Good Anti-Virus

[Evill_Bob]

Okay, I'm fed up with Norton hogging up my RAM on my lower end computer and being a total dick on my high end. Which I affectionately named the "Juggernaut". What's a good anti-virus? One that doesn't need tons of RAM yet still give good protection.

And because this does have something to do with it and the reason one dumbass fat bitch in my class switched from PC to Mac, I look at porn. Porn has spyware and viruses. Need protection from that.

 

[shoptroll]

Avast and AVG are supposed to be decent free anti-virus software. Could try one of those, but I'm not entirely sure how bloated / efficient they are.

 

[WaitForTheRain]

I'm not sure about AVG, I know some who used to have it but got fed up of its supposed constand updating and resource hogging

 

[Evill_Bob]

What do you guys use?

 

[WaitForTheRain]

I use symantec corporate edition, which probably isn't that good compared to alot of other antiviruses, but I don't download much dodgy stuff or go on dodgy websites.

 

[shoptroll]

I thought Symantec and Norton were the same?

 

[WaitForTheRain]

They are, but they seem to have the odd habbit of giving different products different names. They're a bit odd

 

[GG-Xtreme]

Norton only makes one really good product, and that is Norton 360. I'd recommend it right after Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite. Neither of these are bloated. AVG, Avast and Avira are all excellent free anti-virus programs that are light on resources, but you'll need to combine them with separate free firewall and anti-spyware protection.

 

[Bort]

If you don't mind paying for the license (which is kinda cheap just for the AV) get NOD32.

Low resource usage and i haven't had a virus problem in almost 2 years.

 

[cUnNiNg_StUnTs]

I use AVG because it's small and less of a pain, it's really free.

Avast felt more secure and professional but you have to register and give them an email address and I think I had trouble keeping up with the new releases (no seamless upgrade) had to uninstall re install all the time. AVG sometimes pisses me off too but it's totally free.

There's also the German Avir http://www.free-av.com/en/download/download_servers.php I'm thinking of trying that next.

Read about others in this list...

http://www.freebyte.com/antivirus/

 

[cUnNiNg_StUnTs]

http://www.free-antivirus.info/

Another list this one has reviews of each, I did not know AOL has a Kaspersky based free one.

 

[hal]

NOD32 is the best I've used so far.

 

[ZenPirate]

Nod32 is good, but it has slipped considerably on all the latest av tests. The new versions of Norton supposedly have gotten really good. Much much faster, and more system friendly. I'm almost tempted to try it again as I think Norton has decided to get it's head out of it's arse.

These days, I'd probably try Avira. It consistently performs very well, and has a free version available. Downside to the free version is it updates from the slowest server ever (think dialup speeds) and has a pop up style splash screen.


BTW- here's a good thread on responses to Norton's 2009 product versions:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=219979

 

[Flak]

Also posted in this thread.

I've switched to Avira AntiVir. It picks up SO much more than AVG. Less intrusive too.

If you install it, do these hacks. You won't even know it's there.

 

[xMurphyx]

I use the free version of avira anti-vir too and I'm very happy with it. I had Norton for a while but it was a resource-hog and when it cost money to prolong the liscense we switched the avira anti-vir. After a re-install of WinXP I installed AVG instead but I went back to avira anti-vir because it just does what's supposed to do. Nothing more nothing less.

 

[WaitForTheRain]

The main thing I look for in an antivirus is the ability to detect and remove most kinds of viruses instead of resources, but a combiation of the two is even better, obviously

 

[GG-Xtreme]

Also posted in this thread.

I've switched to Avira AntiVir. It picks up SO much more than AVG. Less intrusive too.

If you install it, do these hacks. You won't even know it's there.

Have they changed it at all? Last time I used it, it was full of intrusive advertisements telling me to buy the full thing.

 

[ZenPirate]

^ It's the same. If you don't like the ads, buy the full product and support the company. The only reason for a company to release a free version of a "pay" product is advertising.

 

[GG-Xtreme]

^ It's the same. If you don't like the ads, buy the full product and support the company. The only reason for a company to release a free version of a "pay" product is advertising.

AVG and Avast don't have ads popping up telling you to buy their product, and their Anti-virus solutions are sufficient for most people's needs.

 

[ZenPirate]

^ Actually the newest avg free does have some obtrusive ads. Avira's detection rates are so much better that I can forgive the splash screen.


BTW - av-comparatives is a good place to see who's product is good-

http://www.av-comparatives.org/