What do you think is the best Antivirus software?

[narutodude000]

I want to get a paid Antivirus for my computer. I'm currently using AVG free.
I did a lot of research, and the following softwares topped most reviews.

Kaspersky
BitDefender
Norton
ESET

Which one is the best? (Price doesn't matter)

[aj_nsc]

Why paid? What's wrong with AVG free? I can't really comment on the others, although I have heard good things about Kaspersky, but all second hand, but I know that Norton is useless. I'm not talking about it's quality of protection, but the sheer amount of system resources it uses is terrible and it's because of Norton that I've first discovered AVG (and haven't changed).

AVG free is perfectly fine as long as you're reasonably sensible when downloading and browsing. Best of all its very lightweight.

You don't NEED "top of the line" antivirus software (whatever that is) as long as you're sensible online. But that's just my opinion.

[Declan1991]

In fact, you don't need anti-virus software at all if you don't download dodgy things and are reasonable careful. I never use one, although I do use Sandboxie when on Windows, must better investment. But you don't even need that if you use a virtual machine for all browsing, and leave offline stuff on your main computer.

[narutodude000]

Problem is, I use torrents a lot (yes, I know we're not allowed to discuss them on the forums). I'm going to upgrade to Windows 7 during Christmas, I want the best AntiVirus possible.

[aj_nsc]

I may or may not download things we're not supposed to discuss on these forums either, but as long as you scan them before you open them (AVG works great for this) then it doesn't matter. I would highly advise not to buy into the hype of security software advertising and just play it safe and you'll be fine. I have used AVG Free on Windows XP, Vista, and 7 and I highly recommend it, especially where security software tends to be really annoying and a resource hog.

EDIT: This is not something that I've done a few times and feel comfortable with, this is something I have been doing for years and have not had a single issue since I started to get my wits about me when it comes to security - don't click "ok" when some security notice pops up on a website, especially one you are not convinced has your best interest at heart, and scan items of that you've downloaded that may contain questionable content before you open them. That's it, those are the golden rules of security that will virtually always keep you safe. Well, I guess there is one more golden rule - buy a mac and forget about security...:P

[Sunny G]

I use the ZoneAlarm Suite. It uses the Kaspersky engine for virus removal, but it is primarily a firewall and focuses on prevention.
And anyone here will tell you to stay away from Norton. It blows.

[WDUXUI]

Avira http://www.avira.com/ is pimp! Highly recommend it!

AVG is completely solid. I have put it on a couple of mine and friends' PCs that ask. (But i usually suggest Avira first) No reason to pay for something, that if you consistently update and scan, works just fine.

I would STRONGLY discourage anything relating to Norton. Also Zone Alarm was found to not long ago, I think, cause some concern with folks that ZA itself was acting as a spyware. Reporting back to the Media Metrix website...

Personally, I am an apple user, but I work on PCs and fiancee and her's and my family all are Windows users. (except for my dad, he insists on being a Linux junkie hehe)

like I said, AVG is solid, but give Avira a try!

[sohguanh]

AVG-Free is my choice and it is very lightweight!!! Previously another C*m*d* software slow my PC to a snail. Once I remove it and install AVG I have neber look back since.

AVG came from Czech in it's early days isn't it ? I didn't know Czech developers are so good in this arena.

Kapersky is highly touted and marketed but in comparison it is not that lightweight compared to AVG-Free and I still need to pay :(

My choice is clear :D

[eval(BadCode)]

Antivirus doesn't help me... I've tried AVG, Kapersky, and Norton. None of them pick up anything, with the exception of Kapersky warning me that programs I made myself are incorrectly querying for a record from a DNS. Haven't gotten anything in a while (2+ years). That or I have an awesome stealth virus and corrupt BIOS.

Signature based detection seems dead.
Heuristic based detection is hopelessly complicated.

I would just get a good firewall (for windows try zonealarm), run things in a sandbox if you don't trust them. Get noscript for firefox. Use virtual machines then shred them.

Antivirus is OK if you don't want to concern yourself with all of that, in which case I would get Kapersky. The downside to Kapersky is that it can be resource intensive from what I found and I ended up turning it off in some cases.

Edit: My vote is for none of the above. The best antivirus is good judgment.

[sohguanh]

Security is not my forte but "with the exception of Kapersky warning me that programs I made myself are incorrectly querying for a record from a DNS" is considered a threat ?

You mean you expect an incorrect query string for a record from a DNS should be captured by the anti-virus software?

I believe we need to define what is considered a threat. The more tasks we expect the anti-virus software to work on, the longer it runs and resources it will hog. I guess we normal human beings like the best of both worlds, the ability to catch all possible threats but at the same time does not hog resources and is fast.

I am not speaking up for anti-virus developers but sometimes we need to be realistic in our demands. In this aspect, I feel AVG-Free has satisfied my needs but of cuz there will be tons of ppl not satisfied. That is the nature in anti-virus making business I guess.

[Arctic101]

I had been using Avast for about 4 years but I am now trying out AVG , so far no problems with it and just wondering what other memeber's views are on this comparison ?

[sohguanh]

Hi thanks for sharing. It seems Avast vs AVG (both from Czech) are neck to neck in terms of ppl using it. There are a lot of claims on both camps.

I didn't know Avast till today. Hmmmm....


Can create a Poll on Avast vs AVG ?

PS It seems Avast cannot be used for commercial while AVG-Free can ?

[tom_my]

I think Kaspersky is the best. My friend had nod32 and he had to reinstall Windows after virus attack. If he'd had Kaspersky it hasn't happened.

[aj_nsc]

I think Kaspersky is the best. My friend had nod32 and he had to reinstall Windows after virus attack. If he'd had Kaspersky it hasn't happened.

Or perhaps if he'd stayed off porn and pirated software websites.....it's really a chicken-egg thing....:)

[narutodude000]

I forgot to mention that I'm currently using Microsoft Security Essentials, is that any good?

Seems like Kaspersky and AVG-Free are the top choices so far :)

[criterion9]

I use AVG-free...and I find it hard to place my trust in anything that has MS on it.

[narutodude000]

I forgot to mention that I'm also using Microsoft Security Essentials, is that any good? My bad :o

criterion9: I'm using Windows, so I think a software by Microsoft should be more compatible?

[criterion9]

My bad :o

criterion9: I'm using Windows, so I think a software by Microsoft should be more compatible?

One would think that would be the case....but take MS CMS Site Manager for example...it is not compatible with a whole list of things (from MS) that could be installed. I've never had too much luck with MS products (especially the ones that try to be "smart" for you since that usually ends up in rework for me trying to fix what it thought I wanted it to do).

[noahqw]

I'd go with Norton, it's a very respected spyware software!

[louie540]

I use Spybot Search and Destroy. They believe security isn't something that you should have to pay for. In my experience, they got rid of a virus that McAphee (or whatever) couldn't get rid of. They check for your approval whenever changes are made to your system.

You shouldn't have to pay for security. I've been with Norton before, and they keep telling you how many days you have left to resubscribe or some crap like that.

[JamBro]

Microsoft security essentials is good. Doesn't hog resources. Scans do take awhile but are thourough.

I have been using MSE for about a year now and I have had no problems.

[JPnyc]

Avira http://www.avira.com/ is pimp! Highly recommend it!

AVG is completely solid. I have put it on a couple of mine and friends' PCs that ask. (But i usually suggest Avira first) No reason to pay for something, that if you consistently update and scan, works just fine.

I would STRONGLY discourage anything relating to Norton. Also Zone Alarm was found to not long ago, I think, cause some concern with folks that ZA itself was acting as a spyware. Reporting back to the Media Metrix website...

Personally, I am an apple user, but I work on PCs and fiancee and her's and my family all are Windows users. (except for my dad, he insists on being a Linux junkie hehe)

like I said, AVG is solid, but give Avira a try!
This is the one. Of the free antivirus, none of the others measures up to this. In fact a lot of the pay ones don't. Also the smallest footprint I've yet seen in an AV program. Found things that Microsoft essentials missed on my computer and all with about one 3rd the resource use.

[Joseph Witchard]

I've always used Norton Internet Security and it's served me well. Of course, a big part of keeping your computer healthy is being careful what you download and which sites you visit. My brother's a computer technician, and he says that antivirus software that supposedly rids the computer of spyware doesn't do the job as well as a specific program built for spyware removal, so for that, I use Spybot Search and Destroy (which is 100% free) in addition to Norton Internet Security.

[eval(BadCode)]

You could just shred your disk using the DoD 5220-22.M / 7pass wipe, then reformat it.

That will get any viruses that Norton might have missed.

[farmering]

i think it doesn't make sense to pay for an antivirus program,
nowadays network environment, a free antivirus is enough.
Actually, i think it's time that make those antivirus software famouse,
not exactly the "best"!
em.. i think if you know more about how does the antivirus work? How to maintain your computer system? Thing will be easily

[anthonny32]

I have used a few popular antivirus programs like Avira, Norton or Kaspersky. At my job i have McAfee paid version and is working great. On my personal computer i have version 2011 of Kaspersky (http://www.freedownloadsplace.com/Products/15914/Kaspersky) and is running fine, what i don't like is design.

Avast is good too, also free, but it doesn't have often updates. there are a plenty of free editions made by different companies, but striclty regarding protection and detection i have read Kaspersky is the best.

[PBSWebDesign]

Personally I use malewarebytes. I have the free version. The paid version protects in real time and its great. I use the free version to destroy any virus no matter how nasty or bad for my computer repair business and have never had issues with it. Sometimes the virus gets smart and i have to manually delete a few reg keys but most of the time safe mode or start up and spam alt -f4 does the trick to allow me to run the software. I advise going with maleware because its the only one i trust. Norton is a a virus in itself lol. Wanting you to download an uninstaller to remove it from your computer gah what a bunch of crap. Norton is a rip off and i would never pay for there services. Stick with AVG or maleware. Or just switch over to Slackware linux like me and never really have to worry about viruses :)

[MaheshK]

Someone suggested Quick Heal Total Security...I have been trying it for the past few months and well...being a layman I think it's pretty decent...I don't find people giving great reviews about it though...anyway, I saw that one can also download trial versions...that's a good way of trying a new software I guess...you can check it at http://www.quickheal.com/qh-total-security.asp

[wamboid]

At work, we pay big $ for Symantec. I am in charge of removing any virus that sneaks through. I have great job security as I'm constantly having to go remove viruses. At home, I use AVG free, and haven't had a virus in years.

As far as MSE working with MS better, two wrongs don't make a right.

[eval(BadCode)]

At work, we pay big $ for Symantec. I am in charge of removing any virus that sneaks through. I have great job security as I'm constantly having to go remove viruses. At home, I use AVG free, and haven't had a virus in years.

As far as MSE working with MS better, two wrongs don't make a right.

Spoken like a true pro. If that's the kind of security they're offering, its no wonder Symantec is recommended by so many professionals.

One of the real problems is these USB drives having autorun, it should be disabled. That'll probably stop a few if you dip your stick in every other hole.

[est1984]

The best thing to do is to install all the trial versions first and see how you feel, personally myself I have never really needed to buy a virus scanner, as I always install trials and keep switching.

From my experience I have always found Kaspersky to be the best its not so bad with system resources but will never match how good nod32 is.

Nod32 sometimes doesn't pick up viruses but you have the advantage of never really being effected computer hogging.

Avira is good form my experience, I hate the lady that talks when the software updates, but I am sure you can switch that off.

Norton, well even as they say its improved it hasn't improved enough, after installing it straight away you think to yourself it has made a significant step but then after a while it seems like it goes back to its bad habbits.

[zephysmith]

the best Antivirus software goes to Abacre (http://www.sembrarpaz.com/Windows/Sicurezza-e-Privacy/Anti-Virus-Tools/Abacre-Antivirus_3704.html) Antivirus coz it protects Windows-based computers from internet viruses, worms and Trojans spreading via email and local networks, macro viruses and old executable viruses.