HELP I need good anti virus

Rebel Panda · Post by **Rebel Panda** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:25 pm

I got Microsoft security essentials and guess what it isn't very protective. What do yall recommend I use? I don't want Nortons I know that I don't like things that will slow my lap top down.
Looks like I got some malware now someone know a program to help me remove it?

Post by **BIGC** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:26 pm

dont go to sites that you need an AV to protect you? I dunno the only thing I use is a webroot spyware sweeper..

Post by **Wyldman** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:37 pm

AVG Free & SpywareBlaster work great for me, and have for a looong time, now.

Post by **Frailer** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:17 pm

Wyldman wrote:AVG Free & SpywareBlaster work great for me, and have for a looong time, now.

AVG is the best free antivirus program I've found. I use Symantec on my work machines, but AVG seems to work just as well, with a smaller footprint.

Post by **kyswede** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:04 pm

I have been using Avast for several years. It is free, you just register and download. You have to renew every year, but that only takes a minute. Avast dot com

Post by **renovatio** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:12 pm

Another +1 for AVG. Also Spybot and Adaware are free and both awesome. When I worked at the IT dept in college we put those two programs on every pc on campus.

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

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

Post by **KYGlassman** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:52 pm

Norton and Spybot Search & Destroy.

No problems on three machines ever.

Post by **Mike** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:17 pm

AVG here as well.

Post by **ChopperDoc** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:30 pm

The best package I have seen (anti-malware and anti-virus) that does not bog down your system is Vipre. IIRC the license I have is for 3 PCs and it was $39. I have run Norton and McAfee (got them free for home PCs when I was in the military) for years and while they protect pretty well, they are bloated and resource hogs.

Vipre is not.

May want to give it a try if you find the free ones not to your liking.

I find that free usually means that is is either bothering me with ads or not updating the virus/malware definitions regularly.

You may also want to check with your internet service provider. Insight used to provide a free version of CA's antivirus (very good product) and I think AT&T does as well.

Post by **Geno** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:24 pm

Great timing, our McAfee coverage expires this week. I appreciate this.

Post by **ChopperDoc** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:01 am

Just looked at Vipre's site. The Full internet security package (antivirus and anti-malware) is $69.99 for 1 year for 10 PC's.

Well worth it from my experience. My 3 user license is up for renewal soon.

Post by **justang1997** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:24 am

I use AVG also. And Firefox instead of explorer.

Post by **Toddinlou** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:08 am

What's all this talk of virus and malware? Exactly the reason I ditched the windows platform for daily tasks.

Post by **WLJ** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:19 am

Toddinlou wrote:What's all this talk of virus and malware? Exactly the reason I ditched the windows platform for daily tasks.

Having worked in the computer field for over 25 years now I can say all you did was move to something that the hackers/virus/malware coders are just not paying very much attention to. If you're referring to the Apple side of things you're just too small of a target to waste ammo on. There are severe security holes found in Macs but Apple patches them very quietly and usually under the radar of the press.

Kind of like this.

Post by **Rem700** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:22 am

avg free and malware bytes is all i have used for years

Rebel Panda · Post by **Rebel Panda** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:40 pm

Thanks fellas I just restored it to out of box lol only took 4 and a half hours

Post by **Whootsinator** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:26 pm

Stay away from Norton/Symantec/McAfee.

AVG Free or Avast will keep you clean. MalwareBytes should nuke anything that gets past the gates.

Post by **BIGC** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:45 pm

having worked on a few thousand computers I would never recommend AVG or any other free anti virus for that matter. Remember the old adage of "you get what you pay for"... I know a lot of people say they have used avg and never got a virus but it is more likely they have used AVG and never known they had a virus on their system... I have worked on hundreds of PC's where the user swore it couldnt be a virus causing their issue because (insert free checker here) said they were clear and when I run diagnostics 9 out of 10 their system was infected.......

Post by **renovatio** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:14 pm

BIGC wrote:having worked on a few thousand computers I would never recommend AVG or any other free anti virus for that matter. Remember the old adage of "you get what you pay for"... I know a lot of people say they have used avg and never got a virus but it is more likely they have used AVG and never known they had a virus on their system... I have worked on hundreds of PC's where the user swore it couldnt be a virus causing their issue because (insert free checker here) said they were clear and when I run diagnostics 9 out of 10 their system was infected.......

Gotta disagree with you here. I've worked in IT as well, and free programs combined with common sense go a long way. If you stick with the reputable ones like those listed (AVG, Spybot, etc) and stay away from questionable sites you'll more than likely be fine. Biggest problem is people spend a year using their computer for nothing but porn and torrent downloads and then act surprised when it gets messed up. Not saying free is as good as other options (my personal fav is Kaspersky, used them for years) but if you're careful, those free programs will go a long way.

Post by **BIGC** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:25 pm

renovatio wrote:Gotta disagree with you here. I've worked in IT as well, and free programs combined with common sense go a long way. If you stick with the reputable ones like those listed (AVG, Spybot, etc) and stay away from questionable sites you'll more than likely be fine. Biggest problem is people spend a year using their computer for nothing but porn and torrent downloads and then act surprised when it gets messed up. Not saying free is as good as other options (my personal fav is Kaspersky, used them for years) but if you're careful, those free programs will go a long way.

Well that was probably the 1 out of 10 that didnt have viruses!!!! Common sense did not play on most of the units I have seen. I mean I have seen units with all types of bodily fluid on them, biologicals, bug infestations, a dead frog in one, one had a pcmcia slot being used to stash weed. There is being in IT and then there is repairing laptops and PC's for the general public......... I mean common sense does not play a big part in many things and computer usage is one of them...

Post by **Toddinlou** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:10 am

WLJ wrote:
Toddinlou wrote:What's all this talk of virus and malware? Exactly the reason I ditched the windows platform for daily tasks.
Having worked in the computer field for over 25 years now I can say all you did was move to something that the hackers/virus/malware coders are just not paying very much attention to. If you're referring to the Apple side of things you're just too small of a target to waste ammo on. There are severe security holes found in Macs but Apple patches them very quietly and usually under the radar of the press.

Kind of like this.

Exactly.... It could happen but the likely hood is much less. There are Mac viruses and security exploits but staying off the radar is always a great idea

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