Do you use antivirus software?

JDtech · 07-28-2010, 08:47 AM

I'm wondering how far common sense approaches to avoiding viruses can take you.

If you use AV software, which one and and why?

Ken-L · 07-28-2010, 12:46 PM

I use Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) on my systems. And, it is totally FREE!

In the past I have used Norton, McAfee, and Kaspersky, Zone Alarm, AVG, and Trend Micro. I switched from one to the other, and in I've tried several versions of Norton and McAfee, hoping that one or the other would improve to the point that they were not constantly causing problems. They never did. They all did a decent job of blocking, but they also were a constant source of problems of their own making. They were constantly requiring me to take administrative actions. Several times I had to completely uninstall and re-install them.

I even had McAfee free through my provider Comcast, so changing was not about saving money. Of course Comcast has also switched back and forth between Norton and McAfee.

When MSE was announced I waited several months and then I installed it, and I've never been happier. It is quite transparent, takes care of itself without bothering me, and uses less resources.

dirk · 07-29-2010, 11:07 AM

i am a big fan of Grisoft AVG Free since the start

jcjacob · 07-30-2010, 04:24 PM

I'm currently using Norton Internet Security 2010 - it was pre-loaded on my desktop when I bought it and I'm still covered under the free 1 year trial.

It is better than the Trend Micro I was using before, but like Ken said, it is not without issues either.

In the near future, before my free period runs out I will be un-installing and switching to MSE as well. The (free) price is right, and I've mostly only read good things about it.

STBear · 08-05-2010, 10:17 AM

Using Norton 2010. Free with my Comcast account. Like it better than McAfee which I had before through Comcast. I have also used Zone Alarm and Trend in the past. I will have to take a look at MSE when I get Windows 7.

JDtech · 08-05-2010, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STBear

Using Norton 2010. Free with my Comcast account. Like it better than McAfee which I had before through Comcast. I have also used Zone Alarm and Trend in the past. I will have to take a look at MSE when I get Windows 7.

I just gave Norton another shot. Hated it. Within the first five minutes it was pestering me with registration screens and other annoyances.

Deleted.

Ken-L · 08-05-2010, 07:41 PM

Give MSE a try! I had unexpired paid subscriptions and was even on a totally free one too, and after trying out MSE on one system I went ahead and put it on all of them. I have been totally happy now with an anti-virus/anti-malware program for the first time period.

Sidebyte · 08-06-2010, 03:46 PM

I have used AVG since they began offering free programs. Lately I have used "Clamwin" on my wife's laptop to try it out.
You couldn't run fast enough to give me Norton on any of my PC's, it is a total resource HOG.

etaf · 08-10-2010, 12:03 PM

i use avast and recommend this to all friends and family
however,
i'm reviewing MSE and comobo Firewall & Antivirus Software Suite | Comodo as i need a very simple product that is transparent in use , as a few of my friends and family are in thier late 70s early 80s and learning the internet and dont want hassle of keeping machines upto date

Filtereyez · 08-11-2010, 04:17 PM

I have tried almost all of them, and in the end I ended up ZoneAlarm Security Suite to handle my firewall and anti-virus needs and not for it's ranking but mostly because it appealed to me the most out of all the ones I have tried. I back it up with A-squared, Spybot Search & Destroy, Malewarebytes Anti-Malware, SUPERAntiSpyware and CCleaner and that combination has kept me free of nasties for a very long time. Of course my internet habits do not intentionally put me in harms way all too often and in those instances where I feel vulnerability is high I flip the switch on Returnil and breath

07-28-2010, 08:47 AM	#1
JDtech Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 308 Blog Entries: 1	Do you use antivirus software? I'm wondering how far common sense approaches to avoiding viruses can take you. If you use AV software, which one and and why? __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member on Tech Today Online, gaining access to posting privileges, contests, free plug-ins and other downloads, unlimited online storage for your photographs, reviews, free marketplace listings, and much more. __________________ Follow me on Twitter \| My Tech Blog

07-28-2010, 12:46 PM	#2
Ken-L Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 150	I use Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) on my systems. And, it is totally FREE! In the past I have used Norton, McAfee, and Kaspersky, Zone Alarm, AVG, and Trend Micro. I switched from one to the other, and in I've tried several versions of Norton and McAfee, hoping that one or the other would improve to the point that they were not constantly causing problems. They never did. They all did a decent job of blocking, but they also were a constant source of problems of their own making. They were constantly requiring me to take administrative actions. Several times I had to completely uninstall and re-install them. I even had McAfee free through my provider Comcast, so changing was not about saving money. Of course Comcast has also switched back and forth between Norton and McAfee. When MSE was announced I waited several months and then I installed it, and I've never been happier. It is quite transparent, takes care of itself without bothering me, and uses less resources. __________________ "An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way." - Bukowski

07-29-2010, 11:07 AM	#3
dirk Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: in the netthelands Posts: 17	i am a big fan of Grisoft AVG Free since the start __________________ Intel core2duo E8400, pk5k mainboard, evga geforce 8600 gts, 4gb ram, dvd bl-hdd-dvd, dvd r/w/+/- cdrw combi drive / pioneer dvd 117 rw / cartreader 500gb/ 200 gb / 640gb , windows 7 hpo 64 bit and many may more

07-30-2010, 04:24 PM	#4
jcjacob Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 159	I'm currently using Norton Internet Security 2010 - it was pre-loaded on my desktop when I bought it and I'm still covered under the free 1 year trial. It is better than the Trend Micro I was using before, but like Ken said, it is not without issues either. In the near future, before my free period runs out I will be un-installing and switching to MSE as well. The (free) price is right, and I've mostly only read good things about it. __________________ -John

08-05-2010, 07:41 PM	#7
Ken-L Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 150	Give MSE a try! I had unexpired paid subscriptions and was even on a totally free one too, and after trying out MSE on one system I went ahead and put it on all of them. I have been totally happy now with an anti-virus/anti-malware program for the first time period. __________________ "An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way." - Bukowski

08-05-2010, 10:17 AM	#5
STBear Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 26	Using Norton 2010. Free with my Comcast account. Like it better than McAfee which I had before through Comcast. I have also used Zone Alarm and Trend in the past. I will have to take a look at MSE when I get Windows 7.

08-06-2010, 03:46 PM	#8
Sidebyte Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Medellin, Colombia Posts: 62	I have used AVG since they began offering free programs. Lately I have used "Clamwin" on my wife's laptop to try it out. You couldn't run fast enough to give me Norton on any of my PC's, it is a total resource HOG. __________________ "Give up, I never gave up but my horse did, I think he's pulling a milk wagon in St. Louis" Chief Dan George

08-10-2010, 12:03 PM	#9
etaf Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Surrey, UK Posts: 8	i use avast and recommend this to all friends and family however, i'm reviewing MSE and comobo Firewall & Antivirus Software Suite \| Comodo as i need a very simple product that is transparent in use , as a few of my friends and family are in thier late 70s early 80s and learning the internet and dont want hassle of keeping machines upto date

08-11-2010, 04:17 PM	#10
Filtereyez Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest - Bigfoot Country! Posts: 9	I have tried almost all of them, and in the end I ended up ZoneAlarm Security Suite to handle my firewall and anti-virus needs and not for it's ranking but mostly because it appealed to me the most out of all the ones I have tried. I back it up with A-squared, Spybot Search & Destroy, Malewarebytes Anti-Malware, SUPERAntiSpyware and CCleaner and that combination has kept me free of nasties for a very long time. Of course my internet habits do not intentionally put me in harms way all too often and in those instances where I feel vulnerability is high I flip the switch on Returnil and breath

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