Best Anti Virus Software - Free or to buy?

Browntoa

as as alternative , if you have space for another internal hard drive you could ghost to that, just a case of swapping from mslave to master to get running again

jack_daniels_2

free4440273 wrote:

i use avast and avg (both completely free). as someone else mentioned, nod32 (not free) has decidedly got the edge on most anti-virus programs. its network edition in particular is outstanding

I would only have one AV as a rule of thumb as two can cause conflicts and slow a PC down to a crawl.

divadee

after reading the net i think i might go for kaspersky or nod32. decisions decisions

where is the cheapest place to get kaspersky? I noticed its £40 to download online but i would prefer the cd in my hand and manual to read etc,.....

also cheapest for nod32?

jack_daniels_2

Kapersky Documentation http://www.kaspersky-labs.com/html/index_eng.html and you can always burn the download to disc for safe keeping.

superscaper

If you've got any affiliation with a university you might be able to get some good av software for free directly from them. I use Mcafee and haven't paid a penny for it in years (still updates), although it is the enterprise not the home edition.

leesmithg

asot wrote:

leesmithg and jack daniels, if you believe Zonealarm SS is not the best overall security suite then can explain why practically every computing magazine recommends Zonealarm SS above all others?

Leesmithg I doubt you have tested every single anti-virus program on this planet as if you had then you would know Norton is not the best. So why do you expect me to? FYI I have tested multiple versions of Panda, Sophos, McAfee, Norton, BitDefender, Zonealarm, Kaspersky, NOD32, AVG, Avast which I think is a fair few, but true I have missed a couple out. As for beta testing other products then were you comparing them against the beta of Norton?

Try reading the following links from popular computing press which all recommend Zonealarm above Norton.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/labs/136/internet-security-suites/products.html
http://www.pcw.co.uk/personal-computer-world/compare/2155664/safe-surfing?page=2
http://reviews.cnet.com/ZoneAlarm_Internet_Security_Suite_6/4505-3667_7-31447702.html
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1836241,00.asp
http://www.practicalpc.co.uk/reviews/soft/utilities/zonealarm6.htm

So yeah if you want to drain your computers resources with bloated rubbish and pay for the privilege then go ahead and get Norton. I don't understand what literature it is that you are reading leesmithg? I know how to use Norton products and I read the computing press. I have a computing degree and I work within the software industry. I have previously used Norton products for years as well which is why I know they are rubbish nowadays.

I am not arguying the toss with you over this, you say you're a graduate and work in the software industry, who do you work for, what degree and where did you achieve it?

I am not reading on zonealarm I am going on the poor software they produced between 2001 and 2005.

Buggy, cause endless problems with windows xp home and professional etc.

I care not to read someone elses opinions on something, I do however take on-board what they say and find out for myself.

asot

leesmithg wrote:

I am not arguying the toss with you over this, you say you're a graduate and work in the software industry, who do you work for, what degree and where did you achieve it?

I am not reading on zonealarm I am going on the poor software they produced between 2001 and 2005.

Buggy, cause endless problems with windows xp home and professional etc.

I care not to read someone elses opinions on something, I do however take on-board what they say and find out for myself.

Lol I don't know why you are asking me to prove myself again. Nor do I know why you take my posts so badly. I don't feel I need to send my CV off to you so forgive me if I ignore this part of your response.

Fact is that most of the posts have concentrated on pure AV in this thread. For pure AV I recommended and still do recommend, Kaspersky, some others recommend NOD32. These two programs are far superior to Norton Anti-virus which is so bloated that even on the latest machines you have to go make a cup of tea whilst it loads the programs control panel. There is no doubt that Norton used to make the best product. There is also no doubt that they now make some of the most abysmal products.

I simply point out when people make what I consider bad recommendations. I don't try to do so aggressively and if you took it that way then please don't. I, and from this post obviously many others, believe Norton isn't the best product. I would go further and say it is bloated and in the case of the 2005 product was extremely buggy - a problem you are lodging with Zonealarm.

I am not basing my views of the best products on how good they were years ago, I am basing them on current products. Since you choose to ignore others and don't believe in product reviews then I seriously suggest you go and try Kaskersky, NOD32 and Zonealarm Security Suite. Chances are you will drop Norton in a flash and realise your computer can now run much faster :-)

Zahc

Norton slowed the old man's computer to a crawl. How do I know? I uninstalled it and put Kaspersky on. It now whizzes along!
So, guess what my opinion of Norton is?:eek:

Incidently, Kaspersky found a virus on it's initial sweep. I'm trying to remember what it was, but it's probably been addressed in the virus sig updates by now.

skiddy2k

wolfman wrote:

Kaspersky or Nod32 are generally seen as the best. I use Nod32 is it's very light, has good heuristics and scans very quickly. I have used Kaspersky but found that a bit heavy for my liking.

exactly what i thought and done around this time last year... untill Kaspersky 6 came out... much lighter than Kaspersky5, nearly as light as NOD32! more configurable as well with things like registry guard, so i dont need Ad-Watch anymore

Quasar

I have recently uninstalled Norton from my new lappy after the trial period expired. I have Norton (subscribed) on the other lappy but this is due to expire in three weeks and I'm not renewing it. I don't want to pay for something I can have for free. So I have installed:

AVG
sygate
spybot
ad-aware
CCleaner

Norton seems to have uninstalled ok. Hopefully I have a fair degree of protection at no cost?