A/V (as in Anti-Virus) recommendation

[Hi Ho]

I used to run AVG but for the past year I have been running Nod32. It is the best antivirus program I have used. It is light on resources and it has the best detection engine of any antivirus program out there IMO. I recommend it to everyone that asks. If they don't want to pay then Avast is my second choice.

I would NEVER use Norton or McAffee. They are nothing but trouble and are MAJOR resource hogs. I've spent more time removing Norton from machines than anything. Nod32 works better than both of them, takes up a fraction of the resources and doesn't get in your face.

 

[Nemo128]

Symantec Endpoint Protection v11 is the best AV out there, period. Most other "recommended" AV products use Symantec's definitions, first of all. Second, none have a comparable network deployable solution, even if that doesn't matter for normal end users. Third, the included firewall and network activity monitor can't be touched by NOD, AVG, or Kaspersky.

Resource hog? Who is not running a dual core CPU today anyway...

A 25MB memory footprint I can live with when it's faster, more thorough, and by far more configurable than anything else on the market.

Then again, it's not really a consumer solution. For that, I'd have to say AVG since it's free even if it isn't that great. It's comparable to the other crap that you have to pay for.

Symantec is a company that makes lots of security products, including the Norton line of consumer crapware. Stay away from anything Norton-branded for sure.

 

[Hi Ho]

I agree that Symantec proffessional products are excellent but as far as consumer products go I would not put NOD32 in the "crapware" section at all. Proactive protection and heuristics are, in my opinion, most important for the average PC user and NOD32 does best at both of those.

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/29898/review/eset_nod32.html

http://www.pcmech.com/article/nod32-antivirus-software-review/

 

[Alex2507]

Who is not running a dual core CPU today anyway...

me

 

[lsiberian]

I used to run AVG but for the past year I have been running Nod32. It is the best antivirus program I have used. It is light on resources and it has the best detection engine of any antivirus program out there IMO. I recommend it to everyone that asks. If they don't want to pay then Avast is my second choice.

I would NEVER use Norton or McAffee. They are nothing but trouble and are MAJOR resource hogs. I've spent more time removing Norton from machines than anything. Nod32 works better than both of them, takes up a fraction of the resources and doesn't get in your face.

LOL I may check out Nod. But yeah I don't think you can actually remove Norton. One of it's processes buries itself deep in the OS and will run even if you uninstall it. It even hides from the format tools(jk). Norton is watching you!

I am not against running anti-virus especially if you are doing bad things on the internet. I just think the best defense is a good offense. Take down the bad guys before they get you!

But on a serious note prevention is your best action. Stick to reputable places and don't open emails from someone you don't know. Anti-virus isn't perfect and can cause it's own problems. I still blame windows for most of the problems. It is after all a near virus by definition.

 

[Hi Ho]

There is a Norton removal tool that will remove Norton but the best way is to reformat.

I wouldn't go so far as to say Windows is a virus. It is the most widely used and therefore the most targeted. Prevention is the best defense while I don't do anything dangerous on the web I'm not the only one that uses my desktop and it's always good to have something watching out for you. All that is required to get infected is to go to the wrong website at the wrong time that is exploiting just the right flaw before it is patched.

 

[10010011]

I've had it up to my eyeballs with Norton Anti-Virus.

I recommend Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition. Yes, Symantec and Norton is basically the same company but the corporate edition is better and has a much small memory footprint that the consumer version. My workplace has been using it for almost a decade now and I have never heard of any type of conflicts.

 

[lsiberian]

There is a Norton removal tool that will remove Norton but the best way is to reformat.

I wouldn't go so far as to say Windows is a virus. It is the most widely used and therefore the most targeted. Prevention is the best defense while I don't do anything dangerous on the web I'm not the only one that uses my desktop and it's always good to have something watching out for you. All that is required to get infected is to go to the wrong website at the wrong time that is exploiting just the right flaw before it is patched.

Actually it meets many of the criteria of a virus. With the exception of size and efficiency.

Of course it's playing on semantics, but all in good humor.

 

[lsiberian]

Not sure everyone can get corporate edition and I still suggest AVG instead. I've found symantec has trouble removing viruses.

 

[10010011]

Not sure everyone can get corporate edition and I still suggest AVG instead. I've found symantec has trouble removing viruses.

I have seen it for sale at Costco and many other places. It does cost more so it is usually passed over.

I guess I really can not comment on its removal ability because I have never had any of my computers infected by a virus. Sure I have downloaded infected files but they were all quarantined by Symantec. Then I usually just deleted them.

 

[Cruise Missile]

I second the Kapersky recommendation, however I'd go for the internet protection bundle over the AV alone. Sometime ago AVRant had an infected banner and Kapersky found it as soon as I clicked the link to go there. I believe the source traced back to wordpress being infected. I was still in "let's give this AV software" mode. That sold me. We have had 0 problems since.

 

[Nemo128]

me

Single core is not maximum monkey power! =)