Anti Virus/Spyware Software?

[ronnie]

My norton is going to expire real soon and I'm not sure I want to renew it. I did check the prices and was kinda ticked as the one I had wasn't made to catch every thing as I thought it was, they try to get your to spend more to get more, the more that the one I have should have done in the first place!

Maybe it's too much to ask, that a anti-virus/spyware program catch everything, but I sure don't see Norton doing a very good job. Course maybe if I spent more money..arrggh. I never had much luck with McAfee in the past either.

Seems to me there use to be one that was real good and even was free, but don't remember the name. It's not the money, just getting tired of buying crap that doesn't seem to work very well!

What does every one use? and ya, if I had a Mac... lol

[jetpat]

The only "good" free one I used to have was Spybot - Search & Destroy (I liked it 'cuz of Metallica). The one that I found that wasn't so much of a resource hog is PC-cillin by TrendMicro. Real time antivirus/spyware stuff that would block you from even opening a suspected page and tell you why. Plus, it was pretty inexpensive - I paid like $40 and that's good for up to 3 computers.

Now...where's my TrendMicro affiliate code...

[Torn Rose]

I strongly suggest Avast.

http://www.avast.com/

Its FREE and very good and nowhere near the resource hog Norton and all the other big named, over priced crap out there.

We have used Avast for 2+ years and never had one problem.

[Cleo]

What's a virus?

[ArtWilliams]

I use Ubuntu Linux so I don't get any viruses but on the other machines in the house I use Grisoft AVG. They have free virus, spyware and root kit checkers. They are seem to work quite well as they do check things from time to time.

---art

[Toby]

http://antivirus.about.com/od/macint..._Resources.htm

Originally Posted by Cleo

What's a virus?

[ronnie]

Originally Posted by jetpat

The only "good" free one I used to have was Spybot - Search & Destroy (I liked it 'cuz of Metallica). The one that I found that wasn't so much of a resource hog is PC-cillin by TrendMicro. Real time antivirus/spyware stuff that would block you from even opening a suspected page and tell you why. Plus, it was pretty inexpensive - I paid like $40 and that's good for up to 3 computers.

Now...where's my TrendMicro affiliate code...

I've tried every one of those and none of them did much good. Seems I've tried every one out there! I have no problem buying software just tired of buying crap that doesn't work!

Torn: I haven't heard that one, I will check it out.

Art that seems like the one I remember.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will check them all out. Any one else have thoughts on the subject, please speak up. Sadly spyware is one of the things that makes me hate the net some days.

[ronnie]

Originally Posted by Cleo

What's a virus?

How did I know that was coming....lol

Maybe some day I'll wise up and get on the I-train..

[Licker4U]

Originally Posted by Torn

I strongly suggest Avast.http://www.avast.com/

Somehow I uploaded to my server some "malicious html code" that disabled my user/pass and God knows what else. Norton didn't catch it but Avast did. I'm swithing over to Avast very soon.

[Torn Rose]

The only "bad" thing I have ever had with Avast is it updates extremely often, (Sometimes 3-4 times a day, but mostly once a day) there are times I try to open a program and it takes longer than normal and it turns out it was Avast updating....

Oh yeah, leave your speakers off cause when it updates it screams at you lol.

[LeRoy]

Originally Posted by Cleo

What's a virus?

That's it. I'm going to get a Mac. Whats a virus? hehehe

[ronnie]

I have Internet Security, figuring I bought what would cover me on pretty much anything Virus or Spyware. Most people would think the same. I went to check out the renewal prices and gee, there are quite a few things it doesn't cover, like what the hell did I pay for on this one. Of course I could upgrade for extra cost. Just kinda feel ripped off.

Torn, I wouldn't mind some slow time for updates, not a big deal if I was covered. Seems like the current one is a resource hog anyways

[MrYum]

Here's what I've been running with zero problems for over a year now...this is also what I install on client computers. I've had one call back from someone saying they managed to get re-infected...and that was because the dolt ignored the warning messages telling him NOT to click the freakin link.

These two pieces of software create an excellent cocktail to keep you safe;

Webroot SpySweeper
Eset NOD32 Virus Scanner

These create a MUCH smaller footprint on your system than the pigs Norton, McAfee, Trend, etc..

Nope, they're not free...but do you really want to trust something as important as your online security to free software???

[Torn Rose]

Originally Posted by MrYum

Nope, they're not free...but do you really want to trust something as important as your online security to free software???

So paying for something automatically makes it better? So paying for meds to treat a disease is better than getting a free pill to cure the disease?

I used McAfee for 2 yrs + and had countless Trojans, and viruses, I used Norton 3-4 Years, and I had at least 3 Trojans and 4 viruses, Toni has had more then that all with Norton.

We both have used Avast 2+ years and still not one Trojan, or virus and that is on 2 main machines and 4 or 5 other machines we use.

I didn’t start using Avast because it was free, I started using after talking to a computer geek/ former hacker who told me to dump Norton and get this. He also suggested another program but it has been so long ago I do not recall which program it was.

I feel much safer now then I have with any other program out there.

[Cleo]

All the antivirus stuff always seemed to cause problems and was a pain to use so we would end up running without any antivirus software. Back when we keep a real PC around for testing we would usually go out and buy a new PC when ours got so infected that it was impossible to use any more. We usually went through one or two PCs each year. We would buy whatever was the cheapest box we could find since it was only for testing stuff.

Now my PC is just a 3 gig folder...

I still run WindowsXP for testing my stuff but since now that I can do it on my Mac by using Parallels my PC is just a folder on my Mac's hard drive so when my PC gets infected I just throw it away and make another copy of my fresh unused PC that I keep on my Mac's hard drive. Total time spent replacing my PC now is under one minute at zero cost.

I also run Debian Linux this way and I guess I should setup a Vista PC too.

[Porn Junkie]

I'm on the linux bandwagon too so I don't need an AV program. I do run some windows apps in vmware but that really doesn't touch the internet. When I was running windows, i used bitdefender since it catches root kits but did use a bit of resources.

If you can and want to spend money on software, I would suggest the Norton client that I think comes with the enterprise edition. You don't need a norton server in the network running and the client is pretty small. But that costs dollars that most don't want to spend.

AVG is pretty good for free, I hear it compares to avast.

[MrYum]

Originally Posted by Torn

So paying for something automatically makes it better? So paying for meds to treat a disease is better than getting a free pill to cure the disease?

Not at all, which is why I also said that Norton, McAfee and the other more known programs are pigs. You're absolutely correct in that those pigs also miss a lot of nasties.

But, it never ceases to amaze how many folks think their net security software has to be free. That's all I was referring to...nothing more...nothing less.

[JackDaniel's]

Here's another vote for Eset NOD32 Virus Scanner