What Anti-Virus are you Using? And an Off-topic Question

[Rl'Halsinor]

I need to install an anti-virus product on my new rig. I was wondering what do you people run? I have Norton on my old rig but there are better products like NOD32 and AVG (though their firewall isn't anything to cheer about) and they don't take up nearly the memory usage as Norton. Anyone use NOD32? How does it play with other anti-spyware software like Webroot?

Now for my off-topic question: Why when I logged in does the site show me last visiting November 28, 2005?!? I haven't been here for a few weeks, but 2005??? Plus, it shows I have no avatar(?!).

 

[DaveStebbins]

I use AVG because it is easy to setup and use, works passably well and is free for home use.

For your other question, there was some kind of database meltdown recently and the last usable backup was from December 29th, 2005. So pretty much everything since then has disintegrated into the ether. There are discussions in the Meta forum that include ways to possibly find lost posts/threads/subjects.

-Dave

 

[IronWolf]

When on a Windows machine I like either AVG or Avast for AV.

For spyware needs on a Windows machine I tend towards Spybot.

 

[Agamon]

Anti-virus, I'm using AntiVir. It's free, comprehensive, not a resource hog, and works well with my 3 anti-spyware apps: Windows Defender, SpyBot and Ad-Aware (only one of these won't protect you from even half of a given sample of malware, but all three give good protection).

 

[CrusaderX]

My computer came with McAfee, so I used that for a few years. It was always solid, but I wanted to try one of the free anti-virus programs, so I removed McAfee and downloaded AVG. I used AVG for about a year or so, but then I got a virus that AVG wouldn't clean. So I removed AVG, and put McAfee back on my machine, and McAfee removed the virus that AVG couldn't. As a Comcast user, I now get Mcfee for free, so that's what I'm currently using.

 

[Rl'Halsinor]

I use AVG because it is easy to setup and use, works passably well and is free for home use.

For your other question, there was some kind of database meltdown recently and the last usable backup was from December 29th, 2005. So pretty much everything since then has disintegrated into the ether. There are discussions in the Meta forum that include ways to possibly find lost posts/threads/subjects.

-Dave

Dave, what do you mean it "works passably well"? Are you indicating that it isn't exactly the best thing to have loaded on your PC? What do you recommend? I'll buy a good software anti-virus program if I have to.


That must have been one melt down!

Thanks, CrusaderX, I'll stay away from the free AVG. I do know those who have the money version and they like it. Probably a better product.

 

[Soel]

I used Kaspersky Anti Virus for some time. Its a very good, light on resources, and great at finding things that many other av's don't. Can't afford to buy it currently, but If you're going to pay for one, this is a good one.

Currently using AVG cause its free, but its not all-that. You get what you pay for, I suppose.

Have used Mcafee, but it was junk. Ditto for Norton, and even worse, Norton's has a tendency to unproperly uninstall, leaving bits laying about in your registry.

 

[Krieg]

Anti-virus, I'm using AntiVir. It's free, comprehensive, not a resource hog, and works well with my 3 anti-spyware apps: Windows Defender, SpyBot and Ad-Aware (only one of these won't protect you from even half of a given sample of malware, but all three give good protection).

Ditto

 

[IronWolf]

Anti-virus, I'm using AntiVir. It's free, comprehensive, not a resource hog, and works well with my 3 anti-spyware apps: Windows Defender, SpyBot and Ad-Aware (only one of these won't protect you from even half of a given sample of malware, but all three give good protection).

I need to checkout AntiVir sometime it seems. I thought Avast did a good job, but was a bit on the resource intensive side. Sounds like AntiVir deserves a trial run.

Of course posts above make me glad I run Linux 90% of the time. That way my system resources can be used for something more fun than three spyware apps! Though, I do agree, it doesn't seem that any one spyware cleaner will get them all. These days I tend to make use of HijackThis. It does a great job of finding all the process running, BHO's and such. Just sometimes you need to go in and clean them yourself (though I very rarely have any nasty spyware on my Windows PCs).

 

[DaveStebbins]

Dave, what do you mean it "works passably well"? Are you indicating that it isn't exactly the best thing to have loaded on your PC? What do you recommend? I'll buy a good software anti-virus program if I have to.

Works passably well means that it isn't the highest rated product out there, but I haven't had any problems with it. In the two or three years I've been using it, it has removed a couple of virii before they did anything and, as far as I can tell, my computer hasn't been infected with any others. I'm happy with AVG, but I couldn't tell you whether that's because my computer/internet habits don't put me at much risk or whether it's because AVG works so well.

-Dave