What Antivirus do you use?

[Miss Sparkly]

I killed my laptop and bought a simple Dell Optiplex desktop system which I gave a few upgrades and killer sound system to. I only use it to surf the net, edit photos and listen to music. Normally, I use Norton because my dad can get it practically free from the university but it's too much of a system hog for what I have right now. ClamWin was suggested to me and I've tried it but still can't find much info and the reviews are quite mixed. So, what's you're favorite non system hogging Antivirus and why?

 

[CherryBlossom]

This is the reason why I have a Mac. I have never had to use antivirus and this computer has lasted me longer than all my PCs -- who eventually caught some bug and began to slow down :/ good luck!

 

[Miss Sparkly]

Ahhhh. I love macs. I loved them more when they were not as popular since I expect that as they rapidly gain in popularity the amount of viruses for them will too.

 

[swingirl]

Ahhhh. I love macs. I loved them more when they were not as popular since I expect that as they rapidly gain in popularity the amount of viruses for them will too.

I have been hearing that for 20 years. But it hasn't happened yet.

 

[diamondringlover]

I use Trend Mirco...I had Norton prior and I had way to much crap that it didnt catch and I had a virus blow out my computer, twice, when I got my last computer the Geeksquad at BestBuy suggested Trend Mirco and that has been about 3-4 years ago and so far (knock on wood) I havent had any issues

 

[JewelFreak]

Norton took up a ton of space on my pc & McAfee conflicted w/something, kept making a crazed mess of things. I researched AVs & got Kaspersky, which has been excellent. Based in Poland, I think. They work on some of the major hacking & virus projects w/gov'ts, etc. Were involved with the one that hit the Iran nuke computers.

Having a Mac would be much easier. Always wonder why I don't.

--- Laurie

 

[kenny]

Mac

 

[stci]

I'm informatic programmer and I recommand "Avast", free and at the top!

 

[MissGotRocks]

System Mechanical Professional - this was purchased from Dell.

 

[Trekkie]

Antivirus? What's that?

I am a geek, so I use linux. It's free, easy to use and doesn't get viruses.

I have installed nod32 on all the office computers. They offer a free trial, and if you're geeky enough you can even use it for free.

 

[Lexie]

My boyfriend and I are both computer techs, and we both strongly suggest against using McAfee or ZoneAlarm because, quite frankly, they're crappy, slow down your computer, and have too much bloatware.

If you want to pay for antivirus (or can figure out how to extend their free trial, as Trekkie mentioned), ESET NOD32 or Smart Security are fantastic. Otherwise, AVG works great.

 

[Karl_K]

I'm informatic programmer and I recommand "Avast", free and at the top!

another vote for Avast
It is what i recommend to clients and have over 200 installs I support.

 

[LGK]

I'm informatic programmer and I recommand "Avast", free and at the top!

Avast is the one I use too. Free is nice, and it annoys me with pop ups much less than Norton or the pay ones. And it catches viruses quite nicely- I've downloaded a number of virusy files over the three? years I've used it and not one has gotten through.

ETA, Karl, I'm pretty sure it was actually your rec for Avast that started me using it. Excellent advice!

 

[MsP]

Regardless of antivirus, my rec is to backup-backup-backup! No antivirus is PERFECT. I would estimate that I totally wipe and clean-install each of my computers once a year. All of my files are on online and hard backup so when I do this it's only an hour endeavor instead of the days that people complain of. I have my software discs handy, the activation codes, etc in a folder so it's a pretty painless thing. When you use computers 10hrs a day I can't tolerate any of this "slowness" mentioned (and macs have this too... I have a 27" iMac too...they're not immune)

 

[kenny]

When you back up how do you know you're not just backing up the virus you just got?
Even if you backed up daily how do yo know the virus isn't malicious and smart enough to be able to infect older back up files?

I'm not saying backing up is not smart.
I just don't understand how backups can be seen as virus protection.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[MsP]

When you back up how do you know you're not just backing up the virus you just got?
Even if you backed up daily how do yo know the virus isn't malicious and smart enough to be able to infect older back up files?

I'm not saying backing up is not smart.
I just don't understand how backups can be seen as virus protection.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[I am no expert...] but from what I've experienced viruses don't usually embed themselves in pdfs, image, or text files. When I say backup, this is what I mean. I have had two relatively unrecoverable virus attacks and both times they were in the system files... not my personal files. The particular viruses were both named and publicized and there were TONS of suggested fixes but I couldn't get any to work. My anti virus (McAfee) even found and apparently deleted but really didn't. I know that MS Word docs can have viruses attached but from what I understand this isn't as prevalent.

 

[sparklyheart]

I use a Mac.

A good friend of mine works for McAfee and they just bought him a shiny new Mac.. I feel like that says a lot!

 

[Karl_K]

When you back up how do you know you're not just backing up the virus you just got?
Even if you backed up daily how do yo know the virus isn't malicious and smart enough to be able to infect older back up files?

I'm not saying backing up is not smart.
I just don't understand how backups can be seen as virus protection.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[I am no expert...] but from what I've experienced viruses don't usually embed themselves in pdfs, image, or text files. When I say backup, this is what I mean. I have had two relatively unrecoverable virus attacks and both times they were in the system files... not my personal files. The particular viruses were both named and publicized and there were TONS of suggested fixes but I couldn't get any to work. My anti virus (McAfee) even found and apparently deleted but really didn't. I know that MS Word docs can have viruses attached but from what I understand this isn't as prevalent.

basically yes, but with a caution, install AV on the clean system and scan the backup before copying it back if possible, if not scan asap before opening any files. PDF files are a huge vector for virus in the last 2 years.
For someone just a bit geeky a knoppix disk will almost always recover files on a virus laden windows machine.
Boot to knoppix cd, attach usb drive, copy files using the gui. Its close enough to how it is in windows that most computer literate people can do it.

 

[GameSeeker]

I used Avast and Avira on my computers, but switched to ZenOK Free Antivirus. In terms of running undisturbed, it fits the bill. You can search online for more in-depth reviews.

 

[mayerling]

Sophos for macs.