Anti-Virus Software

[stuartw]

Its that time of year again when I need to renew my Anti-Virus Software.
Currently I am running Norton Internet Security (5 licence package).
I need to be able to install on multiple machines, hence the 5 licence deal.
Any recommendations, packages to avoid etc?

Cheers.

[MatJohnson]

If you HAVE to pay for something, Kaspersky, failing that, go for Avira free and just disable the nag screen.

Nortons got a massive processor footprint, the other 2 above haven't, it doesn't detect a massive amount. We use Kaspersky at work and its fine, I use avira at home and on family pc's and that seems to work well.

[blue_pinky]

Dump Norton as fast as you can throw that new Proline B4.1 shell in the bin for being the ugliest thing on the planet!

Kaspersky has been good for me on the paid front, and I've heard very good things about Avast on the free side...it's picked up more threats than Kaspersky on the 2 machines I have to compare them on, so that can't be a bad thing!

[markwilliamson2001]

NOD32 is da bomb....
If your tight Microsoft Security Essentials is free and worth a look. To be honest though, the best anti-virus out there is yourself....dont bittorrent, open random emails etc etc...

Hope this helps.

[poopers]

I use Microsoft Security Essentials on all my systems, can’t think of a reason not to, tbh. It’s every bit as good as any pay one, and has a very small system footprint. Win win I guess.

[njc11]

Another vote for Microsoft Security Essentials..

I used to run Norton stuff...not any more!

Just tap it in in google and download for free from Microsoft!

[DaSloth]

you'll never get everyone to agree on the best anti virus software use, the best thing to do is to avoid the big (crap) ones like norton and mcafee etc.

Personally i normally do AVG free, but it depends if you just want AV or whether you want a package which will do internet security etc too.

[F1END]

Avast!

No, I'm not a pirate... that's the name of a good anti-virus app.
Never had a problem with it, and it's free!

I used t use AVG, but Avast is much better.

[burgie]

if you are with virgin media, their own virus package is very, very good - i took my laptop into work and it detected several viruses and trojans on the network that norton had missed.

if your not with virgin though, you can't get it!

[Donutt]

MSE is solid, quiet and does the job.
Little slow on scanning, but not so you'd notice.

When installed, the only tweaks you should do is

1. get it to scan daily, rather than weekly, and
2. get it to do it at a time you are usually on the computer, and
3. enable it to scan removable drives (Settings->Advanced)

Keep it updated, be careful with emails and links and you should be fine. But nothing (even the most expensive/best) is guaranteed...

[SlowOne]

I suppose that asking you to switch to a Mac is out of the question? Never had any anti-virus on mine in 20+ years, never had a problem. No one bothers to write a virus for 5% of the World's operating systems!

Thought not, I'll get me coat...

[MatJohnson]

Yes they do, just because you ain't seen one, doesn't mean they aint around. Macs get virus's too, there just not as distructive as windows ones.

[Southwell]

We run Microsoft essentials on our non domain machines, rubbish Mcafee on domain.

So far been really impressed with it.

[hide]

Originally Posted by F1END

Avast!

No, I'm not a pirate... that's the name of a good anti-virus app.
Never had a problem with it, and it's free!

I used t use AVG, but Avast is much better.

Another vote for Avast. Very very good anti-virus.

[baD]

Another vote for Avast

Does the job, doesn't cludge your cpu/mem and it's free.
Used in on 4 PC's since I can't remember, not one virus yet.

Moved from AVG when it let me down

Add in Zone Alarm and you're pretty much as ok as anyone can be.

[dodgydiy]

vote here for AVG and AVIRA. my pc security is avg free, zonealarm free firewall and spybot, no problems in well over ten years running this combination. wifes laptop is on avira free, seems to be fine. for some reason her laptop wouldnt run stable with avg installed so went for avira, avira was top free antivirus package three years ago in magazines