Anti-Virus software for WinME

[Homerboy]

Any suggestions for Anti-Virus proggies for WinME? I know several brands and/or versions are incompatible with the OS.

Thanks!

 

[madthumbs]

InnoculateIT personal edition is still one of the best, and is still free! Find it on www.CAI.com. It is fast, thorough, and updated frequently. I can't imagine a better anti-virus, and have heard no argument that makes anything else out there sound better.

 

[Homer]

madthumbs, as a long-time but now "ex" user of InoculateIt I'll give you two reasons to switch: firstly it is not the best around for virus detection, and secondly it uses too much of your system resources. If one can bear to part with $29.95 US, PCcillin is better. You can try it for free. It's good for 95, 98, Me, & 2000. IMHO it beats both Norton & McAffee.
However if I were not willing to spend any money InoculateIt would be my pick.

 

[Technonut]

Copied from an Antivirus shootout from Winmag:


InoculateIT was the second worst at finding viruses, catching only 90.7% of them.

Starting a scan is done either by right-mouse-clicking a file in the Explorer and choosing "check viruses" (which almost every other program offers as well), or by doing essentially the same thing in the InoculateIT window. No pre-set "quick scans" are configured, or even possible. There is no provision to schedule scans at night, but you can manually use Window's own scheduling program if you're feeling ambitious.

Not surprisingly, InoculateIT has no provisions to check for downloaded or emailed viruses, and thus it let them come through without complaint. Executable viruses were caught when they were saved to the hard drive as files, but ZIP files weren't. Script viruses that can email themselves weren't caught even when they were running.

Though InoculateIT caught more viruses than the other free product in this review, spending a few dollars for more complete protection is probably worth it.


Complete Review

I have used used many different Antivirus programs, and the best one that I have tried and currently use that is not a resource hog, and has worked well (actually caught a few Trojans and Viruses on my system that Norton, AVP, Panda and others did not) is PCcillin.

 

[Shagga]

I'm using Nortons AV2000 without a hitch. Works a treat.

 

[IamDavid]

I like Panda AV. Panda Home

 

[kendogg]

i have always used Norton 5.0 on my win98se and now on my WinMe..

 

[madthumbs]

I'm glad I revisited this thread.

What InnoculateIT version was being tested. I once saw a review in PCWorld magazine on an obsolete version (CAI notified it's subscribers to update for better detection). InnculateIT was also rated as one of the fastest and least invasive. I have heard of it catching and removing virii in real life when other pay antivirus's couldn't at the time. As for using system resources, I don't notice it's toll at all, and I'm a gamer.

In the end, it may not be the best, but it's free. I wasn't happy with any of the other AV's out there. PC cillin was impossible to update. McAfee was too invasive and left dirt on the floor on the way out. Actually every single McAfee product I have tried (5 things) has screwed up my PC worse than it was before; Uninstaller 5 was good (originally from Cybermedia), but now that their update is out it sucks.

The best antivirus is knowledge. The more you know about Virii, the less chance of getting hit.

 

[Homer]

madthumbs, funny you should say all that about McAfee, because I agree with every single statement, including UnInstaller 5. I am surprised you had problems updating with PCcillin, works great for me on multiple home machines, on a LAN, behind a firewall.

 

[John]

I used NAV 2001 in ME/2K and it installed and works flawlessly.

 

[nippyjun]

Norton Antivirus 2001 works well.

 

[Mday]

i've got systemworks, so i use NAV ;-) on winme, win98se, and w2k.

 

[Mem]

I`ve used both Norton & Mcafee products over the years with no problems however with WinME you have to make sure the software you buy is 100% compatiable.I would go with Norton or Mcafee latest anti-virus software for WinME.

 

[Radarman]

I have been using PC-cillin for the past 5 years on three machines,
never had a virus yet, nuff said. I auto-update one machine with new virus patterns, and manually update the other two machines, at lease 1 new and sometimes two updates per week. I can find no reason to use anything else. Radarman

 

[bonkers325]

norton 2001 is cool

cheers,
bonkers325

 

[Cpt. Duke]

I have also heard the PC-Cillin is a solid product. Currently I use Norton 2K1 and I guess I like it, but it's very hard to judge. Unless you actually get a virus you don't get worthwhile experience with a product. I have had Norton detect virii and eliminate them, but there have been others that it has only been able to quarentine (which meant the infected file was no longer usable).

Since it's well known that no single anti-virus can protect against everything, has anyone tried multiple antivirus programs simultaneously? I have heard of possible incompatabilies between Norton and McAfee, but not about other programs... can anyone help?

 

[PliotronX]

LOL, that reminds me of this time when my friend had five AV titles running. Including Norton, Mcafee, PCCillin, something named "AVMaster" or similar, and some other thingamabob. All those icons running in the system tray, and all those splash screens when starting up.. good lord. I wouldn't recommend it, cause it could cause one of the AVs to detect each other as a virus. And also it would tax your system resources so that it wouldn't seem responsive at all.

 

[Cpt. Duke]

PliotronX, you are probably right, especially when the auto-scans are running in the background. It may be a good idea to have two antivirus programs though, one auto-scanning, and one as a stand-alone (you'd want to disable to auto-scan at that point.)

 

[madthumbs]

It is possible that my introductory version of PC-Cillin was old and contained an outdated update link.

Considering that I have never run into a virus, and I have a good understanding of how to prevent them from getting to me to begin with, I can't see paying for an antivirus.