AntiVirus suggestions

[kinetic]

Hi,

Now that AVG seem to not support 7.5 anymore can anyone
recommend a good freeware AVirus program?

I have a few XP PCs in the house, some on AVG 8.5 , some not.
The 8.5 runs a lot slower when browsing and the 7.5 machines
still got updates until Apr 30.

I've heard AVAST is just as good as AVG?

Thanks, in advance,

Steve

[Howzat]

Bitdefender Free (http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en--BitDefender-Free-Edition.html)

[andrew2008]

Avast IMHO is better than AVG. Have used it for about 18 months and about to re-register again.

[Shaun]

Avast is good

[wasyoungonce]

Avast (free)....if only for their antivirus screen saver & no annoying pop-ups like AVG.

Avast antivirus can also scan your computer while in screen saver mode.....saved me a few times!

It's also easy to integrate Avast with firefox to automatically virus scan downloads using download statusbar.

[dpastern]

Not free - but very good value and the best AV on the market imho - kaspersky labs. I picked up a 3 licence, 2 year KAV Internet Security Suite, with a copy of the installation CD for AU $170 - very good value imho.

AVG was OK, but had too many issues for my liking - updates would always get screwed up and you had to uninstall/reinstall every few months.

I haven't used AVAST, so can't say too much about it in all honesty.

You could always switch to a better (i.e. more reliable and secure) system like GNU/Linux. I always find it amazing that people want a reliable and secure system, but insist on using Windows. That said, XP SP 3 and Vista are much better efforts from Microsoft in both regards.

Dave

[outwestwa]

Hi Steve
I know you said you wanted a free one but you don’t have much choice if your are prepared to pay for one then I would suggest NOD32 I have found this one out performs a lot of others on the market it has found virus that McAfee and Norton have not it is also not as resource hungry as some others are. I hope this help
Laurie

[astronut]

Steve,
You already have one of the best overall systems out there, AVG 8.5.
Since I dumped Norton's and Zonealarm and installed AVG 8.5, my computer runs better and I haven't had any problems with viruses or hackers.
I've been running this software since Oct 08.
I would recommend it highly.

[mick pinner]

the AVG firwall gave me nothing but grief.

[xstream]

I also highly recommend NOD32 (http://www.eset.com/) since using it I've never had any problem what so ever.

[wasyoungonce]

AVG 8.0 and up included things like "link scanner" that checks your hyper links before allowing you to see the page ...and lots more stuff with their resident shield. All this is good stuff...except it slowed all my computers to a crawl.

Avast free has similar scanners but I have found their software a lot less intrusive & resource hogging than Avast (or Norton's).

They both work well but I feel Avast is faster & simpler to use.

[RB]

I agree.
Since changing to NOD32/ESET I've had no problems at all !!!

I couldn't wait to get rid of Norton's.

Highly recommend NOD32.

:thumbsup:

[kinetic]

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Wasyoungonce: that's been my experience exactly with 8.0/8.5 AVG.

cheers,

Steve

[acropolite]

We use Nod 32 at work, I have to agree with the others it's hard to beat, it treads very lightly on resources, Avast is what I use at home, also very good. As far as AVG goes I wouldn't use the current versions even if they were free, IMO they have become bloatware.

[Davekyn]

AVAST...been installing it for years on many many peoples computers... don't forget to use a mallware program as well. IMHO...These days it's pointless cleaning your system with an anti virus without using a Mallware program as well...good luck either way.;) Don't let the fact that you paid for it make you think its better...just register and keep updating...Leave the office workers to argue which one is better than the other...hehe:eyepop:

[Glenhuon]

I've been using AVG since V.7, both the free and paid one, (now on 8.5) and have'nt noticed any problems with slowing of the system. It seems to be the most unintrusive of the lot. (Don't start me about Norton, darn thing IS a virus. :) )
I've used the PCtools one Spyware Doctor (buy only), includes Anti Virus and it performed well but did seem to put a drag on the system at times.
Biggest problem I've found with most virus/spyware cleanups I've done is the user not keeping the program up to date. Rusty armour lessens the protection :)

Bill

[Craig.a.c]

I have been using the free version of AVG on my laptop and haven't had a problem yet, seems to be doing the job.


On my PC I am using Norton 360, wish I didn't waste my money on it, it has cause me nothing but headaches since the day I installed it.

[wasyoungonce]

More than likely it's because of the Link Scanner they introduced.

You can disable it if you want to stay with AVG...this will probably improve things:

http://free.avg.com/faq.num-1241#faq_1241

[Davekyn]

YES...I should of warned you about Norton! Stay away from it...it's more for paitriats, it's just a name...a name you will come to despise if you ever use it. It's like taking along the kitchen sink on an ultralight hiking trip, creating more problems than it's worth! Stay away from Nortons! :)

[Liz]

Hey David .... what is a good malware program? I do have SpyDoctor from PC Tools, but not sure if its Malware.

[dpastern]

Nortons sucks, I wouldn't use it with a 120 parsec barge pole. Some of us in the industry call Norton's a virus ;-)

Malware - spybot search & destroy, antispyware is another one. That's about all I'd recommend.

The biggest thing with AV and spyware is common sense.

Oh, and try FireFox and the "noscript" add-on. That'll kill a lot of the crap imho.

Dave

[Glenhuon]

If you have the latest and up to date version of Spyware Doctor (5?), it covers Virus, Spyware and Malware.

Bill

[iceman]

I hate Nortons with a passion. It was so hard just to UNINSTALL when I wanted to get rid of it.

I use AVG at home but it keeps nagging me about upgrading. I might try Avast.

[Glenhuon]

Unfortunately none of the suggested can guard against this virus.

FIRST CELEBRITY VICTIM OF SWINE FLU. Wonder where he caught it? :)

[Sentinel]

I am using Avast Professional v4.8 with Home Server management.

Finally a product that is friendly to the machine and does not get in the way. Very good performance in nabbing the bad stuff. I run it on all the machines at work and it does stop infections.

Use the free version.

[Liz]

Yep, thanks Bill, it does :)

ps ..... Naughty Miss Piggy :whistle:

I have been using free AVG for a few years with no problems.

[dpastern]

Sadly, Mike, that's *everything* installed on the Windows platform. It's a horrid platform for software installation imho.

Dave

[kinetic]

Well I've given Avast a test run for the last day on my lad's PC
and it seems to be better as far as browser speed goes compared
to AVG.

Another issue worth mentioning, I installed two completely separate
'net nanny' type packages on his PC, only to find AVAST found
a known trojan in both self extracting EXEs....Nice one! :mad2:

Good one AVAST, you have my attention!:thumbsup:

Thanks again for the suggestions people!

Steve

[Jen]

:screwy::screwy: yeah well i have been using AVG for many years now and it has always been great up until the last few updates it made my computer go haywire and i couldnt even get into my computer at one stage :mad2: after a long late night of finally deleting AVG, my computer has been perfect ever since :D i might give AVAST a go too :thumbsup:

[dpastern]

Steve - I suspect that those "trojans" are probably heuristic false alarms. Especially if it was software that you paid for, and was made by a reputable company.

Wait until rootkits become more popular, and they start writing themselves into firmware on videocards/soundcards - don't laugh, it's most certainly do-able. Pretty much can't get rid of the suckers without removing hardware and buying new stuff to replace it.

As to AV - I can pretty much guarantee that if I really wanted to, I could find software on the net to write viruses that would get past pretty much every AV on the planet. If you really want to be safe, don't have a computer. Seriously. As Hudson in Aliens said:

"it's the only way to be sure".

Jen - I'd say your problems are stemming from a very tired Windows XP system, and possibly viruses on it. Ignore the fact that you had AV software installed on the system, in reality, it means jack you know what. I found conficker on my dad's PC, and he had McAffee AV (up to date too) on his system...so much for that ;-) Oh, and Trendmicro's online AV and Norton's online AV found jack, it was up to Kaspersky Labs online scanner to find it.

I have no experience with AVAST, but it does rate very well - few false alarms, catches a very high percentage of both known and viruses in the wild. There are other tools to employ to help keep an eye on your system, but you have to know what you're doing and know what is right, and what is wrong on the system. I can usually tell from a quick scan of HKLM\software\microsoft\windows\cur rent version\run in the registry what is right, as well as from processes, system startup files (start > run > msconfig.exe), services etc.

This sort of thing is why I prefer a UNIX or UNIX like system - security by design. There's nothing like a freeBSD jail chroot system ;-) mmm actually, Solaris containers will do the trick as well.

Dave

[kinetic]

Most of that went over my head!
You're scaring me Dave, I might make a nice hot cup of tea and
have a lie down :):scared3:

Steve

[dpastern]

The net is not a safe place. Not even on the safest platform, especially with cross platform scripting like JavaScript, Java, perl, php. PHP is notorious for being insecure, although php5 is better by all accounts.

Anything connected to an Internet connection can be cracked. Note the correct term is crack/cracking, not hack/hacking. Hacking is something completely different, ask RMS and he'll give you a drilling about it.

Dave

[MrB]

I was using AVGfree for years, then I got an Acer laptop and read worrying things about AVG and Acers... so I'm running with nothing at the moment. Might give AVAST a go, cheers for starting this thread Steve.

Been using Spybot S&D for years too, but for some time now it's never found a single thing after a scan... which is a little worrying!!

[Glenhuon]

I've had a couple of instances of AVG being nobbled by something, no AV is perfect and there's always some clown out there who thinks its clever to write something to do damage. :screwy:
One thing I have come across with AVG is, if you are upgrading to a higher version, remove the existing one, deleting the user settings and leaving the virus vault intact. Do a full install of the latest version. Have had instances of just upgrading over the top of the old installation screwing everything up.

Bill


My mate in Bunbury has used Avast for some time and is very happy with its performance, give it a go Jen.

[Jen]

:thumbsup::thumbsup: thanks Bill i wil give it a go when i do my BIG clean up hehe ;)
cheers :D

[rustem]

so many haters of norton and i dont know why? ive used norton corporate edition for yeeears and not once has it failed me, its free installs/uninstalls in a minute not a memory hog no browser hicups no subscribing for updates free lifetime subscription acually to both program and virus def $$ free free free

sounds like most norton users tried out nortons bloatware versions of av eg system works norton360 and such

just my 2c

[dpastern]

I work in the industry and have had for a very good number of years, Nortons is reviled in the industry, and rightly so. It's horrid software imho.

Dave

[hotspur]

i have AVG 8.5,never had a problem,i find that it does a very good job

i would recomend it,had norton once,and some has allready said,the

damn thing is a virus,might check this NOD 32 protection thing out,is

it free?

cheers Chris

[Insane Climber]

I have the best antivirus software available. i have not had any problems at all for more than 5 years. I would strongly recomend it to any one. It's called DO NOT CONNECT YOUR MAIN COMPUTER TO THE INTERNET EVER. Get an old one for surfing, :screwy:

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

[GTB_an_Owl]

NO Chriss - not free

Nod32 Antivirus - $59-50 1 year ($89-50 2 years)
ESET Smart Security (ESS) - $92-50 1 year ($139-00 2 years)

geoff