What is the best anti-virus program?

[bellgamin]

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

AV Test Report

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

[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.

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.a...gory=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

[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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