Anti-Virus
- Thread starter Ken01
- Start date
Welcome to the forums, firstly a couple of things...this is a common question - do a search and also this should be posted in the software forum.
However to answer your question - its a personal thing, I personally prefer Norton 2003, most people around here seem to like AVG which is free to download.
However to answer your question - its a personal thing, I personally prefer Norton 2003, most people around here seem to like AVG which is free to download.
Dont get Norton. It was bundled with my motherboard and it sux. Norton updates twice a month and its updates dont have a thing to do with detecting viruses (Updates the updater program). Also you cant get updates after your subscription expires. If you want to buy one get F-secure 5.40, this really works and its updated almost daily and for free. I heard Panda's Antivirus is the best but never tried it.
Schadenfroh
Elite Member
- Mar 8, 2003
- 38,416
- 4
- 0
You're better off without any antivirus and frequent backups. Commen sense will save you from any virus. I've never gotten one on any system ever.
You sure you have never gotten a virus? I mean, with no AV software, how can you be sure? IMO it is a fallacy to think that "Common sense" alone will be some kind of magic barrier against a virus. Mistakes are to easy to make, and with all the choices, including many that are low/no cost, why would you not run AV software? Personally I like Norton. I find it actually does update definitions quite often and it works. I don't have experience with any others except McAfee though, and a free AV might be best, especially if price is a major factor. I got my NAV with my motherboard also.
\Dan
Norton updates whenever a new virus definition is available. I don't use it for my home machines but Norton AV hardley "sux". Have you checked the virus detection testing done by various independent research labs? Norton AV has been pretty effective. I don't like Norton AV's pricing structure but why talk trash about a particular software w/o knowing the full detail? My company has over 100,000 employees globally, and it uses Norton for all its computers.
AVG let me download and save the klez virus. Avast (Another free one) caught it right away. Neither AVG nor Avast score well in anti-virus tests though. I suggest Norton because you can get Norton Systemworks 2003 for really cheap. I got mine for about $18.50 shipped.
This argument had merit in the days of boot floppies or even email attachments you had to be tricked into launching. It makes less sense when many attacks can invoke themselves without user interaction (as many will now do on unpatched systems)
Bill
I think u must be using NAV4 or something like that. As far as updating goes, having an updated updater is a valuable tool. If the updater is not downloading definitions for you, something is amiss with your setup. I have NEVER been infected with a virus running nav2002, and 2003 seems much tighter. It is also very good at detecting virus like activity on files that are not registered in the difinitions.
I ran my own test. Norton didnt do so great. I found malicious code on my comp when I replaced Norton just to try another program. I replaced that with another program for a while then replaced norton. Then I replaced Norton again and found more malicious code. These werent viruses but trojans and spyware, maybe norton only works on viruses or maybe I expected too much from it. I believed the hype, but not anymore. There are better alternatives that do detect this stuff.
Norton updated many times for the GUI interface and once in a blue moon for virus definitions in the months I used it. If this is important to you go ahead and use it. (Well, another update came out the day after I took this garbage off my computer but I dont know what this was.) There was nothing wrong with my setup. The version I used was 2002.
Anyone who thinks Norton is God go ahead and use it. If you want real protection open your eyes and look elsewhere.
Well, now thats definitive. I'll stick with trusting Virus bulletin and truesecure labs for my certifications, if thats ok
I'd like to get more details from you (in pm or email) regarding what you think the product missed. Many of the spyware apps go reporting cookies as spyware (they are not), and many users seem to think that if NAV doesn't report the same items it missed something.
Sorry, this isn't true. The defs update weekly (or even more often when needed). The autoupdate only updates the definitions, so you weren't getting GUI updates (as you refered to them) unless you specifically were running LU.
All I'll say is that your biased, but so am I (I work for Symantec, I worked on that product for awhile). But I would like the details I asked about above.
Bill
Mem
Lifer
- Apr 23, 2000
- 21,476
- 13
- 81
There`s no "best anti-virus software" IMHO,you just have lots of bad and good ones.
PC Cillin 2003 is a good anti-virus program and comes with a firewall.
Remember there`re other factors that people look for in an anti-virus program, like ease of use,layout,pay type or free versions.Norton`s is not GOD that`s for sure, and anybody that thinks that needs to see a psychiatrist ASP.
PC Cillin 2003 is a good anti-virus program and comes with a firewall.
Remember there`re other factors that people look for in an anti-virus program, like ease of use,layout,pay type or free versions.Norton`s is not GOD that`s for sure, and anybody that thinks that needs to see a psychiatrist ASP
.Is there anything wrong with McAfee Antivirus? I'm running them in all my 3 computers(either version 6 or version 7) and so far it has caught quite a lot of virii/trojan horses/worms/etc for me, mostly email attachments.
Mem
Lifer
- Apr 23, 2000
- 21,476
- 13
- 81
Nothing really wrong with Mcafee,however some people find the software buggy and not very good at uninstalling,however if it`s working great for you then you might as well use it.
I think the verdict is still out on if Mcafee has improved from its past or not.
How do you know you don't have one? Maybe you have viruses that don't affect your usage of your computer.
I don't like NAV because it did some weird screwy thing to my Recycle Bin (the feature where it turns it into the "norton antivirus protected recycle bin" or something), and it brought my cs frame rate down a bit.
That feature is part of the Pro version (and it's optional to install), but very usefull if you do lose some files due to an attack (or mistake).
Bill
Do NOT use Norton if possible...... my reasons for this are as follows...
1. It is too much of a resource hog.
2. Does not detect some of the new viruses, ( I have more than two AV's which I check manually once in a fortnight or so, and there have been instances when NAV hasnt detected something and the other AV's have).
But its ease of use is what makes NAV the best.
I would suggest Nod32, its only around 3 mb in size and has one of the best scanning engines I've ever seen but alas with a very bad GUI..... as a compromise I would suggest Panda AV Platinum... it has an effective integrated firewall also with it... its a good choice.
1. It is too much of a resource hog.
2. Does not detect some of the new viruses, ( I have more than two AV's which I check manually once in a fortnight or so, and there have been instances when NAV hasnt detected something and the other AV's have).
But its ease of use is what makes NAV the best.
I would suggest Nod32, its only around 3 mb in size and has one of the best scanning engines I've ever seen but alas with a very bad GUI..... as a compromise I would suggest Panda AV Platinum... it has an effective integrated firewall also with it... its a good choice.
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