Anti-Virus recommendations

The Mekon (John Briggs) · #1 21-04-2011, 07:18 PM

Having searched this forum, I know this has been done in the past, but the most informative threads are over two years old, so -

What anti-virus software is recommended? I am not running anything at present and I recently have had one person tell me my laptop is infected, another that my memory stick is.

Previous posts recommended Nod32 and Avast.

What is new in this area? - I do not mind paying, in fact I prefer to buy in shop so I have the base program on disk.

All suggestions welcome, I am not very computer savvy.

Nifty (Nev) · #2 21-04-2011, 07:25 PM

I use Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free and it doesn't slow things down as much as some others. And it works! It has saved me twice.
I also use Malwarebytes Antimalware. It's free also.

cheers
Nev

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #3 21-04-2011, 07:30 PM

Hi,

I'd also recommend MSE and MWBAM.

You should run a software firewall also, and there are several available free. A popular one is Zonealarm.

Cheers

asimov (John) · #4 21-04-2011, 07:38 PM

I've tried nearly all of them & it's Avast that I'd recommend.

Sarge (Rod) · #5 21-04-2011, 11:15 PM

Avast and Spybot. Works for me! Both freeware

Rod

OzRob (Rob) · #6 21-04-2011, 11:53 PM

I used to use Avast but I have gone off the free stuff after hearing from people about problems. Now I use Trend Micro. You can get a 3 user licence on eBay quite cheap ($25 - $30). At least it was available a couple of months ago when I bought my new version. You can definately do much better than the retail price.

supernova1965 (Warren) · #7 22-04-2011, 06:28 AM

I will add my recommendation for MSE and Malware Bytes with Spybot thrown in for good measure

vindictive666 (John) · #8 22-04-2011, 06:51 AM

hi

i use eset nod32 plus you can ask for a disk 32bit or 64bit depending what version of windows you are using

http://www.eset.com/

also i am using spybot, superantispyware,

had trouble with all the free ones avast avg ect ect

hope this helps

regards john

The Mekon (John Briggs) · #9 22-04-2011, 07:26 PM

Thanks to all who posted.

I am trying out the freeware Avast, if that proves OK, I will pay the $30 for the pro version.

supernova1965 (Warren) · #10 23-04-2011, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mekon

Thanks to all who posted.

I am trying out the freeware Avast, if that proves OK, I will pay the $30 for the pro version.

I wouldn't pay for the pro version the free version is great and the paid version is really for business use. That's what their blurb says there is no difference really that I can see except that they want business to pay for it.

AdrianF (Adrian) · #11 23-04-2011, 07:04 AM

I use AVG and have for the last..... Well yonks. Works for me. Started with AVGFree.

Adrian

Nifty (Nev) · #12 23-04-2011, 10:57 AM

The reason I chose MSE is that surely Microsoft must know their own software much better than anyone else and how to ook after it!

Also I got fed up with some of the others who insisted on taking money from my credit card even though I had cancelled the subscription.

Apart from the fact that MBAM can sometimes find things the others can't, it has a wonderful little thing called File Assassin which enables you to delete files that refuse to be deleted by other means.

Do you really need a different firewall than the one provided by Win7?
Does it have any weaknesses?

cheers
Nev

DavidU (Dave) · #13 23-04-2011, 11:06 AM

I like AVG, been using it for years on all the computers.

Kal (Andrew) · #14 23-04-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mekon

Thanks to all who posted.

I am trying out the freeware Avast, if that proves OK, I will pay the $30 for the pro version.

I have used Avast! for several years now without a problem and installed it onto some of my aunts/uncles/cousins pc's when they complained of problems. No complaints at all, infact my uncle was so happy with the product he ended up buying the pro version.

If your PC is already infected I would recommend attempting to fix it first with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software. It is the best software I have found so far for removing infections.

My only other recommendation if you have infection problems is to make sure you keep all your software, including windows, up to date at all times, and of course, never open suspicious emails, and never use limewire type programs. If there is one common denominator to the infected PC's that I have cleaned over the years, it would have to be that limewire was installed on every one of them.

The Mekon (John Briggs) · #15 23-04-2011, 08:53 PM

up to date at all times, and of course, never open suspicious emails, and never use limewire type programs. If there is one common denominator to the infected PC's that I have cleaned over the years, it would have to be that limewire was installed on every one of them.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Andrew, But just what is "limewire" ? can you elaborate?

John

bartman (Bart) · #16 23-04-2011, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianF

I use AVG and have for the last..... Well yonks. Works for me. Started with AVGFree.
Adrian

Same Same. Since I had a puter connected to the net ( close to early 2000's) and heard of AVG ....I used it and never had a problem. [knock on wood]

I also run SBSaD once in a while.
The main thing is to ( as said or inferred before) ....use your nouse and dont click on anything you don't recognise, are unsure of, looks/sounds dodgy, has a claim of improving anything ( from fixing your computer to your reproductive parts) and files from 'dodgy ' countries....

HTH
Bartman

Screwdriverone (Chris) · #17 23-04-2011, 09:27 PM

+1 for AVG Free, I have it on all my home PC's and it is brilliant.

John B, Limewire is a download / file sharing program that turns your computer into a sort of file sharer/download tool for movies and games and other things (not technically legal or copyright responsible) which is a notoriusly unsecure program and environment for your computer to be in.

Avoid it, is my suggestion...

Cheers

Chris

asimov (John) · #18 23-04-2011, 10:02 PM

Yep, Limewire sucks. You won't know the song or the movie is infected until the download is completed.

RAJAH235 · #19 24-04-2011, 11:31 PM

I used AVG free for years but found the newer versions to be buggy.
Switched to Avast & no more problems.
As for any Windows firewall??????
Nope. Do not use them.
As soon as I got the new WIN7 HP on the PC & this XP Pro, 2nd hand laptop, I installed Comodo free firewall.
I also use SUPERAntispyware & Spyware Blaster. (Javacool.)

Regs, L..

ZeroID (Brent) · #20 26-04-2011, 11:40 AM

Still using AVG free. Have done for about 10 years now. No Problems that I have found.
Malware bytes is also my friend although I haven't needed it for some time. Turn on a firewall !! Anything is better than nothing.
I work in a big corporate network environment and co-manage the firewall and virus filters. We block over 10,000 hack/spam/ virus. trojan etc attempts a day, Believe me when I tell you they are out there and out to get you !