Computer Anti-Virus Software

Volt · 04-22-2009, 07:01 AM

Hmmm as the others have noted - we will all have our favorites. As I work in IT I get to see a lot of products. A few general comments.

1. At a minimum you need a anti spayware and anti malware products. If they do not auto update - they are worthless. I make a lot of side line $$$ from people who tell me "I ment to do the updates" (thanks you you lazy peeps - my cigar budget loves you).

2. Norton - industry standard to which "most" try to compare against. Has the "name" along with McAffee. Last Enterprise version has a lot of memory leaks and error messages. Pricey as you pay for the name.

3. McAffee - never have liked it or it's interface. Again a big name and pricey IMO.

4. The free AVG stuff.... never messed with it to much.

5. I use Trend Mico at the house - nice Anti-virus and Anti Malware in a bundle. Price is not to bad either. Takes care of business with a minimum interfacing and nag screens. Never been hit in 4 years using it unless I was dloading stuff I was pretty sure was infected. Even then it protected me although it wasn't happy

6. Most of my current work is clearing out malware not viruses any more. Spybot used to be my goto but in the past few years has really fallen by the way side and is not near as effective as it used to be. As mentioned above - Malwwarebytes is pretty damn good. Better if you go paid if this is to be your only AM software. There are other tools in the bag but Malwarebytes is gets most of the bad stuff.

BTW, no such thing as free. That coupon bar, catchy little screen saver, etc are out there for a reason. At $30 an hour I only work 2 hours to clean a PC. If I can't get it in 2, I stop and try to work out a deal on a reload. Between scans, reboots, downloading special removers, the reload will give you a faster and a 100% clean machine.

None of the software is ever a 100%, too many independent tests have shonw this. Some are better than others and there is always the window of time between the release of a new virus/malware and the downloading of the update..... my

, YMMV.

VirtualSmitty · 04-22-2009, 06:52 PM

Kaspersky has been a fav of mine for awhile now. Not free, but well worth the cost. That being said i've AVG and Avast in the past and both were pretty good too.

BORIStheBLADE · 04-22-2009, 07:25 PM

I think if you are one of those people that doesn't torrent or surf the XXX sites a free virus and spyware/malware program will be fine.

My parents are paranoid about their virus software and I have had them setup with the free stuff for the last 5 years. They have never got anything.......Until my little brother messed with my moms laptop. I wonder what he was doing?

MajorCaptSilly · 04-22-2009, 07:30 PM

NOD32 has the smallest footprint, uses least system resources, and scans very fast. It also uses advance heuristics to diagnose potential viruses before they have been discovered. It isn't free but is very good.

MCS

04-22-2009, 07:01 AM	#1
Volt I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,799 Trading: (19)	Re: Computer Anti-Virus Software Hmmm as the others have noted - we will all have our favorites. As I work in IT I get to see a lot of products. A few general comments. 1. At a minimum you need a anti spayware and anti malware products. If they do not auto update - they are worthless. I make a lot of side line $$$ from people who tell me "I ment to do the updates" (thanks you you lazy peeps - my cigar budget loves you). 2. Norton - industry standard to which "most" try to compare against. Has the "name" along with McAffee. Last Enterprise version has a lot of memory leaks and error messages. Pricey as you pay for the name. 3. McAffee - never have liked it or it's interface. Again a big name and pricey IMO. 4. The free AVG stuff.... never messed with it to much. 5. I use Trend Mico at the house - nice Anti-virus and Anti Malware in a bundle. Price is not to bad either. Takes care of business with a minimum interfacing and nag screens. Never been hit in 4 years using it unless I was dloading stuff I was pretty sure was infected. Even then it protected me although it wasn't happy 6. Most of my current work is clearing out malware not viruses any more. Spybot used to be my goto but in the past few years has really fallen by the way side and is not near as effective as it used to be. As mentioned above - Malwwarebytes is pretty damn good. Better if you go paid if this is to be your only AM software. There are other tools in the bag but Malwarebytes is gets most of the bad stuff. BTW, no such thing as free. That coupon bar, catchy little screen saver, etc are out there for a reason. At $30 an hour I only work 2 hours to clean a PC. If I can't get it in 2, I stop and try to work out a deal on a reload. Between scans, reboots, downloading special removers, the reload will give you a faster and a 100% clean machine. None of the software is ever a 100%, too many independent tests have shonw this. Some are better than others and there is always the window of time between the release of a new virus/malware and the downloading of the update..... my , YMMV. __________________ Curing the infection... One bullet at a time.

04-22-2009, 06:52 PM	#2
VirtualSmitty WiP!? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joe Location: The Evil Empire Posts: 2,084 Trading: (0)	Re: Computer Anti-Virus Software Kaspersky has been a fav of mine for awhile now. Not free, but well worth the cost. That being said i've AVG and Avast in the past and both were pretty good too. __________________ We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid - Benjamin Franklin

04-22-2009, 07:25 PM	#3
BORIStheBLADE _ Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Mike Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 643 Trading: (4)	Re: Computer Anti-Virus Software I think if you are one of those people that doesn't torrent or surf the XXX sites a free virus and spyware/malware program will be fine. My parents are paranoid about their virus software and I have had them setup with the free stuff for the last 5 years. They have never got anything.......Until my little brother messed with my moms laptop. I wonder what he was doing? __________________ I.B.E.W LOCAL # 617

04-22-2009, 07:30 PM	#4
MajorCaptSilly Sklee Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Location: Mishawaka, IN Posts: 2,523 Trading: (30)	Re: Computer Anti-Virus Software NOD32 has the smallest footprint, uses least system resources, and scans very fast. It also uses advance heuristics to diagnose potential viruses before they have been discovered. It isn't free but is very good. MCS __________________ Pillsbury, Minneapolis, Prince, Spoon Bridge and Cherry, coinkydink?