:35:28 AM

.........cluck...............cluck.............

Def

Jesse123 · **Reply #29 on:** January 21, 2010, 05:49:52 PM

you guys should really check out NOD32 it's very resource friendly and one of the best virus heuristics engine out there its a little pricey but hey most of the time you get what you pay for its around 60$ for 2 years it runs on win 95 to windows 7 and its 100 for 2 years if you need the fire wall etc which all travelling laptops need !!

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