Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Halo on June 10, 2005, 09:41:42 PM
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Which anti-virus program do you use? I have McAfee on one computer and Norton on another, but am thinking of switching to McAfee for both.
McAfee is included free with AOL, and my Norton is the 2002 SystemWorks that has worked okay, but I declined to upgrade to the SW 2005 after reading so many horrible reviews about it and hearing a good friend's report how it crashed his computer.
Rather than renew the SW 2002 which probably will not be supported much longer anyway, I'm thinking it's time to break away to the free McAfee included with AOL.
Do you use either of these or something better?
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I use AVG from http://www.grisoft.com
Havent had a virus ever....
Now I use hijack this and microsoft beta spyware as well
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Same here, was using Norton Internet Security but ditched that because I didn't see the point in just renewing NAV 2003 and NAV2005 didn't seem worth the potential trouble.
So I got AVG and Sygate Personal Firewall instead. Also have Hijackthis, All-in-One Secretmaker, Ad Aware SE, and Spybot.
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I've got Norton Internet Security 2005. Haven't had problems other than the Internet Sucurity part doesn't allow transfering cookies unless it's shut down. Also completely blocks AH unless the AV and NIS are disabled, but that doesn't matter if the computer is truely clean.
Use AdAware, Spybot, and registry cleaners regularly.
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Trend Micro Pc-Cillin 2005. Never a problem so far. Low overhead, easy to shut down completely if struggling to get LAN connections. Plays AH fine even with firewall on stealth.
Shields up reports it as complete stealth (Although I have read some dissenting opinions about Shieldsup methodology:rolleyes: )
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Norton 2005 crashed my PC aswell, succeeded in getting it back up working the first time (by entering safe mode and manually removing most of the Norton folder). Thought it crashed it because I wasn't connected to the internet at the moment and thus the auto updater would cause trouble. This was wrong as I noticed later when it pretty much totally wrecked windows (system restore didn't work, nor safe mode).
I use, what feel like a very powerfull anti-virus now, Avast Antivirus. this is the link: http://www.avast.com/.
It is free to use for everyone but not for companies, also there is a pro version I believe with a cost to it. The program has, since I installed it after a fresh XP install two weeks ago updated it self a up to a few times a day. It's also discovered viruses and removed them aswell as discovered viruses in my mail box (using Opera mail). It is scanning the computer at all times unless you terminate it. I haven't noticed a whole lot performance drop but I do usually turn it of if I know I might have big fights in AH. I like it alot, it has already saved my computer more then 10 times in just two weeks.
Together with this I use Microsofts AntiSpyware (Beta) which is also free. This is a fairly new (I believe as it is in Beta still) anti Spyware program, it also autoupdates and checks your system registry every time a program tries to add anything there, you have the option to accept or decline based on the info you get. Every step you make you can send in to Microsoft spyware network. This network consists of pretty much everybody who use Microsoft Antispyware, if one user finds spyware he reports it and as far as I've understood, it is added to the spyware database and also verified by pro's.
This too has saved my computer a few times already and it works a hell of alot better then Adaware or any other spyware program I've tried.
Both highly recomended.
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I wouldn't give Norton houseroom because of the above. I have had to troubleshoot loads of peoples PCs because of it.
It wants complete ownership.
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I really like this one............
http://www.free-av.com/
It caught stuff nothing else did!
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I've got Norton Internet Security 2005.
I do not have to shut down it's firewall or it's AV to play AH.
Norton is used by more businesses than any other AV software. They have been around the longest. Their website has the best database of info on viruses on the web.
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Panda A/V. We set up four identical machines in the shop. Loaded McAffee, Norton, Bitdefender and Panda. We then loaded live viruses onto these machines and Panda was the only A/V that prevented infection. McAffee was the worst, not only did the virus disable McAffee, it sucessfully altered the windows registry and changed user premission settings.
After we started selling Panda A/V to all of our large clients, our virus removal calls went to zero.
Just my opinion...
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Nod32
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Trend Micro Pc-Cillin 2005 - the best on the market ive seen or used.
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I'm currently using CA's Pest Patrol for A/V. Seems to work ok. I'll never use Norton again, bad experiences with viruses that specifically target Norton and shut it down.
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If you have anything to do with US government work, you can use the Symantec corporate license for free. Lots of people hate norton but it works fine for me and it's free.
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Originally posted by FOGOLD
Trend Micro Pc-Cillin 2005. Never a problem so far. Low overhead, easy to shut down completely if struggling to get LAN connections. Plays AH fine even with firewall on stealth.
Shields up reports it as complete stealth (Although I have read some dissenting opinions about Shieldsup methodology:rolleyes: )
Trend Micro here also.
I can't stand Norton in any version. It slows down my systems no matter how fast my setup is. I haven't found a game that I couldn't play from any computer on the network at home unlike the norton which required a complete shutdown of the AV and "Internet Security" suite.
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Panda Titanium 2005 here, works perfect, updates about twice a day if u are online 24/7.
It also has a firewall that works with AH and it will kill spyware and trackercookies.
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Oh man, all these choices .... Googled the stuff too and found the usual spectrum of opinion ranging from ecstasy to contempt for most antivirus programs.
I can renew my 2002 Norton AV bundled in SystemWorks for $25 a year or buy the standalone 2005 Norton AV for $30.
The 2002 Norton SW including AV has always worked fine, and from what I read, it might be the last Norton SW that works fine since many problems have been reported with later versions, especially 2005 SW.
So ... one of these days Norton will quit supporting its 2002 AV, but not yet, so I guess I'll take the easy way and stick with renewing what has worked so far.
When I eventually replace this computer, probably will go elsewhere unless Norton dramatically regains its once stellar reputation.
Thanks for all the inputs and advice. It all helps a lot.
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Originally posted by Halo
Oh man, all these choices .... Googled the stuff too and found the usual spectrum of opinion ranging from ecstasy to contempt for most antivirus programs.
I can renew my 2002 Norton AV bundled in SystemWorks for $25 a year or buy the standalone 2005 Norton AV for $30.
The 2002 Norton SW including AV has always worked fine, and from what I read, it might be the last Norton SW that works fine since many problems have been reported with later versions, especially 2005 SW.
So ... one of these days Norton will quit supporting its 2002 AV, but not yet, so I guess I'll take the easy way and stick with renewing what has worked so far.
When I eventually replace this computer, probably will go elsewhere unless Norton dramatically regains its once stellar reputation.
Thanks for all the inputs and advice. It all helps a lot.
I use this for all my customers and they rave about it.
Oh yeah, the home version is 100% free w/free updates
http://www.avast.com
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As with eagl I use Norton's corporate AV at work and at home. It's the best AV I've ever used. Small, non-intrusive, self-updating, and catches everything. New in version 9 and 10 it also offers spyware protection.
I really reccommend it if you can get your hands on it.
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Nod32 is hardly noticeable, updates 2-3 times a day and has won several prizes in tests.
I've used different versions of Norton, Panda and F-secure. AVG and NOD32 are the ones I ended up using.
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Agree, NOD32 is the best of bunch. Light on load and memory usage, extremely fast, and practically no virus can slip by.
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Again, appreciate the advice and insight. I started off several times in one direction and wound up somewhere else.
Finally, kinda to my surprise too, I wound up uninstalling Norton's SystemWorks 2002 instead of updating its virus component. Norton would have renewed the annual subscription but kept warning me no more tech support and why not instead fork out an extra $5 and upgrade to Norton AV 2005.
Would have done that in years past but not with the current problems with SystemWorks 2005 and possibly AV 2005 by association.
So as with the downstairs computer, I installed the McAfee AntiVirus that comes free with AOL. Can't beat the price and convenience, and it already has done a good job thwarting numerous virus and spy assaults.
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Both Norton and Mcaffee would bugger up my email..Running no antivirus for some time now w no viruses(or hassles)
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I found a new FREE A/V, and some how I like how it works.
http://www.avast.com/
One has to register it to get an unlock code for 1 year, but it is still free.
I have installed it on 4 PC so far, with no problemos.
It can be scheduled to do a scan at BOOT time ! That is very good, because, if you get a virus, the scanner can find it before it activates again.
I also notised on one PC that it scans during screen saver also. I have not looked into that, its my 6-year old who enabled that function :confused: (She cant even read english, how did she do that?)
The auto update seems to work like a charm.
I have to assume it finds viruses tho, but I have not run into any yet ;)
I have also used AVG and free-av, but I like Avast much more.
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Originally posted by Stone
I found a new FREE A/V, and some how I like how it works.
http://www.avast.com/
I've been using the Avast paid version for a few months. It does OK. On my second machine I installed AVG. It kicks keester and it's free.
Woof
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Originally posted by SkyWolf
I've been using the Avast paid version for a few months. It does OK. On my second machine I installed AVG. It kicks keester and it's free.
Woof
Avast IS free for home users.
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Originally posted by Stone
Avast IS free for home users.
Yeah.. you are right.. I got it mixed up with Spy Sweeper... which doesn't work any better than the free stuff. Dumb day.
Woof
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I detest McAfee now. Used to be my favorite, but now they require ActiveX be enabled, which is how many viruses/spyware/mapware programs plant themselves. Duh.
If it requires ActiveX, it is lousy. I quite using Intuit products as well for the same reason.
Stupid, lazy programmers.
I quit using the lot of them. More hassle than they are worth. The real way to stop all of it is to prevent it from getting to your computer in the first place. Which is the tact I have taken now.
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The real way to stop all of it is to prevent it from getting to your computer in the first place.
How?
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avg for me since the reviews from pc mags got me interested, also for a firewall id suggest zone alarm
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Where I work...when we see a system with McAfee...we refer to it as the Mcafee virus...it must be removed!!
I swore by Panda...but AVG free is a great product, with daily updates and it allows you to schedule scan and update times.
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The antivir suites that have the option 'scan on open' enabled by default are worse than viruses in most cases. Some of them won't even let you disable the functionality.
What it does is scan every single file in a given folder the moment you open the folder. This means a minute of waiting to access your USB1 pen disk or up to 3 minutes of waiting to access your digital video folder with gigabytes of stuff. That's right, 3 minutes of waiting before clicking a single file to open it.
Those antivirs are therefore more of a nuisance than most viruses - I always advice people to steer away from them. Unfortunately one of the worst softwares here in the above sense is also by far the most common due to smart marketing practises - it's a standard installation in many OEM's etc.
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I switched from Norton to NOD32 six months ago and am very happy with the decision. It gets top marks in most virus detection group tests and is much less resource hungry than Norton.
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I have cox. ;)
I scared to look:p
Takes 5 hours to scan this beast:D
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Originally posted by Halo
How?
Well, fortunately I have the knowledge on how to setup and configure a hardened firewall which also handles trapping and tossing this stuff out before it ever gets to any computer.
The end result is, no spyware, no malware, no viruses and none of the usual suspect programs adjoined to those maladies stealing resources from my computer.
One day, I will have to write a book.
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Better yet, how about a software program we can download off the Internet for a reasonable price? You might make a fortune and help restore the Internet to the faster, more freedomish place it used to be before all the virus and spy assaults.
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In order to do it properly, you have to have a dedicated computer which handles all your traffic to/from your LAN. And it cannot be Windows based.
The above requirements would simply be too much for most people to handle.
Of course, ISP's could implement it, but the arrogance of most ISP network geeks is astonishing.
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i still use Fix-it utilities (trend micro av) $30.00 us, coupled with ad aware , and hijack this .
For a pre XP os this combo works great .
and since firefox came out i havent had anything try to jump on my pc .
this is what works on all of my pc's .
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I definately reccomend this as well. Ive been using their product for the last 3 years and have had way less problems with it than any of the other brands. I work for Dell and we get customers calling in every day who use Norton, McAfee, Panda, and AVG and they are always complaining of getting virus's. We were using norton but after we got hit with 4 virus in one year we also switched to Trend Micro PC Cillin and havent gotten a single virus since. I've never had a customer with PC Cillin call in with a virus related problem. I also run adaware plus and spybot at least twice a week just to make sure my system is clean. :aok :aok
Originally posted by FOGOLD
Trend Micro Pc-Cillin 2005. Never a problem so far. Low overhead, easy to shut down completely if struggling to get LAN connections. Plays AH fine even with firewall on stealth.
Shields up reports it as complete stealth (Although I have read some dissenting opinions about Shieldsup methodology:rolleyes: )
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The only thing I find hard is configuring the firewall to get LAN games to play. Sometimes I just turn off the firewalls and pull the phone plug out! That way no one can go online accidentally while no firewall:eek:
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In the 20+ years using MS products I have gotten two viruses/backdoor programs. One was from a Wolfenstein 3D disk I got from a buddy which didn't do much harm to a Win3.1 system and a backdoor program I got from downloading a dodgy screen saver in Win98. Not going to dodgy sites (such as Warez) and downloading/using suspect software helps alot. If you are loading software to help you cheat, steal passwords, hack a system, or otherwise do something malicous, expect a virus. That seems to be the way it works.
Spyware, on the other hand is a real nuissance. I abandoned Internet Explorer because of all the holes and exploits that allowed spyware. I now use Firefox and MS anit-spyware (beta) which seems to have solved all those problems. Currently I used Norton Anti-Virus, which is very intrusive and has never found anything other than a suspect program through email (that I would never have opened anyway).
For me, I am going to go with AVG anti-virus free edition because its free and can be configured for minimal intrusion. I *have* had Win98 systems corrupted because of Norton system works! Right now, two of my windows PC's are running "unprotected" and I don't expect any problems.
While I keep messing with Windows XP, I really gotta go with Debian or FreeBSD in the future. It would be cool to see something like OSX come out for PC's too. Anyway, AVG is what I plan to use in the future.
Regards,
Malta
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Man most AV's are poo, I got this free program off the net called Ad Aware & its fantastic, Its got a great review on download.com & picked up 100's of stuff that norton did not, I know its not an anti virus program but it can do your PC the world of good.