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General discussion

Which antivirus utility protects your computer?

Jan 14, 2005 4:01AM PST

Which antivirus utility protects your computer?

AVG Anti-Virus (love or hate it?)
Kaspersky Anti-Virus (love or hate it?)
McAfee VirusScan (love or hate it?)
Norton AntiVirus (love or hate it?)
Panda Titanium Antivirus (love or hate it?)
Trend Micro PC-cillin (love or hate it?)
Other (what is it?)
I don't need no stinkin' antivirus app. (really, why not?)

Discussion is locked

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AVG Free
Feb 12, 2005 10:05PM PST

I used to have sophos, but now have avg free.
It has never failed to get rid of a virus or trojan, even when Sophos didnt pick it up.

The only minor issue is that the automatic update dosent seem to work any more and i have to do it manually.

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Etrust is the best I have used
Feb 23, 2005 2:23AM PST

Started using etrust several years ago when my computer was having a million problems with Norton. Looked around and came across etrust. I like how it takes care of all problems and you are not usually even aware of the fact that it is there. Only when first installed do you get alerts. Also like the fact that they do answer my emails and give added help when needed.

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Yes
Nov 25, 2005 4:40AM PST

That has been my experience. I have used all of them except the most exotic. I used to use avg. They were ok but I hated the download times. Now it's automatic with eTrust.

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anti virus
Mar 22, 2005 9:40AM PST

what is the deal with Kapersky? It looks really good to me, major updates ect.... Why no users? I've been thinking of swithching from Norton/Micro$oft. Is it true that it is former Russian govt. prog.?
Thanks
carol

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1/18/05 Which antivirus utility protects your computer?
Jul 4, 2005 9:12PM PDT

AVG 7.0 PROFESSIONAL, I Tried others but I like AVG The best. Its easy to use,you set it and forget it.
David

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Here's my vote for C/A
Jul 14, 2005 6:39PM PDT

I have used Computer Associates E Trust EZ Virus for years and ALWAYS had good support and a virus free environment. It is now available bundled with Zone Alarm firewall as "Zone Alarm with Antivirus" and I have switched to that version. One simple interface does all with easy scheduling and updates. Unlike the "big boys" it does not slow my computer and hog resources and on the very rare requests for support Zone Labs is superb!

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Hogging system resources
Jul 19, 2005 8:52AM PDT

If your worried about an antivirus program hogging resources then you need to either get a new system or get of dial up, i have had nortons and Symantec for years and never had a problem with system resources.

It does the job Wink

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SYMANTEC INTERNET SECURITY2005 :Garbage; Resource Hog
Jul 23, 2005 6:55AM PDT

Do not use program above; I had it installed on (win me) compaq laptop w 316mb ram.
#1 It is a resource hog like many antivirus products(puts 6 items in your startup menu)
#2 It caused constant shutdown problems w my notebook; went on symantec's site, tried their advice, nothing worked. When I removed it completely, added NAV and Zone Firewall, all shutdown problems ceased! I strongly advise to use Zone firewall instead of spending 50 or $60 on a product where they charge $40 for phone tech support!
Right now I am using AVG7.0(how long do they give you free virus definition updates??)
By the way when I had NIS 2005 installed, it kept prompting me that bd bladerunner was attacking my ports; I emailed Symantec who said I was infected w backdoor.trojan. At that time,I ran full virusscan in reg and safemode, nothing found. I also used windows explorer but found no viruses. Had adaware personal Se w latest definitions as well as spysubtract; everything came out clean(also tried online Symantec virusscan, nothing found)
I decided I did not want NIS 2005 anymore, so I rem. product from add/rem programs, used windows explorer , deleted all Symantec items, etc.
I went to registry editor, typed in "symantec" in find button- guess what came up?- 3 entries for the backdoor trojan I was infected with!!! I was shocked that all those spyware and antivirus programs did not detect the virus; it was in the registry! So I deleted all items for the trojan and searched for the different names for it(bd bladerunner, etc) I also deleted all Symantec items(I wanted to do clean install)
So in that machine right now I have NAV 2005 and Zone Firewall. I have no more shutdown problems w norton internet security 2005.(Use Zone Firewall!!)
I might add that all antivirus products are resource hogs, norton and mcafee also. With NIS 2005 installed my system resources went from 94% to 70% even lower when online w dialup!
Right now in this laptop I am using AVG7.0; it seems lighter on the resources then norton or mcafee.
I just wonder how long you can use this product and still get virus definition updates for free.
Anyway, don't believe the hype: Norton and Mcafee only want your money, then they turn their head away if you need tech support. They Suck; find a better alternative, there are many products available.
If anyone knows how long you can use AVG7.0 without paying, please post.
Thank you very much(I hope you read this post carefully!)
Frank

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AVG always has free updates
Aug 17, 2005 7:37AM PDT

forever, as long as you use the freee version of AVG.

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NOD32
Oct 12, 2005 4:35AM PDT

it the best oen out there in my opion never had firewall issues or nothing so far do good

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If I delete out of registry??
Nov 27, 2005 6:37AM PST

I still unfornatley need to keep NIS on my computer, but did what you did, and found bladerunner in the registry if I delete the 3 will this affect my computer adversley??

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Which antivirus protects your compute
Oct 28, 2005 6:29AM PDT

AVG Anti-Virus and Norton

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nortons vs avg
Oct 28, 2005 9:30AM PDT

both do but if you want a faster computer and a Free av i recomment AVG. Nortons uses so much of the computer resources it slows the computer down. I run XP Pro and no problems. The AVG updates are available and it detected viruses Nortons did not find.

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An objective view
Nov 23, 2005 2:07PM PST

First of all if there are those out there who really do think ''I don't need no stinkin' antivirus app'' ... my advice to them is change the attitude or do us all a favor and get offline for good. Because if you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem.

Speaking from some degree of experience as someone who has worked for one of those so called stinkin companies, I can now say with all honesty that there are some very genuine and legitimate gripes people have made after reading many of the comments on this subject. It is due to many of those gripes that I decided to change my career track, largely due to the frustration of common sense falling on deaf ears. In other words I concur with a lot if not all of what has been raised.

However one advantage of having been on both sides of this argument is I now have the benefit of being objective and doing it without any bias. Lets get one thing very clear right now. I am not talking about anything other than AV apps. Forget utilities, firewalls, anti spyware etc.

In terms of the app (being anti-virus) fulfilling its designed functions which is to detect, identify and resolve infections there is nothing wrong with McAfee, Trend Micro or Norton, providing the user has properly installed, maintained and updated his/her AV and you would be surprised how many don't. All those and other primary brand AV products will do what they are tasked and designed to do and do it very well.

There are side issues such as resource hogging, RAM usage, customer support etc etc. All of which are valid and understandably annoying, but in all fairness do not by and large impact on the ability of the AV to fulfill its primary function and that is to provide protection against infection.

There will be those in the greater community who will have a brand preferred bias, whether it be Norton, McAfee or whatever. There will be those who will argue that the age of paid subscriptions is almost over and praise the virtues of AVG and its ilk. I think that view is na

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Anti-virus and security
Nov 24, 2005 5:42PM PST

Zone Alarm suite covers everything for a home pc

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Ca Associates EZ trust
Nov 24, 2005 5:49PM PST

No complaints - it protects me - is updated sometimes twice a day - I also have its firewall - I use adaware + spysweeper as well

Suzanne

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Don't upgrade
Nov 24, 2005 6:16PM PST

I use Avast now. I used to use AVG but upgraded to the newest version. I run 98se and it messed it up pretty bad. It took forever to clear everything, but I finally installed Avast and haven't had any problems at all.

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Norton
Nov 24, 2005 6:54PM PST

MOST respectable

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(NT) (NT) I have McAfee VirusScan 9.0 & Firewall.
Nov 24, 2005 7:09PM PST
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I don't need no stinkin' AV
Nov 24, 2005 7:11PM PST

No viruses for mac OS X

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SAME HERE BUT DIFFERENT
Nov 24, 2005 8:36PM PST

I have both OSX and WinXP. i've been using my winxp sp2 for almost a year now. no A/V whatsoever installed. i haven't had any problems with viruses since i bought it. most problems i have usually involves malware and spyware which are easily remedied by an anti-spyware regiment of adaware, spybot S&D, spyware doctor and spysweeper. i don't use a floppy either and CDs are not set to auto execute. e-mails with attachments are not opened unless the sender confirms sending it.

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anti-virus software slows down your computer
Nov 24, 2005 7:15PM PST

Anyone with above average computer knowledge can protect themselves by running a free app (micro-trend) once a week or so and do away with the speed sapping anti-virus. Don't open e-mail attachments, ect and use common sense. Worked for me for years.

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AV slowing down the computer?
Nov 24, 2005 7:21PM PST

When I had Norton AV, this was thrue, but since I switched to NOD32, you don't even notice it!
Perhaps the only thing you can notice the AV is because you have no virus and I beleve that THAT is just how it should be.
Cheers, Jos

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Works except for websites/isp's
Nov 24, 2005 10:38PM PST

Sure,if you only e-mail your wife and never go to a website you don't need AV? You sound like a cheapskate to me!These viruses originate out of thin air!
Why don't the isp's handle the viruses for us???
Answer,then Norton and McAfee would go broke!

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Perhaps, if you're the only one using the PC
Nov 25, 2005 12:26AM PST

You don't mention if you have 3 teen-age sons and a wife using your PC.
This makes things more interesting.

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antivirus programs or how to enter the slow lane
Nov 24, 2005 7:46PM PST

All of the virus programs do a far better job of blocking ONLY the programs you want to use, instead of watching out for a virus here and there.

Why can't begin to enforce laws devised to make it illegal to add any programs to a computer without permission and full disclosure of what the program is and what it does. Put an end to all types of spyware both commerical from Microsoft, to the PORN sites. Treat them equally as they all do harm to us and the ALL invade our privacy by disclosing information about us and our private lives.

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Use F-Secure
Nov 24, 2005 7:57PM PST

work for UK university and all PCs have
F-Secure Anti-Virus Client Security 5.52 build 9501
updates via server - would say that it does it's job 99% of time - tho' it does slow comp fractionally. At home use Nortons' (cos I got it free from work!) which is OK. Loved AVG in past and it detected a virus that F-Secure didn't.

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Zone Alarm Security Suite
Nov 24, 2005 8:21PM PST

I have had this program for a couple of years,really like it especially since they added the anti spyware and the e-mail program(Mail Frontier) all in all a good piece of software....

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Symantec/Nortons Internet Security 2006
Nov 24, 2005 8:26PM PST

I have been a huge fan of Symantec's Internet Security package UNTIL 2006 came out. Symantec's Internet Security 2006 is the biggest piece of "dung" I have ever seen. It took me 3 tries to get it to install. Then the "Live Update" feature would not work. I used Symantec's link for the error code,"LU9000", to see what the problem was and the link told me something to this effect "Symantec doesn't know what the causes the error and has not been able to recreate in their lab" but they were nice enough to let me know "it doesn't happen very often" What a joke. I believe I finally, after about a week of messing with it, got it working. I will no longer recommend this product to friends, family,or customers.
Thank you for this fourm where I can read about the other products out there and how you all like them.

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AVG GREAT!!!!!!
Nov 24, 2005 8:54PM PST

Use it on all 4 of the family computers running differnt OS never had any problems and I do a lot of downloding. I recomend it to everyone