Antivirus software that's not a ripoff?

[Mister Fork]

Went with Webroot last year for $30 for 5 devices. Now it's $80 and NO discounts allowed. So, frack you webroot. Ur business model sucks.

Other than Webroot, what is another affordable and good AV product with low CPU impact? Any recommendations guys?

[Ack-Ack]

I use ESET. 

[FESS67]

Wow.  $80 a year for 5 devices....let's work that cost out...........
................   $0.05 a day.

Yep.  You are pissed at a company selling you protection for just 5 cents a day.

Have a look in the mirror and decide what value you put on your protection.

[Mister Fork]

Fess, it's double the price for exactly the same product with zero additional benefits. It's a classic bait and switch pricing model. Sucker you in with a lower inital price, renewal comes by and WHAMMO. Pay double beoches. Pay up!  No, HEY, let me incentivize you to stay...

I'll see if I can squeeze 20 bucks out of them.

[Vulcan]

I use ESET.

I'd recommend looking at NSS Labs AEP test results/SVM. Eset did ... ok...but you could do better. Kaspersky ranks highly. I'm trialing Sentinel One at the moment (dressed as a Sonicwall product) and it seems pretty good. I'm a bit disappointed webroot is not in the test. Beware the TCO is a bit subjective.

[Meatwad]

I use Kaspersky Total Security

[Puma44]

I use Kaspersky Total Security

I have used this for the last few years and have had absolutely no problems with it.  It has no effect on game play, frame rate, etc.

[Brooke]

I use Avast.

I've used lots of stuff:  Norton, Symantec, McAfee, Microsoft, Trend, BitDefender, AVG, Avira, and maybe some I don't recall.

I like Avast more than those.

[Bizman]

I use Avast.

I've used lots of stuff:  Norton, Symantec, McAfee, Microsoft, Trend, BitDefender, AVG, Avira, and maybe some I don't recall.

I like Avast more than those.

They say Avast is one of the most problematic ones alongside with Kaspersky, Norton, McAfee etc... However, I've been happy with the free version of Avast, too. There's a couple of things you can do to tame it - or any other antivirus as well. It starts at the installation stage: Always do a custom install and disable all the features that you either don't need or that come with an extra price tag. In the case of Avast, the Minimal setup is where I start at, adding the browser shield and browser cleaner and potentially disabling the e-mail shield if no e-mail client program is being used. After major updates I go to Programs and Features in Windows, double click Avast, choose Modify and check if there's some new paid feature lurking.

When all is installed and good, I then go to the Settings and try to find every instance for Exceptions, browsing and adding C:\HitechCreations\* or aceshigh.exe where applicable, or the server IP addresses. That should minimise the negative impact of anti-virus checking every single package the game sends.

Bear in mind that no anti-xxx program is fool proof. Having one adds to the safety net, though, so using one is good practice.

[artik]

I used AVG - was ok till got me BSOD, that used Avast for a while and then Windows Defender (by accident since I didn't know it was active)
I always turned them off for AH play.

Now I don't use AV at home PC at all since through all carer I spent in computer industry I witnessed more damage created by anti-virus programs then viruses themselves.

[Bizman]

Now I don't use AV at home PC at all since through all carer I spent in computer industry I witnessed more damage created by anti-virus programs then viruses themselves.

I've witnessed the same happen with Windows updates. There's a reason why big companies using dedicated programs in a unified environment have trained IT personnel checking every update and any other third party program in a sandbox to make sure installing them won't cause any damage. They also run hardware firewalls and other protection in the background unknown for the users. Not to mention they have real time backup.

For the less savvy average Joe having to reinstall his system in case of a really nasty malware hit is less destructive so in my opinion it's better that he's at least trying to stop malware than spreading it because of an unpatched/unprotected system. I still remember the Blaster worm epidemic caused by people not having installed a year old update.

[Vulcan]

Now I don't use AV at home PC at all since through all carer I spent in computer industry I witnessed more damage created by anti-virus programs then viruses themselves.

I've never observed that, I've been in IT for 34 years and specialize in the security side. I've seen plenty of damage inflicted by malware, and $$$ lost.

[John Galt]

Just do the right security settings and get rid of anti-virus. 

[Skuzzy]

Over 30 years not using any AV and never had any issues, BUT it does a bit of time to mitigate the paths into a system.  It is not something I recommend any casual computer user do.

I have also kept my systems behind hardened firewall appliances.

I am with artik though.  I have seen too much damage done by the over-the-counter, consumer grade AV programs.  As much as any virus/malware would do.

[Ciaphas]

Over 30 years not using any AV and never had any issues, BUT it does a bit of time to mitigate the paths into a system.  It is not something I recommend any casual computer user do.

I have also kept my systems behind hardened firewall appliances.

I am with artik though.  I have seen too much damage done by the over-the-counter, consumer grade AV programs.  As much as any virus/malware would do.

+1

You should always be vigilant with your IT environment. Do you want computer herpes, 'cause complacency is how you get them!