Re: Anti Virus Software

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

JoeP wrote:
Hi all,

I am looking for a very effective anti virus software. The price of the software for me is not an issue. I would like the software to be pretty automated but I am an experienced user so if the interface is not the most friendly but it gets the job done the best then that is ok with me. Something that scans windows very deeply and thoroughly and that can actualy remove what ever it finds is what I'm looking for. I currently have McAfee Enterprise edition and I just want to make sure that it did not miss anything.

Any response is greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Joe




You'll get nearly as many differing opinions as you will responses.

I'll start by saying that I don't think any security "suite" is a good choice. It'd be better to use smaller, less-resource-draining stand-alone products. And, having had personal experience with Verizon's business practices, I certainly wouldn't trust anything they offer. Even if the product/service itself is fine, there'll be hidden costs and "unadvertised" conditions and limitations associated with it.

I used, and recommended, Norton Antivirus and then Norton Internet Security, for many years, on Win98, WinNT, Win2K, and WinXP, all without any significant problems. I had used McAfee prior to that. But it's been several years since I've been tempted to try McAfee products. Their quality seemed to take a steep nose-dive after they were acquired by Network Associates.

However, when my subscription to Symantec's updates for Norton Internet Security 2002 came up for renewal (at a cost substantially higher than the preceding year's subscription), I decided to try less expensive solutions. I downloaded and installed the free version of GriSoft's AVG (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php ). It proved to be easily installed, easy to use, and quite effective. Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised to see a small but very noticeable improvement in my PC's performance, once I'd replaced the Symantec product. Another free (for personal use) anti-virus product is AVAST! 4 Home Edition (http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html), which is what I've used without problems on both WinXP Pro and Vista Business.

For a recent comparison of anti-virus products:

Retrospective / ProActive Test
http://www.av-comparatives.org/


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Anti Virus Software
    ... I am looking for a very effective anti virus software. ... I used, and recommended, Norton Antivirus and then Norton Internet ... Security, for many years, on Win98, WinNT, Win2K, and WinXP, all without ... I had used McAfee prior to that. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: windows vista antivirus programs !!
    ... You're assuming that there was "bad stuff" present to clean out in the first place, when there might not have been, and forgetting that any application you install is going to take an additional toll on system performance. ... Norton and McAfee offer two of the better known security suites, but their products are also best known for having a very noticable negative impact upon performance. ... However, when my subscription to Symantec's updates for Norton Internet Security came up for renewal, I decided to try less expensive solutions. ... The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.security)
  • Re: OT: computer wizz help with virus
    ... pages but when i click those links it always redirects to some advertising ... had to cut and paste addys off google ... try mcafee 70 bucks at Office Max and you can use it on 3 computers ... get Norton Internet Security (2010 just released and ...
    (rec.gambling.poker)
  • Re: Which all around security suite is the best.
    ... Bruce Chambers wrote: ... I had used McAfee prior to that. ... However, when my subscription to Symantec's updates for Norton Internet Security 2002 came up for renewal, I decided to try less expensive solutions. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Which all around security suite is the best.
    ... I had used McAfee prior to that. ... But it's been several years since I've been tempted to try McAfee products. ... However, when my subscription to Symantec's updates for Norton Internet Security 2002 came up for renewal, I decided to try less expensive solutions. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)