Anti-Virus Software

[TBSN]

I was just wondering if AVG is on par with some of the other anti-virus programs available. The reason I wonder is because AVG had never ever found anything on my computer. I guess that's a good thing, but sometimes I feel like it might not be actually doing anything......

Thanks

Software -> security

-Schadenfroh

 

[EagleKeeper]

May not be on par however, I have been using them for 5 years and have never been bitten.


Installed on 5 other family members system and they have never complained to me about any virus.

Now, they may practice safe browsing and they all also have ZA as a firewall.

 

[TBSN]

well I'm behind a firewall and I never go to 'questionable' sites, so that may be it. But the spybot program usually finds a couple of entries, which made me think AVG should be finding some things as well... but maybe Im just paranoid.

 

[MrColin]

I've been using AVG for about a month now and it finds my remote administration tools every time it scans, it doesn't give an alert for my keylogger (kslogger) that I run when my guest account is enabled though. It doesn't have an exclude list AFAIK which would be nice. Before that I had an expired Norton NIS and its bundled firewall. I tried the comodo free AV and it nearly hosed me, for some reason my desktop would freeze when I hit the start button.

The free commodo firewall is the best soft firewall I have found, I've tried kerio, sygate, and zonealarm pro, too but comodo has all of the features I want and the other 2 free ones don't, or they are buried too deep in the program, I like it better than Zonealarm too because the popup alerts dont steal focus and take my keystrokes for allow or deny while I'm typing in another app, and it seems faster and more responsive with all the same features. It also seems better for laptop use than zonealarm did.

I go to lots of sketchy websites btw.

 

[TBSN]

ok, well thanks for the advice. I guess I just don't have any viruses

 

[Schadenfroh]

AVG Free Edition (not to be confused with the much better performing AVG AntiMalware (thanks to the Ewido scanning engine that it features over the free edition) which is used in most tests)has a poor detection rate compared to its competition, why not use AntiVir Personal Edition (one of the highest detection rate in the industry for free?

AntiVir Free Edition

• ~10mb memory use with real-time protection enabled,
• A high detection rate (comparable to Kaspersky)
• AntiVir Personal Classic is free to home users (Antivir, according to detection rate tests, has a much higher detection rate than any of the other free (to home users) antivirus products, surpassing CLAM, AVG Free Edition, and aVast)
• AntiVirus Detection Rate Test Thread
• Instructions on how to disable AntiVir's Popup

While it has excellent real-time protection, it does lack pop3 scanning. If anything tries to execute, the real-time protection will most likely catch it (assuming it is running & configured properly & the main program can detect it).

A limited user account and a properly updated system (check for various program updates with Secunia) can go a long way in preventing exploits from hitting you.

You can have the full protection of AntiVir Personal Premium Edition (including the pop3 email scanning) of one of the best antivirus products in the industry (see detection rate tests here) for less than $30.

Alternatively, Kaspersky Internet Security(3-pc license) is FREE after MiR right now and it offers more features

instructions to disable antivir popup
http://www.elitekiller.com/fil...isable_antivir_nag.htm

 

[nordloewelabs]

does the free AntiVir have real time memory scan? i know the free versions of AVG and Avast do. i have been using them on my computers for a couple of years with no problems. either program will do if you use a restricted account and practice safe browsing.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: nordloewelabs
does the free AntiVir have real time memory scan?

AntiVir has realtime protection that prevents the execution of malware (assuming it is detectable by the main program and configured properly). It will also not slow you down and you will not notice that it is running (performance wise) unless it detects a virus and halts its execution.