What are the best anti-virus programs?

[350v8s10]

What are the best anti-virus programs currenttly available? My brother-in-law has just bought a new laptop. It has a free / temporaryversion of Norton anti-virus. He does not want the Norton. He would like a program that will let him visit where he wants, but still protect him. Of course, once we find a good one, and it works in his laptop, I'll get it too...

From a "search", I found a good reference to Zone Alarm. Not being computer savy, I am seeking advice here.

Thanks,

Terry

[Foxhunter]

That's a tough call and many asking people regarding their anti-spyware or anti-virus preferences is like asking "which CB radio is best?"----you'll get a ton of answers with alot of personal loyalties. I've done alot of family-members PC maintenance and security work on their computers and am fussy when it comes to having a system running properly. Remember----you want only one anti-virus program so that they are not in conflict (they will) and you can run several anti-spyware programs as each will catch things that others miss depending on what's in their database.

I use McAfee Anti-Virus. It's a top name and is highly rated. It has many protections and features. It has a unique additional component called the "McAfee Virtual Technician" that can be run, which will be a self-diagnostic program and will monitor the McAfee program and diagnose and repair any problems that might ever occur. Many programs can develop a corruption or other problems, and though while appearing normal may not be working properly.
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Windows Live OneCare is also a good program, similar to McAfee in many ways. They are both fee/subscription-based programs. One reason Windows is good is that they have designed much of the software for our computers and know how it's designed & constructed very well-----thereby it's weaknesses and vulnerabilities..
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Also Windows provides a free "online only" version called the "Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner" that does quite a bit and it's free. It's not "active protection" in real-time as the above ones that are fee-based and monitor your PC 24/7-----but it scans for any problems you may have developed or downloaded. You can run the full-scan version or any individual version they have listed there. The clean-up version has a good Registry Cleaner from Microsoft that works very well.
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Windows Defender is another good fee/subscription based program for what it is.
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Additionally another couple good programs that are free are:

Spybot Search and Destroy (Spybot S&D)
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And Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
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These are all decent programs. Their are a myriad of 3rd-party programs out there. Any of our viewers please be careful in choosing because many "antivirus" programs out there are NOTHING BUT SPYWARE/MALWARE and although they may appear legitimate even with good graphics they are not. Many, once you download them they don't/won't come with any "uninstall" feature and put themselves into a locked file and can't be removed without ALOT of trouble. Big time. Many programs are nothing but infections and viruses themselves under the guise of being a legitimate antivirus program. Ironic isn't it.

There are other good programs out there but atleast I can guarantee you the ones all listed above are very effective and 100% safe. That includes the free (freeware) programs listed. I'd bet my entire CB collection on that. When getting such a main component as Anti-Virus one should really stick with the major labels/brand names by trusted manufacturers.

Hope any of you reading might find something useful

[Punkin Head]

I also use McAfee but my dad uses Kaspersky andivirus, he was told by the people at Best Buy it is the best. it seems fine to me but I dont know.

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[the bandit43]

terry zone alarm is a good one. trend micro google for trend micro
that is 100% free... i use avast another free one it wil tell you that you have a virus on your PC
that one is 100% free too

[Runaway]

I use free antivirus but pay for real-time Adaware (30 bucks or so but now even it comes with built in virus protection) and I download ANYTHING and go ANYWHERE...I use Spyware Doctor also so and it may be overkill....Its not viruses you have to worry about these days;its the spyware,which uses trojans and stuff too....

[998]

i use AVAST also and i second it works great for me J(998)......73's all :D :D :D :D

[firefighter]

I use the free version of zone alarm firewall and I use AVG antivirus

[the bandit43]

for spyware i use superantispyware i love free stuff

[Rex_foxhound]

AVG antivirus free edition has always worked well for me.

[Alaskan]

Before moving to a 3rd world country , I was a Network Admin. MCSA 2003, A+ and N+..etc (now a truck driver ). One of my main battles was keeping our network clean. I found that a good hardware firewall kept our perm offices more than protected. For corp stuff I would use Trendmicro. Norton's and Mcaffee are useless. Both like to take over your system and when you get hit my a virus...the virus uses these programs to fubar your system.

When I first started in the business, I did a lot of gameing and worked in a PC shop. FPS shootem up type games. You want a AV program with a small footprint that does the job and takes up minimal sys resources. Good free ones are
Free AVG made by Grissoft
Avira AntiVir Personal - FREE Antivirus
Avast isnt bad but on certain chipsets in runs poorly

If you like to pay. Eset Nod32 is what I run.

[TheTeZ]

Go with AVG Free

i was a computer tech for a while... and still do a lot of computer work....

AVG is what i always recommend, it keeps my computer Virus Free... although it is a VIRUS protection No a spyware protection program... i believe AVG also has spyware... but i do not like its set up....

first, surf the web using firefox or something other than internet explorer... 2nd ad aware by lavasoft is pretty good software.


GET RID OF NORTON!! IT IS GARBAGE!!! only norton programs that are any good are their corporate editions.

[snookgetter]

AVG A
Avast A
Nod 32 A+++++
Norton F
Macafee C-

Just had to have my HD wiped after Macafee missed a big one.

[Hip2u77]

In the lastest reviews over at AV-test it seems Gdata's AVK 2009 topped the charts.

I've never tried it. I've always used NOD32.

[TheTeZ]

i really hope you got something by now....

[littlesilver3]

Thats a tough question to answer, but the best antivirus program is the one who always catches the virus, which no single program does. But from what I have heard the best around is McAffee, never used it but hear its great. I run Norton Corporate Edition at work and my personal pc, never had any issues. I also use Zone Alarm but mainly as a firewall. As long as you keep the antivirus prgram up to date anyone of the ones out there will do the job.

[silverstreak]

I do alot of down loads and always have had the best luck with Avast.I tried all the other free ones and this one seems to work the best.Also my whole family and friends have turned over to Avast and love it.Gave Norton and McFee the Boot,lol

[Candyman]

Switch to Mandriva 2008.1 and end your problems.
You don't need anti-virus with Mandriva.
Just sayin'................

[Kojak]

I have Windows XP Home SP3. Since SP2 came out, the Windows Firewall keeps hackers out as effectively as Firewall programs you pay for. I use the Windows Firewall and Spy-sweeper with Anti-virus. Spy-sweeper with Anti-virus is one of the very best utilities. Well worth the money.

[fatboy803]

I use ComboFix , after I got that Power Antivirus 2009 or PowerAntivirus 2009 and McAfee, Norton, Spywareblaster etc couldnt get rid of it before my pc crash ComboFix TOOK CARE OF IT .

[flashover]

Kaspersky all the way.. if not that.. NOD32.. those are the best anti virus and firewall protection out..

[MoJo]

i really hope you got something by now....

No kidding.

[Maverick]

NOD32 is without a doubt the best AV ever made.

[Shaft]

MAC OSX :D

[PONY EXPRESS]

i use Norton 360 version 2 and it works great on all 4 computers we have.
The Mcafee 2007 Internet Security Suite made my computers run very very slow .

Im sure others have stories as well on different software but what really counts is we are always virus free on all our computers.

[Bakerman1]

I use free AVG you can get it at Download . com