AV software

[SUBMAN1]

AVG used to be the only free solution. It works, but has its reliability issues.

A free professional solution - Avast 32 - has been free for over a year now for home users and has obtained 100% detection rates in viruses in the wild. It is currently the best free AV solution for home users and I hope it stays that way. Their logic is, if you use it at home, you will use it at work too.

It is also updated daily.

-S

http://www.avast.com/

[Linton]

I typed "free anti-virus" into google and found Avira anti virus.It is free, updates daily and so far I have been ok.It was recommended in a UK computer magazine.Downside is that a daily scan of my system takes about 2 hours but it is free.They do market a retail version that may be qucker.I also run spyware doctor.I had Norton utilities and I found that it was only good for frisbee practice!!

[Skybird]

This is the most popoluar AV-program over here. It is free for private persons, nevertheless is a professional product that is heavily used by companies. The free version in fact is the complete pro package . Sometimes up to three updates per day, very very short reaction time to new threats. The software easily beats every virus scanner I have ever tried. no need to go for norton, or any other payware, really. Year for year it wins tests and awards by magazines, testers and editors. It has proven to be completely reliable and trustworthy for me. I give it a 100% rating - and I am paranoid, concerning computer security.

http://www.free-av.com/

Replace .com with .de to go to the original German site.

[Syxx_Killer]

I have been using Norton Antivirus since 1997 without any problems. When I did try AVG, two days later I got a trojan or hijacker or whatever you want to call it. Norton has always caught that stuff before it got through. I was using Norton Antivirus 4.0 up until it decided it didn't want to update anymore, so I downloaded AVG. I had seen recommendations and thought I would give it a try. After the headaches it let slip through I got Norton Antivirus 2004. Been pleased so far.

[STEED]

Originally Posted by Syxx_Killer

I got Norton Antivirus 2004. Been pleased so far.

Well that's two of us happy with Norton.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by STEED

Well that's two of us happy with Norton.

Avast may be the best free software, but if you are going to pay, nothing beats NOD32. Nod is the only anti virus package that has never once 'missed' a virus in the wild - ever! To name a couple - It is also what all of the IBM corp uses as a standard and is also the same package MS uses to scan WIndows Update patches prior to release. I am a sys admin and I forced it on all my corporate networks. It costs about the same as Norton as well.

The best part - it will scan your system in 6 to 10 minutes complete.

-S

http://www.eset.com/

[JScones]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

Avast may be the best free software, but if you are going to pay, nothing beats NOD32. Nod is the only anti virus package that has never once 'missed' a virus in the wild - ever! To name a couple - It is also what all of the IBM corp uses as a standard and is also the same package MS uses to scan WIndows Update patches prior to release. I am a sys admin and I forced it on all my corporate networks. It costs about the same as Norton as well.

The best part - it will scan your system in 6 to 10 minutes complete.

-S

http://www.eset.com/

FINALLY someone says NOD32! Yep, nothing beats it. Plus it won't highjack your machine like some other products tend to do.

Australians can get it very easily here... http://www.nod32.com.au/nod32/default.html There's also a free 30 day trial version.

I seriously recommend anyone in the market to at least give it a try.

[lesrae]

I've been using AVG frre for about 3 years now, never had any problems with it that weren't my own fault for visiting/downloading from dodgy websites.

[kiwi_2005]

Im positive i put up a post in here but when i just came back now its dissapeared? Maybe i need some sleep
Anyways a very good Free Antivirus is "Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic" Ive found it more reliable than Avasti Pro which wasn't free and that Free AVG virus

[STEED]

http://www.filehippo.com/software/antivirus/

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by lesrae

I've been using AVG frre for about 3 years now, never had any problems with it that weren't my own fault for visiting/downloading from dodgy websites.

Visiting dodgy websites is one of the things it should be protecting you from! :p

-S

[sonar732]

I use Computer Associates Anti-Virus. Multiple people come to me when they feel that their computer has been hijacked or virus prone. For instance, I've worked on computers that had Norton and McAfee run virus scans on the hard drive and didn't find anything. When I set the hd as a slave on my system and scanned it, CA found 12 viruses on the computer and cleaned out the hijack attempts. Granted, the guy should stay off of porn and he wouldn't have that problem.:rotfl:

[STEED]

You go to suspect sites your asking for trouble.

[lesrae]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

Visiting dodgy websites is one of the things it should be protecting you from! :p

-S

It does that, it always cleans up the infection after I've got it, a bit like antibiotics I suppose

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by lesrae

It does that, it always cleans up the infection after I've got it, a bit like antibiotics I suppose

That is scary! Some infections can't be cleaned because of file protections. You should really look for something that catches 'before' it enters your system. Avast does, especially when visiting security sites - they try and keep passer by's away by uploading some trojan - something your AV should stop before it has a chance to do anything.

-S