anti-virus software

[tribalmasters]

I have the AVG 'Paid for edition' with it you get extra goodies such as firewall and better malware protection! We give them away to customers as the OEM price is low

When the nasties are really creeping up Combofix works well but isn't the easiest to use and disappeared due to a bug causing Windows tonot start but it may be back again!

 

[angelique510]

I'll give another vote to AVG. I use it and Malwarebytes, which has caught tons of stuff for me.

~A

 

[Timtam]

Free... heh. You get what you pay for. The reason that AVG is portrayed as being so good is that it doesn't detect much, so people think "Wow, this AV is really good, I am not being infected".
If you value your computer, and you purchase stuff over the internet, then pay for something good. I recommend a combination of an anti-virus and an anti-spyware/malware. They sound like the same thing, but they aren't at all. I use Kaspersky, and have for 2 years. Before that, I used ESET Nod32. They are both top-notch programs. Coupled with MalwareBytes Anti-Spyware, and you are pretty much good to go.

The best anti-virus and anti-spyware is yourself. If you are getting .exe emails, don't run them. If you download movies or songs via a program like Limewire or similar, or you are using "Cracked" versions of programs, then I can almost guarantee that there's something malicious binded with them.

If you value your personal information, then you have to be extremely vigilant in what you run, what sites you visit, who you accept any files from.

I also recommend a full format every 3 or so months. It removes everything, and keeps your system running at a good speed.

 

[mrjaguar]

I've been a professional geek for 20+ years, and avg is pretty good, so is eset/nod32. norton is absolute junk, it has a habit of breaking your internet connectivity when you uninstall it, and it's SLOW. in reality all anti virus apps lack in one area or another. and as far as anti virus apps with "anti spyware/malware" included in them, they're a joke. they typically slap on some cheesy app that'll detect a few of the more common spy-mal wares, then advertise the crap outta it. use spybot search and destroy or malwarebytes anti malware, both are good. spybot's active protection is called tea timer, and it works well, but it's really slow, and it eats up ram. malwarebytes active protection is only available if you pay for the license, but it works very well, and doesn't eat ram or processor. that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Wireguy]

Yea I got what I paid for. I've used Avast for several years. NEVER got infected. Multiple computers with no regard to where I went. Later I went with Linux. Free again.

While I agree that the best anti-virus and anti-spyware is yourself telling people they have to buy anti virus is to get anything good is BS. Telling people they have to pay infers that Norton (Symantec) and McAfee are good virus protection. Do you really think so? Have you ever gotten an infected computer with those? Yep every one.

I just wish I could get everyone to do a full format every 3 months. Heck I would be good with once a year. Be realistic with your advice. Preaching computer geek to the general population is foolish.

If all a person can afford is free it's better than nothing.

Free... heh. You get what you pay for. The reason that AVG is portrayed as being so good is that it doesn't detect much, so people think "Wow, this AV is really good, I am not being infected".
If you value your computer, and you purchase stuff over the internet, then pay for something good. I recommend a combination of an anti-virus and an anti-spyware/malware. They sound like the same thing, but they aren't at all. I use Kaspersky, and have for 2 years. Before that, I used ESET Nod32. They are both top-notch programs. Coupled with MalwareBytes Anti-Spyware, and you are pretty much good to go.

The best anti-virus and anti-spyware is yourself. If you are getting .exe emails, don't run them. If you download movies or songs via a program like Limewire or similar, or you are using "Cracked" versions of programs, then I can almost guarantee that there's something malicious binded with them.

If you value your personal information, then you have to be extremely vigilant in what you run, what sites you visit, who you accept any files from.

I also recommend a full format every 3 or so months. It removes everything, and keeps your system running at a good speed.

 

[Timtam]

Yea I got what I paid for. I've used Avast for several years. NEVER got infected. Multiple computers with no regard to where I went. Later I went with Linux. Free again.

There are good free AV's out there. It's just that some are better. I don't know about you, but when I am using my credit card and Paypal over the internet, I would like the best, or at least close to it.

While I agree that the best anti-virus and anti-spyware is yourself telling people they have to buy anti virus is to get anything good is BS. Telling people they have to pay infers that Norton (Symantec) and McAfee are good virus protection. Do you really think so? Have you ever gotten an infected computer with those? Yep every one.

You picked 2 of the most terrible AV's out there. You can't base "BS" calls off the worst anti-virus programs out there.

I just wish I could get everyone to do a full format every 3 months. Heck I would be good with once a year. Be realistic with your advice. Preaching computer geek to the general population is foolish.

If all a person can afford is free it's better than nothing.

No doubt something is better than nothing, that goes for anything, but if you can go for something good, why not do that?

And I don't appreciate the call about me preaching to be a computer geek. No doubt I don't know everything, if I did, I wouldn't be posting here. But I do know a fair amount. Just as it seems you do too. But I don't go around saying that people are foolish when they have different views to me.

 

[tribalmasters]

OK this has gone far enough!! All this "I'm so 1337 because I use ***"

The answer my friend is...wait for it...L...Li...LINUX!!!!!!!!!!!

Now do the Linux dance and sing with me My PC runs linux, my Dingoo runs Linux, my router runs Linux, my GP2X Wiz runs Linux, my Nintendo DS runs Linux, my Wiiiiii runs LINUXXXX and my washing machine runs DOS

8-o What are you all looking at me like that for!?!? 8-o 8-o

 

[Daifne]

When the nasties are really creeping up Combofix works well but isn't the easiest to use and disappeared due to a bug causing Windows tonot start but it may be back again!

It is back (just used it today with a fresh download), but, Combofix should ONLY be used by those who know what they're doing. You can trash your system if you don't. I NEVER recommend it to customers or to those I help in the Mozillazine forums. If it is required to remove things on the forum users machines, I direct them to the sites that assist them with using it such as Bleeping Computer. This is a "DO NOT try this at home" program

 

[VictorySpeedway]

My computer guru recommends AVG.

It's free.

You should hear what he says about Norton /McAfee. I'd get kicked off these boards if I quoted him.... YIKES!!!

 

[Timtam]

I hear Norton 2010 is actually pretty good. But with their bad reputation, I can't see it being popular.

 

[sixofusernames]

i think so far AVG has the most votes, second is avast. definately no norton, got it. i dont know about this stuff. i do download from limewire, do banking online, and purchase vaping supplies. and research stuff. thats about it. keep it comin' guys, thanks !! leila (original poster)

 

[BardicDruid]

My job is to clean the garbage out of other peoples pc's, Norton and McAfee don't stop anything. I always recommend either Avast or AVG, they're simple and easy to use and work. The only drawback to them are if they get hosed, you know your up against a real hacker. In that case just format and reinstall.

 

[john doe]

for spyware i like spybot s&d and adaware. also spyware blaster but that basically blocks sites that are known for spyware. all 3 are free.

 

[LukeNM]

Another vote for Avast! FREE for personal use...

 

[tribalmasters]

My job is to clean the garbage out of other peoples pc's, Norton and McAfee don't stop anything. I always recommend either Avast or AVG, they're simple and easy to use and work. The only drawback to them are if they get hosed, you know your up against a real hacker. In that case just format and reinstall.

Ahh yes!! Norton will sit there with a green tick whilst some malware such as Winantispyware2010 is popping up hehehe!

Haven't seen it happen with Norton 2010 yet though so there is still hope!!

Is anyone happily using the paid for edition of AVG?

My situation is I have just AVG paid for edition on my Windows 7, Spybot and AVG free take care of the Windows XP partition. Firefox browser with NoSdcript and Ad-block plus on both partitions! So far Windows XP is a year and a half old and has not had an infection and Windows 7 is a few months and no viruses!

I would be really angry is some malware got in the way of my enjoyment of Flight simulator!!

 

[LibertyRevolution]

If your going free, Avast is better than AVG.
AVG is no good in my opinion, I have seen way to many things get by it..

Norton and McAfee are bloated system hogging useless garbage.

I use NOD32 and Malwarebytes, Firefox w/ AdBlockPlus and NoScript.
I have not had a virus on this computer in over 2 years.

If you saw how many times NoScript blocks clearclick and other malicious things on facebook, you would never use IE again..

Its cool though, I make good money cleaning computers of all this malware crap that gets auto installed on all these newbs computers running IE...

I highly recommend:
NOD32 + Malwarebytes + Firefox + AdBlockPlus plugin + NoScript plugin = Very Safe.

 

[LibertyRevolution]

man... I seen that "antivirus" malware completely remove retail copies of both norton and mcafee. Also, seen it consume and replace windows live one care and windows defender.

90% of the infected computers I have to deal with are malware infected.
Its way more common than virus are, and Norton and Mcafee both suck on the malware.

 

[malyden]

I do computer tech support. I also spend a lot of time cleaning viruses etc from peoples computers. The ones that I use are Avast Home (free edition - make sure to check the settings so that it updates automatically), malwarebytes Malwarebytes.org and spybot search and destroy The home of Spybot-S&D!. These are all free versions - malwarebytes and spybot must be updated and run manually - I suggest at least once a week. Avast avast! Free Antivirus - Download Software for Virus Protection is nice because you can set it to run a scan on restart before windows loads.
Kaspersky Home Computer Security - Kaspersky Lab United States is also a very good antivirus but is not free.
What ever you do DO NOT click on the Antivirus 2009 (2010 etc) popups that you may have seen it is a very NASTY VIRUS and can be difficult to remove.

 

[catlvr]

The gentleman that fixed my computer last year put AVG on it for me and I just bought Webroot AntiVirus w/Spysweeper. Some how got that PC Security virus on it and Webroot was recommended. It seems to be working good although I still haven't been able to remove all of the virus yet. It still pops up once in awhile. I'm not computer savy.

 

[malyden]

The gentleman that fixed my computer last year put AVG on it for me and I just bought Webroot AntiVirus w/Spysweeper. Some how got that PC Security virus on it and Webroot was recommended. It seems to be working good although I still haven't been able to remove all of the virus yet. It still pops up once in awhile. I'm not computer savy.

Webroot is a good antivirus too. The PC Security virus will popup if you go to a website that has been infected or click on certain links, it also sometimes will re-direct your searches so just be very careful and make sure to backup any important documents/pictures etc because I have seen a couple viruses lately that the only way to totally get rid of them was to reformat the hard drive and reinstall everything.