What antivirus program do you use?

[Schadenfroh]

Those of you who do run AV software, how many viri have they found?

Zero beyond things in the browser's temp files that failed to execute / exploit my system since I keep my system up-to-date, practice common-sense and use a limited account.

 

[KeypoX]

MSE but got a feeling its not gonna be that good for long.

 

[KLin]

Avast U3

 

[Red Squirrel]

Avira here. Once it's hacked (couple minor hacks such as stopping that popup, and adding the license file so the updates go through) it works great. Actually come to think of it they finally fixed the issue where updates never work. I did not get an update warning in months.

I can't remember the last time it's actually caught something though, I'm fairly cautious and don't go download all sorts of junk from untrusted sources. I have landed on web pages that try to pop a virus on your PC though. It's actually kinda scary that it's possible to code a web page to do that, you'd think the browser would block unauthorized execution of code and not have to rely on the AV to scan it. I've never been a fan of flash, java and all that for this reason.

 

[SLCentral]

Nice, even better in their next article they recommend Panda Cloud Antivirus Free Edition 1.0 as their top choice for a free solution. Anyone try that one?

I use Panda Cloud. This is my first time using Windows for a few years now, so I'm not sure about the competition, but I have no problems with Panda. Right now its idling and uses just 1.3MB of RAM...can't beat that.

 

[destrekor]

after dabbling with various security apps, from AVG, NOD32, Comodo (the Firewall and malware suite), and a few others I cannot remember, I've grown weary. Comodo was my last one, I just liked the whole package. But the heuristics drove me nuts, found so many things that are known to be safe.

I'm done with heuristics. It's nice as it CAN find new things before updates are found, but... all the extra resources required for these 3rd party apps, plus the heuristics, I'm done.

Basic windows firewall, and Microsoft Security Essentials, is doing the trick for me, after installing Windows 7 figured it would be enough for me. Between ADP and NoScript on firefox, and just in general being smart about system use, I cannot imagine I'll be running into a problem. Haven't had real malware in forever due to better habits. I do my part, and these Microsoft methods will help if I slack.

 

[JaYp146]

Avira free.

 

[Rubycon]

None needed and the resources used is just unacceptable for all of them IMO.

The network is screened so nothing even gets to the private IPs. I know there's bad stuff trying but the pages are usually blank or there is a message from the firewall that says the remote computer is unsafe and communication has been halted.

 

[TubeTote]

I have been using Zone Alarm security suite for probably 10 years now, and have never had a problem. It seems to have a nice balance between resource usage and effectiveness. I like that it runs primarily in the background, unlike so many others I have seen. I also like that it addresses all of the main security issues, so there is no need to install other security software. The price is very reasonable, $50 per year for 3 computers, and I use all 3 installs.

About 3 or 4 years ago I went out and purchased Norton for some dumb reason, guess I wanted to give it a try. First thing I noticed was the annoying interface constantly reminding you of what the program is doing. It bogged down my laptop so badly that I uninstalled it. Amazingly, Office Depot accepted it as a return. Horrible program IMHO.

For those who I am setting up computers for, or for machines that are older and don't see much use, I use Avast since it's free and seems pretty decent.

 

[Ricemarine]

MSE but got a feeling its not gonna be that good for long.

Darn, and I just switched to it from Avast. D:

 

[ModerateRepZero]

Avg

 

[QueBert]

You do realize that MSE is the antivirus counterpart to Windows Defender which is designed for spyware right?

I think your rant is pretty much worthless because odds are those "cheap" people that are coming to you for help likely had absolutely nothing protecting their PC prior to installing MSE (true, likely because of the price), and then MSE did it's job and started flagging infected shit left and right like it should, panicking those potential customers into calling someone for help.

MSE ranks slightly below Avira and significantly above Avast in terms of virus protection in terms of the last tests that were done. Of course as I said, if you install any antivirus or antimalware package after you've already been compromised, of course it will look like a piece of crap software from a prevention standpoint.

Be that as it may, I use Antivir free simply because I installed it before MSE came out and am too lazy to switch.

Doesn't change the fact it only does a so-so job, when I'm on an infected PC, regardless of when it was infected. And MSE tells me "oh I found some problems, lemme fix the shit *waits* ok shit has been fixed" and it didn't fix the problem. That tells me the program sucks. On 5 different PC's they had MSE and all 5 I had to run Malwarebytes to clean the spyware out. I put Malwarebytes on well after they started having spyware problems. But, all the PC's had MSE on them before I touched them. Even if all 5 people put MSE on after they got infected, it simply couldn't fix their problems. Mind you, I went on to fix the fuck ups with a FREE program, which also took about 1/8th the time to run, maybe even less.

I dunno how many members here fix computers for a living, but I do. And everything I've encountered has told me MSE isn't good, it's decent but still has lots of holes. Sort of like McAfee. Maybe it's just odd luck but when I tell a client to buy Malwarebytes and NOD32 they never call me back to come clean spyware and viruses. MSE? I'm hearing from them again when their 12 year old got the PC infested.

Detection rate and the ability to clean them out are 2 different things. MSE might well have a better detection rate than Avast, but it doesn't clean as well. I've never had to use MSE to clean shit Avast left behind, but I have had to use Avast to finish what MSE couldn't.

 

[dennilfloss]

Those of you who do run AV software, how many viri have they found?

In my computer repair biz, I tell my customers not to bother with AV software, and to just use a good malware/spyware software. That's where 99% of my calls come from. People that had AV software (AVG free, updated) couldn't even detect trojans that spyware software did. I was scratching my head on that one.

I haven't run into a true virus in years.

I don't run and AV software in my home PC's

My AV has found a few viruses in files sent to me or downloaded over the years. More importantly, it has prevented some viruses, spyware and trojans from getting in while I was browsing (sometimes questionable) sites. For example, Norton popped up twice during the last month to tell me this.

 

[destrekor]

My AV has found a few viruses in files sent to me or downloaded over the years. More importantly, it has prevented some viruses, spyware and trojans from getting in while I was browsing (sometimes questionable) sites. For example, Norton popped up twice during the last month to tell me this.

Something in Firefox tells me when I get to a questionable site. Even if the reason for clicking on the site was making me tempted to see what truly lied on the other side of the door, I'm like... fuck it, I'll turn around and find another door, this one looks like a trick.

I get a big ol' red page with something that amounts to "I'm stopping you, don't continue, it's bad stuff!", and I'm like... alright I'll listen.

I don't know if it's a plug in or by default. I have so many things added, and I have no idea how it finds it.

 

[slightlyhuman]

avira

 

[IronWing]

None needed and the resources used is just unacceptable for all of them IMO.

The network is screened so nothing even gets to the private IPs. I know there's bad stuff trying but the pages are usually blank or there is a message from the firewall that says the remote computer is unsafe and communication has been halted.

Yet it allows ATOT through?

 

[colonel]

linux for laptop and Vipre (very good)for window

 

[Rubycon]

Yet it allows ATOT through?

Yes with permission. I could not post though for nearly two weeks after the VB transition because of the way it handles security with forum software. All forums by default are read only and permission is required to join.

 

[grrl]

I used to use Trend Micro, then switched to AVG until they screwed up the new version (V4 maybe?). Now I use Avast.

 

[Oil]

Mse ftw

 

[TheVrolok]

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

This

 

[sk560]

have been using AVG for a while now and recently tried Malwarebytes... not bad at all and considering paying the $25.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Used to have Avira, switched over to MSE. Would use both.

 

[Engineer]

Microsoft Security Essentials. Have used Avira and Avast in the past. Dropped Avast when they screwed the pooch on update definitions a few months ago and fuggered up 4 PC's in my house (as well as countless others across the country). Took mechBgon's recommendation to try MS-SE and so far, so good.

MSE but got a feeling its not gonna be that good for long.

Strangely, I've had the same feeling. Oh well, I'll switch back to Avast or Avira if MS goes south, lol.

 

[MotF Bane]

Nothing.