Virus softwear recommendations?

Handy

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 17, 2005
Posts
787
Loc
Manitoba, Canada
Right now I'm using Symantec - and it's ok, but I did get a virus with it.

It's up for renewal and looking at the price I could change over to a new program if I wanted to.

what do you use and how do you like it?

Handy
 
You mean this:

designall.dll



Oh, sorry.. softWARE, not softWEAR..


I use AVG at home.. it does a pretty good job and its free.

Nothing beats a good firewall though (that and safe email practices, like not opening and running unknown executable from "friends").
 
oops - guess I deserved that after that lousy spelling mistake!

BTW - that's a cute shirt!!!

ok - I'll check into AVG. I do realize the importance of a good system though - so I really want something that is dependable and that I don't have to constantly worry about.

the thing that gets me the most about symantec is when the window pops up and says that something is trying to access the internet- it gives you some form of name of the program that most times you can't understand. Often times I don't know what program it's talking about and I don't know what to do about it.

I'm not a computer genius - I get along ok, but tech talk is waaaay over my head...

Lead programmer at wizard, hey??

hmmmmm....... do you guys have a suggestion department? LOL!!
 
the thing that gets me the most about symantec is when the window pops up and says that something is trying to access the internet- it gives you some form of name of the program that most times you can't understand. Often times I don't know what program it's talking about and I don't know what to do about it.
That's one of the most difficult things to deal with as more and more programs now adays are "phoning home". I usually tend to deny everything unless I know for sure what it is or its something I'm in the process of installing. AVG is just a virus scanner - it wont block programs attempting to make outbound connections from your computer.

Lead programmer at wizard, hey??
Thanks for reminding me.. I've been meaning to update that. My official title has changed as we've shifted departments aournd this year..


hmmmmm....... do you guys have a suggestion department? LOL!!
Sure.. our inboxes are all open 24-7.. ;)
 
Sandra I just installed McAfee. Norton started pestering me about renewing at least 10 months before the subscription expired, so I uninstalled it.

You won't avoid the pop-up warnings about intrusions by switching to McAfee, though. The warnings are just as cryptic and I expect the renewal notices will start any day now.

I got a version of McAfee at Sam's Club that can be installed on up to three PCs for about the price of a single-license version of Nortons.

I installed anti-virus only and use a wireless router with a good security protocol set up. Norton Utilities and Norton Internet Security were very spiffy on Windows 98 but downright annoying with Windows XP.

I'm using a free AV program on an expendable computer. I'm not sure which one.
 
I'm sure there have been problems with all of them but I would stay away from McAfee for a bit, or at least stay away from upgrading to Version 11. They recently pushed an upgrade to people and there are issues that require AdAware and other Spyware checkers to be deleted before it will allow installation. Email and Internet browsing has been slowed to a snail's pace for many people. I have removed the entire package from the store's computer until things get settled down. This latest version 11 includes by default spyware, virus and other scanners.

The upgrade was pushed out over a weekend and they were not prepared for the problems.

McAfee forums
 
I asked in another place and a lot of people recommended AVG also.

ok - so does it automatically update itself? and do you then need to install a separate fire wall?

So then should I keep my Norton's Fire Wall and delete the systemworks and install the AVG?

Systemworks comes with some nice features like weekly auto cleaning of cookies and all kinds of stuff that makes it easy to keep things cleaned out. Checks my programs for me....... sheesh!

I'm so confused.........
 
Sandra, I have Norton's (Symantec) Internet Security Spyware edition that just had the subscription expire also. On the weekend I did a Grumble search to see what's been said about antivirus and found a post about AVG. I checked their company's (Grisoft) website, and they make the free version mentioned which is just antivirus, but they also have a version with a firewall. They also have anti-spyware software. Those they charge for. Although Norton has worked pretty well for me, except that starting Windows when I first turn on the computer takes about 3 times as long as it did before Norton, I've been thinking about trying something else. I'm waiting to hear back from my nephew who is a computer systems manager for a major company for his advice.
 
I actually downloaded the spyware program that they have on their site for no charge. It seems to work pretty well so far.

Marky I'd be interested in hearing what you learn also.

I also noticed that you can buy it with a firewall and virus scan together.

I'm so tempted - but you know, it's a bit scary when you've relied on something for years and years to just change and not know what you are getting in return, so I just want to be well informed.
 
I just downloaded Panda and it seems to be easy and it seems to work? Of course, how can you tell until it fails ?!?!

Panda has a 30 day free trial, so you could see how you like it before you buy?
 
Panda is an excellent program, but it's a bit TOO good.


We installed it at home on one of our pc's and Andy found that it was blocking him from playing game CDs. It was interpreting the copy protection as an intrusion. We had to remove it and go back to Norton. KasperSpy is another good one.

I generally use Norton's most basic version (I dont like NIS) for important computers, and AVG Free for computers I'm not too worried about (laptop, etc) AVG catches more than half of the infections, but you tend to get what you pay for. Mcafee misses a lot of hits too, and I no longer recommend it. (Good luck if you want to un-install McAfee -its practically a virus itself:) ) Norton can be a nightmare if it gets corrupted. They ALL have their faults. No program is perfect.

Some handle spyware and adware while others do not. If you run a program like AVG that doesn't, make sure you also periodically run ad-aware or spybot to keep yourself free of bugs.

We did a survey about this very subject not so long ago, if you check the results page.

Best regards

Mike
 
After becoming disillusioned, frustrated, and broke with Norton AntiVirus, I tried AVG.

A few months ago I bought the program for all of my computers. Although free for home use, it is not for commercial, multi-installation use. However, it is quite inexpensive and came highly recommended. It is also automatic, trouble-free, and tells me every morning that I have no viruses. I like it.
 
Originally posted by Jim Miller:
...tells me every morning that I have no viruses.
I could do the same thing for a small fee ;)
 
Originally posted by David N Waldmann:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jim Miller:
...tells me every morning that I have no viruses.
I could do the same thing for a small fee ;) </font>[/QUOTE]I could it for a fee smaller than David's.... ;)
 
Originally posted by Paul N:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by David N Waldmann:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jim Miller:
...tells me every morning that I have no viruses.
I could do the same thing for a small fee ;) </font>[/QUOTE]I could it for a fee smaller than David's.... ;) </font>[/QUOTE]I could do it for even less and tell you that your subscrition is about to expire...


I'm stuck on Norton - you might say I know it rather well... It cops more flack than it should basically originating from programmers who like to think they're better than everyone else - which then make its way into media and so on... the circle of degrading comments... ($0.02)
 
Well, I finally got to talk to my nephew who is the computer systems manager. He said he uses Zone Alarm on his own computer. I checked their website and they have different packages at different prices like everyone else (including a basic free version). I think I might give them a try.
 
Just a note to clarify the last post from MarkyW:

ZoneAlarm is known for their firewall product, of the same name. They also offer a spyware product, an antivirus product, a pro version of the firewall, and a security suite that contains all of the above $49.95

The free version is a basic firewall only and will not protect against viri or spyware/adware.

Here's a chart with the different products they have, and prices. http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/comparison.jsp?lid=home_compare

Mike

PS: Here is an article/opinion that compares the 10 most popular programs and ranks them in several ways. http://www.pcworld.com/article/124475-1/article.html#
 
Don't like Norton or Macafee. They both seem to take over complete control of the computer and slow them down and ask interminable questions that the average person doesn't have any idea about.
Uninstalled Norton from my laptop, now it operates three times as fast.
New desktop computer last year came with Macafee on it and got so many query interruptions in the first two days that I uninstalled it too.

Now using Nod32, which seems to be effective and doesn't interrupt me or slow the computer down.
 
Three times faster now? Did you time the difference, I would certainly be interested in seeing the actual results?

Symantec may pass the buck from time to time but the numerous flaws and ineffective operation of Nod32 is inexplicably someone else's fault...
 
Lance,
No didn't time it, but there has been a dramatic improvement in speed. "Three times as fast" = a bloody sight faster than it was before the uninstall!
I also don't like the way Norton leaves little bits of itself after it is uninstalled. I'm about to do a format and re-install of WinXP and when that's done, I will be finally rid of Norton for good! Yaaaaay

When I bought Nod32 there were some good reviews on it and when my subscription runs out I intend checking to see what else gets good reviews so that I don't have to infect my puter with Norton or Macafee!
I don't know anything about 'numerous flaws and ineffective operation' of Nod32. It has worked for me now for about a year or so, successfully so I have no complaints about it at this time!
 
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