anybody have a recommendation??
i currently use norton 360 and i’m looking for something different/better.
free or buy doesnt matter.
I use avast (its free). I haven’t had an infection, but it has caught a few before it made it into my machine. I also use firefox and adaware and stay pretty clean for the most part.
I like McAfee, it is seamless, doesn’t take up as much room on my computer as Norton. I also purchased Spy Sweeper, but the truth is that McAfee has caught almost everything that Spy Sweeper gets, but I like the redundancy. Check out this link:
This was done in April of 08: http://reviews.cnet.com/1990-6600_7-6768133-1.html?tag=centerColumnArea1.1
Rick
I’ve been using AVG Free Anti virus for a few years now. I really like it. I took off Norton in favor of it. Norton slowed may computer to a snails crawl. AVG doesn’t do that.
I use Norton. Which, after what Mato said, might explain my puter’s slowness these days. I tried AVG and it messed up my puter beyond belief, so it left in a hurry.
Any of the commercial programs should work just fine. I hesitate to use off-brand software because I stongly suspect that the people who wrote it spend their off hours in Kazakhstan hacking into people’s puters through the software they got you to buy, or install for free. Nothing is free.
We had Norton on our last computer and it was just fine, except it was a bit pricey.
On our current computer, we’ve been using AVG Free since day one. No problems at all. We do have anti-virus protection and a firewall from our ISP also, which may make AVG seem better than it really is on its own ??
I use Norton. I once tried McAffee but found that once it’s on a computer, it’s impossible to get off unless you completely wipe the hard drive. I also had a computer at work that McAffee effecitvely ‘killed’ but it was a special case in that it didn’t get along well with the software. I haven’t gone near it since then. There’s a number of good programs out there, several of which are mentioned here.
TxEngr
Normand,
I use CA ETrust antivirus. CA (Computer Associates) isn’t as well known as Norton or McAffee, but they are a major computer software company and the software is excellent. It uses about 1/4 as much system resources as Norton, and is just as effective.
I’ve used Avast, AVG and others and for my money ETrust is the best. It is priced at $49.99 for up to 5 systems so if you have multiple computers in your house you only have to buy one copy (whereas with other companies, Norton included, it is $49.99 or more per system).
If you are running Windows Vista with SP1 I would avoid AVG Free as there is a bug which makes it impossible to print from Internet Explorer (not an issue if you don’t use IE however). I have heard (though I have no personal experience) that AVG Full (the pay version) does not have this bug.
Just my professional opinion (and yes I can claim that).
Brian
MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) Windows Server 2003
Norton sucks! Normand, Here is my new Virus program that I get free from my Internet provider;http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/default.htm
Doug
AVG and won’t ever use anything else ever again!!
I’ve found that no matter what virus protection I use, there is always something that comes along which can infect my computer. And that’s true even if you update regularly. I had an attack the other day that took over my computer with flashing lights, noise and an unremovable pop up that told me I had been infected with spyware and I must buy the best virus remover on the market. You couldn’t make the popup disappear, not even with a computer restart, it was still there. All it wanted was my personal information and credit card number to order this great antivirus program. BTW, I was not on a questionable site at the time; I was actually researching the history of deductive reasoning----honest.
The computer professionals at my university have decided that McAffee antivirus protection is the way to go. When I told them about this incident, they weren’t surprised but still insisted that McAffee is the best on the market. One added that this is the type of problem you run into when you have millions of highly computer literate people in third world countries who have no opportunity to find jobs commensurate with their education level.
I won’t argue with the computer geeks—McAffee, I guess. 8T 
I’m a free AVG fan.
I suppose you all know not to run two at once.
One other thing. Like mentioned previously. It doesn’t matter which anti virus program you put on, you CAN get a virus. There are hackers out there writing new virus programs on a daily basis. Even the best anti virus programs can’t keep up with them.
Most do it for the thrill, but some do it to for more devious reasons. It’s the newest level of international terrorism and this is growing. You still need to be responsible for what you do and where you go with your computer. I can guarantee that if you like downloading pirated material like movies, music, software etc…you WILL get a virus sooner or later. Also if you like hitting those adult sites…you’ll get infected with tons of spywear and worms. If you open emails and go to web sites that they may have in them …and you are not absolutely sure you know who sent them…you’ll get a virus. If you have tweenies and teens…you will get viruses if your not watching them 24/7. :???:
AVG added something new on it’s free program this year. A Link Scanner that checks for malicious drive by downloads. I love it.
Another vote for AVG free. I’ve had Norton, McaFee, Stop Sign, etc. and AvG worked the best for me !
All anti-virus programs have pros and cons. I recently came upon one that I like better than any of those mentioned here. It’s called a Mac Book Pro. It was a little different to use at first, but as I became familiar with it, things got better. I doubt that I’ll ever go back to a PC … Best Regards!
My kids keeps telling me that he doesn’t need virus protection on his Mac. While I agree that they are less of a target than a PC, just because of the sheer volume of PCs vs Mac’s out there, that he still needs something for it. He is a musician and loves his Mac. I will have to tell him about Mac Book Pro. Thanks,
Rick
Spyhunter nailed a slew of things that AVG did not find and my computer is no longer slow. Norton is used because it pays a fee to computer manufacturers. AVG nailed some things that Norton missed. Hooray for Spyhunter. Spyhunter costs twnty bucks or so and is well worth it. It cleaned a ton of crap that other programs left.
Clay,
The reason for the “immunity” of a Mac to viruses is that when these nuts who write the viruses do so, they want to infect the greatest numbers of computers; PC’s. They write them to hurt PC’s and use PC programming to do so. Mac’s run differently, use different programming, etc. I don’t presume to be “immune” just because I use a Mac. It’s just that my exposure to them is dramatically lower than someone who uses a PC. Also, I know a lot of Mac users who have never had an issue with viruses in spite of running no anti-virus software. Best Regards…
sorry but thats simply too much to pay for an anti virus program which is still susceptible to a virus
:D:D
i do like macs though
And I’m sorry…Isn’t AVG antivirus?..and it sounds like Spyhunter may be antispyware…if so there is a difference…my understand we need both.