What's the best anti-virus system available? Is it worth installing?

[Timbit]

Hm... I guess I'll check things out again...

[drapeama]

As I linked before, I'm using Eset Smart Security 4 and it works relatively well. F-Secure isn't bad. Comes with all Cogeco regular/intermediate internet service.

[Timbit]

Okay.

[Dr. Benway]

Oh. So I should uninstall Avast and re-install AVG then?

All I know is that from personal experience Avast free is vulnerable.

[Flozem]

No point having i5 / i7 processors and 8GB of RAM if your computer's running like a 486.

+1

+100

And NOD32 does not corrupt files trying to secure them... :P

[Playing]

I have been using Microsoft Security Essentials since it first came out with no problems.

[Dr. Benway]

I have been using Microsoft Security Essentials since it first came out with no problems.

Me, too. I installed Kaspersky as a trial but it will be removed when its time is up. After that I will download a trial of BitDefender and see how that affects the system. Because although Kaspersky seems 'average' when running apps, boot time and app launching times are shocking due to Kasp running its scans. I'll keep y'all posted.

[Almohada]

anyone used Avira?

[jotkeycom]

Anti-virus software is mostly pointless. If you know what you're doing you won't get viruses in the first place. A common misconception is that you can just magically get a virus from browsing the internet. That's simply not how it works. In order to get a virus you need to download and then run that executable. So what it comes down to is not downloading files you can't verify. If the website isn't established and well known - don't download and install programs from there. It's really simple. I don't know why this discussion, "what Anti-Virus software should I use?" keeps coming up in 2011. I haven't used any anti-virus software on my PC since the late 90s only because I didn't know any better. I also know none of my co-workers with computer backgrounds use anti-virus software. It's just not needed. It slows down your machine even more than most viruses.

Be careful what you choose to download and install along with configuring your browser plugins correctly and you should have no problems -- that's it.

[1]

Anti-virus software is mostly pointless.

That is quite poor advice.

For clarity, the word VIRUS has been used here [admittedly in an erroneous manner] to describe all malware.

Furthermore, your description on how to get a virus is also very simplistic, and not really true.
There's cross-site scripting, and macro virus, to mention just two categories that can [relatively] easily infect a system...

If you were to look at your "anti-virus-software" free computer in a vaccum, I'd even go as far as agree with you somewhat;
I too could run a computer without any of these programs and not get infected. The main issue is that most computers aren't used by only one person exclusively.
It would take only one friend/family member/co-worker who is not versed in malware a few minutes to wreak havoc on such a computer.

People are dumb:
"Security analyst Didier Stevens ran a half year advertising campaign on Google AdWords which said "Is your PC virus-free? Get it infected here!". The result was 409 clicks."

[jotkeycom]

Edit for clarity: I only recommend what I said above for people who know-what-they're-doing and are the only user. If you have other people using it, then that's a different story and in that case I'd agree that you should have something. I'd say give AVG a try if that's the case.

Furthermore, your description on how to get a virus is also very simplistic, and not really true.

I'll admit it was simplistic but it's still generally true -- the user might not choose to install/run X code but I think you know what I meant.

[Dr. Benway]

I'll admit it was simplistic but it's still generally true -- the user might not choose to install/run X code but I think you know what I meant.

So following your advice on a Windows machine if you engaged in general Internet browsing over a calendar year until Sept 5th 2012 your system would be exactly like it was in Sept 4th 2011?

[jotkeycom]

So following your advice on a Windows machine if you engaged in general Internet browsing over a calendar year until Sept 5th 2012 your system would be exactly like it was in Sept 4th 2011?

If you're asking if I myself "jotkeycom", engaged in general internet browsing until 9/5/12 - would my "system" be exactly like it is today?

No, it wouldn't be exactly like it was. I never implied the entire system would be the same. Obviously there's new programs that come out and various updates for existing ones.

Did you mean to ask:

"After over a year of general browsing, would you still have no viruses?" - because in that case, the answer would be yes.

[Dr. Benway]

I never implied the entire system would be the same. Obviously there's new programs that come out and various updates for existing ones... - because in that case, the answer would be yes.

Of course upgrades... but I think you know what I meant. Amazing that your system would be virus-free after a year. I could understand that if you never downloaded anything (apart from updates) and were only web browsing.

[jotkeycom]

Of course upgrades... but I think you know what I meant. Amazing that your system would be virus-free after a year. I could understand that if you never downloaded anything (apart from updates) and were only web browsing.

I don't really find it that amazing and I'm a very active internet user in terms of downloading programs, torrenting, running servers off of my network, etc. Just be smart about what connections and what content you allow your computer to access.

Maybe run Spybot Search & Destroy every month to see if you have bad cookies but even so, if you have the proper blacklist setup in your hosts file, you have adblock plus, etc., you shouldn't ever see malware.

[Video Frank]

anyone used Avira?

Yes, I use the free version on 4 PC's. I switched to Avira from AVG when the latter seemed to become more resource intrusive. It seems ok but I once had to use Malbytes to remove something Avira missed.

[racer-x]

Actually I ran my PC on line for 10 years without any AntiVirus s/w whatsoever and never once got infected by any virus. I did have a firewall and I did use a lot of common sense. I only just recently installed antivirus s/w. It's always disabled and I only use it to scan downloaded files.

There is no way I would ever run antivirus s/w full-time, for me that would be pointless..............

[jotkeycom]

Actually I ran my PC on line for 10 years without any AntiVirus s/w whatsoever and never once got infected by any virus. I did have a firewall and I did use a lot of common sense. I only just recently installed antivirus s/w. It's always disabled and I only use it to scan downloaded files.

There is no way I would ever run antivirus s/w full-time, for me that would be pointless..............

Exactly. I think your signature kind of applies here as well

[HD-tography]

OK guys... so NOW I'm trying to choose... As of yesterday I'm just coming off a frustrating year of running Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 (full time), and having to disable it every time I want to edit on my laptop, the editing desktop PC also ran it but was disabled most of the time as I disconnect it from the interweb most of the time, however I NEED to have security on the laptop full time due to various reasons, and I will be travelling heavily next year with my laptop, so I need to have excellent protection and still be able to edit on my laptop.

Although I never even got so much as a sniffle (nevermind a virus) over the last year, and Kaspersky I/S 2011 did a fantasic job at stopping tons of attacks, caught a boatload of items/scripts, and I felt very safe, the simple fact of the matter is it reduces my faster laptop to a brick on startup with not much better performance speeds the rest of the time, as mentioned it's severely heavy on resources.

So what would be the best equivilant without the slow resource heavy side-effects?

Is there even such a thing? (please note going without or disabled is NOT an option and I don't mind paying for good software)

[1]

I run paid versions of "AVG Internet Security" which includes a firewall on about 10 computers.

Runs great, no problems, and not a hog.

[drapeama]

I'm actually back to Microsoft Security Essentials + PC Tools Threat Fire. Both work great and are free.
My friend who's working in a computer store recommended that to me.

[Steve_Karl]

AVG Free!

[Krane]

All I know is that from personal experience Avast free is vulnerable.

To be fair, they're all vulnerable...to some extent. Especially when you do something stupid like open email or run a program you're unfamiliar with. (Ahem, and need I mention the naked websites?)

Anyway, no anti-virus can protect you from your own foolish mistakes. Therefore, the best anti-virus is that thing between your ears. Personally, I like Norton. It comes in in the top 3 in every comparison I've read thus far. And the 360 version has some neat little additions if you lack the dedicated software for those necessary little everyday maintenance tasks.

[Timbit]

It would take only one friend/family member/co-worker who is not versed in malware a few minutes to wreak havoc on such a computer.

Like my sisters who aren't so 'puter savvy...

[Almohada]

I don't use any anti-virus software on my PC's. They bog down the system. I just reformat each time the computer gets one bit messed up. On average I have to reformat it every 2-3 months. It only takes me 5 minutes because a fresh image copy with all my settings is saved on a CD using Norton Ghost. All my files are backed up on an internal drive as well as an external HDD.