antivirus

[scottroo]

need to download one, pref is one that i can pay for by the month, any ideas on the best one?

[A Mum]

I don't know if this is what you're looking for.

I use this - AVG - It's free,
I have a friend who owns a small business and uses this.

I haven't really heard of anyone having problems with it,
And fingers crossed,
So far it's always done the 'job' for me.

May pay to hear what others more experienced than I have to say first

http://free.avg.com/download?prd=afe

[Dissident]

Not the biggest fan of AVG.

Then again, Antivirus (for what it does) is one thing I would pay for (but knowing that it was a good one).

Definitely recommend Kaspersky.

[Punk Rooster]

Avast! is a good freebie.

[Psyber]

I've been using the free Comodo Internet Security but it is fairly technically orientated.
It is very thorough and effective, but pops up a few false positives, which leave you trying to work out what to tell it to ignore in future, which you can do and is a nice feature.
While it says you cannot use it with Zone Alarm, because they are both security programmes and clash, I found it was possible to keep Zone Alarm and only install the antivirus component of CIS - an undocumented feature.

I am trialling the free Avira antivirus on my laptop, after it won an industry award as the most effective antivirus programme recently

[Psyber]

Here is a Comodo advertisement - a new twist on the PD & MAC advertising competition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA1UaFNU ... annel_page

[Mythical Creature]

I use and pay for Bigpond Security at home. I have to admit I don't know a lot about computers and software or virus protectors. Is there anything I should be worried about using Bigpond Security? Thanks.

[Psyber]

I use and pay for Bigpond Security at home. I have to admit I don't know a lot about computers and software or virus protectors. Is there anything I should be worried about using Bigpond Security? Thanks.

I've never even seen it but the fact that it comes from BigPond would worry me - and I say that as a Telstra shareholder!
I'd run a couple of good spyware detectors over it before I'd use it, as I don't think the source would see anything wrong in extracting data from your machine while "protecting" it.
[I know - I'm cynical.]

[lesthemechanic]

Our antivirus is soon due for upgrade / renewal. I have looked around & asked in stores and been told that either Kaspersky or Mcafee are the better internet security packages to install.
I am by no means an IT expert, so I rely on advice.
We will use it on 3 PCs , home, notebook ( primarily a business computer) & another desktop PC at my business address (which is rarely on the internet , but does share files with the notebook)
Can anyone on here point me in the right direction ? I have been using Mcafee & have had no issues, so I am tending to lean that way.

[Psyber]

I gave up McAfee when it failed to prevent a virus attack some years ago, and had previously been interfering with other software's function.
Kaspersky has been well regarded in the industry over the last several years as the best commercial product.
Remember, commercial outlets will only recommend products they can sell - its what they do.

I'm happy with the freebies - Avast, Avira, AVG, Comodo.
Just remember no product is 100% reliable - including the commercial ones - which is why I use a mixture.
Avira is doing well on my laptop - very easy to use and doesn't make the technical demands of you that Comodo does.
It just has a pop up you have to close on boot up inviting you to buy its total suite.

For security, rather than antivirus use, I wouldn't go past Zone Alarm - another freebie.
I also use anti-malware products like Ad-Aware, Malwarebytes, and a-squared.
I don't have them running all the time, but just run one manually each weekend, to mop up little bits of spyware that get past antivirus products.

[Pseudo]

Have used AVG free previously, but it slowed down our (admittedly quite old) desktop machine to the point where it took 10 minutes to boot! May not be a problem if your hardware can cope with it.

Got a 60 day trial of Norton/Symantec internet security with my new netbook. Will see how we go, but it would have to be pretty good to convince me to part with more clams at the end of the trial period.

[Psyber]

Have used AVG free previously, but it slowed down our (admittedly quite old) desktop machine to the point where it took 10 minutes to boot! May not be a problem if your hardware can cope with it.
Got a 60 day trial of Norton/Symantec internet security with my new netbook. Will see how we go, but it would have to be pretty good to convince me to part with more clams at the end of the trial period.

AVG used to be very good, but about version 8 it started causing slow downs.
Its makers claimed it was nothing to do with their product, but it was why I moved on to Comodo, and more recently after it won a best product award in a comparison, have trialled Avira.

[mick]

ESET NOD32 is good very and unobtrusive but it's not free

[GWW]

ESET NOD32 is good very and unobtrusive but it's not free

Thats the one i have now, i've seen some quite good things written about it on various discussion forums.

[Psyber]

ESET NOD32 is good very and unobtrusive but it's not free

Thats the one i have now, i've seen some quite good things written about it on various discussion forums.

Yes, it has a good reputation, and seems to cope with networks better than some I've been told

[lesthemechanic]

Thanks for all the handy advice everyone. Will sort it out soon before it expires.

[Psyber]

Avira are interesting. I'm getting emails 2 and 3 times a day telling me what new threat protection has been added since the last email.