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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 Anti-Virus
Nov 24, 2005 9:33PM PST

I have used AVG Free version for over four years now and have not been shut down or slowed down by a virus to date. It catches them warns of there presence and helps get rid of them. I get updates every other day, couldn't ask for anything more. I have repaired a lot of computers with Norton and McAfee on them that had viruses. It appears to me that these folks don't work as hard on getting the updates out as AVG does. I always recommend AVG to my friends, family and customers. I have never tried any of the other products so I know nothing about them at all.

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I use...
Nov 24, 2005 9:53PM PST

I use AntiVir and it seems to work quite well. I tried AVG and Avast! and I am too cheap to pay for Norton every year, so some friends of my daughter recommended AntiVir. Seemed like a good choice, and I have not had any infections since it was installed. AVG allowed a virus in that was surprisingly only detected by Panda and cured by the same(hmmm makes you wonder). Avast! aparently works in some way which, as I am running an older computer(500mhz Pentium), causes everything to slow down while the check is running. I am very happy with AntiVir, the only improvement I can see to it would be if it automatically updated instead of the user having to start the updater manually.

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anti virus
Nov 24, 2005 10:03PM PST

i use avast pro and its the best .i have tried all the other top brands but they dont compare to avast.keep it up avast.

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Norton
Nov 24, 2005 10:32PM PST

Love the protection provided by Norton Antivirus. I use Norton System works 2002 on my main machine and Norton 2005 Internet protection suite on my secondary machine. I hugely prefer 2002. The 'protection' of 2005 is far more of a hindrance than a help. 155+++++6++
+9
.33..................................................................

That last was from my 2 year old son.

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It's about time this was asked
Nov 24, 2005 10:35PM PST

I use Trend Micro's Internet Security, and believe me it really good. I have tried McAfee and Panda, but I don't think they're too great.

With respect to all fans of Norton, I would not touch it with a bargepole, and by the way you lot, have you ever tried uninstalling it from your system?

AVG is supposed to be good, but I am not going to doowngrade just to try it!

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Norten Anti Virus Program
Nov 24, 2005 10:39PM PST

It's the only one i know of.

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Windows One Care
Nov 24, 2005 10:43PM PST

I used McAFFE for years and was quite happy and then I got a chance to try WOC from Microsoft. I have been using the product since August. At first it was pretty shaky but over time things have improved. included is a firewall,anti-virus,backup and restore.in the end I think it will be a good program.

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Antivirus: Avast Home Edition
Nov 24, 2005 10:56PM PST

I have Avast Antivirus Home Edition. It's great! and the price is perfect: free.
I used McAfee for years before switching to AVG then finally Avast about 2 years ago.

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antivirus
Nov 24, 2005 11:07PM PST

I use sbc protection because it comes with my ISP. i also use trend Micro PC-cillin just too check too see if my antivirus is working well.

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eTrust Anti-virus
Nov 24, 2005 11:09PM PST

I have used the eTrust AV program from Computer Associates for years- even since it was 'InnoculateIT'!I get timely updates, sometimes more than one a day and have been virus/worm/Trojan free the entire time. It 'caught' something in an email before I opened it, put it on the Desktop.

I don't see this program mentioned often, but I highly recommend it. It is surely less problem that what I read about Norton, easy to configure and extremely reliable.

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Trend Micro PC-cillin (love or hate it?)
Nov 24, 2005 11:15PM PST

love it! For the price and costant updates it can't be beat! It protects my network for $22 a year!

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bitdefender
Nov 24, 2005 11:30PM PST

Bitdefender is the best!!

It can delete virus, trojan, spyware, adware, malware

and have firewall.

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Which antivirus utility protects your computer?
Nov 24, 2005 11:30PM PST

Love it.

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Don't need stinkin' AV apps with Linux
Nov 24, 2005 11:33PM PST

I run SUSE 10 with all security updates. There's no need for an antivirus app (although I use one to scan a connected Windows machine).

For all of the people who say that it's just not targeted because Windows is more popular, check out http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10/06/linux_vs_windows_viruses/

"Due to the strong separation between normal users and the privileged root user, our Linux user would have to be running as root to really do any damage to the system. He could damage his /home directory, but that's about it. So the above steps now become the following: read, save, become root, give executable permissions, run. The more steps, the less likely a virus infection becomes, and certainly the less likely a catastrophically spreading virus becomes. And Linux users are taught from the get-go to never run as root."

Since I made my switch from Windows to Linux, I have never experienced any slowdowns or need to reinstall my OS due to spyware, viruses, or just because it "needs to be reinstalled" (which seemed to happen every six months or so with Windows).

Baltika

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E-Scan (Kaspersky)
Nov 24, 2005 11:40PM PST

With real-time email scanning and system monitoring, it has never let me down, it updates daily, customer service is excellent, whereas Norton slows down every system I've ever owned and is as overbearing as it is helpful. I remove it promptly when it comes packaged with a new computer.

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anti virus
Nov 24, 2005 11:47PM PST

I use Avast its free its simple and so far its good, inever have any problems whit virusus.

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(NT) Antivirus utilities
Nov 24, 2005 11:52PM PST

Norton has been my choice for at least five years but now as a beta tester for MS Onecare I have the addition of that program. At first there were conflicts and the Norton program would negate the ability for Onecare to update. That has been resolved and I again have both but find the Norton utility to be more thorough. A recent crash was resolved by Norton but missed by Onecare.

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I use my ISP's anti-virus program
Nov 24, 2005 11:52PM PST

The anti-virus program i use is called F-Secure. It works pretty good. My ISP provideds it so I use it.

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Multiple antivirus software!
Nov 24, 2005 11:55PM PST

Myself I run a variety of antivirus apps. AVG is a pretty good tool with its resident check and it's free too! Also for a very stuborn system infected with a variety of Malware/spyware etc take a look for a German based free AV called Avpersonal(.exe) I can't remember the exact name at the moment... excellent detection, heuristics, half decent repair and more reliable than ClamWin. No resident check though, just on demand scaning. Anyone have any recommendations for some decent free tools that are suitable for scanning a complete network (trusted workgroup based with full shares)say at the end of the day?

Harpo_the_whale(at)yahoo.com

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Antivirus Utility
Nov 24, 2005 11:56PM PST

Norton, just love it.

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Norton AV '05
Nov 25, 2005 12:03AM PST

Originaly, I was using IBM's AV because of the great job they did at our worksite. But, IBM sold their engine to Symantics & we had to upgrade to Norton.
Recently when I resubscribed, I had to upgrade to NAV 2005. I'm not happy with this. It seems to be a hog, automated scans and updates don't seem to run on schedule and it reports on postential spyware that it can't fix.
When this annual subscription runs out I'll be looking...

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NOD 32
Nov 25, 2005 12:23AM PST

Excellent

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Antivirus
Nov 25, 2005 12:31AM PST

I have FSecure installed and I believe it is a good program. It was recommemded by my technical advisor.It cost me $100. My ISP Shaw.ca now offers it as their AV. I had lots of problems with Norton and McAfee.Soddy

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AVG simply works better and with less hassle
Nov 25, 2005 12:48AM PST

We were really loyal Norton AntiVirus users in our offices and were infected again and again by viruses, worms, etc. over the years, with very expensive remedies.

We've been using AVG at the recommendation of our IT tech company we contract with. For the past 18 months, not one successful attack on our company computers of any kind.

And no pesky messages, no hassles. Works on our Microsoft Exchange Server transparently. It just works quietly in the background. Sweet. And very very reasonably priced, too.

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Antivirus Protection Type
Nov 25, 2005 12:54AM PST

I tried the AVG, but it hung my machine. I am sticking with my Trend, thank you. It has worked for me for several years now and I am sticking with something that I am comfortable with. I do not like Norton. One of my machines came with it pre-installed and I took it off right away and installed my PC Cillen. The Norton takes over the machine (same as Microsoft does) and I don't appreciate it doing that. I don't like someone telling me what I can and cannot do with my computer!

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CA EZ Antivirus
Nov 25, 2005 1:09AM PST

It is reseanobly priced and I have used it for 4 years and remained virus free.

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Antivirus
Nov 25, 2005 1:19AM PST

Actually, I run one, but really don't need it at them moment. I am running a Mac and I run the AV program to make sure I don't pass anything along to the hoards of Windows users I communicate with. Plus, (this a pure heresy to the average Mac user), I figure it is only a matter of time until I will need it.

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Nod32
Nov 25, 2005 1:27AM PST

Hey all,

I use Nod32 as my primary Virus Scanner. It has a user-freidnly interface, and they update it quite often (sometimes two or three times every day) to keep you armed and ready against the latest threats.

Website: www.nod32.com

-Froggie2k

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Anti-Vir
Nov 25, 2005 2:07AM PST

I use Anti-Vir Personal Edition. Been using it for over 3 years. Darn good program. See here> http://www.free-av.com/

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Trend Micro pc-cillin
Nov 25, 2005 2:16AM PST

Easy to use and reliable. Good graphics, and unlike Norton doesn't screw up my system.