Anti Virus & Spyware

[MagicFingers]

I know it's been brought up before but things keep changing.
I saw this review list today and wondered if anyone had heard of Star Reviews?
http://www.starreviews.com/Antiviru...11294029&sendroikwd=Total+-+content+targeting

Or, has anyone heard of their #1 favorite on the list?

I have a friend who uses Norton on 2 PCs, but it is such a pain in the butt that I'd like to suggest something different to him. Many other people have had problems with Norton also. And #2 MacAffee isn't very trustworthy either.

I personally use AVG and Spybot S & D and have no problems, but they aren't right for my old ADHD friend.
Thks

 

[Weird Harold]

I personally use AVG and Spybot S & D and have no problems, but they aren't right for my old ADHD friend.
Thks

I think AVG Free is probably more than adequae for a friend with ADHD, especially if it is set to auto update the virus files.

Grisoft offers virus, malware, and spyware protection in one package in their commercial versions.

Adaware offers real-time malware/spyware blocking in their lowest level of commercial release for $19.95 (US) if the all-in-one package from Grisoft doesn't suit.

Trendmicro's PC-Cillin is also a very good real-time virus/malware/spyware blocker/remover but it's a tad bit spendy to keep current over the long-term.

I didn't check out your link, because I'm on a dial-up connection and that kind of site takes forever to download all of the ads that support it.

 

[PertPerth]

I got a virus while running AVG and had to re-install windows *pouts*. I'm also pretty careful about things, so I'm not sure how it happened. Anyway, I was talking to a guy who works in IT and he recommended eset (it is an Australian company) and said that it's the best he's seen on the market.
http://www.eset.com.au/products/individual.html
He also agreed with me that Norton is a no-no.
Having said that - my brother swears by AVG and has not had any issues. Spybot is another good one which they use at work.

 

[Bert Notorius]

Generally, the only time I run into AV problems is when I try to change software (ie. Norton to McAffee) or try to monkey with a subscription. AV's really bloat the registry and don't like to be uninstalled. I've been pretty lucky but like sex, you need to be careful when mingling.

 

[MagicFingers]

Thanks

I'll check out that one, although I've never heard of it either, and there may be support problems here in Calif.
Of course, AVG is from Eorope I think, so...

Yeah, Nothon is notorious for not uninstalling well. I have problems with the popups that it gives that users don't understand, the constant (every 10-15 minutes) checking Live update for updates, the slowing up of the whole system every time it does that, and it kills the PC with 99% usage every time it does update or run a scan. And it sets itself to scan every time you turn on the PC. And you cannot schedule update to run only every 4 hours or so. It can either be on or off.

So, anyone ever hear of that one in the report?

 

[mjl2010]

I haven't heard of that one, but then, I've been really satisfied with my AVG from Grisoft. I'm using the free version.

About a year and a half ago, I was suddenly having big trouble with my PC. It just seemed like a virus. I ran a full system scan using McAfee and it came up blank. Then I ran their free online scan, still nothing.

After some digging, I found some suspicious files and got rid of them. After a reboot, those files reappeared. The thing was, each time I booted, a new file would be created. Booting in safe mode was the only thing I could do to get access.

I borrowed a copy of norton from a friend, it didn't find a thing! Finally I downloaded AVG from Grisoft and ran it. Boom! found the virus right off, killed it and I was on my way to PC health again.

Turned out to be a trojan I got from who knows where. It was set to run on a specific date and it sure did. That thing had files all over my PC and a whole bunch of registry entries too. Took me a month to recover completely.

I'm happy with AVG and ain't changing.

When a new virus comes out, you can get infected if it comes into your computer in before the software companies add it to the update files. This bug I had was more than three years old though. Why did AVG catch it and no one else's?

MJL

 

[Calvin]

I got a virus while running AVG and had to re-install windows *pouts*. I'm also pretty careful about things, so I'm not sure how it happened. Anyway, I was talking to a guy who works in IT and he recommended eset (it is an Australian company) and said that it's the best he's seen on the market.
http://www.eset.com.au/products/individual.html
He also agreed with me that Norton is a no-no.
Having said that - my brother swears by AVG and has not had any issues. Spybot is another good one which they use at work.

eset is the best for sure... but the actual product is either NOD32 for 32 bit systems or NOD64 for the 64 bit systems. I run both on all my machines and it is by far the best I have ever seen or used.

the link - eset

 

[Weird Harold]

Turned out to be a trojan I got from who knows where. It was set to run on a specific date and it sure did. That thing had files all over my PC and a whole bunch of registry entries too. Took me a month to recover completely.

...This bug I had was more than three years old though. Why did AVG catch it and no one else's?

MJL

It might have been one of the trojans/viruses that specifically work to block Norton and Macafee from detecting it.

I don't know what Trendmicro and Grisoft do diferently, but both PC-Cillin and AVG have the reputation of finding viruses that Norton and Macafee let through -- and both can run a real-time scan without bogging down the system to the point of uselessness.

Norton's Ulitlities are still some of the best diagnostic tools available, but their real-time monitoring and scanning technology are memory and CPU hogs.

Macafee has been riding their reputation for nearly a decade and only the fact that they're pre-installed on a lot of computers is keeping them afloat.

TrendMicro pioneered the "Housecall" online virus checkers that circumvent the viruses that attack anti-virus software and except fo the cost, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better anti-virus than PC-Cillin. However, there is that pesky cost issue...

I'm not sure what you've got against AVG, but you're going to have to look very very hard to find something better.

PertPerth's problem not-withstanding.

Every anti-virus is going to miss a few if you habitually visit dodgy sites, but AVG has caught more than a few and only allowed one new virus through to my system and the virus was included in an emergency update in addition to the normal weekly scheduled update.

The only anti-virus I've ever used that stopped everything was PC-Cillin until the cost issue finally forced me to change to AVG.

 

[mjl2010]

Harold I think you misunderstood me.

I LOVE my AVG from Grisoft. Feels like wearing three condoms for a night out in a brothel - Very Safe! It's Norton and McAfee that ticked me off.

MJL

 

[Weird Harold]

Harold I think you misunderstood me.

I LOVE my AVG from Grisoft. Feels like wearing three condoms for a night out in a brothel - Very Safe! It's Norton and McAfee that ticked me off.

MJL

OOps, unclear referent problem. That comment was directed at the thread starter.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I had McAfee. I had Norton. I have no use for either. They don't bloody work. I tried Panda and loved it, but the software was unstable on my computer. Now I have AVG and it seems too.

However, in my opinion you need an anti virus scan, anti Spyware scan and a good firewall.

I seei it this way. Virus scanning software is like, "Oh, the fox is in the hen house and killed the chickens. Want me to kick it out?" A firewall is like, "A virus wants to get in the hen house. Want me to lock it out?" Neither a firewall nor a virus scan work on spyware.

I use Adaware for continuous spyware scanning and PCTools firewall. I have very few problems at all.

 

[MagicFingers]

WH, what he said

Harold I think you misunderstood me.

I LOVE my AVG from Grisoft. Feels like wearing three condoms for a night out in a brothel - Very Safe! It's Norton and McAfee that ticked me off.

MJL

No, I love AVG, but my friend can't deal with updating Spybot manually, and Immunizing, which he would have to do if he used AVG. And Windows firewall would be used, etc.
Maybe I can teach him again for the tenth time.

 

[MagicFingers]

Ad-Aware

I had McAfee. I had Norton. I have no use for either. They don't bloody work. I tried Panda and loved it, but the software was unstable on my computer. Now I have AVG and it seems too.

However, in my opinion you need an anti virus scan, anti Spyware scan and a good firewall.

I seei it this way. Virus scanning software is like, "Oh, the fox is in the hen house and killed the chickens. Want me to kick it out?" A firewall is like, "A virus wants to get in the hen house. Want me to lock it out?" Neither a firewall nor a virus scan work on spyware.

I use Adaware for continuous spyware scanning and PCTools firewall. I have very few problems at all.

I always found Ad-Aware to be better at getting rid of difficult malware, but the free version doesn't have immunize. Yes, I use it at home when I think there is a problem.

So, you guys think I should just tell him to use AVG and Spybot, with Adaware backup?

 

[mjl2010]

I always found Ad-Aware to be better at getting rid of difficult malware, but the free version doesn't have immunize. Yes, I use it at home when I think there is a problem.

So, you guys think I should just tell him to use AVG and Spybot, with Adaware backup?

Thats the combination I'm using. You still need to run Adaware and Spybot every so often. I do it once a week. Spybots immunize is pretty good.

MJL

 

[mjl2010]

OOps, unclear referent problem. That comment was directed at the thread starter.

I should of figured that out.

MJL

 

[Weird Harold]

No, I love AVG, but my friend can't deal with updating Spybot manually, and Immunizing, which he would have to do if he used AVG.

...

I always found Ad-Aware to be better at getting rid of difficult malware, but the free version doesn't have immunize. Yes, I use it at home when I think there is a problem.

If your friend can't deal with manually updating -- sort of like the "it has been 452 days since you last updated AdAware" notice I got yesterday after this thread reminded me that I hadn't checked for "a while" -- then the best option would be one of the commercial versions that combine malware blocking/removal with Virus blocking/removal and include automatic updates -- somethinglike Norton AV is supposed to be but without the CPU and memory hogging. Both Trendmicro and Grisoft have such products although I'm too poor (cheap) to use them and based on my experiences with their AV-only programs I'd start looking at those two companies for a combined "guard program."

So, you guys think I should just tell him to use AVG and Spybot, with Adaware backup?

Personally, I'd reverse the Adaware and Spybot recommendation; adaware does offer an automatic update and scheduled scanning to scan systems that are left on all the time when they aren't being used.

However, it sounds to me like your friend would be happier wtih a combined program.

 

[intruder52]

I have not heard of the Shield Deluxe or evaluated it either. I am a system admin at a large University and we use McAfee. Works great here, we have not had a Virus break out in more than five years.