Anti Virus Programs

[Bino]

I also have a cable modem (Cox), that goes into a D-Link router.  Does this kind of set up protect you from viruses, etc?  I'm not real sure on this stuff, but I think I've heard that it helps.  If so, do you still need AV software?

SKJohn, hiding your rig behind a router can potentially protect you from certain types of scripted attacks, the kind of thing were a program (script) reaches out to a whole broad range of IP addresses to see what sort of mischief it can make.  Kinda like a burglar who walks down the street jiggling every front door latch to see what's been left unlocked. 

But you should still consider running Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, depending on your i-net browsing discipline (see Skuzzy's post, above).  Viruses are usually things that we ourselves inadvertantly allow entry, through email or a browser or something.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Routers offer a pretty good protection against worms that scan ip's for openings. But they do nothing against browser based attacks.

[Wingnutt]

most VIRUSES came from files you download, not from a 3rd party trying to port in to your machine, so in that regard, no a router wont protect you from a virus...

ESET NOD32
and
AVAST

are the 2 ive used extensively and really prefer.  very minimal load and they dont make a lot of fuss for no reason (like Nortard and MaCrappie)

AVAST is free, you DO have to register it every year, but it is in fact totally free, and so far I am very pleased with it.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Avira Antivir is probably the best choice for a free AV at the moment. Avast has failed miserably in benchmarks for some time now. Same goes for AVG.

[Wingnutt]

Avira Antivir is probably the best choice for a free AV at the moment. Avast has failed miserably in benchmarks for some time now. Same goes for AVG.

AVAST continually wins awards from CNET, PC World, SC magazine and many others for its anti virus software.  Ive used it for over a year and have had it catch a good number of threats, and I have yet to get any sort of infection whatsoever..

in a antivirus comparative done Oct 2008 it placed in the middle of the pack for speed. 


http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse/performance2008a.pdf


ESET was of the top dog (as I would expect)

AVAST did soundly beat Avira overall and in every individual test except one.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

During last year I read so many user reports of Avast missing viruses and Nod32 / Antivir catching them that I have to disagree on that. Tests will only tell you the situation on a specific moment and on a specific threat database.

For example: http://security.nl/artikel/22931/1/34_virusscanners_getest,_G-Data,_Avira,_F-Secure_en_Norton_bovenaan.html

gives a very different picture.

[Vulcan]

During last year I read so many user reports of Avast missing viruses and Nod32 / Antivir catching them that I have to disagree on that. Tests will only tell you the situation on a specific moment and on a specific threat database.

For example: http://security.nl/artikel/22931/1/34_virusscanners_getest,_G-Data,_Avira,_F-Secure_en_Norton_bovenaan.html

gives a very different picture.

The latest AV-Comparative Retrospective / ProActive test shows Avast Professional does OK but Nod32 cleans house. This is a really good test as it shows how well the AV program dealt with new virus's. ( http://www.av-comparatives.org/ )

[MrRiplEy[H]]

I think Nod32 is great. But when my 2-year subscription on it ended with zero detections, I decided to start running without. And so far only my wife/kid has managed to pick spyware but no viruses. So I put avira on wife's Vista.

If the kid manages to get something to the Win7 x64 that he uses, that'll have to be formatted soon anyway when the beta ends.

I do regularly perform online scans and check network activity for illegal traffic. Oh and my macbook doesn't even _have_ many viruses to catch.. 

[DustyR]

One of the most hacked AV out there next to Norton.  Used to use Kaspersky then tried the ESET many moons ago, and the ESET found 27 infiltrations that Kaspersky didn't even notice or warn me about!  I will stick with the NOD32 and stay safer IMHO

.

I have used Norton for years, tried others and came back to Norton.  This computer has ESET NOD32 on it and is the best protection that I've had, updates constantly and no major problems.  Thanks TilDeath

[llama]

Guys,

I'm just now starting my work on CPU's big Security Software round-up for the July issue, and I'd love your opinions about such articles *before* I start working.

So please check out this thread (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,260376.0.html) and help me make this article something you'd want to read and get some value out of.

Thanks,
Llama