I have Norton 360 and I love it, but it is too damn expensive. Which antivirus programs are easy on the wallet and do an excellent job?
I just installed Norton AntiVirus 2009 and am very happy with it. I'd like to make a suggestion: Enable your administrator account, and give only that account permissions to write to the c:\windows directory. When you need to install an application, login as that account, or do a RunAs. Create a separate account for you (and other accounts for family members) which does NOT have permissions to write to the c:\windows directory and use this account for your day-to-day surfing. This greatly decreases your chances of getting malware, spyware, adware, etc.
I want one that is effective and works. I don't mind paying for one as long as Im not getting ripped off. Obviously price is a factor as well.
ESET NOD32 http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/29898/review/nod32.html Only reason PC World did not give it a perfect rating is because it needs to be tweaked slightly out of the box (use Blackspear's settings off Wilders Security forum). If you have even the slightest technical skills, NOD 32 should not be a problem and it leaves a way smaller footprint than its competitors (though Norton 2009 has done a nice 180 from its earlier versions, it still can't compete with Nod32).
I've been using AVG for over 5 years and still go with it. I wish it was simpler like back in the old days but still much better than that resource hog we call Norton.
Oh forgot to post website where you can see a list of free and some not so free software. Filehippo.com - Sites been a lifesaver for me.
Windows Live Onecare.. I had a couple of viruses and trojans in the past, when I first got this, it wiped them out.. No other anti-virus software was able to.. Only about 50 bucks a year, I can tell you it's well worth it and it's def. better than Norton.
If you want the best scanning engine, Avira is free and has a version you pay for as well with more features. It usually beats Eset, Kaspersky, Norton, etc. in virus detection. Its only problem is that it gives off a few more false-positives than the others. I was using it before I switched to Norton a couple of weeks ago. If you don't want to use Avira or Norton, the "other best" scanning engines are probably Eset and Kaspersky. If you want to stay free, ditch AVG and go with Avast!. Its detection rates are superior. Also note that antivirus software is less meaningful nowadays than in the past - it doesn't secure you as much as you may think. Consider getting software like Threatfire or PrevX in addition to your AV (they have free versions). FYI : Norton 360 is a complete package of protection - antivirus, anti-malware, anti-spyware, etc. If you just want virus protection, you can go with Norton Antivirus. I think I got my 1 year license for something like $20.
You were just unlucky the others didn't find it. Microsoft OneCare's detection rates in the past have been horrific. They're now almost acceptable.
I'm basing it solely on detection rates I've seen from various reviews. Avira will more than likely catch more viruses, but both are known to throw off more false-positives than something like Norton. I haven't used Avast in a while, so I don't know what the interface is like. Avira's interface (the free version) is simple, but if you use an email client like Outlook, you won't get protection for it with the free version. Just looking at detection rates alone, I'd probably go with Avira. Both are pretty good, though. Install something like Threatfire and two or three antispyware/antimalware software and you're off to a good start. I'd definitely pick either of them before AVG - they've fallen off in the past year or two.
