Antivirus Programs

[numaari]

At the risk of being burninated for being an ignorant fuckwit, I'm going to ask a question that is weighing heavily on my mind lately...

What antivirus programs are the best?  I have used Norton for years at the recommendation of a good friend.  S'ok.  But it's getting more and more expensive, and it's bugging me that I can't shut it down from task manager.  (I'm running Windows XP Home Edition and have Roadrunner internet access if that info has any bearing on anything.)

I tried McAfee and loathed it.  When I try to research antivirus programs online, all I seem to call up is tons of propaganda from each company, and people bitching randomly about whichever one they just uninstalled.  Hard to judge by that.

[Elven Ranger]

ZoneAlarm ... very good

[gali]

http://www.avast.com

My technician said it's the best.

[ZiggyDoodle]

it's bugging me that I can't shut it down from task manager.

But you can disable it through the icon in your tool bar. 

I use Norton at home and have for years; we use AVG at the office (which is free).  I don't think it offers the same level of security as Norton, but the price is better.

I also use MailWasher as a secondary security system.  While it was developed for use against spam, you can examine your email before you download it.  If you don't like what you see, you can delete it from your ISP mailbox.  http://www.mailwasher.net/

[Stitches]

I like Trend Microsystsem.

[dizzy]

I tried McAfee and loathed it.  When I try to research antivirus programs online, all I seem to call up is tons of propaganda from each company, and people bitching randomly about whichever one they just uninstalled.  Hard to judge by that.

AV programs are basically in a tech arms race with V programs. Chances are pretty good you won't encounter a virus unless you turned off your firewall. On the other hand, if your computer is used by several people or if you use your program with a lot of questionable software (free screensavers and such) the chances that an AV program will stop a virus are pretty close to 0%.

[nectere]

Personally I have microsoft antispyware running silently in the background with avast and zonealarm on the front lines. I also use process explorer to kill unwanted tasks and programs from running and keep a watchful eye on my startup configuration especially after installing something new....or after the mini me uses the computer. And for that extra bit of overkill I only use Firefox for my browser and only online email rather than any of the microsoft mail programs.

[miros]

I've very carefully preserved an ancient copy of Netscape with the integrated mail program.

[Swiftgold]

I've been using AVG Free from Grisoft after it was recommended on an antispam newsgroup and I haven't had any problems with it so far. Plus it's free, which is always nice

[jrd]

I use the Sophos virusscanner that comes with Webroot Spysweeper. My sister works for them so I got it for free.

[KellyQ]

I've been using AVG Free from Grisoft after it was recommended on an antispam newsgroup and I haven't had any problems with it so far. Plus it's free, which is always nice

Same here and it has caught viruses that Norton didn't even detect. I use it on both my home and office computers.

[ThyGuy]

I use.... NOTHING! I have ad-aware and that's it. You don't need all that junk sucking your resources. Even if you catch a virus or get spyware; it's pretty easy to get it removed if you know how to get rid of it.

If you have "DAR DAR DAR" people who get on the comp and install retarded stuff, buy a program that requires a password anytime -anything- get downloaded, then laugh at them when they complain that they can't be morons and download anymore pretty screen savers.

I tell you, people get viruses and spyware, most of the time, because they're like children and can't help but click the pretty, colorful, ad about how they won a free laptop, or how a magical product will make their wang the size of that picture that porn spammer sent us all a while ago.

ugh, curse you dyslexia.

[Gwill]

I'm very happy with Avast.  It doesn't bug me when it shouldn't, but it works where it should.

[nectere]

I was pompous once, but children kill that quickly - especially after about the third or fourth time of having to reformat in a year because the computer is so clogged up/fouled up with all the crap they click on, download etc that its not worth the hassle of trying to play hide and seek with the multitude of garbage that ends up on there. Securing the computer with passwords against downloads teaches the child nothing by the way, other than how to be rebellious and figure out the password so they can do what they want to do anyway. Now that she has her own computer and even though all those safety nets where there for her, she has still managed to bloat it to death, although this time it took a full 8 months instead of the usual 3 weeks. She wants it reformatted again, I told her to learn how to do it herself this time.

[Rose Outlaw]

If you have "DAR DAR DAR" people who get on the comp and install retarded stuff, buy a program that requires a password anytime -anything- get downloaded, then laugh at them when they complain that they can't be morons and download anymore pretty screen savers.

Sign me up for a copy. I'd have some potential clients for such a program.

Anyway, Kaspersky Anti-Virus for me. Or F-Prot. Doesn't matter. They hardly do anything useful for me, so I don't care.
And Kaspersky's customer service is more than lame, I swear.

[aussieone]

I use the Avast free home edition plus Spyware Blaster and Spybot and so far so good.

[Assmitten]

Seconding or thirding AVG. I know there's a big update coming--are they going all pay?

[jrd]

Nah, but you need to deinstall and reinstall the new free version.

[Assmitten]

Oh, sweet, thanks. In your opinion, is there a good reason to get the pay version? Anyone know?

[Weaver]

For free: Avast or AVG.
Paid versions: Avira or NOD32.

[Paperbladder]

avast! is a damn good AV and I used it for the longest time.  I found AVG too annoying since it wants to ask me to update every day where avast! would just do it automatically.

NOD32 has more protection for about the same resources as avast! though so I use NOD32 instead.  Heck, NOD32 only uses 40% of my CPU during a thorough scan.  The problem with NOD32 is the fact that it's not free, but it's cheaper than Norton and BitDefender.

[jrd]

Assmitten: I don't believe in paying for antivirus software (antivirus should be a part of the OS, or rather, the OS should make it impossible for viruses to infect it), but I guess if I were to support any antivirus company by buying their stuff it would be AVG, as AVG is committed to releasing a free and good virus scanner.

[Assmitten]

Thanks again. 

[numaari]

Thanks everyone for some very informative and well-reasoned answers. 

[ThyGuy]

Securing the computer with passwords against downloads teaches the child nothing by the way, other than how to be rebellious and figure out the password so they can do what they want to do anyway.

Anyone on my computers who pulls that crap wil be in "NO COMPUTER FOR YOU" Land for a long, long, LONG time.

I've taught the kids that use my comp that a computer is not a toy, unless your playing a game on it. They understand the rules, but they also know from one that thought he would be cute and try to ignore my rules (he can't use the computer at his house even now) that I don't play around when it comes to how computers are handled and what is accessed.

Children and teens are morons and should be judged as morons until absolutely proven to not be morons and versa.