Anti-virus

[netbuster91]

For years i have been using the free version of Avast anti-virus. I also often install Avast on customers computers that have insufficient protection.
I just wondered if anyone has any really excellent alternatives and would you recommend AVG over this?
Thanks again,
Regards,
Netbuster

 

[SimonDavies]

It's not free but I really recommend Eset Nod32, for years I suffered with Symantec and Mcafee but since Nod32 it's been great. A really small footprint and really very reliable.


I recently deployed Sophos into a test environment at work, protected a laptop with it (gave it time to get the updates as well) and then let loose with a whole load of virus'.

It failed in a big way.

Of 155 virus' it allowed more than 60% onto the disk and then let them be executed (it turned the laptop into one of the biggest porn servers I have seen).

The same test on Mcafee 8.7 managed to stop 144 of them.

On Eset Nod 32 it stopped close to 98% of them.



Simon

The real world is not about exam scores, it's about ability.

 

[eyec]

i switched from AVG to Avast about a year ago and it has worked well for me.

AVG got to be too bloated in resources required.

 

[netbuster91]

Ok thanks for your suggestions. I'll take another look at NOD although i'll still install AVAST on customer laptops as it's free!

 

[Grenage]

I also switched from AVG to avast; it's pretty decent.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area" - Major Mike Shearer

 

[ArizonaGeek]

I use Kaspersky. Here is my philosophy on it, anything is better than nothing but I think you get what you pay for. If you have to run several free programs like one for anti-virus, one for a firewall, one for adware etc, it might be worth it to spend a few bucks and actually buy one program that does it all. Especially if you're looking for performance from your PC.

FYI, the reason I bought Kaspersky is because it offers everything (it wasn't the best but wasn't the worst either) and then allows you to install on 3 PCs with one license.

Just my thoughts on it.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!

 

[jet042]

I use Avast on all my machines at home. They're not great, but they're the best of the free ones. If you watch the emerging threats on the ISC you'll see that Avast has pretty spotty coverage for new threats, but they catch up about as fast as McAfee and Symantec.

 

[eyec]

i use the belt and suspenders model - i couple Avast with a Comodo firewall and have not felt naked since and my wallet is better off for it.

McAfee and Symantic have caused more false sense of security for novices than anything and are such intrusive resource hogs that even if i wanted to purchase a product it would not be them.

 

[netbuster91]

Thanks for the information everyone.
I have since installed comodo firewall and I must say i love it. It feels like a real quality product. It's not very intuitive to being with but i'm finding it fine.

 

[LeeMcCauslin]

I use Avast and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware combo. Both are free but the free version Malwarebytes only does maual scans - meaning I have to periodically run a scan instead of it actively guarding me. The paid version of it has active protection but I am a cheapskate so haven't tried it yet.

I gave up on Symantec and McAfee long ago and remove them from any new computer that comes with them.

At work we use Trend-Micro enterprise and that does a pretty great job but that's way too much for my home use and their personal edition still costs more than I am willing to pay. I am very comfortable with Avast and MWB.

"Dyin'? Boy, He can have this little life any time He wants to. Do Ya hear that? Are ya hearin' it? Come on. You're welcome to it, Ol' Timer. Let me know You're up there. Come on. Love me, hate me, kill me, anything. Just let me know it... I'm just standin' in the rain talkin' to myself."

 

[BadBigBen]

There is a website that compares AV solutions (usually the commercial versions) against each other...

AV - Comparatives - Independent Tests of Anti-Virus Software

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

I have used Avira AntiVir Desktop (Classical = FREE) for a long time and nary a problem, and there is no difference to its scanning engine in the Free version as to the commercial version...

Avira Free

http://www.free-av.de/

also have been a long time user of the Comodo Firewall, ever since Kerio was sold... once saved me from having to install XP all over again...

and of course, MBAM, SpyBot, and co. to back those up...


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[Rick998]

I use NOD32 at home and recommend it to my customers who don't mind paying for an AV solution. For the ones who would prefer not to pay, I recommend the free version of Avira AntiVir now that it includes anti-spyware protection.

Previously I used to recommend the free version of AVG (and put up with the number of false positives) but gave up a few months ago after I dealt with half a dozen customers running AVG who had been infected.

Like others, I've been removing McAfee and Norton for years due to speed issues and resource-hogging but recently I've been hearing good things about Norton... not sufficiently good to spend the time buying it and testing it but enough not to automatically un-install it if I run into it on a customer's machine.

I just hope to goodness Norton have sorted out their absolutely awful un-installer (which actually didn't... but just gave the impression it had!).

Sorry but I have to disagree with using an all-in-one product. In my experience there isn't a single product available that is good across the board. As a result I prefer to use the best I can find in each category of anti-virus, firewall, etc.

Hope this helps...

 

[kjv1611]

free version of Avira AntiVir now that it includes anti-spyware protection

That I did not know. I may have to take a closer look there myself - again.

RE: False Positives:
I used to have more false positives with Avira Antivir when I first tried it for a month or couple months... but that was years ago. I used to never have a false positive with AVG. However, I have had a couple false positives over the past 6 months or maybe 1 year with AVG, and just one can be a major headache when you need to use that one certain program!

RE: Multiple programs vs one program:
I concur with Rick998, and many others who have posted in these forums. It actually seems nonsensical to think that ANY one program or software company could protect against EVERY possible threat in the day in which we live and work. There are so many different avenues to be taken, that unless you're going to manually verify EVERY SINGLE process, file, etc, from every application in every instance (which would be enough to make me just quit using a PC, period), then there is no way any single program can handle it all. Sure, some are good - but none can offer 100% protection. At least with multiple programs, each can help overcome the shortfalls of the other. From test results I've read in the past over at AVComparatives, even Nod32 doesn't hold up in all cases... some it wasn't the best.. others it was (I've not looked at least in a few months).

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me