Virus protection.

[Phil]

I bought a new laptop a couple of months ago, and it came with a trial version of norton, which is about to expire. I am given the opion to buy an updated subscription, but was wondering, I've been told that Norton isn't the best and is just very good at eating up performance, so with this in mind, what is the best virus checker to get? My computer knowledge is very poor, I have heard of McAffee. Cheers.

[Ken]

I bought a new laptop a couple of months ago, and it came with a trial version of norton, which is about to expire. I am given the opion to buy an updated subscription, but was wondering, I've been told that Norton isn't the best and is just very good at eating up performance, so with this in mind, what is the best virus checker to get? My computer knowledge is very poor, I have heard of McAffee. Cheers.

I use the free edition of AVG and never had any problems with it http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

Ken

[BMC123]

I second that, I have used AVG free edition on all my PC's and never a problem. To be honest, its more about Trojans and spyware these days, and again a simple free program like spywareguard/blaster and a firewall in the shape of the free edition of zone alarm (plus a bit of common sense) and I find Thats all I need. Although having said that, I am the only user of this PC, and I would imagine if more than one family member is using your PC, things can get a bit scary, especially if they venture into torrents and other p2p sites. :eek:

here are the current links for the above mentioned software


Zonealarm
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp

Spyware Blaster
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

SpywareGuard
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html

AVG Free
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5

[Tatts]

AVG Free finishes in January though doesn't it?

[Nomis]

AVG Free finishes in January though doesn't it?

The current one does yes but the new one 7.5 is still free.

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5

I have it too and always take nortons off any pc I visit as it is so resource hungry it should have a health warning!

Simon.

[Tatts]

Guess I should have read the pop-up that it has been displaying properly then!

Anyway, I'm ok. Just finished a reformat & reinstall and downloaded the latest AVG (which is 7.5). Sorted!

[Phil]

If AVG is free, how do they make money? Nothing good if free surely?

[Tatts]

The free version is quite basic, but I've been using it for years, and not had a virus. However, I do take sensible precautions.

The free version is probably subsidised by subscriptions to their full version.

[Ken]

If AVG is free, how do they make money? Nothing good if free surely?

Its very good but like all anti-v its only good if its updated which is most days

I use AVG anti-virus......free

Zone alarm firewall........free

CC cleaner ......free

Ad-aware.........free

[Nick Hoare]

I use AVG free and ZoneAlarm (Free) and both work very well together.
Never had any problems with either of them.

[loupus666]

zone alarm.AVG,spybot & adaware are all running on mine & never had a problem!......there all free!

[Pete]

Many of the vendors use the same engines so much of anyone's deliberations on this should be based on how quickly updates appear. As all major AV companies work together to identify new pieces of malicious code (they realised a while back that trying to withold information is ultimately detrimental to users) then the back-room workings are something to consider. To this end I personally use Zone Labs' ZoneAlarm Security Suite, and install AVG into friends machines by default when they come asking for repairs. Although AVG is free don't forget that one of the restrictions is that it will only perform one update per day - normally fine but in intensive periods this can put you at risk if you're unlucky.

I've previously used McAfee and Norton and neither will ever feature on a machine in my house again. Norton is horribly invasive and resource hungry, and at one point was simply not compatible with Windows due to a pathetic amount of pre-launch testing. As for McAfee I find it is comparitively slow to deliver updates. Another one to look at by the way is Trend Micro who provide quite a decent suite for home users.

[Ken]

Although AVG is free don't forget that one of the restrictions is that it will only perform one update per day - normally fine but in intensive periods this can put you at risk if you're unlucky

Are you sure about that Pete? I quite often update twice a day with my AVG FREE.

Ken

[Pete]

Well that was what I read on their web site, and as ever I can't find the darned info. Unless I find the text disregard that comment of mine then. :)

Still a damned good solution.

[BMC123]

You get one automatic update a day with AVG free, but there is nothing to stop you right clicking the icon and manually checking during the day, I have had the odd day when I got more than 1 update.
and yes, Norton will never darken my PC's doorstep again.

[Ken]

You get one automatic update a day with AVG free, but there is nothing to stop you right clicking the icon and manually checking during the day, I have had the odd day when I got more than 1 update.
and yes, Norton will never darken my PC's doorstep again.


Thats why then! Cheers BMC

Ken