[OT] Best antivirus software.

[pdavit]

I'm fed up with Norton Antivirus. Yes, it has some strengths but even if you
feed it with a super computer sooner or later it will start to degrade your
system. And it specifically affects MS Office.

I'm planning to switch to another antivirus software which is lighter yet
flexible and powerful to use, with good frequent updates, which will not hang
my system, and which is equally if not more effective for virus detection and
destruction than Norton is.

I've heard that Panda, AVG and Kaspersky are among the best. Some users also
recommend Eset NOD32 and call it as the hidden gem of antivirus software. So, which
do you think is the best freeware antivirus and which is the best commercial antivirus
out there? Thank you!

[tosbsas]

No question NOD 32

If you need free - Avast is my choice

Ruben

[Hacker]

NOD 32 would be my commercial choice, too, but I admit, I am biased (it's from Slovakia). Anyways, check out http://www.virusbtn.com/
As for free, I go with F-Prot for DOS ( http://www.f-prot.com/ )

HTH
Roman
P.S.: BTW: Icfu would recommend Kaspersky.

[Helix751]

I have sticked to NAV for years and although there haven't been actual infections in my systems and virus attacks have been quite few (mainly because of good practices, the use of h/w firewalls whenever is possible), I admit NAV has blocked all of them before having to worry 'bout 'em.

I admit though, that NAV is a heavy resource hog, as it consumes lots of memory and processing power, rendering my systems quite slow for many operations.

[Sheepdog]

What about Kaspersky Antivirus ? It's not free, but it's engine is lizensed by many other AV-developer. And according to a test of c't ( a german PC magazine) it usually reacts to a new virus with updates within one hour.

Think it's worth a try.


sheepdog

[Vansumsen]

Kaspersky is my favorite since more than 5 years.
But actually i'm giving a try (with succes) to a free new one : PREVX (He don't need to be updated every day) You can find it here (http://www1.prevx.com/)
Paul

[AlleyKat]

I'd never use Norton - might as well have virus, with the resources it eats. My own personal favorite is the free german AntiVir - http://free-av.com

[djek]

I've been using avast for some years now
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

You'll have to registrate to get a serial number for 1 year of updates.
They never send me mail (not even to notify me).

Very light on resources. p2p/network/mail/resident scanners

and it doesn't hurt to try

[rolandd]

I have used Norton for a few years but lately been looking for open source/freeware solutions for many of my programs. For the anti-virus I am happy now with AVG Free Edition. It can be found here [url]http:\\www.grisoft.com\[/url]

[pdavit]

Oh, my! Eight replies so far and eight different suggested applications in total!

That doesn't clear things up but thanks a lot guys!

Problem is that which antivirus you are using is not the same as to which do
you think is the best one!

[Sheepdog]

PREVX (He don't need to be updated every day) You can find it here (http://www1.prevx.com/)
Paul

It does not depend on the AV-sanner if it needs to be updated but on the virus-programmer.

And what I meant was that Kaspersky reacts as fast as possible to a new virus with an update of the virus signatures.

sheepdog

[DuQues]

Oh, my! Eight replies so far and eight different suggested applications in total!

Just go for F-secure, it's definitely one of the best. I've been using it since 1994, and in those ten years I've never had a virus on my system that I didn't place there myself (intentionally, I save them, just as a hobby, and to test AV programs).

Wow, nine replies, 8 suggestions

[tosbsas]

To me NOD32 is not only the one I am using but the safest and being on a laptop and on the road a lot the small neraly daily updates are a great help too.

I think if you need a fast and reliable solution here is the way to go.

Avast is great now too - if you are on win2k or xp cause on win98 there is no transparent proxy - and that sucks

Ruben

[Kosch]

my favorite av programm is nod32 too.
it's small, if run is the pc not slow down.
is a fine good programm with good ratings.

[CoMiKe]

If there exists an open-source alternative, I always take a look.

Here is an open-source antivirus.

Windows GUI version: ClamWin

Original version: ClamAV