What is the best anti-virus program?

[james8547]

Hi! I need to know what are the best anti-virus programs currently out there. It would be great if it's FREEWARE (i love freebies). But I am willing to buy 1 just for my 1st build. I am looking for something that's great in detecting/scanning for viri.

Currently, I have Norton (subscription expired last 2001...so it's pretty worthless...and Kapersky...subscription ended about 2 months ago).

Thanks!

[eldon]

I like AVG from www.grisoft.com (http://www.grisoft.com) it`s free and gets updates regularly and its very easy on your system resources.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Panda all the way.

I have AVG in my Win2k Server computer because the stand alone version of Panda would not install in that OS.

[Panama Red]

I have Norton on one system, works good, costs $. Have AVG on 2 others, works just as good, costs nothing. Easy choice, huh?! (Never, ever, under NO circumstances put anything by McAfee on your computer, PERIOD!

[Spartan]

Gotta ask Panama...........why no McAfee????

-Spartan

[TimPoet]

Originally posted by Spartan
Gotta ask Panama...........why no McAfee????

-Spartan A once good AV program whose developers allowed to go bad, really bad. As glc says, friends don't let friends do McAfee. Sorry about the news....

James, the best freeware is AVG. You can download it from www.grisoft.com

[HAL9000]

McLaffee is a virus.

[Panama Red]

Personal Experience with McAfee. Came as trial on new Gateway computer. Quite some time after trial expiration, opted to download full version from McA web site ($30). Later that nite, cursor moved very slowly and clock was off by 3 hours. Shut down for the nite. Next morning, system would not power up. After all day on the phone with Gateway support, reformatting hdd and losing recent vacation pics that had not been backed up yet, made a vow to never use McCrappy stuff again. That was long before I found PC Mech and confirmed this feeling with many others here.

[Chris in U.K.]

Well, up to now I've been very happy with EZ antivirus from Computer Associates, but it must have let something through last week, coz Yahoo mail kept rejecting my password...........got a new password, same thing. Finally cracked it just now by deleting all cookies and all temp. internet files, and Bingo I was able to log in at last, and of course I find my inbox overflowing with sobig autospam!

I guess these things are sent to try us.....


Chris

[mike breck]

Yes,

eTrust EZ Antivirus is a reasonable anti-virus (I used it when was called Innoculate-It and was free); however, it does not actively scan emails before they are opened. You've got to rely on it catching the virus when the email or attachment is opened.

You need to buy a separate etrust program to scan incoming email.

You'd be better off with Norton or AVG which have proactive email scanning.

[brassman]

I think Avast is really one of the better AV programs, and it is free.

[Captn]

I been using Avast Pro for 10 months now :)

[Captn]

Originally posted by Nuclear Krusader
Panda all the way.

I have AVG in my Win2k Server computer because the stand alone version of Panda would not install in that OS.

I have read that Panda does not encrypt there virus definition files, Anyone else heard or read about this?

[glc]

I prefer Norton to AVG because AVG does a fine job *detecting* but has a hard time *cleaning* at times. The Norton incoming e-mail scanner is superb as long as the virus is in the database.

[mjkovis]

I just found Norton Internet Security for $12.45 on eBay. That is what I am going to use. Cant belive it was that cheap and it is unused and in the box.

[james8547]

Originally posted by Acid-Klutch
I just found Norton Internet Security for $12.45 on eBay. That is what I am going to use. Cant belive it was that cheap and it is unused and in the box.

No kidding man! Also bought myself a copy...150 cds left. Wonder how the guy can sell this cheap...? Thanks for the scoop Acid...hope I don't get screwed tho.

[mjkovis]

No. All you have to do is check up on the guy. He had all positve marks.

[bellgamin]

I recommend F-prot. $29 from...
http://www.f-prot.com/products/home_use/win/

Also, check the reviews at...
http://www.virus.gr/english/fullxml/default.asp?id=59&mnu=59

[mystvearn]

F secure

[TimPoet]

Originally posted by Acid-Klutch
I just found Norton Internet Security for $12.45 on eBay. That is what I am going to use. Cant belive it was that cheap and it is unused and in the box. The only problem is it only comes with 60 days of updates.

[fudtone]

Pc-Cillin w/email scan on a NAT run Ad-Aware at startup (scan everything)

NAV and Mcafee always harrass me.

[mjkovis]

Originally posted by TimPoet
The only problem is it only comes with 60 days of updates.

That isnt a problem though. 2004 should be coming out early next year so why should I worry about a 1 year full of updates. I just want something on my computer. No biggy. Just letting you know why I did it! :D

[mjkovis]

Actually I just looked at my purchase. It is a full year. Hehe. You confused me! And I thought it was 60 days too. Funny. Oh well.

[TimPoet]

Originally posted by Acid-Klutch
Actually I just looked at my purchase. It is a full year. Hehe. You confused me! And I thought it was 60 days too. Funny. Oh well. Is the auction over? If not, can you provide a link so I can get one, too. 12 mos. is a steal!

[Mac Medic]

NAV 2004 will include product activation, so 1 copy 1 pc and hassles reinstalling.

[TimPoet]

Originally posted by oem_guy_2002
NAV 2004 will include product activation, so 1 copy 1 pc and hassles reinstalling. I'm not entirely sure of what you are trying to say. But NAV 2004 would be quite expensive, ($50) I would imagine....

[mjkovis]

The auction is over for my product, and apparently there are no more copies of NIS 2003 avaiable from the seller. Sorry everyone!!!!

[james8547]

I got the Norton SysWorks 2003 Pro in the mail today from the seller. It was just the disc. I thought it would have come in a retail box. Oh well at least it got installed and is getting updates for 365 days. It was packaged in a weird way...between 2 cardboard boxes and stuffed in an envelope. Just to let you guys know...I saw in pricegrabber that NAV 2003 OEM was selling for $5.99 (lowtag.com). Never heard of the store though.

[Joeberg]

PC Cillin, one three, and Norton one one. No problems, and I run Spybot + Adaware regularly. I always keep the Anti Virus proggies in the background. As for McAffe, I despise the program. Trial expored the other day, and it hurts you more than it helps...

[TimPoet]

Friends don't let friends do McAfee

[bellgamin]

Here's the site for another recent test of AntiVirus programs...

AV Test Report (http://www.rokop-security.de/main/article.php?sid=629&mode=thread&order=0)

The report is in German, but the table is quite easy to understand.

Notice that Norton offers essentially NO defense whatsoever against packed trojans. However, most trojans nowadays arrived in packed status -- & I am NOT speaking of standard compression algorithms, such as Zip.

If you have a good AntiTrojan program on your computer [such as TDS or TrojanHunter] then Norton might be okay. However, if you don't, then Norton is sort of a *paper tiger.*

shaloha......bellgamin

[glc]

I'm on broadband and not behind a router - and I have 3 lines of defense:

Norton Antivirus
The Cleaner
Zone Alarm Free

With these 3 items and some common sense, you will never have a problem. (Well, let's not say "never" but it's highly unlikely unless you do something stupid)

[TimPoet]

Too bad the cleaner free version is only 30 days long.

[glc]

If he didn't charge for it, how would you expect him to be able to continue development and keep it updated? Authors that have good freeware are only screwing themselves unless they have an independent source of income and develop for fun or for some sense of public service.

[Captn]

glc do you like Spybot S&D ? Thats free and works very well :D

[mjkovis]

I so need to get an Antivirus program on this comp. Should I just download AVG or ZA for free or buy Norton????

[glc]

AVG is sufficient, a heck of a lot better than nothing. Just make sure you keep it updated religiously, the auto update is a lot cruder than Norton's. ZA is a firewall, not an antivirus.

I don't dislike freeware. Spybot is a spyware cleaner, not an anti-trojan - and it's donation-ware.

[bellgamin]

AVG Free edition is still using version 6.x. Grisoft discontinued its use for paying customers because it has no unpacking capability other than zip -- none. The new version, 7.x, has added pretty good unpackers, but it isn't free.

Ergo, if you want to use a free AV, the best choice nowadays is Avast, according to all current ratings such as Rokop, VB, Wilders, DSLR et alia.

Plus, Avast has a very active & friendly user's forum to give you help if you need it. Avast is free for non-commercial use. You can download it HERE. (http://www.avast.com/i_idt_1016.html)

shaloha........bellgamin

[Mull]

Face the facts. People like us are on the net everyday for ours. If it takes a $5O antivirus and a $5O firewall to keep you going for a year it's worth it.
I run nortons 2003 pro and zone alarm pro and they keep me a happy little computer operator.

Mull

[bellgamin]

NAV 2003 + ZAP is a superb combination. However, it offers little protection against many types of worms or packed trojans.

Upgrade to NAV 2004 [which DOES unpack] & you're covered for trojans & worms, as well.

However,some of the folks reading this thread may have a box that is old & slow [like mine]. If so, NAV 2004 might be too bloated & resource hungry for you.

For such cases Kerio [free firewall] + NOD32 [an antivirus] + BOClean [an antitrojan] is a combination that is VERY easy on resources, and offers outstanding protection.

regards.......bellgamin

[bellgamin]

PS- when I speak of "packed" I am NOT talking about simple compression algorithms, like zip.

Rather, I mean runtime packers such as UPX, ASPack, CEexe, Neolite etc. These are the latest & most deadly ways that home computers can be invaded despite having up-to-date AV programs that lack unpack capability -- of which NAV versions prior to 2004 are examples..

That lack can be compensated for by using an AT that CAN upack [such as Trojan Hunter or TDS-3] or by using BOClean, which will kill a packed malware the very instant that it unpacks, & BEFORE it can do any damage.

[Jester]

I use norton firewall 2003 norton sytem works. Cleans everythng and protects form virus and hacker attacks. That and being a net security buff they wouldn' have a hard drive left if they wanted to play.

[morriswindgate]

Norton with 1 year of updates> $14.00 @ http://www.buysell101.com/category.asp?category=Software&subcategory=Utilities

[TimPoet]

I ordered it. Love the price.

[azscary]

PANDA

PANDA

PANDA

PANDA

PANDA

PANDA

6 MONTHS $19.90 AND 1 YEAR $39.90

www.pandasoftware.com

[TimPoet]

So, AZ, which AV proggie is your favorite?

[azscary]

uh....

Panda?? LOL :)

Sorry but I have used every AV known to the Computer God and I am so impressed I cannot contain myself.

No performance degradation, no stupid splash screen at startup, not always trying to sell me something, and the only time I know it is there is when it stops a nasty, or when it lets me know it updated and I can turn that off if I want.

I have it set to auto update and when I come into the computer in the morning at 5AM it is already updated and a little notice is on the screen that it updated. It even scans the floppy when I shut it down. I don't know why but I enabled every option in the thing when I got it.

I have used it for 2 years and had to email tech support only twice and got a response back within minutes both times. Once it needed a patch and the return email contained the file as an attachment. The other issue was something I did.

McAfee does not do a good job, always tries to sell you other stuff, and slows everything WAY down and causes crashes.

Norton has a tendancy to all of a sudden after a software update to block your email ports and only disabling the email scanning will fix it. Norton also slowed my computer WAY down and caused crashes.

Panda has not given me a serious issue since I have owned it. They also have a small business editon that has its own built in firewall and security and an Enterprise edition with multiple licenses for business apps.

GREAT SOFTWARE!

[muTe]

I like Trend micro pc-cillin 2003. it works well for my needs. don't know about the price though... Trend Micro (http://www.trendmicro.com)

[Parangles]

AZ- Our Norton, 10 user liscence , in the wifes travel agency is about to expire so I thought I'd check out your Panda, but the sites " STORE" tab asks you to select your geographic area , and after you do , just sends you back and asks the same thing again, so you can't enter the store. That does not make me confident in a company I have never heard of. ;)
Better to just stick with the crash causing but effective Norton . I 've seen lots of negative comments on the 2004 Version, so probably best to just pay them $19.99 to renew each definition update subscription on my 2002 =$200,
versus $400 for a 10 liscence 2004. Am I right ?

[bellgamin]

Originally posted by Parangles
Better to just stick with the crash causing but effective Norton . I 've seen lots of negative comments on the 2004 Version, so probably best to just pay them $19.99 to renew each definition update subscription on my 2002 =$200,
versus $400 for a 10 liscence 2004. Am I right ?

As noted earlier, versions of NAV prior to 2004 do NOT handle packed executables. Most malware nowadays is packed worms/trojans -- not simple viruses. If you are going to use NAV, I urge you to get the 2004 version. Symantec will iron out the bumps in the 2004 version -- they already are doing so.

The increased power of 2004 causes increased complexity in the program. Initial bumps must be expected.

But you NEED that power.

regards......bellgamin

[azscary]

parangles,

When I tried it I got right through. I clicked US Edition and then clicked the multiple user edition then when it asked me where I clicked on the map for theNorth America then another window came up and asked me Canada or US I clicked US and got right in. Maybe they were having a transient issue.

10 Licenses for 1 year $378.00.

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