What antivirus program do you use?

[Locut0s]

I've been happily using AVGFree for some time now. Seems with every revision they keep pushing the pro version harder adn ahrder, hope they don't discontinue the free version. Only complaint I have with it is that it's a little too insistant about scanning your computer. It's default recommendation is to run a FULL system scan every day which I think is crazy, I only do that once or twice a year.

 

[lxskllr]

Been using Avira for years, and I'm completely happy with that.

 

[rockyct]

I still have Avira on my desktop, but I've changed my other computers to Microsoft Security Essentials now. I think it's better than most of the free AV programs out there now and no pop ups to buy the full version.

 

[Balt]

Avast

 

[seemingly random]

Avira and Avast. Like to have more than one available to scan files over the network since they don't all catch the same stuff. I'll occasionally run ms defender but it's dog slow.

The avira nag screen doesn't bother me since just one keystroke dismisses it and their ads can be entertaining.

I thought microsoft agreed a few years ago to not produce an active virus checker.

 

[octopus41092]

Nod32

 

[pyonir]

Been using Avira for years, and I'm completely happy with that.

Same here. Switched from AVG.

 

[rockyct]

Avira and Avast. Like to have more than one available to scan files over the network since they don't all catch the same stuff. I'll occasionally run ms defender but it's dog slow.

The avira nag screen doesn't bother me since just one keystroke dismisses it and their ads can be entertaining.

I thought microsoft agreed a few years ago to not produce an active virus checker.

I'm not sure about any sort of agreement, but they did have some sort of a paid package not too long ago. Anyway, the new suite from them is actually pretty good.

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/09/first-look-microsoft-security-essentials-impresses.ars
http://download.cnet.com/Microsoft-Security-Essentials/3000-2239_4-10969260.html?tag=rtcol;reldl

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

http://www.microsoft.com/security/products/mse.aspx
Free, quiet, low resource use, absolutely zero nagging and effective. The best free tool available at the moment.

 

[seemingly random]

http://www.av-comparatives.org/comparativesreviews/main-tests/summary-reports

 

[Colt45]

linux

 

[Locut0s]

http://www.av-comparatives.org/comparativesreviews/main-tests/summary-reports

Nice to see independent testing. But recommending SYMANTEC as the app of the year? That's a hard pill to swallow.

 

[lxskllr]

Nice to see independent testing. But recommending SYMANTEC as the app of the year? That's a hard pill to swallow.

I haven't used it myself, but I've heard they really turned themselves around from their past products. If I wanted to pay for an A/V package, I would definitely give them consideration.

 

[Locut0s]

I haven't used it myself, but I've heard they really turned themselves around from their past products. If I wanted to pay for an A/V package, I would definitely give them consideration.

Huh interesting. I've had some pretty negative experiences with them in the past. Well not in terms of virus detection rates so much as being mostly bloat and nag wear. Also a system resource hog+++.

 

[speg]

Nothing. UNIX based system.

 

[Cyco]

http://www.microsoft.com/security/products/mse.aspx
Free, quiet, low resource use, absolutely zero nagging and effective. The best free tool available at the moment.

I'll second this.

 

[seemingly random]

Huh interesting. I've had some pretty negative experiences with them in the past. Well not in terms of virus detection rates so much as being mostly bloat and nag wear. Also a system resource hog+++.

Hog is being diplomatic. MacAfee is/was just as bad. I've heard that they have done a lot of work but they wore me out with their crap and I probably won't ever try them again. They put *much* more effort into marketing than the s/w and, for this alone, they should be boycotted.

 

[QueBert]

The bottom of my concerns when it comes to an A/V program is pop ups asking me to buy a pro version. I want good protection, I'll take 10 pops up a day with better protection over some shit that's completely unobtrusive and does a meh job at protecting my PC. Microsoft Security Essential is fail. Sure it's free, and yeah it doesn't nag you for shit, but it sucks ass. If you can't handle pop ups, buy Malwarebytes and NOD32, you're PC will thank you. If it has to be free, Avast has always been solid, and the only popups I ever got from it was telling me my virus database has been updated.

NOD32 > *

 

[indamixx99]

Norton 2009. Yeah yeah, flame me all you want... however, they completely rewrote this program from the bloated piece of crap 2008 and older were, to something that uses very little system resources and installs quick.

 

[Raduque]

. Microsoft Security Essential is fail.

Proof?

 

[daw123]

AVG Free Version. It seems to be ok.

 

[QueBert]

Proof?

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2353447,00.asp only reason it got a score of "good" is because it's free. This program deals with spyware horribly, I can't count how many times I've had it detect something on somebodies computer and claim it cleaned it out when it didn't do shit. I'd give it a 6.5/10 and that's being generous. My job is 90% removing spyware and viruses from peoples computer. This program does not do a good job. It's MS's answer to Mcaffee, which is possibly the worst "security" program I've ever encountered. Actually I'll give MS's proggy a 9/10 because it leads me to a ton of business which I wouldn't get if the people weren't cheap and bought Malwarebytes & NOD32. Funny thing is big allure of MSE to these people is the price. But when I go to fix their PC it cost them $99-125 for me to get their shit back into working order. It might be the best free AIO solution but I'll still take Avast + the free Malwarebytes for better protection.

Maybe my findings aren't super accurate, but having dealt with 5 PC's this month alone with MCE and still having spyware I can say it's a questionable program in my eyes.

 

[Muadib]

Nice to see independent testing. But recommending SYMANTEC as the app of the year? That's a hard pill to swallow.

They've improved 10 fold since I gave up on it. I love it now, and since you can often find a deal on it, it's hard to beat.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Microsoft Security has been perfect for me. Then again, I don't have any viruses or spyware/malware. I have it installed on all 3 of my pc's at home that run XP.

For my work PC I use TrendMicro.
Linux - obviously nothing.

 

[rudeguy]

AVG

Been using it for a long time and have zero complaints.