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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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anti virus
Jan 18, 2005 7:29AM PST

I use Trend Micro PC-cillin after unsuccessful attemps to get Norton Security 2004 to work properly. I could get almost no tech support and the updates did not work. PC-cillin has worked flawlessly.

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AntiVir Personal
Jan 18, 2005 7:41AM PST

AntiVir is fast, seems to do a good job, and best of all free. Haven't had a problem with it yet.

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AntiVir Personal
Jan 25, 2005 9:48AM PST

Have been using AntiVir Personal my computers with Windows XP & 2000 for over a year since Norton last tried to extort more money for another year's worth of virus definitions. AntiVir is easy to use...definitions are updated daily (or more often, if desired)...doesn't use up resources like Norton and best of all, it's FREE. The only problem I encountered was on one computer running Windows Me and on that one I'm using AVG, another great antivirus program.

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AntiVir Personal VS Norton Antivirus
Nov 24, 2005 6:16PM PST

I agree with you.

First of all, I think Norton Antivirus is not suitable for low-end computers especially for those with low memory capacity. When NA (short for Norton Antivirus) works in the background, it tends to 'eat' up lot of memory capacity and makes your pc running very slow.

I start to use AntiVir Personal at the beginning of this year. It was introduced to me by my coursemate. What it attracts me is that, most importantly, it's FREE!! As for home user, I think AntiVir Personal is enough for our protection. Other than that, it runs very fast especially when scanning.

I'll continue to use AntiVir Personal till I find something better than it which I believe would be quite difficult.

(But I haven't try AVG before, but I think this antivirus software is another good choice.)

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AntiVir Personal
Jan 8, 2006 1:10AM PST

I have been using AntiVir for about 4 years now and I think it is great! I have a 600mhz celeron and use windows me, this AV has never froze up my system and has consistantly found more viruses than norton (which I only used for a few months as it it too much for my system) I have reccomend this program to many people having trouble with norton not running on thier system or it not catching all viruses. AntiVirGaurd uses very little resources to run in the background continually and the Scanner (Lukefile Walker)preforms virus scans fast. What really impressed me over the years about AntiVir is the fact that it updates it self, catches viruses while you are not even using the internet and it is free! In 4 years I have had 2 viruses on my computer and both of these came before I relized I needed some spyware! Finnally reading through the other comments I seriously thought that AVG was refering to the AntiVirGaurd the comments about AVG really fit with how I feel about AntiVirGaurd Personal edition, I reccomend giving AntiVir a try, I know I will be trying out AVG!

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Still Norton for me
Jan 18, 2005 7:44AM PST

I'm still using Norton AntiVirus because I like using the bundled Systemworks, in my case now the 2005 version. I've used some of the others with some major problems. In fact PC-Cillin completely crashed my entire system to the point I couldn't even get into safe mode or to system restore to get rid of it. I bit the bullet and reformated my system. I'm just glad I back up my major files on a daily basis.

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Antivirus & Spam protection
Jan 18, 2005 7:47AM PST

I have found Fix-It! to be my ultimate repair tool. Not only does it do a great job of protecting me from viruses (updates are about every other day), but also includes registry repair and defrag utility for both the drive and the registry files! The defrag utility works when even the Microsoft defrag or even Norton defrag can not. Also, Fix-It does not require the additional cost of re-registering every year.

Another great utility is Spy-Sweeper. After trying several of the anti-spam removers, I have found this to be the most reliable.

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Which anti-virus utility protects your computer
Jan 18, 2005 7:48AM PST

I use AVG. It's effective, it is regularly updated, and its FREE

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ANTI VIRUS
Jan 18, 2005 7:51AM PST

If you want support for your anti virus, without running around reading instructios for fixing it yourself, (like norton) go with Panda. It updates itself automatically every day. Will not interfere with any app you have already or plan to use. Very under-rated, and new to the market, you can't go wrong!

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antivirus
Jan 18, 2005 7:52AM PST

After my norton subscription ran out i switched to AVG. I found norton to intrusive with its fingers everywhere, using up too many of my valuable resources

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avg anti-virus to norton anti- virus
Jan 18, 2005 8:02AM PST

i have use norton for four year without haveing any trouble until three or four month ago.my system started acting up and i would have norton run the scran and it would come up there are no virus found .I keep my norton updated weekly until now. i was told my a friend to try avg anti-virus and install it .it came up with 17 yes 17 virus that norton said i had none and now the system has started running like the old system that i once had . thanks avg anti- virus for getting my system running right again....epullen504

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Change AntiVirus program?? No Way
Jan 18, 2005 8:05AM PST

I don't know about anyone else, but after 12 years with a 24/7 i-net conection I tried and rejected a host of AntiVirus programs before settling on Trend Micro PC-Cillin. From my P.O.V. it's the absolute best.
PC-Cillin has saved my computers from disaster many times and updates constantly to keep up with or stay ahead of the bad guys.
All I can add to that is "Trend Micro rocks."

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Which AV is better?
Jan 18, 2005 8:10AM PST

This is soooo confusing. You hear all the advertisments about all the different AV makers. Then you hear the horror stories. I have Symantic 2005. I also just recently had to reinstall WinXP because of spyware. There's another issue. Which one of those programs is best? AdAware, Spybot, BeSafe.....?
Is there one brand that has ALL the answers?

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Disappointed by Norton moving to the best: AVG GriSoft
Jan 18, 2005 8:10AM PST

I purchased (+ installed) NAV as a part of SystemWorks. The LiveUpdate should run until 2-SEP-05 but it stopped since 14-DEC-04, message LU1803: recommended re-installation of LiveUpdate is not possible. There is no real Symantec support in Germany (one gives up after >30 minutes waiting only but paid phone calls).
I'll move to Grisoft AVG: it is always updating, support even directly by the originators in Czech Republic is friendly & helpful (even international calls are cheaper than national long unanswered calls to Symantec). I share this good AVG experience with many of my German friends. Norton Utilities not only waste resources but cause crashes of Windows XP Home Edition (Disk Doctor). I have been using Norton SystemWorks >4 years, but now no more...

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Panda protects my computer
Jan 18, 2005 8:10AM PST

Well, no expert here but I have had Norton for years and this year had a deal on Panda and thought I would try it, I like the product but the support is terrible. The support follows a programed step by step technique which is something anyone could do, I ended up calling dell support and they knew more about the problem and fixed it without dumping my whole computer then panda support. It protects but the support is BAD. I'll stay with it as long as I have dell.

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I use Panda Platinum Internet Security 2005 here
Nov 24, 2005 10:51PM PST

Hi all ,

Indeed , Panda protects your computer very well.

The pro-active TruPrevent Technologies are a good thing , that's true.

I haven't had to call Panda support , yet , so I don't know , lol.

Indeed , Norton and Mcafee are worthless.

Panda is the best , I guess.

In my opinion , at least.


Greetings ,


Pcfreakske2000

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Panda better than Norton
Nov 26, 2005 10:32PM PST

I recently got a virus which disabled my task manager.
Norton could not detect the virus. I tried free 30 day trial with Panda and it found the virus and deleted it.
I've been using Panda ever since and I am very happy with it. It runs smooth, no crashes. It also has a built in firewall which has prevented several attempts from users to use my wi-fi connecton.
I recommend current Norton/Mcafee users to give Panda a try.

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TrendMicro PC-cillion
Jan 18, 2005 8:15AM PST

We started our small business to help computer users find there way though, the spammers and others who love to send active viruses though email keep us very busy fixing computers.. For us Trend Micro PC-cillion is the only program that works and stops everything.

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Security....
Jan 18, 2005 8:23AM PST

I used AVG for awhile and all it did was inform me that I had a virus on my computer. I use Panda and I am very impressed. I get automatic updates daily, there is a user feedback to the Panda org to help others with similar problems. Once I installed the program, it detected the virus's and disinfected them right away. Don't keep track about how much it takes to run in the background but I am happy.

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AVAST TOPS ALL
Jan 18, 2005 8:28AM PST

I have used them all at one time or another. Avast is heads n tails above all of them. Amazed that I only saw a few posts. There were problems for awhile, however, the update is continuous. If anything, there are too many. Sometimes several in 1 day. Even better is they will send you an email, if you want, whenever an update is issued. I get the email, even with the auto update, because sometimes my broadband connection is down and I would not otherwise realize that I had missed one or more.

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AVAST lost my $250,000 dollar project
Feb 8, 2008 7:09PM PST

due to a .exe that was sneaky and crept in through an IM then installed itself when i least expected it then EXEd itself (executed) BAM i had 28 viruses that were qwerty(ing) all my .TXT files. sadly every time avast popped up it could not DELETE nor CHEST the files. and when the alert said Clicking NO ACTION will NOT activate the virus... sadly it was VERY Wrong! I spent hours on friends comp researching what to do. i found AVG and it took care of every single problem file and then i searched for ALL types of malfiles and malware on friends comp. so far. 0 infections 0 detections and now my comp is even running Faster than with AVAST. ya sure the sirens and voices are cool when u have a surround sound theatre system heh but um. no. No More AVAST for ME!

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dunno how to edit this so uh ya...
Feb 8, 2008 7:15PM PST

... oh and did i mention that the 28 viruses locked out my Active AVAST shield(s) while that was all going on? no?! oops. well it did. and it was not fun. Asians do not go well with fried electronics... Silly

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Panda tops
Jan 18, 2005 8:36AM PST

Panda provides at least daily updates, and that keeps me safe. I had Norton but could not reinstal following an update, when I did not properly uninstal Norton first. Norton was only providing weekly updates and that is not good enough today. I also have Computer Associates Vitus Protection as part of Zone Alarm. Zone Alarm is great but CA gives messages that I have a virus, but on checking it was a vulnerability an a java application which had been fixed by a security upgrade a year before. Panda wins hands down for me.

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antivirus app i use
Jan 18, 2005 8:37AM PST

i used norton's 3 years ago untill after scanning my computer it didn't find 14 trojans and didn't stop an attack of the Chernoble virus. i was forced to format my drive and lost alot of valuable apps and things that i couldn't replace. I've since started using pc-cillin and have never had a problem with viruses or trojans whatsoever. Pc-cillin scans my email in the background constantly updates all in the background while i am performing other things which norton didn't.i'm extremely confident and happy Trend Micro and they offer much more than norton's had and have for a decent price.

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avg is just as good and it's free
Jan 18, 2005 8:39AM PST

I got tired of Macafee sucking my bank account dry when a friend introduced me to AVG. I'll never go back. I also know lots of people who swear Norton has screwed up their systems. This is a lot like who likes Nero and who likes Easy CD Creator.....what works for one doesn't for another.

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Poll is slightly weighted
Jan 18, 2005 8:40AM PST

..since SP2 includes free AVG. Combined with the fact that it's probably the most user friendly of all the free AV's, and recommeded by many techs.
I do ISP tech support and have suggested it to anyone who doesn't have a current AV program--about 2 years now. I also run it in tandem with my Norton's without problems.
I still like (need) my Norton Utilities & Ghost and am willing to pay for it but Norton & McAfee ought to consider free stand-alone versions of their AV to compete.
TS
PS Can't resist a plug for one of my other personal favorites--SpywareBlaster rocks--especially if you get it on early and keep it updated. An ounce of prevention...

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SP2 includes free AVG?
Jan 18, 2005 11:22PM PST

Do you mean if you BUY a scratch install copy of Win XP SP2? My update didn't have it....

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I use McAfee but when needed tech support did not come thu.
Jan 18, 2005 8:46AM PST

I subscribed to McAfee a few years ago because they offered a promotion and easy online updating. The one time I really needed suport, the online help wait was so long that I kept getting bumped off after waiting for hours. They must have a time limit of about 4 hours that they allow requests for help to stay active. I got up at 5 in the morning to try requesting help while folks are asleep ... thinking the line would be shorter. I got bumped off again. It was horribly frustrating and I swore I'd not renew my subscription.

But I'm lazy/busy and let it slide. I took the easy route and resubscribed. Now that I've seen the feedback here I'm re-committing to not re-subscribing.

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McAfee internetsecuritysuite
Dec 4, 2005 6:56PM PST

I have been dealing with McAfee since buying my computer in early 2001. After the virus protection that came with that purchase expired I purchased McAfee Internet Security ver. 5.0. When that expired I began getting annoying and frequent pop-ups telling me to update my service. I went and purchased McAfee internetsecuritysuite 2005 ver. 7.0. After I installed it the pop-ups continued. McAfee support failed to provide the correct means of stopping them. I finally stumbled across something that looked promising in my Add/Remove and got rid of the pop-ups.
My ver. 7.0 was due to expire March 29, 2006 but something went wrong. It somehow expired a few weeks ago. I had to Add/Remove expunge all of it from my computer before I could get my internet service to be allowed to operate. Of course I could not get to McAfee's internet support site without doing this.
McAfee's Customer Support responded that I should go to its Technical Support. McAfee's Technical Support did not even verify that their response matched my computer's operating system. I have still not re-installed the software because McAfee has yet to respond to my response to their response to being informed that their first Technical Support response was useless to me. So if you have not learned to operate 4 networked computers and are concerned about more than virus problems, try to find something user friendly.

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BIT DEFENDER PRO 9 VERSUS ZONE ALARM SECURITY SUITE
Mar 4, 2006 11:47AM PST

!!! THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT TUTTLE/BRAZIL & DEAR MISURE YO'VE GIVEN ME NOTHING SOUP !!!/MURDER BY DEATH ( FROM FRUSTRATION !!! )
I'VE GOT BIT DEFENDER PRO 9 BUT IS ZONE ALARM SECURITY SUITE BETTER BY A NOSE OR BY A LONG SHOT OR IS THE OPPOSITE TRUE ?

I,VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH McCAFEE AS YOU AND LIKE YOU JUST CHANGED MY SECURITY SUITE ETC , A LOT OF PEOPLE TRUST McCAFEE BUT THE EXPENCE OF YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION AND THE PROBLEMS I HAD - TO PUT IT BLUNTLY I JUST THROUGH IN THE TOWEL AND GAVE UP BECAUSE I WAS GROWING HORNS FROM FRUSTRATION AND LACK OF REPLY TO TECH ENQUIRIES ? ETC , I'VE GONE TO BIT DEFENDER PRO 9 INSTEAD !!!.