Antivirus for XP.

[Saltin]

I know this is more of a software question, but this forum seems like it is busier, and the question is OS specific.....
So anyhow, which AV prog are you using with XP, and what do you recommend?

Thanks

 

[garytmib]

i am using nav 2002, no problems

 

[Mem]

AVG is excellent and free also 100% compatiable with XP ,you can get it from here .

 

[Saltin]

Thanks fellas.
Mem: I am going to try AVG on a test system now. Thanks alot for the link. You saved me some $$

 

[c0rv1d43]

To tell you the truth I have been underwhelmed by the most common commercial offerings for Windows XP so far. I've never been in love with Symantec / Norton or with McAfee to begin with. But, man, they really seem buggy, or at least recalcitrant, when operated under Windows XP. (Yes, I'm talking about the latest versions, corporate AND consumer.) However, I can't actually speak authoritatively about them since I'm so unhappy with both companies that it has been a long time since I've installed them on any of my own machines. That means that the machines I see that are misbehaving when running them are systems whose installation and configuration histories are largely unknown to me. So, the misbehaviors I'm seeing could be caused by something else on those machines. Nonetheless, on the machines that I've examined that were misbehaving, replacing Norton or McAfee with Kaspersky (AVP Pro) has solved the problems we were seeing. I've also installed the freeware edition of Grisoft's AVG on several WinXP systems. It doesn't have the reputation of the aforementioned software for detection rate, but I've used it on my non-critical systems at home and never had a problem either with AVG itself or with any demonstrated lack of ability to detect malevolent code. It works well, and a system that runs it should be reasonably safe, as long as the user is abiding by a few simple cautions.

I think anti-virus programs should be good at detecting viruses. But they should also not cause problems of other kinds.

You can get pretty good data on your options at http://www.virusbtn.com/ and http://www.wilders.org/. A lot of anti-virus software isn't up to snuff in WinXP yet. Although you have to find AV software that works in your OS, that software will also have to suit you and the way you work with your system. So I don't think anyone else will really be able to answer this question for you. I'd suggest checking out those links and making an informed decision for yourself.

- Collin

Edit: LOL! Dang! That'll teach me to take a coffee break while composing a reply!!!

 

[Psychoholic]

Saltin, I'm not sure what tools you have at your disposal but do you also have the capability of blocking items at the firewall??? I stay informed of viruses as they come out and using the SMTP and Content filters on ISA Server I'm able to prevent the user from receiving the mail to begin with. Many viruses have an attachment name or subject line that remains constant, ISA pulls these out and allows me to check them before the user even receives them.

I still think an anti-virus solution on every desktop is necessary, but filtering the e-mail at the firewall is just another level of protection. FWIW I run NAV on every desktop, and it's set to scan any file run or created. Users cannot change this behavior without having the password I use to access NAV settings.

 

[MuffD]

I have been a long fan of Norton till I installed Norton 2002 anti virus and this gave me nothing but headaches. Norton thought all my mp3s were infected with a virus. Ironically, I used Norton 2k with Windows 2000 and never had a problem. I could understand if this was only on one file but over 40 gigs of mp3s...I find that very hard to believe they are all infected! I have since then installed McAfee Virus Scan and have not had a problem yet

 

[BDawg]

I've been using Panda Antivirus. It seems to work well with XP.

 

[XL]

I've been using Mcafee 6.01 on XP and haven,t had a problem yet. "Knock on wood"