Anti-Virus Software. Which do you like the best and the worst?

[ChitChatNine]

I'm polling opinions on this because I got a free 1yr subscription for up to 5 PC's of CA Internet Suite but from what I recall many yrs ago it really made my PC quite slow .. I have had the same issues with Norton 360, but not Norton or McAffe Internet Suite

I was wondering what you use and if you like it.

If you don't mind voting on the poll, and then posting comments below that would be so helpful for any of us out there deciding on what anti-virus protection to go with.


C~

[redheadaussie]

AVG WAS good...till I discovered AVIRA..man! That picked up over 90% extra that AVG didn't. I ran both for a short time to see, and then removed AVG...and I thought AVG was brilliant! AVIRA for me wins hands down..and it is free!!!!!
  ALWAYS run an anti-spyware as well...I use Spybot..fantastic! Plus FREE!
Cheers!

[ChitChatNine]

Thanks Swampy.  I'm tired of paying for these things when they are free.  So far Spybot and the Norton ,which came with the machine on trial, are good at not allowing installs w/o my permission -- I'll ck on the configuration to see if my user name is outside of Admin.  It might be.

C~

[swampcritter]

Swampy uses:

1. avg (free)
2. malwarebytes
3. spybot S&D


When he used IE, he also used a popup blocker and a BHO watcher (bhodemon, but it is no longer maintained).

If you have a new machine, Swampy recommends that you create an account for browsing that is not in the admin group -- so it can't install software. This stops a huge number of viruses.

[SassyLassie]

I am using the pay version of AVG, it works great, doesn't slow me down and does what it is supposed to do. I have tried the Norton and McAfee, they almost ruined my computer, made it slow and I could hardly navigate sites. I am very pleased with what I have now.

[ParamedFlorena]

Normann worked very well for me until an extremely bad trojan got through the wall. Then my whole computer crashed and I crashed in complete frustration. I had to work in "safe mode" which wouldn't let me connect to internet - and hear hear: To get rid of the virus Normann asked me to get something online. I've never been as frustrated as that!
AVG works well enough for me at the moment, but I ran Panda to get the computer up again and hadn't it been for a tech-man in the family it had never recovered.

An antivirus software that's up to date and won't ask me to connect to the web when I'm down is one I'll rely on.

[FinelyExecutedLuck]

My online peer groups (20-somethings video gamers, software pirates (all mostly broke)) swear by ESET's Nod32 antivirus software.  Minimal system impact, which is why gamers like it, and they tend to be on the leading edge of virus detection.

Along with Spybot already mentioned for getting rid of malware from your computer (aka not viruses, but still intrusive), Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software is the new big thing, it's been pushed by Dell support representatives to take care of pesky programs that other anti-spyware can't take care of.  Malwarebytes is set to overtake Spybot for anti-spyware soon, from what I can tell.

[Melissa0116]

I use spybot and avast.  Avast is free and online.  They both work great.  

[ChitChatNine]

THANK YOU all so much!!!!

I have one to pass along to you all that I rely on for registry key changes and it's totally free and has helped me out more times than I can remember!

Spy Bot

Go to spybot (dot) com

It gets rid of the clogged junk that slows down the PC.

C~

[mikesimon]

I have been using Webroot Spysweeper for a few years. I had Norton, McAfee and a few others. I am very pleased with Spysweeper. I got infected with a Trojan that none of the other packages could delete and a few couldn't even detect the Trojan. Spysweeper found it and quarantined it and then I deleted it. They have a complete security package with a firewall, anti spam, anti virus and an online backup. I use it in my business where we have about 14 units and they are all clean and running great.
You can go to webroot ******* to check it out. There are free trials and scans. I am not a paid endorser but that is my honest opinion.
Mike

[zodiacqueen]

Well, right now I am using AVG antivirus-it's freeware, so far I am happy with it.  In the past, I've used Bitdefender, Norton, and McAfee.  I will never ever use those programs again-my computer was soooooo slow!!  They totally hog all of your computer's resources.  Do NOT waste your money on those programs....you will regret it, if you do!

[Please_Help950]

I have been using AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition. You can find it on their website at:

http://www.avg.com/product-avg-anti-virus-free-edition

I hope it helps. I believe that it is very good and it was recommended to me by my College Instructors. :)

[ChitChatNine]

Are these online to buy, free, trials?  Geez, I'm not familiar with the names Avast and Webroot .. and very interested.

I just got an Aspire One and want the one that's best and uses the least amount of background to run, etc.

Thanks guys ....!!!

C~

[mikesimon]

Webroot

[Melissa0116]

I have an acer Aspire one and I use the Avast antivirus.  My husband does computer security and this is what he uses on this computer.  He also is a big fan of Norton.  

[MJIthewriter]

I've read that Norton can be soemwhat invasive. I don't know exactly what that means, but it can alter the code of things or maybe it hogs up the system resources.  Maybe someone could explain it better. That's just someone told me a while ago.

I am using systemSuite but it's about to expire.  I have some other program installed on my new computer. I will find out what it is when I hook up that computer.

[ChitChatNine]

I like the regular Norton without all the bells and whistles.  The 360 for me I uninstalled.  Was very sluggish.