Which anti virus to store on my desk top?

geek84

Hi folks

I am not very computer literate but recently bought a deskop.

I now want to install some anti virus software. However, I already have microsft essentials (as recommended by nbe of my firends). Do you think this is sufficient to safe guard my computer or shall I install some other software?

If I do install other anti virus software, would I have to 'uninstall' Microsoft essentials?

Thanks in advance for your response.

victor2

Microsoft Security Essentials is pretty highly rated and is probably fine for typical use.
Installing other anti-virus would mean uninstalling MSE as you don't want multiple AV systems running and using excessive resources.

TheSaint_2

Stick with the Microsoft product - it is good enough.

santer_2

You can only have one running anti virus programme on a system to avoid conflicts

You can run online scans (weekly would do), to cross check your installed anti virus programme

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/uk/

http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/scanner/online/free.html

http://www.kaspersky.co.uk/virusscanner

http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner

http://www.f-secure.com/en_EMEA-Labs/security-threats/tools/online-scanner

http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/WelcomePage.asp

http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/solutions/activescan/

geek84

Many thanks for your respobsem, santer.

What do you mean by cross check your installed anti virus programme ?

Thanks

santer_2

Running an online scan each week, (or as often as you want), is a good way to confirm what MSE is telling you if it says there are no viruses on the machine

Now and again the online scan might find something MSE didn't but this will usually be because the online scans are updated more frequently, and so will have the latest anti virus definitions and signatures etc

dogmaryxx

As well as your anti virus choice I would suggest using Malwarebytes Antimalware Pro.(Real time protection) against viruses, worms, trojans, rootkits, dialers and spyware.

Costs just under £20 for a lifetime licence and is well worth the money.

Try it for 14 days free and if you decide not to purchase Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will automatically return to Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free functionality.(On demand scanning)

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_trial

andy2004

personally i use Eset Smart Security and Malwarebytes antispyware installed, but i also once a month download Dr WEB's Cureit which i run as a precaution. which i keep a copy of on my flashdisk to use on other peoples computers, as its portable.