Decisions to be made.

timread

I've just installed the free version of Avira's AntiVir on my Vista partition, based on the excellent review it got in PCPro (September 07). On my laptop I've used AVG for a long time. I tried Avast, but I didn't like the interface, and got fed up when it kept detecting a false positive file infection in my Messenger profile.

In XP I'm still using McAfee VirusScan Enterprise, but I think I'll switch it to AntiVir.

I'm not fussed about POP3 or webguard (I'm with MK on that one).

BTW - there is a way to get rid of AntiVir's upgrade 'nag' screen - set a local software restriction policy to prevent C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avnotify.exe from running.

superscaper

timread wrote: »

In XP I'm still using McAfee VirusScan Enterprise, but I think I'll switch it to AntiVir.

Change as soon as possible. Who knows how long my pc had been infected for while I was using McAfee Enterprise, not to mention various quirks and problems on my pc disappeared after I uninstalled McAfee.

Donnie

You are with MK because you understand about such things.
Not everyone is a Techie.

You may not be 'fussed' about POP3, but many may need it.

MercilessKiller

I don't honestly think many people do need POP3 scanning.

The majority of people don't open emails they don't know anymore... (attachments anyway). It used to be an incredibly large problem but I believe that not to be as bad. Once again going back to my Grandmother who recently got a pc and the internet.. she's very careful, and I think that's what the majority of none techie's are like.. careful...

But each to their own If you use pop3 and love to open random emails, maybe it is needed!

As for a decent light virus scanner which picks up everything, it's a good solution. I've even been tempted to upgrade simply to give them something for their great free solution! Like a donation!

And yes change from McAfee quickly... especially if you want a quicker pc!

superscaper

MercilessKiller wrote: »

But each to their own If you use pop3 and love to open random emails, maybe it is needed!

Russian Roulette for the digital age.

MercilessKiller

hahaha I'm tempted to create a partition on my laptop and do that while drunk with some mates!

Thing is I'm pretty sure we'd lose on the first go every time.

superscaper

Reminds me of a joke I saw recently:

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]An African leader makes an official trip to Russia. At the end of the trip, the Russian leader tells the African that in Russia they have a custom performed at farewells called "Russian Roulette" to demonstrate one's courage. The Russian whips out a revolver, loads one chamber, gives the cylinder a spin, puts the gun to his head and pulls the trigger.....CLICK.....empty chamber. He hands the revolver to his African guest, and says, "Your turn." Not to be outdone, the African repeats the ritual....CLICK.....empty.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The next year, the Russian visits the African country. At the end of the trip, the African tells his Russian peer that he was very impressed with "Russian Roulette" and that he has spent the last year devising an African ritual to demonstrate one's courage. The African then disappears through a door only to reappear a few minutes later smiling, and says, "Your turn."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The African escorts the Russian through the door. In the room are six of the most beautiful, naked women he has ever seen. The African explains that he is to choose one of the women, who will perform oral s** on him. Absolutely dumbfounded, the Russian asks, "What kind of test of courage is this?! "The African calmly answers...."One of them is a cannibal."[/FONT]

timread

superscaper wrote: »

Change as soon as possible. Who knows how long my pc had been infected for while I was using McAfee Enterprise, not to mention various quirks and problems on my pc disappeared after I uninstalled McAfee.

Oh, I am very much aware of McAfee's shortfalls. I used to support 300+ PCs and servers running it. It was OK once they got to about patch 13! But now the business has decided to switch to Symantec AV. That *will* be fun!

BTW I do see the point of POP3 and additional scanning for novice users - it's just a personal decision to go for a lighter AV package. I don't like weighing down my OS. Norton, anyone?

superscaper

timread wrote: »

But now the business has decided to switch to Symantec AV. That *will* be fun!

I nominate for most sarcastic comment of the month.


I'd just like to add that I've definitely found Eset's Smart Security worth paying for, I'm constantly surprised how little resources it takes up and how unintrusive it is, especially for an entire suite.

MercilessKiller

That is incredibly funny haha ^-^