Best anti-virus software?

[tomster2300]

Hey,

What is the best anti-virus software? Back in the day we used to have Mcafee. Then we bought Norton 2002 and used it for awhile until the time ran out (you have to renew it every year for liveupdate to work). Well get this...every time you uninstall it and reinstall Norton it says you have another free year starting on the day you install and ending 12 months from that day. We weren't sure about this so we went to their website and paid $20 electronically to renew it, but it was still the same deal. I think we wasted our money because whenever we reinstall Norton it does the same thing. The only thing we got when we paid was a confirmation email. So I stopped using Norton when it refused to let me install it on two computers on my network. If installed on one pc, it will not finish the install on the other pc if it detects itself on the other through the lan. (Not sure how it does this). After kicking Norton I went without a virus protection for awhile, and used Micro Trend's free housecall scan which I've found to work well. After this whole virus scare I've been experiencing, my friend suggested the free AVG virus protection which comes off their website and is what he uses. I currently have this on both my desktops, though my laptop is still unprotected (it has never had any protection). I have a router and keep the free zonealarm on both my desktops. I suppose I ought to put it on the laptop as well. Any suggestions on what I should do? Thanks.

[Kov-Ice]

Hey tomster. Go ahead and do a search of the forums using the title of your post, and you'll find several recent threads devoted to your question. I second your friend's AVG motion, btw.

[ghost2003]

AVG is good but IMO NOD32 is the best you can get. It uses almost no resources so it should be good for a laptop but its 40$USD for a 1 user licence so AVG would probly be better becaus of the cost.

[tomster2300]

Is there anyway I could put my old Norton back on both computers without having to buy a new copy?

[ghost2003]

Unless you have 2k4 you "can" but you arnt allowed unless you buy a multi-licence version.

[kram 2.0]

Originally posted by ghost2003 AVG is good but IMO NOD32 is the best you can get. It uses almost no resources so it should be good for a laptop but its 40$USD for a 1 user licence so AVG would probly be better becaus of the cost.

Agreed about NOD32. Definately one of the best out there, though my basis of judgement is soley based on the fact that A - not many viri, if any, seemed to have gotten in, and B - takes up tooo little resources.

Hope that helps,
kram

[mairving]

Actually PC Mag just reviewed NOD32 and the review was just plain awful, I think 1 out of 5. Odd too that last year it received very positive reviews.

It seems that the best anti-virus program is oftentimes the new one. Once one gets enough recognization, virus writers put it on their list of programs to be shut down when the virus executes.

[glc]

There really isn't a "best" program - they all work, but what one program misses, another finds. The only one I can't stand is McAfee - not because it can't find viruses, but because it's been known to destabilize systems. Pick one that you like and install it, and use the various online scanners to crosscheck. I use Norton 2003 Pro because I happen to *have* it, but if I had to install a different one, I'd probably use AVG simply because it's free. Actually I depend on my ISP's server side virus filtering and a non-Microsoft e-mail client and browser to keep me safe, my antivirus is just a second line of defense.

[tomster2300]

Alright, thanks GLC. This is way off topic, but since I've been posting the last few days my font has become huge. Did I change this? It only does this on the pcmech.com. It doesn't bother me that much, but it just kinda surprised me. Thanks.

Nm about the font, it had been changed in my IE settings. I ran RegSupreme and got 1219 total registries. No idea what I can delete and what I can't. How would I post them for y'all? Thanks.

[Redfallon]

Hold down CTRL and scroll your mouse wheel.

[ghost2003]

Originally posted by mairving Actually PC Mag just reviewed NOD32 and the review was just plain awful, I think 1 out of 5. Odd too that last year it received very positive reviews. It seems that the best anti-virus program is oftentimes the new one. Once one gets enough recognization, virus writers put it on their list of programs to be shut down when the virus executes.

in the last vb100 tests it got 100% in everything

[kram 2.0]

Originally posted by mairving Actually PC Mag just reviewed NOD32 and the review was just plain awful, I think 1 out of 5. Odd too that last year it received very positive reviews. It seems that the best anti-virus program is oftentimes the new one. Once one gets enough recognization, virus writers put it on their list of programs to be shut down when the virus executes.

And also who knows - it's natural for big magazines to favor big AVs (like Norton). I would rely on your own instincts, though I must say that NOD32 does works well. NOD32's proven well for me, and it has yet to be breached with anyone I know

Hope that helps,
kram

[Jaggannath]

I use Norton, but once it expires I'll prolly change it... I haven't been all that happy with it, and it let Bugbear get onto my computer without detecting it

[glc]

Any antivirus is going to let viruses in if the definitions you have aren't updated to include that particular virus. Heuristics can only do so much with new unknown viruses.