AntiVirus Protection 2

[AndyApp]

I recently got a virus on my home computer that replaced the mbr on my new WD HDD and rendered it unable to boot! It was a bit touch and go for a while until finally the fdisk /mbr command saved the day.

Anyway, I never had any antivirus software on my machine and got the virus through eDonkey (most people have had it through Kazaa). If you're interested it freezes your machine and when you reboot it removes your mbr or track 0 boot sector.

I am now on the defensive and want to buy some AV. However I know sweet FA about virus software. I don't even know if something such as Norton would have prevented the error I just had? I borrowed Dr. Watson from work and it found 41 cases of the Nimda virus in IIS files.

I would like to know which AV Software people would recommend for me? I downloaded lots through eDonkey, Kazaa etc, would want something to monitor my email (I use Outlook) and some form of firewall protection I guess. i know Norton 2003 Prof does all this but would like people's opinions on other software available.

"Life is like a Ferrari, it goes to fast.
But that's ok, because you can't afford it anyway" - Jim Davis (Garfield)

 

[wbg34]

I prefer Kaspersky, but have heard good things as well about sophos, and F-secure. The problem that I have with norton is that the home version is a resource hog, but I have been very happy with their corporate edition.
For research purposes I use the virus test center to see how different AV's test.

http://agn-www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/vtc/naveng.htm

 

[AndyApp]

mmmm. It all looked good on that site. Couldn't put it into something kind of understandable way for me could you? I think what it said was that McAfee was pretty god damn good and Norton was good???

"Life is like a Ferrari, it goes to fast.
But that's ok, because you can't afford it anyway" - Jim Davis (Garfield)

 

[AndyApp]

mmmm. It all looked good on that site. Couldn't put it into something kind of understandable way for me could you? I think what it said was that McAfee was pretty good damn good and Norton was good???

"Life is like a Ferrari, it goes to fast.
But that's ok, because you can't afford it anyway" - Jim Davis (Garfield)

 

[wbg34]

Basically,
Fsecure, Kaspersky, and Mcafee were listed as the top 3 performers. Go to the web sites for each one and look at the price and see if they offer a free trial. Take em for a test drive and buy the one you like the most.

 

[polymath5]

Like Wbg34 said, the Corp Ed is great. I have a couple of friends who run 2003 on their home machines and it seems to protect him fine without undue slowdowns. Kapersky also gets very high ratings.

But I've never had any luck with McAfee. Just past experience, your mileage may vary.

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Mens et Manus
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[AndyApp]

Thanks wbg34 and polymath5. Just one more thing. If i've wiped my HDD and am re-installing everything, is it best to install the anti-virus software first straight after the operating system or last after everything else has been installed.

My personal feeling would be first but would it integrate itself into everything I installed afterwards?

"Life is like a Ferrari, it goes to fast.
But that's ok, because you can't afford it anyway" - Jim Davis (Garfield)

 

[polymath5]

I install AV as one of the last things as long as I'm sure the source for everything I install is clean. So if I'm installing Office and I know it's clean, I install that before I install AV. But if I'm downloading patches or programs from the Web, I have AV loaded before. Does that help?

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Mens et Manus
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[AndyApp]

Certainly does. Cheers guys. Think i'm gonna go with Kaspersky. If it's good enough for the BBC then it's good enough for me! lol

"Life is like a Ferrari, it goes to fast.
But that's ok, because you can't afford it anyway" - Jim Davis (Garfield)

 

[polymath5]

Good choice, I don't think you'll be sorry. Just remember to keep those definitions up to date!!

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Mens et Manus
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