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What antivirus program do you use?


CrypticQuery

Poll =3  

31 members have voted

  1. 1. Which antivirus program do you use?

    • Norton/Symantec
      3
    • Kapersky
      6
    • BitDefender
      0
    • Avast!
      6
    • Vipre
      0
    • McAfee
      2
    • MalwareBytes
      10
    • Other (I'll post about it)
      13


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I use Windows Security Essentials, Malwarebytes, Spybot Search & Destroy, & PeerBlock. They are all handy for my computer. No conflicts with each other when all of them are scanning at the same time. PeerBlock is a firewall program that I personally like.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have Avast!, I haven't had any problems. It has a new thing were you can see what other people rate a site before you click on it, and you can rate it yourself, its been pretty useful.

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Symantec's enterprise-level virus protection is decent. Not the best by any means, but it works. Microsoft Forefront is just as good, though, and integrates more seamlessly into Windows. Enterprise AV is a whole different animal, though. A good enterprise AV suite actively monitors network traffic, can be remotely managed, and can scan files on any OS for malware that can attack any OS. Of course this requires a set of AV servers that solely exist to fight malware on the network.

For the home, though, I use Kaspersky. With the big K or Bit Defender, you will do well. They trade the #1 and #2 spot on the AV roundups consistently. Symantec's consumer "Norton" line should be avoided like the plague. McAfee isn't much better, either.

If you want free AV, go with Microsoft Security Essentials. Most people in the tech community I know have stopped using AVG and Avast because their free products are not updated as stringently, and really only serve as advertising platforms for their paid versions. Sad really, as both products were decent. In fact, I recommend most basic users use MSSE because it seamlessly updates with Windows. It can be tough, as McAfee and Symantec hawk their products to PC OEMS, who put 3 month demo versions on that soon start asking for $80+ with scary warnings. Microsoft doesn't market Forefront to consumers, so MSSE doesn't bug you to upgrade.

For cleaning infections, nowadays the tools of choice are MBAM (Malwarebytes) and Combofix. You still see Spybot and Lavasoft out there, but those tools are considered obsolete.

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Until recently, I used Avast! along with malware bytes. Now I fond Avast! lagging behind, and so I currently use Panda Cloud.

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Alright, there's this fantastic thing that you should all get called common sense. Along with an AV this goes a long way.

Reasons your average joe gets viruses:

- Pirated software, music, movies. Viruses everywhere.

- Fileshare sites

- Pornsites. Avoid them at all costs, many infections come from there. It'snot good for you, and it's not good for your computer.

- Other people's computers and email. Just because you use common sense doesn't mean your friends do.

- Being an idiot.

- Not having an antivirus.

- Being over the age of 50.

Even though I scan regularly, I haven't had a virus in over 2 years, because I'm smart with how I conduct myself on the internet.

Here, here are some reasons computer repair guys use common sense (sNSFW)

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Good for you wolf, but some times getting a virus/maleware is unavoidable. I received a virus that infected all of my .exe files from a trusted website that I visit regularly. So how did I get it? The website had an infected advertisement that loaded the virus through Java... Nothing common sense can do for you there.

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Good for you wolf, but some times getting a virus/maleware is unavoidable. I received a virus that infected all of my .exe files from a trusted website that I visit regularly. So how did I get it? The website had an infected advertisement that loaded the virus through Java... Nothing common sense can do for you there.

Adblock Plus solves that problem. Ad-Free internet is best internet.

  • Like 1
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Hah, that is exactly what I did. It is possibly one of the best things I have downloaded, can't Imagine surfing without it now.

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This computer has Microsoft Security Essentials, my laptop is running Avast!

I use MalwareBytes when trying to clean the computer up from whatever nasty virus I get hit by. I have also played with McAfee Stinger for cleanups. I have yet to try out live booting linux distrobutions and running those virus scanners...haven't had a need to try yet.

LoneWolf, have you tried using NoScript plugin for FireFox? It makes internet usage a little bit more irritating but supposedly blocking scripts will basicaly eliminate most viruses people get online (unless of course they download it)

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Steve changes my anti-virus when he changes his. :o So right now I've got Microsoft Security Essentials.

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My computer came with McAfee free for a month. Now, I don't get anything but annoying "SPEND YOUR MONEY AND RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION" pop ups every 5 minutes. LOL

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McAfee, my computer just downloaded it when I updated my flashplayer, for some reason. I havn't had it long and don't know much about it.

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I use Avast along with Malwarebytes and Spybot. They've been fairly good for me after I quit using AVG after one too many false positives.

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I just found norton internet security on my computer, funny I never downloaded it.

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Where's OS X on this list? :P But seriously, I stopped using any anti-virus software a while ago, either one my Mac or Windows side.

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I am also an AVG/MBAM combo user. MBAM is absolutely fantastic, but I'm thinking about using a different virus scanner. AVG is pretty good, but it has a ton of trouble updating sometimes.

I might as well ask it now (sorry to go a little off-tangent): what are some of the best FREE antivirus programs?

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Where's OS X on this list? :-P But seriously, I stopped using any anti-virus software a while ago, either one my Mac or Windows side.

111122122120-jobs-funny-face-story-top.j

"Look at all of the free smilies I can download!"

:lol: In all honesty, I was never a fan of OS X's UI nor the fact that many programs don't have Macintosh versions. My Windows PCs have never failed me [software-wise] and I have yet to get a virus at all. But that's a debate for another topic. :-P

I might as well ask it now (sorry to go a little off-tangent): what are some of the best FREE antivirus programs?

The only one I really know is Avast, coupled with the free version of Malwarebytes and possibly Spybot Search and Destroy.

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Do. Not. Use. Norton.

EVER

Symantec's consumer "Norton" line should be avoided like the plague. McAfee isn't much better, either.

Yeah, yeah, I get the message well enough...

Symantec's enterprise-level virus protection is decent. Not the best by any means, but it works. Microsoft Forefront is just as good, though, and integrates more seamlessly into Windows. Enterprise AV is a whole different animal, though. A good enterprise AV suite actively monitors network traffic, can be remotely managed, and can scan files on any OS for malware that can attack any OS. Of course this requires a set of AV servers that solely exist to fight malware on the network.

For the home, though, I use Kaspersky. With the big K or Bit Defender, you will do well. They trade the #1 and #2 spot on the AV roundups consistently.

Maybe I'll try Kaspersky. I have a friend who has one and I can just borrow the installer :) :ok:

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eh i use malware bytes due to it being free, i had norton but got rid of it due to it slowing down my computer.... majorly, malwarebytes is nice even though it doesnt work for me half of the time

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I just found norton internet security on my computer, funny I never downloaded it.

Do not EVER run two A/V products at the same time. There is a high chance they will interfere with eachother and that may leave your system less protected than having just one of them. As far as Norton ending up on your machine, it was likely put there by the manufacturer. MacAfee and Symantec both have agreements with system builders to distribute trial subscriptions.

Where's OS X on this list? :-P But seriously, I stopped using any anti-virus software a while ago, either one my Mac or Windows side.

Speaking of Macs and malware, wasn't there a discovery of a massive OSX botnet within the past couple of weeks? :troll:

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Speaking of Macs and malware, wasn't there a discovery of a massive OSX botnet within the past couple of weeks? :troll:

Corraborating link - http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57410702-83/flashback-the-largest-mac-malware-threat-yet-experts-say/

:trollface:

_____

Never actually gave much thought into why Symantec/McAfee products always seem to end up on new computers/bundled with Adobe software; it makes sense though. No one that has general knowledge on computers would pick them out of choice. :lol:

As soon as my current Norton trial runs out, I'm definitely switching over to Kapersky or BitDefender.

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Why wait? It's a trail. You lose nothing.

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Why wait? It's a trial. You lose nothing.

Shoot, I said trial instead of subscritption, didn't I? I got a subscription last holiday season and used it to replace Avast free & MalwareBytes free for the time being. I'll still probably replace it with Kapersky/BitDefender sometime soon though; I'm not going to sit through 480+ more days of Norton's bullshit. :lol:

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