Anti-Virus Opinions Needed

[2BNTV]

I have been running McAfee anti-virus scan on my PC.

MY ISP has made available their Anti-Virus program from Computer Associates.

One difference is that I pay for McAfee and the CA software is free!!!!

I was informed that Computer Essentials anti-virus software is free from Microsoft.

Does anyone have a preferrence to what anti-virus package they use?

Does any of these software packages detect a virus better than others?

I was informed to download the free malwarebytes.org and perform a scan every week. It's free because you have to run the scan. You pay if if you select to automatically run for you?

Your input is greatly appreciated.

[Xavier]

I have been running McAfee anti-virus scan on my PC.

MY ISP has made available their Anti-Virus program from Computer Associates.

One difference is that I pay for McAfee and the CA software is free!!!!

I was informed that Computer Essentials anti-virus software is free from Microsoft.

Does anyone have a preferrence to what anti-virus package they use?

Does any of these software packages detect a virus better than others?

I was informed to download the free malwarebytes.org and perform a scan every week. It's free because you have to run the scan. You pay if if you select to automatically run for you?

Your input is greatly appreciated.

Most of what you are asking is being covered here: https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38830

I'm a very happy Microsoft Security Essentials user. You'll find a link to their page on my post at the above link.

Xavier

[memason]

Get a Mac!

Sorry folks.... couldn't resist . . .:loco:

[Raymond]

I have been running McAfee anti-virus scan on my PC.

MY ISP has made available their Anti-Virus program from Computer Associates.

One difference is that I pay for McAfee and the CA software is free!!!!

I was informed that Computer Essentials anti-virus software is free from Microsoft.

Does anyone have a preferrence to what anti-virus package they use?

Does any of these software packages detect a virus better than others?

I was informed to download the free malwarebytes.org and perform a scan every week. It's free because you have to run the scan. You pay if if you select to automatically run for you?

Your input is greatly appreciated.I had problems with the Microsoft Essentials. Does protect, but not good enough. T tried almost all of the anti virus scanners and for me the best is Norton 360. Find stuff others didn't. Runs and update itself and offers a great protection. It is not free, but as always you get what you pay for. I have too many good software on my computer to take any risk of losing them.

[champion6]

Get a Mac! Sorry folks.... couldn't resist . . .Apple continues to tell support reps: do not help with Mac malware

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/apple-continues-to-tell-support-reps-do-not-help-with-mac-malware/3375

Sorry memason... couldn't resist. :loco: Let the flaming begin.

[cherylncliff]

I also tried MS Essentials and found it did not provide as good a coverage as I would like. I used McAfee but have now switched to Norton 2011 and so far it has worked very well. PC World has a lot of reviews on their website.

[memason]

Sorry memason... couldn't resist. :loco: Let the flaming begin.


touché . . .

[jackz]

I had problems with the Microsoft Essentials. Does protect, but not good enough. T tried almost all of the anti virus scanners and for me the best is Norton 360. Find stuff others didn't. Runs and update itself and offers a great protection. It is not free, but as always you get what you pay for. I have too many good software on my computer to take any risk of losing them.

Another vote for Norton 360. I have found this program to be very reliable and up to date for the most recent issues. I believe it costs approx $69. per year but it is worth it for the peace of mind.

[rjm1cc]

You internet provider may provide one for you.
I think Consumers Reports covered the subject in the last month or two. They had suggestions form several free ones. Might try your library for a copy.

[diskman]

I have been running McAfee anti-virus scan on my PC.

MY ISP has made available their Anti-Virus program from Computer Associates.

One difference is that I pay for McAfee and the CA software is free!!!!

I was informed that Computer Essentials anti-virus software is free from Microsoft.

Does anyone have a preferrence to what anti-virus package they use?

Does any of these software packages detect a virus better than others?

I was informed to download the free malwarebytes.org and perform a scan every week. It's free because you have to run the scan. You pay if if you select to automatically run for you?

Your input is greatly appreciated.
We use AVG free works great:BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause:

[skyguy79]

I used McAfee when it was originally developed and owned by an individual out of Columbia MD many years ago. It was ok then but when he sold it... well that's a different story. I've tried their virus software a couple of times and deleted it because of too many problems with it. I even tried other software of theirs and unfortunately had the same experience.
:Screen_of_Death:
Today I use Norton 360 (as well as other Norton versions in the past) and just renewed my three computer license subscription for $74.89. Easy to use and I've never had any problem with it!
:thumbup:
I've also used AVG in the past and dumped it. I can't remember why though but don't think it was because of any problems with it!

[cherylncliff]

Amazon sells the various Norton packages at a substantial discount. If you can wait a few days, it might be worth ordering online.

[LI SNOWBIRD]

we had a tech come from TV computer club to fix a PC and he recommends AVG and Malewarebytes anti-malware. I've used them for years and recommend them-- and they're FREE.

[red tail]

comcast provides a norton package free of charge for their customers.

[VillagesFlorida]

comcast provides a norton package free of charge for their customers.

Yes I have Comcast internet and use the Norton that they offer free of charge. I really like it. It has notified me of several threats that it has stopped and so far I am impressed with the overall performance. In years past Norton had a reputation for using a lot of resources. My new Toshiba i5 handles it very well and I have noticed no problems with it slowing down my computer. I used to use AVG Free, with a Zone Alarm firewall, but after getting infected twice in one year I decided that it wasn't what I wanted. No antivirus program is perfect since there is no way for any of them to be 100% up to date as far as defintions go. Too many new threats find their way to the internet every day. I highly recommend Malwarebytes, also. In the past it caught threats that AVG missed. Update it and run at least once a week.

[pauld315]

We use AVG free works great:BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause:

And again, it is free ! Been using it for years along with Comodo firewall (also free) Both are highly rated and work great.

[brostholder]

After using McCaffe for a few years, I dropped them when they started charging me to renew my account without my permission (they were using "opt out" vs. "opt in"). On the advice of our local computer store I switched to AVG. It is free and I think it works better than Mccaffe.

[Lucko]

Norton is free from comcast. but is a bit of a memory hog -- Thus, I use AVAST free version and SuperAntispyware free version -- Both are easy and free if you reregister each year on AVAST -- I quit paying for protection four years ago, and NO PROBLEMS !!!

[2BNTV]

I just wanted to thank all of you for your advice. I tech at work had suggested a program called "avira", that was rated third for free antivirus protection. I tried to load the free version and it kept telling me it was free but I needed to subcribe to something as the vendor would pay the fee.

I especially want to thank Hawkwind as he suggested I use MS Security Essentials with Malwarebytes and Antisuperspy software. I loaded all three programs this morning. Performed scans with no errors detected. MS Essential was rated the fifth best free software and all three programs were free.

I will perform my scan weekly to ensure there are no viruses, etc.

[jblum315]

I've been using AVG (free) for 2 years and no problems. Also use Malwarebytes (also free)

[laryb]

I've used Norton and Mc Afee and both were fine. I've now been using Panda for several years and like that even more. While I've never tried it, I'm told Kaspersky is also excellent.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Like jblum, I've been using AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition for a few years and it's served me well. I also use Ad Aware Free from Lavasoft as well:

http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

Bill :)

[LI SNOWBIRD]

Like jblum, I've been using AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition for a few years and it's served me well. I also use Ad Aware Free from Lavasoft as well:

http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

Bill :)

I would add Malwarebytes Antimalware and Spyware Blaster both FREE.

[CarGuy]

Unfortunately, there is no "best" A/V software. What is best one day is outperformed by another package a month later. If you look at the reviews carefully, you will see that even the best programs do not detect and kill 100% of the risks 100% of the time. I suggest that you do two things:

run a good A/V program dynamically (checking stuff all the time)
run a manual program once every two weeks or so as that 2nd step that just might catch something.

How do you find a good A/V program and should you pay or go with free software. Personally, I recommend that people run one of the better fee-based programs like Norton Internet Security, but lots of people run free A/V programs (like AVG, Avira or AVAST) and rely on the built in firewall provided by MS. Why Norton? Norton is always in the top 2 or 3 (based on reviews conducted by real computer folks). It was slow in the past but has gotten better.
I also recommend that you download Malwarebytes (the free version) and run it every two weeks or so.

[Oren L Miller]

Malware bytes has a free version that I like a lot. Comcast will give you the latest and greatest Norton for free. IMHO malware bytes stops them from coming in the fastest! :posting:

[VillagesFlorida]

Malware bytes has a free version that I like a lot. Comcast will give you the latest and greatest Norton for free. IMHO malware bytes stops them from coming in the fastest! :posting:

I'm not sure that Malwarebytes offers any "real time" protection unless you buy the "pay" version. In other words, if you are using the free version you have to update it manually and run scans yourself. It is not going to protect you from threats "coming in" but may find them if you do a scan. It does no good to install this free program on a computer unless the user updates it and manually scans with it. I am using Norton Internet Security, free through Comcast, and it has worked flawlessly, blocking and catching threats. I know because I see the notices and logs. Malwarebytes is a good back-up program and the free version doesn't interfere with my internet security program. If you have Vista or Windows 7 you also have Windows Defender installed. This program primarily works to prevent and remove spyware and popups. It may be turned off if you have other antvirus/antispyware programs in use. Scanning with Malwarebytes rarely finds anything except a few cookies, and I think this tells me that Norton is doing an outstanding job of protecting my computer.

[jblum315]

I've been using AVG (free) for 3 years. Very satisfied.

[SALYBOW]

I now use Avast which I hear is quite good. It is also quite free. But, what do I know?

[LI SNOWBIRD]

I found to be very helpful..
http://realsecurity.web.officelive.com/removemalware.aspx
:posting:

[zcaveman]

I started out with Norton many years ago and I saw its performance go up and down. Also, the support was not there. A couple of years ago I switched to the "free" MacAfee from Comcast. The free one is not as good as the purchased one. I then tried the free AVG and it had limitations. I went back to Norton Internet Security on both of my PCs and am very happy with the resources it uses, the reports I get, and the job it does. Yes it does cost but I sleep better.

[cartwheel]

Apple continues to tell support reps: do not help with Mac malware

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/apple-continues-to-tell-support-reps-do-not-help-with-mac-malware/3375

Sorry memason... couldn't resist. :loco: Let the flaming begin.

Here's a link to Apple's Tech support site that provides very specific steps on how to avoid and/or remove Macdefender malware.:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4650

[VillagesFlorida]

I started out with Norton many years ago and I saw its performance go up and down. Also, the support was not there. A couple of years ago I switched to the "free" MacAfee from Comcast. The free one is not as good as the purchased one. I then tried the free AVG and it had limitations. I went back to Norton Internet Security on both of my PCs and am very happy with the resources it uses, the reports I get, and the job it does. Yes it does cost but I sleep better.

Do you still have Comcast? If so, they offer Norton Internet Security free.

[damiano124]

If you are using windows Operating System. I suggest you use Microsoft Security Essentials. It is free and works very well. Ever since I installed it, I have not worried about virus or anything else.