Antivirus Software - what' the best - worst

[sd]

Originally posted by: Monoman

Originally posted by: VicodiN
Panda = owns.

moving from Norton corporate.... I would concur

ditto

 

[Tango57]

Avast antivirus rocks!! and it's free! www.avast.com

 

[vegetation]

Mcafee is like a virus in itself. ugh, such a POS. Which is a shame since long ago it was actually one of the best out there. Don't know what happened.

 

[NightCrawler]

Originally posted by: Macro2
Worst - Norton, Kaspersky
Best AVG, E-trust and Panda

AVG doesn't detect certain viruses and isn't updated enough, Kaspersky is updated 8 times a day. Norton is pretty effective but just to bloated.

 

[Celeryman]

Well AVG has done a great job for me. I use it and also recommend it to all my clients. I find they are updated enough. A lot better than the bloatware of Norton or Mcafee (I find these to be useless trash).

 

[8ballcoupe]

From my personal experience --

Best Freeware AV - AVAST!

Best Commercial AV for Slower Systems - NOD32

Best Commercial AV for Faster Systems - Panda

By "best" I mean due consideration of ease of use, range of features, reliability, quality of software (as in whether or not it interferes badly with the rest of the software and the OS on the system).

Haven't tried Trend or Kaspersky in quite some time. Liked them a couple of years ago.

Probably no one AV software package has been / is / will be the best forever.

I have NOT been impressed with any of the integrated AV / Firewall packages. Maybe the next generation will get it right. I think a bunch of different vendors decided to hack together some quick attempts at this combination and didn't give them enough development time. Of course, all of the botched up ones I've seen were on systems which belonged to end users who had probably messed up the settings pretty badly.

Ernie

 

[Macro2]

RE:"AVG doesn't detect certain viruses and isn't updated enough"


AVG is updated every day or two at the most now.
I've found that AVG will find about everything. Sometimes it takes an update to be able to heal or delete it.


Norton is pretty effective but just to bloated.

I've had Trojans blast right through Norton while AVG catches them.

Of course, TDS-3 will snatch Trojans better than any of them.

 

[LeetestUnleet]

Originally posted by: substance12
I was fixing a friend's computer last night and we didn't knwo what was wrong. I did the following:

1) windows update - never completed because apparently i got the sasser virus
2) did nav live update upon reboot and rebooted again
3) ran virus scan & windows update... not sure which order
4) no viruses found...which i found odd, so i used trend micros online scan and found the sasser virus and removed it.

this is the 2nd time nav has not caught a virus (beit on my computer or a friends) and trend micro online scan has.

I'm considering panda or possibly AVG. Does AVG have a auto update feature?

Norton is teh evil. I used it for a while, and it NEVER successfully repaired/deleted a single virus... It hardly found any. Those that it did, I had to manually remove anyway...

AVG hasn't failed me yet. I ran a AVG scan the other day, it found some java worm, and removed it. I then ran housecall.trendmicro.com and the only thing it caught that AVG didn't was something called "NoCheat", which I wasn't affected by anyway (my java version is up-to-date, the java virus only affects older versions). That's the ONLY time I've had AVG not detect something. That's saying a lot too, because my internet habits aren't exactly the safest...

 

[Technonut]

Here is a AV comparison site.... The following is said about AVG:

Pros - AVG Antivirus:

Better than to be expected from a free antivirus program
DOS scanner included
But only an option for those with absolutely no money

Cons - AVG Antivirus:

Comes only with a basic (automated) interface without the possibility to adjust any settings
Doesn't check for double infected files
Some users have had freezes and other major stability issues on Windows 2000 and XP
Slows down your computer considerably
Inserts ads in your email messages.
You need to use DOS commands for some advanced operations.
Log file displays limited info
You can't see anything in systray, so you don't know if it's running or not

Major flaws - AVG Antivirus:

Terrible virus detection rate
Doesn't update their virus definition files very often (monthly intervals, should be twice a week)
Deletes infected files without warning. This is especially bad if the file didn't contain a virus after all (a false positive).
Very low on scripts, backdoors and trojans.

EDIT: I use Panda Platinum myself....

 

[LeetestUnleet]

Um... what version of AVG *did* they rate? Thoughts (numbers added for easier response):

Cons - AVG Antivirus:

1.) Comes only with a basic (automated) interface without the possibility to adjust any settings
2.) Doesn't check for double infected files
3.) Some users have had freezes and other major stability issues on Windows 2000 and XP
4.) Slows down your computer considerably
5.) Inserts ads in your email messages.
6.) You need to use DOS commands for some advanced operations.
7.) Log file displays limited info
8.) You can't see anything in systray, so you don't know if it's running or not

1.) I can adjust quite a bit, actually.. and I've got the free version. Define "settings"?
2.) So what? If a file is infected, what are the odds of you keeping it anyway? Chances are it was something you didn't want to begin with. Besides, if it only cleans one, then just run another scan... scans are quick.
3.) I've run it on MANY computers running EVERY windows OS from 98-XP, and have had ZERO compatibility problems. I've had many more with Norton and Mcafee.
4.) I've never noticed a slowdown... I get around the same benchmarks/real performance with or without it enabled. In fact, again, to pick on Norton and Mcafee, ESPECIALLY Mcafee, they bog down a system LOTS.
5.) Um... what?
6.) Hm, "scan this file". What else do you want a virus scanner/shield to do? ph34r my advanced skills! What? You mean my AV program *won't* do the dishes and my laundry? Screw that then.
7.) What more do you need? Here's a sample log (chopped up to delete uninfected scans and uninfected files) off my system:

AVG 6.0 Anti-Virus List of Recorded Test results
=====================================================================


Name of Test Date Time Status
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Complete Test 5/1/2004 3:00 AM VIRUS INFECTION DETECTED!!!

Results of Complete Test, date and time 5/1/2004 3:00:43 :

Testing C:\ serial E807-B2FC
C:\Documents and Settings\AARON\Application Data\SUN\JAVA\Deployment\CACHE\JAVAPI\V1.0\FILE\STATCL~1.CLA repaired

Test finished, duration 00:20:13.8 s
27081 objects tested, 1 found infected

8.) It runs in MY system tray - Again, I don't know what version you're using... It's called AVG Control Center. Click the checkbox during install to have it run by default, or choose to run it manually (and change it to run automatically) through the program directory/start menu.

Major flaws - AVG Antivirus:

1.) Terrible virus detection rate
2.) Doesn't update their virus definition files very often (monthly intervals, should be twice a week)
3.) Deletes infected files without warning. This is especially bad if the file didn't contain a virus after all (a false positive).
4.) Very low on scripts, backdoors and trojans.

1.) See my previous post
2.) Updates are seemingly every night... are you even sure you're reviewing the right program now?
3.) You can change that in settings....
4.) Scripts: Detects them for me... / Backdoors: Well okay, it's not a firewall, but as mentioned previously in another post, AV/firewall combos suck / Trojans: Again, detects them for me...

 

[Technonut]

The topic of this thread is "What is the best-worst AV".....LeetestUnleet: Take the time to read This Thread.... These are actual experiences from fellow forum members testing different AV...

Originally posted by: MDesigner
Hate to break it to ya, but no free AV got all of them. So far, it seems Bitdefender 7.2 and Panda Antivirus Titanium 2004 are the most effective...however, Panda did miss one out of the seven, but that still beats many other AV apps.

EDIT: If you can still find the test file to download, please do so and report your results back here...

 

[MidasKnight]

NAV2003 here. But I'm going to check out this Panda ...

 

[8ballcoupe]

There was a time when I recommended AVG to those who wanted free anti-virus software. I ran it myself on occasion just to see how things were coming along. Since that time I have noticed that many AVG users have difficulty getting the automatic update and manual update procedures to work. There was an engine version change at one point that made it particularly difficult to continue getting updates, and this was particularly confusing to many people. I'd have to say that there are other freeware anti-virus programs far more worthy of consideration now.

Nonetheless that AV test site quote of pros and cons for AVG did get some things wrong. They couldn't have been very careful when they tested AVG (or when they wrote up their synopsis of their test).

Regarding that long thread where everybody was downloading test files to see if their AV software would detect malware -- I've wondered what that was that all about. It strikes me that, if the people at the various testing institutions aren't doing a more thorough job of testing than that which is depicted in that thread, then we are all in some pretty serious trouble. I realize the natural (and reasonable) tendency of people to fear that political and financial pressures may lead some of the testing institutions / sites / magazines to favor some AV software packages over others. And we all like to "see for ourselves", too. But I wouldn't base my choice of AV software on a downloaded archive with a few malware code samples in it.

I really have a hard time recommending any of the AV freeware I've seen for use on a system whose functioning is critical to the user -- unless the user is EXTREMELY careful about making frequent data backups and is, also, a very cautious Internet user. Right now my favorite AV freeware is AVAST!. But I don't think it stacks up particularly well next to the best of the commercial products.

Caution, aggressive data protection and backup procedures, protective software (anti-virus, anti-Trojan, firewall), NAT (and a firewall appliance, where such is practical) seem to be about the minimum anyone should be using. I'd rate caution and data care procedures as the most important of these, but I wouldn't do anything on the Internet without all of them.

Ernie

 

[MidasKnight]

Panda antivirus online scanning = :beer:

Thanks for the info people

 

[Macro2]

Technonut,

I've seen that review of AVG many times before. It's real old. At the very leat it's erroneous and no longer applies, if it ever did.

AVG works well.

 

[Technonut]

Originally posted by: Macro2
Technonut,

I've seen that review of AVG many times before. It's real old. At the very leat it's erroneous and no longer applies, if it ever did.

AVG works well.

You are entitled to your opinion.... I personally would not trust my rigs to any free AV. There is no such thing as a "free lunch". There is also a reason that AVG offers a pay version....

 

[addragyn]

"There is also a reason that AVG offers a pay version.... "

So instead of making veiled implications tell us then.

Their business model is simple. A free home version is available for marketing purposes. The hope is that this will sell licenses to businesses and power users. Like Quicktime & Quicktime Pro.

The license gives more options, including network control. Both AVG free and paid have done exactly the job I want then to do with no problems.

 

[Technonut]

Originally posted by: addragyn
"There is also a reason that AVG offers a pay version.... "

So instead of making veiled implications tell us then.

From what I gather, the free version uses the 6.x scan engine, which will not be updated to the 7.x scan engine available in the Pro (pay) version. It stands to reason that the 6.x scan engine is or soon will be obsolete...

EDIT: AVG Pro (Pay)....

AVG Anti-Virus 7.0 includes an improved scanning engine which supports the rapid implementation of new detection techniques. Some of the improvements include new functions (such as checking (do we want to say "testing") and healing of the system registry), improved system performance (for example, quicker access to tested objects), and the optimization of update files to make them smaller, especially in case of "priority" updates.

The AVG Anti-Virus 7.0 program engine requires fewer system resources and improves computer performance during scanning by allowing the user to define gaps in between the testing of particular files.

Since AVG (free) will not have the scan engine updated beyond 6.x... there is no "free lunch". If one wants the latest and most effective scan engine, one will have to pay for it...

 

[LeetestUnleet]

Originally posted by: Technonut

Originally posted by: addragyn
"There is also a reason that AVG offers a pay version.... "

So instead of making veiled implications tell us then.

From what I gather, the free version uses the 6.x scan engine, which will not be updated to the 7.x scan engine available in the Pro (pay) version. It stands to reason that the 6.x scan engine is or soon will be obsolete...

EDIT: AVG Pro (Pay)....

AVG Anti-Virus 7.0 includes an improved scanning engine which supports the rapid implementation of new detection techniques. Some of the improvements include new functions (such as checking (do we want to say "testing") and healing of the system registry), improved system performance (for example, quicker access to tested objects), and the optimization of update files to make them smaller, especially in case of "priority" updates.

The AVG Anti-Virus 7.0 program engine requires fewer system resources and improves computer performance during scanning by allowing the user to define gaps in between the testing of particular files.

Since AVG (free) will not have the scan engine updated beyond 6.x... there is no "free lunch". If one wants the latest and most effective scan engine, one will have to pay for it...

Agreed, but even so, AVG 7.0 (whichever flavor you choose) is cheaper than a lot of them....

 

[LeetestUnleet]

BTW, that virii test link is broken... can't test

 

[GreatBarracuda]

Go Panda! Go Panda! Go Panda! Go Panda! Go Panda! Go Panda! Go Panda! Go Panda! Go Panda! arrr!!

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Sexual Harassment.. PANDA!

Err.. too much southpark.

Anti-Virus... PANDA! It's good!

 

[tazdevl]

Tried several. Now using Panda Titanium 04. Been pretty happy with it, but I'm moderately irritated that Tech Support hasn't answered any emails I've sent.

I take issue with companies that clearly state they will get back to you right away in their F&B (features & benefit) statements and don't live up to expectations.

 

[The Green Bean]

Is it only me but Panda doesnt detect my email viruses that well...even common RARed ones like Netsky. I saved it and scanned it, then it found the virus. WHY? It leaves out one email virus out of 3

 

[tazdevl]

Originally posted by: hatim
Is it only me but Panda doesnt detect my email viruses that well...even common RARed ones like Netsky. I saved it and scanned it, then it found the virus. WHY? It leaves out one email virus out of 3

Have you set it to scan compressed files? It isn't enabled by default. Also might want to check that you have the latest version of the app. It was released on 4/28.