What anti-virus/spyware should I use?

the_mixer

Hi

Recently I reset my laptop to its original settings and it has gone back to normal speed and functioning. I would like to download a good anti-virus and spyware to get things protected should I start to use it intensively again as just now I have nothing.

Can anyone please advise on the best? previously I had AVG and Malware I think. I'm IT dumb so don't even know what the benefits are of having these. And is there anything else I should get, and what I should avoid? What is it that tends to slow down operations?

closed

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/ (do custom install, untick chrome installation)

plus

http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/ (don't accept the 14 day trial, just use for manual scans)

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http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx for disk image backups to an external drive.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/ for cleaning tmp files etc.

if prompted to install extra's (eg chrome or toolbars) when installing any software, decline/untick

installing too many things at startup slows machines down

waddler_8

The more you can do to help eliminate potential infection vectors, the less your AV will have to do.

If you've reset to factory state then the chances are you've programs that were installed at the factory which are now outdated & vulnerable to web based exploits, so as well as ensuring the OS (Operating System) is patched, also bring up to date your installed programs. This would include your web browsers & others such as Adobe Reader & flash, Java Runtime etc.

http://www.securelist.com/en/analysis/204792239/IT_Threat_Evolution_Q2_2012#10

You can scan for the most common vulnerabilities here: http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/

Mikebellows

Uninstall AVG and install Microsoft Security Essentials.
AVG will slow your machine. MSE runs neatly in the background and is pretty good at finding viruses etc.

Guardsman

Everybody is going to recommend the one they are currently using because they think it's the best one out there.
There are several sites that review security software but some of them are very biased towards certain products.
Here is one site that has reviews on it.
http://www.pcmag.com/reviews/antivirus

macman

I'm not going to recommend one. I'll just say...use any AV other than McCrappy.

tombruton87

Use linux and your virus problems will go away. Not saying they don't exist some do for older versions, for most people though they couldn't infect there machine even if they tried

booler

Guardsman wrote: »

Everybody is going to recommend the one they are currently using because they think it's the best one out there.

Precisely! Perhaps the question should be "What anti-virus/spyware should I avoid?"

For my part I had massive problems with Norton products in the past. I would not now let any Norton product anywhere near my PC.

I have used Kaspersky with no problems for the last three or four years.