Help, need new anti-virus for laptop/PC

[IronWolf]

Yeah, MS Security Essentials has been serving me well. I try to exercise safe browsing habits though, which likely contributes as much as decent AV software.

 

[Herschel]

Thanks for the replies so far. I did a re-burn a bit back and for some reason Microsoft is not accepting my key code as a "genuine" version of Windows so I'm unable to install Security Essentials. Grrrrrr......

 

[ssampier]

Pretty much anything but Symantec/Norton. I have good results with free and paid AVG, free AVast, and free Avira.

I use Kaspersky antivirus at the moment. The price is at right at Amazon ([ame=http://www.amazon.com/Kaspersky-Lab-KAV1103111-Anti-Virus-3-User/dp/B003WT1KHI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308799866&sr=8-1]$20 for three users at Amazon[/ame])

 

[Relique du Madde]

Thanks for the replies so far. I did a re-burn a bit back and for some reason Microsoft is not accepting my key code as a "genuine" version of Windows so I'm unable to install Security Essentials. Grrrrrr......

I personally wish Microsoft would have also killed the main Genuine Advantage program when they killed the Office one.... too many false positives. I have a copy of excel I couldn't install because it said it was pirated... YET everything else in the same office suit installed just fine. /facepalm

 

[Thanee]

I used to have Nod32, but I found that there are free alternatives that are as strong as I need them. Avast, AVG or MS Security Essentials can do everything I need them to do, so there was no point in paying for anti-virus. Mostly I can get away with this because I am savvy enough to not fall for the tricks and traps out there to get the general masses: phishing, fake AV popups, etc.

Same here, but the cost for a professional AV solution is so low, there really is no reason to go free (and the free solutions, while they are surely good, are simply not as good).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Alan Shutko]

I choose not to use antivirus software whenever I can, because it gives a dubious level of security at the real cost of performance on my system. I only use it when mandated by my company. So, when I need to install something so the Citrix Access Gateway scan works, I go with free.

 

[Herschel]

Looking at the replies and reviews I found I've narrowed it down to Webroot and bit Defender, leaning towards webroot. One weird glitch in marketing though. I can download Webroot AV direct from the site for $40, or get the complete suite ($80 retail) shipped for $32 online. I think I'll order the suite and wait for the hard copies.

 

[Impeesa]

Please don't make web developers cry (Really, don't turn off JavaScript or Cookies. Please. I'll hate you forever.).

Reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend once. The relevant bit went something like:

Him: Ah, the things you don't see running adblock, flashblock, and noscript...
Me: ...Web pages?

Also, fun story: the only time I've ever had a system-crippling virus problem was during the brief period where I was actually running antivirus software (AVG, a couple years ago). I actually noticed something was happening before it did, I had pulled the network cable before it helpfully popped up a growing list of infected files and informed me that there wasn't much it could do. The firewall software I'd been running up until not long before that, when encountering a similar exploit, just asked me "want to let this run?" Nope, crisis averted, much smoother.

That was on XP though. Running Win 7 now, as others have said, there's no reason not to use the free and non-intrusive Windows Firewall and MSE.

 

[catsclaw227]

Reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend once. The relevant bit went something like:

Him: Ah, the things you don't see running adblock, flashblock, and noscript...
Me: ...Web pages?

Yea.... I really don't get why people today would disable javascript or flash. I know some ads can be annoying, but they're not THAT annoying. And if you're savvy enough to have all that blocking software loaded, you know how to avoid phishing or trap sites. A good AV and firewall software is fine if you know what you are doing.

Running Win 7 now, as others have said, there's no reason not to use the free and non-intrusive Windows Firewall and MSE.

Yup. These work quite well for Win 7. No need to buy a suite that will just bloat up your system and possibly become even more intrusive than some viruses.

 

[IronWolf]

Yea.... I really don't get why people today would disable javascript or flash. I know some ads can be annoying, but they're not THAT annoying. And if you're savvy enough to have all that blocking software loaded, you know how to avoid phishing or trap sites. A good AV and firewall software is fine if you know what you are doing.

I don't find much worthwhile in flash content. I certainly find it less annoying to allow it on the sites I think do have worthwhile content than to necessarily have it running all the time. Add to that that the flash player seems to be frequently targeted these days due to the number of vulnerabilities it has.

Yeah - keeping things updated, current browsers, current OS updates, current plug-ins can help - the days of "don't go to untrustworthy" site and you'll be fine is over. Too many ad servers get compromised, then get displayed on mainstream sites that one would normally trust. Even sites like ibm.com have had compromises.