Best Anti-virus / INTERNET SECURITY!

[bX510]

I am looking to buy an anti-virus software. I am looking for best anti-virus / internet security. I heard that trend micro's internet security is good, but I don't think their anti-virus is as good as bitdefender. Well, give me some suggestions.

 

[Jules]

aol's free antivirus

 

[John]

You're right about Bitdefender having a better detection rate over Trend. While the best AV is debatable, there is no question that KIS 6.0 offers the best IS. KIS also contains one of the best software firewalls on the market.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=2016206&enterthread=y
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=169532
http://www.matousec.com/projects/window...ak-tests-results.php#firewalls-ratings

 

[mad0maxx]

Originally posted by: John
You're right about Bitdefender having a better detection rate over Trend. While the best AV is debatable, there is no question that KIS 6.0 offers the best IS. KIS also contains one of the best software firewalls on the market.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=2016206&enterthread=y
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=169532
http://www.matousec.com/projects/window...ak-tests-results.php#firewalls-ratings

I would not say KIS Internet Security has the best firewall because we all know that ZoneAlarm has the best Firewall program and was initially started off as a firewall program. Now that the ZoneAlarm integrated KasperSky (KIS) anti-virus into the ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite I would say that ZoneAlarm is a much better security suite.

 

[bX510]

Originally posted by: mad0maxx

Originally posted by: John
You're right about Bitdefender having a better detection rate over Trend. While the best AV is debatable, there is no question that KIS 6.0 offers the best IS. KIS also contains one of the best software firewalls on the market.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=2016206&enterthread=y
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=169532
http://www.matousec.com/projects/window...ak-tests-results.php#firewalls-ratings

I would not say KIS Internet Security has the best firewall because we all know that ZoneAlarm has the best Firewall program and was initially started off as a firewall program. Now that the ZoneAlarm integrated KasperSky (KIS) anti-virus into the ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite I would say that ZoneAlarm is a much better security suite.

Oh yeah? Sounds great, Anyone using this and have problems? or any good points?

 

[mechBgon]

Tangentially, no matter what you end up picking, you can add another good layer of security with a non-Admin user account and (if you have XP Pro, Vista Ultimate or Vista Business) a Software Restriction Policy. For many types of malware, a Limited account won't let them succeed, and a Limited+SRP setup won't even let them try, whether your security software detects them or not. Plus they safeguard your other security stuff from tampering (disabling your antivirus/firewall services, modifying the HOSTS file, etc).

/ broken record

 

[Rottie]

Originally posted by: mad0maxx

Originally posted by: John
You're right about Bitdefender having a better detection rate over Trend. While the best AV is debatable, there is no question that KIS 6.0 offers the best IS. KIS also contains one of the best software firewalls on the market.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=2016206&enterthread=y
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=169532
http://www.matousec.com/projects/window...ak-tests-results.php#firewalls-ratings

I would not say KIS Internet Security has the best firewall because we all know that ZoneAlarm has the best Firewall program and was initially started off as a firewall program. Now that the ZoneAlarm integrated KasperSky (KIS) anti-virus into the ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite I would say that ZoneAlarm is a much better security suite.

I thought ZA suite uses eztrust anti-virus not KIS? I could be wrong.
Anyway I have ZA 7 Pro with AOL free AVS. They work together great.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

AOL's AVS / Opera

- JaAG

 

[bX510]

Well, AOL 's products are out of the question.

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: bX510
Well, AOL 's products are out of the question.

AOL Free is Kaspearsky (sp?) dumbed down. Same source engine and definitions.

 

[bX510]

Oh, I didn't know that. So I am guessing everyone is suggesting to use Kaspearsky Internet security

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Kaspersky Internet Security != Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

Kaspersky AV is generally regarded as best-of-the-best as far as detection rates go.

Internet security suites generally aren't required as long as the user is running an up-to-date, patched machine and has some common sense. IMO, they're more of a nuisance than anything else.

- JaAG

 

[bX510]

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
Kaspersky Internet Security != Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

Kaspersky AV is generally regarded as best-of-the-best as far as detection rates go.

Internet security suites generally aren't required as long as the user is running an up-to-date, patched machine and has some common sense. IMO, they're more of a nuisance than anything else.

- JaAG

Yeah, but my parents uses this computer and my brother, I don't know what they do on this computer.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: bX510

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
Kaspersky Internet Security != Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

Kaspersky AV is generally regarded as best-of-the-best as far as detection rates go.

Internet security suites generally aren't required as long as the user is running an up-to-date, patched machine and has some common sense. IMO, they're more of a nuisance than anything else.

- JaAG

Yeah, but my parents uses this computer and my brother, I don't know what they do on this computer.

Sounds like my situation with the one I built for Mom, Dad and occasionally little sister. I use the Windows Firewall, free AOL Kaspersky, full DEP :camera:, and the aforementioned non-Admin user accounts with a disallowed-by-default SRP. It's pretty tight. No worries.

 

[Terabyte]

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
Kaspersky Internet Security != Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

Kaspersky AV is generally regarded as best-of-the-best as far as detection rates go.

Internet security suites generally aren't required as long as the user is running an up-to-date, patched machine and has some common sense. IMO, they're more of a nuisance than anything else.

- JaAG

KAV is included in KIS

 

[secretanchitman]

kaspersky has a great internet suite...including antivirus and firewall.

i hear that nod32 is releasing v3.0 of their excellent antivirus...and also releasing an internet suite as well.

 

[KoolDrew]

NOD32

 

[VIAN]

PC-cillin Internet Security

And you get 3 licenses for only about 35 bucks.

 

[bX510]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: bX510

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
Kaspersky Internet Security != Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

Kaspersky AV is generally regarded as best-of-the-best as far as detection rates go.

Internet security suites generally aren't required as long as the user is running an up-to-date, patched machine and has some common sense. IMO, they're more of a nuisance than anything else.

- JaAG

Yeah, but my parents uses this computer and my brother, I don't know what they do on this computer.

Sounds like my situation with the one I built for Mom, Dad and occasionally little sister. I use the Windows Firewall, free AOL Kaspersky, full DEP :camera:, and the aforementioned non-Admin user accounts with a disallowed-by-default SRP. It's pretty tight. No worries.

What's full DEP? I am using Home edition, so what can I do to make it a safer computer even when I am not the one operating it.

 

[bX510]

Yeah, I heard their internet security is good. I believe their virus scan is not as good as other competitors.

 

[mechBgon]

What's full DEP?

DEP is a technology that helps prevent buffer-overflow attacks. "Full" DEP is when you enable it for all software, not just the core Windows stuff. Modern CPUs have hardware support for DEP, and if it's fully enabled, it will singlehandedly stop some attacks, like the infamous WMF Exploit. So make sure to set it as shown in the pic.

I am using Home edition, so what can I do to make it a safer computer even when I am not the one operating it.

I put up my suggestions here: http://www.mechbgon.com/build/security2.html If you can get away with completely depriving them of Admin powers, then go for it. Make them Limited users and password-protect both the visible and hidden Admin accounts (boot into Safe Mode to get at the hidden one). Don't install anything they don't truly need, and use the online checkup in Step 4 to check the stuff you do install.

 

[Captante]

I've tested a bunch of Internet security suites in the past year, including Zone Alarm with Kaspersky AV, Kaspersky IS v6, Trend 2007, Panda 2007, Norton & a couple others and I've had the best results overall with Panda because it combines decent firewall & AV protection and doesn't seem to cause problems with other applications ... also it includes very effective parental filtering software for those with kids.

ZA Security suite & even more Kaspersky IS6 are very obtrusive and seem to cause system instability over time on my PC's that run 24/7, however they both do ok on machines that arn't on all the time & ZA also includes decent parental filtering.

 

[mad0maxx]

Originally posted by: Captante
I've tested a bunch of Internet security suites in the past year, including Zone Alarm with Kaspersky AV, Kaspersky IS v6, Trend 2007, Panda 2007, Norton & a couple others and I've had the best results overall with Panda because it combines decent firewall & AV protection and doesn't seem to cause problems with other applications ... also it includes very effective parental filtering software for those with kids.

ZA Security suite & even more Kaspersky IS6 are very obtrusive and seem to cause system instability over time on my PC's that run 24/7, however they both do ok on machines that arn't on all the time & ZA also includes decent parental filtering.

I myself have tested Bitdefender Internet Secuity, Kaspersky Internet Security and ZoneAlarm Internet Security.

I started with Bitdefender Internet Security and when I first purchased my license it was a version previous then the version I purchased and I could not activate my product I bought until two days later when I spoke to their damn customer service and even then I could never reach them by phone only by internet chat from their site... this combined with slow scans, slow system performance made me dislike this product.

Then I switched to Kaspersky Internet Security for the reason being it was rated highly for the anti-virus and it was great but I did not like the other features of the internet security such as anti spyware or the firewall. Then I heard that ZoneAlarm Internet Security was integrating Kaspersky Anti-Virus into their security suite then I bought one license from them.

ZoneAlarm Internet Security is great! The spyware does not catch everything but from my experiences it has gotten everything except tracking cookies when I compare the ZoneAlarm Scan followed by Webroot Spysweeper. The firewall is exceptional and has blocked alot of things tring to access / scan my computer and I love the software firewall. Overall I like this product alot out of the three.

From my experiences I have only experience system slow downs and never any problems with Bitdefender and I have never experience any slow downs or problems with Kaspersky or ZoneAlarm even when my computer runs 24/7.

EDIT - Please excuse the bad grammer I was typing it out as I was thinking of it.

 

[Captante]

It may be somthing in my individual configuration that causes problems with Kaspersky & I agree that the ZA firewall is very effective & stable, however I had much better luck with the older versions on ZA security suite which used Computer Associates AV engine on systems that run 24/7.

Bit-defender never gave me any trouble at all & btw NOD32 AV run in conjunction with the ZA Pro firewall appeared to have no issues for me .... Kaspersky IS6 didn't cause slowdowns when I ran it, but it did get shut down on me twice for no discernable reason & the systems running it became unstable 4 out of 4 tries.

As I said I've had the best combined results with Panda IS 2007 & to a slightly lesser degree Trend IS 2007 which works just about as well but is more of a resource-hog.

 

[bX510]

I think I am going to go with the Zone Alarm and Kapersky. Thanks everyone, I am open to any more opinions.