Good Anti-Virus Software

bigstick · 4 Feb 2009, 19:45

I have been using the free version of AVG Antivirus (http://free.avg.com/)for years, and found it to be great!

I have been using Gizmo's Best Freeware (http://www.techsupportalert.com/) for free Windows apps. I can wholeheartedly recommend it, because it attempts to look for the best examples of freeware for any purpose, and evaluates the best examples.

For the Mac I used to use coolosxapps.net (http://www.coolosxapps.net/) until it became subscription only. Shame - it was great and is a little to expensive for me at the current exchange rate - Sterling is still suffering at the moment.

Gaieus · 5 Feb 2009, 10:09

I also used to use AVG and I did like it although for some reason, this Avast sems top be more "convenient" for me now. But I can't say anything wrong about AVG

solo · 5 Feb 2009, 10:14

If there is one thing that I can with confidence recommend it will be Microsofts 'One care', I use it for my entire network and has been perfect for all my needs.

http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/3/default.htm

Aidus · 5 Feb 2009, 10:18

Well I don't use antivirus. Just periodicaly format all my pc This process does not use lot of ram and is very fast with help of symantec's ghost

Gaieus · 5 Feb 2009, 10:21

@aidus said:

Well I don't use antivirus. Just periodicaly format all my pc

If I used Vista, maybe I would do the same...

Aidus · 5 Feb 2009, 10:37

Actually it's not because of Vista. Antivirus is taking lot of system resources and if You are careful in internet then I think there is no need for such thing as antivirus. I never had problems with viruses

Gaieus · 5 Feb 2009, 10:59

It wa just a joke.

And yes, realtime and online antivirus scanning can eat up considerable resources but when you really want those resources, you can alwas turn on "luxury" apps (as well as Internet connection).

huyvuvn · 5 Feb 2009, 11:56

I'm using Kaspersky and it's good !

nomeradona · 9 Feb 2009, 03:23

@huyvuvn said:

I'm using Kaspersky and it's good !
kaspersky is good its just 200,000 VND (12 USD) for one year subscription with full support and updates. but my lap top i really love AVG free. i ve been using it for a year now and im happy.

linea · 9 Feb 2009, 10:43

I use free AVG. Being a bit of a paranoid conspiracy theorist I often wonder if Norton, McAfee and the other big expensive anti-virus program developers are also the virus developers. It is a very lucrative industry.

mateo soletic · 9 Feb 2009, 11:08

Once infected this app: Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is a really effective antimalware tool I would strongly recommend , it removes all trojams and executable viruses. It is also capable of distinguishing between real and false threats.

chango70 · 9 Feb 2009, 15:03

I've been using Kaspersky for 2 years now. Not a hitch.

2kemon · 9 Feb 2009, 20:22

Comodo delivers quality free products.
I use their all-in-one package CIS (Comodo Internet Security), and it keeps my systems healthy without adds or too many nags. They have several free cofigurations, so you can choose to your liking.
Threatfire is another interesting freeware firewall!
Both are lightweighters in the memory consumption department.

utiler · 6 Apr 2009, 00:47

I've been using AVG pro for nearly two years and am happy to look at an alternative as it wants to scan everything!!!!! Even after filtering my start-up process it still takes at least 2 minutes to start my computer in the morning...
I'm running XP SP3 on a Core 2 Quad [Q6600 @ 2.4GHz], 4Gb RAM with a Quadro FX570 card so I would have thought my start-up would have been better.... Closing down is just as bad; click on shut down button and again, another 2 minutes of waiting for exit....

I subscribe to a NFP group called Choice which is a consumer organisation within Australia. They conducted a survey a little while back and Kaspersky and McFee Virus Scan was the two that they recommended...
I will certainly be considering them both and hoping that I came get my desktop up sooner!!!

Gaieus · 6 Apr 2009, 01:47

I don't know, Andrew, I used to have AVG Free edition and that was not as annoying as you described. Lately I've changed to Avast (free for personal use again) and I am quite contented with it, too. All that I set it to scan at startup is RAM and it dos it quite fast (true that I only have 2Gb of it)

jeff hammond · 6 Apr 2009, 03:14

.

Viruses?

i just wipe my computer with LYSOL.. it's a very cheap solution for keeping those pesky viruses at bay...

[i can't believe this thread has made it to page two without some lame 'get-a-mac' post ]

utiler · 6 Apr 2009, 03:26

thanks Csaba, might have a look at that one too.... And yours Jeff, thanks.

Someone told me the other day that MAC is starting to have their one virus problems.... anyone?

jeff hammond · 6 Apr 2009, 03:54

@utiler said:

thanks Csaba, might have a look at that one too.... And yours Jeff, thanks.

Someone told me the other day that MAC is starting to have their one virus problems.... anyone?

OS X has been out 10 years and there's still not been one virus.. trojans yes but viruses no..
on macs, trojans have to be activated by the user in order for them to do their thing.. basically:
"type in your system password so i can install this app which you know nothing about"

the trojans prey on users stupidity but even then, it isn't self-propagating like a virus.. i've only heard about trojans and never experienced it first hand or heard it from someone that actually had one.. always hearsay..

every few months, Intego will try to spread the word about new mac viruses/trojans and their software will keep you safe.. lame, lame marketing if you ask me but they probably do pretty good with it.. especially from people recently switching to mac..

i've used macs for 16 years and have never used any sort of anti-virus software.. in that amount of time, you can imagine that my computer has been to some pretty sketchy websites etc but i've never had a problem regarding viruses..

[sorry for taking the thread off topic]

caddict · 6 Apr 2009, 04:15

agree with 2kemon. have been using comodo for a couple of years now...their internet security suite is great

utiler · 6 Apr 2009, 04:23

@unknownuser said:

@utiler said:

thanks Csaba, might have a look at that one too.... And yours Jeff, thanks.

Someone told me the other day that MAC is starting to have their one virus problems.... anyone?

OS X has been out 10 years and there's still not been one virus.. trojans yes but viruses no..
on macs, trojans have to be activated by the user in order for them to do their thing.. basically:
"type in your system password so i can install this app which you know nothing about"

the trojans prey on users stupidity but even then, it isn't self-propagating like a virus.. i've only heard about trojans and never experienced it first hand or heard it from someone that actually had one.. always hearsay..

every few months, Intego will try to spread the word about new mac viruses/trojans and their software will keep you safe.. lame, lame marketing if you ask me but they probably do pretty good with it.. especially from people recently switching to mac..

i've used macs for 16 years and have never used any sort of anti-virus software.. in that amount of time, you can imagine that my computer has been to some pretty sketchy websites etc but i've never had a problem regarding viruses..

[sorry for taking the thread off topic]

no need to say sorry Jeff, it is an enviable situation to be in..... I just need the guts and time to change!!!