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Author Topic: What's the best computer antivirus software these days? Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-22-2012 11:37 AM                        So, we got a new computer in our office and it didn't come with any antivirus pre-installed. Win7 is bugging me to install something but there are 30 different vendors, many of which I've never heard of. What's the best way to go these days, antivirus-wise? We had McAfee on the old computer and it was only partially effective.  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 02-22-2012 11:54 AM                        You could start out with Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) - it's free for download and install with Windows 7. Even though it is free, it's been reviewed as being pretty good. On my new HTPC, I started with MSE. Then a few weeks later it caught a browser hijacker that MSE had let through. After finding the manual solution on www.malwarebytes.org for getting rid of that POS bug (just so I could use the machine again), I added Malwarebytes to my HTPC's protection suite (free download for 30-day evaluation, then pay some nominal fee). I run both quick scans every time I boot the machine, and have had no antivirus issues since then.  |  IP: Logged Frank Cox Film God Posts: 2234 From: Melville Saskatchewan Canada Registered: Apr 2011 posted 02-22-2012 12:09 PM                         |  IP: Logged David Zylstra Master Film Handler Posts: 432 From: Novi, MI, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 02-22-2012 01:05 PM                     I use ESET Smart Security with both AV and personal firewall, it runs $45/yr if you buy the 2 year license . . . . it gets cheaper if you license it for more PCs. They also have an AV only version.  |  IP: Logged Jeff Taylor Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 601 From: Chatham, NJ/East Hampton, NY Registered: Apr 2000 posted 02-22-2012 01:06 PM                     Mike: Given that Microsoft Security Essentials is free, for goodness sake install it even if you replace it later, but honestly I've found it effective and it's all I use. Also, FWIW, you can have serious problems if you use two anti-virus programs, so if you add another you should disable or uninstall the first.  |  IP: Logged James Westbrook Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1133 From: Lubbock, Texas, Usa Registered: Mar 2006 posted 02-22-2012 03:04 PM                     Some anti-virus programs will not install unless you uninstall the one you already have on.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 02-22-2012 03:27 PM                     The free version of avast has seemed pretty good to me. A lot of people use the free version avg, although it's more memory intensive but that won't matter in most cases.  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 02-22-2012 03:59 PM                     AVG is free and works well for me.  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 02-22-2012 04:17 PM                     Microsoft Security Essentials is very well reviewed by experts I respect. For most purposes, it should be fine. When I'm setting up a system for someone, I usually just install this. If you want something a bit stronger, I have had very good luck with Norton 360. It installs easily and works in the background. I have had no problems with it since installing. I had a terrible experience with BitDefender. It was very picky about what other software was installed. It worked well but it just was a pain to update. I had to send a complete list of everything on my computer plus info on the hardware to get it to work correctly. Just too much trouble.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-22-2012 06:34 PM                        Thanks for the recommendations. I talked to our computer guy and he told me that MS Security Essentials was supposed to already be installed, but it wasn't for some reason. So....it's now installed.  |  IP: Logged Dennis Benjamin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1445 From: Denton, MD Registered: Feb 2002 posted 02-23-2012 07:32 PM                        I recommend for Windows Users: A combination of AVG For Free & Spybot Search and Destroy. Both are free and both work. I love the cartoon. As an a Unix guy myself - it's freakin hilarious..  |  IP: Logged Frank Cox Film God Posts: 2234 From: Melville Saskatchewan Canada Registered: Apr 2011 posted 02-23-2012 09:08 PM                         |  IP: Logged Tim Asten Film Handler Posts: 98 From: Brighton, United Kingdom Registered: Nov 2006 posted 02-24-2012 07:33 AM                     'Avast' anti-virus! Its been very good (XP version) and does not seem to hog system resources like some. Updates automatically. Basic version is free.  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 02-24-2012 10:23 AM                     AVG-Free is my go-to basic anti-virus. I dislike Norton, McAfee, and Symantic...they seem to cause more problems than they solve. I've yet to get a virus with AVG installed. Then again, aside from F-T, I don't go to risky sites.  |  IP: Logged Victor Liorentas Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 800 From: london ontario canada Registered: May 2009 posted 02-24-2012 12:32 PM                     AVG for free.  |  IP: Logged

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