AntiVirus

[Nomo]

I need to upgrade or replace my Anti-virus within the next week or so.
For the past 4 years I've used the Norton SystemWorks / Personal Firewall combo. In no small part due to the upgrade rebate incentive. Now it seems Symantic is no longer offering this incentive.
Truth be told I've had no issues with the Norton products, but considering it's $60 to continue with it while similar MacAfee and even Microsoft products are 10 to 20 bucks cheaper, I'm considering jumping ship.

I'm curious what every one's experience has been with the above mentioned or other offerings have been.

 

[Nomo]

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

Apologies, Somebody please move this thread to the appropriate place.

 

[Matt34]

Moved

I think for freeware you can't beat either AVG or Avast. If you don't mind paying I think Kaspersky Lab is the best. Updates every hour or two unlike Norton, I'm going to switch back over to Kaspersky soon now that I just finished a trail period with them.

For spyware and firewall I use Zone-Alarm suite but turn off the anti-virus. It doesn't take up nearly the resources to run as Norton or Mcaffey do. I also use Spybot-Search and Destroy along with Ad-aware to remove anything that might get through.

 

[majorloser]

I have the Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite. It has everything. I also run Windows Defender, Windows Firewall and NVidea Firewall.

Guess what? I still got hit with a trojan about two weeks ago. Damn thing trashed my Windows System 32 files. Only when using the byte level scan from Zone Alarm Anti-virus did I find the problem. I still had to reload Windows and start from scratch. (I'd bet I got the trojan from a movie DVD)

I've used AVG in the past. Never really liked it. Now days I just look at anything on a computer as disposable. I back up EVERYTHING.

Fecal Matter Happens

 

[dave1490]

I have the Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite. It has everything. I also run Windows Defender, Windows Firewall and NVidea Firewall.

Guess what? I still got hit with a trojan about two weeks ago. Damn thing trashed my Windows System 32 files. Only when using the byte level scan from Zone Alarm Anti-virus did I find the problem. I still had to reload Windows and start from scratch. (I'd bet I got the trojan from a movie DVD)

I've used AVG in the past. Never really liked it. Now days I just look at anything on a computer as disposable. I back up EVERYTHING.

Fecal Matter Happens

i had norton,didnt like it to slow.got avg now it,s better.also running sygate firewall.and as a exstra level of protection my hard,s parted into 2.on c: i just keep my os.on d: i keep everything else.so if i have to reformat i still have everthing on d: drive.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have the Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite. It has everything. I also run Windows Defender, Windows Firewall and NVidea Firewall.

With all that it is amazing that you can still send and receive anything

 

[stratman]

I need to upgrade or replace my Anti-virus within the next week or so.
For the past 4 years I've used the Norton SystemWorks / Personal Firewall combo. In no small part due to the upgrade rebate incentive. Now it seems Symantic is no longer offering this incentive.
Truth be told I've had no issues with the Norton products, but considering it's $60 to continue with it while similar MacAfee and even Microsoft products are 10 to 20 bucks cheaper, I'm considering jumping ship.

I'm curious what every one's experience has been with the above mentioned or other offerings have been.

Yeah, I upgraded about 2 weeks ago, I was surprised by the absence of the rebate, I find the new same as the old, just more money. I also run Spyware Doctor and Spyware blaster, what one misses the other ones catch it. You'd be surprised how much can be missed.

 

[gagamaggot]

Free ZoneAlarm firewall and Avast AntiVirus will keep you safe for $0. I have also used AVG in the past, but Avast tests better lately.

I also highly recommend anyone with kids download and install K9 web protection from Blue Coat Systems. It is a free filter to keep your children safe online.

 

[Yamahaluver]

Give Avast or AntiVir a try, both are rated good, AntiVir managed to beat out most commercial apps in recent scanning tests.

 

[evilkat]

I've got Avast and Zone Alarm for Virus/Firewall duties. For spyware I've got:

-Spybot S&D
-Windows Defender
-Adaware
-CrapCleaner (CC)

Regcleaner is also useful.

I haven't had any issues with Avast, and it seems to have worked well thus far. Zone Alarm is a real winner, and you would be surprised by the number of apps that always want to connect to the internet when you least expect them!

 

[Wafflesomd]

<---- Nothing.

No firewall, Spybot is all I use. Just don't open emails that say hi and you'll be fine.

 

[pikers]

i had norton,didnt like it to slow.got avg now it,s better.also running sygate firewall.and as a exstra level of protection my hard,s parted into 2.on c: i just keep my os.on d: i keep everything else.so if i have to reformat i still have everthing on d: drive.

Do you type with your keyboard upside down?

I use Ad Aware on manual, McAfee for firewall, and SpySweeper for real-time catching of curious items. I disabled the XP firewall and "security" setups that have more cracks than the swimsuit edition.

 

[sjdgpt]

<---- Nothing.

No firewall, Spybot is all I use. Just don't open emails that say hi and you'll be fine.

Tsk Tsk Tsk.

No firewall? No antivirus?


As soon as your computer opens a port to the 'net, your computer can be pinged and will download something ugly. Hence the reason for a firewall.

This is from the voice of experience. While doing a re-install on windows XP prior to SP2 (built in firewall) I connected to the 'net to activate XP. Unfortunately I had not installed my antivirus. When I installed the antivirus, the antivirus shut down when it detected something named Beagle. An ugly, ugly viral product for which the only practical solution was doing a reformat and reinstall of XP. The computer logs showed that Beagle was loaded at the exact moment in time that I was on the net activating XP.

Bottom line, no firewall is just asking for problems if you do not have a decent antivirus product on your computer.

 

[Hi Ho]

I use AVG Free and use my router as a firewall along with the built in XP firewall. I have Adaware and Spybot for spyware. I have NEVER had any virus or spyware on my PC. This is mainly due to browsing habits. If you don't go to shady sites or download shady files you won't end up with shady software. My second computer has run on the same install of XP for 4 years without a single issue. Spybot and Adaware always come up with nothing.

 

[jonnythan]

AVG Free with realtime protection turned off, Windows Firewall enabled, router connecting my computer to the internet (yay for NATing).

Nightly scans enabled, periodic scans with Spybot.

Done.

(FWIW, I'm a network administrator/network security specialist and this is the basic configuration I use on our 400-PC network)

 

[MDS]

I have NEVER had any virus or spyware on my PC. This is mainly due to browsing habits. If you don't go to shady sites or download shady files you won't end up with shady software.

I think that is the most important thing for people to understand. A firewall will not protect you from adware/spyware/viruses. You get those nasties through your browser when your security settings are low and/or you indiscriminately click on popup dialogs or banners on shady websites.

 

[Nomo]

Thanks for the responses.
Just an update.
I guess maybe I wimped out. I simply upgraded my Norton SystemWorks.
The price tag still kinda stings but, as I said, I've had no issues and piece of mind is hard to put a price on.

 

[stratman]

Thanks for the responses.
Just an update.
I guess maybe I wimped out. I simply upgraded my Norton SystemWorks.
The price tag still kinda stings but, as I said, I've had no issues and piece of mind is hard to put a price on.

Nomo, considering what Norton is charging now, I'll be switching to Computer Associates anti virus suite next year, unless Norton returns with the rebates.

 

[WorldLeader]

I am running completely unprotected right now. No spyware detector, no antivirus, no spam filter, nothing. Haven't had a single problem. You know why?

I'm running OS X Tiger.

Get a Mac!

 

[Hi Ho]

Norton is a major resource hog. There is absolutely no reason that an antivirus program needs to hog that much RAM/CPU power. McAffee is even worse I once worked on a PC that was barely usable because of multiple issues. I removed McAffee and all the problems went away.