Community weekly poll: Do paid versions of security apps provide more protection?
- 8/1/06 3:25 PM
Do paid versions of security apps provide more protection?
by Marc Bennett - 8/1/06 3:25 PM
Do you think paid versions of security applications provide more protection than free versions?
Yes (why?)
No (why?)
Maybe (why the uncertainty?)
I don’t know
Have both
by Eradikator - 8/1/06 7:55 PM In reply to: Do paid versions of security apps provide more protection? by Marc Bennett
When it comes to antivirus, I've been around long enough to have used McAfee version 1.0, which at the time was free. Over the years I have tried both free and fee. Right now I have Norton Suite (fee) on my desktop and Computer Associates e-Trust ez Armor on my laptop (free for now). My personal preference is Norton for ease of use in configuration and understandability. However, you can't beat the price of the free product which I use because I refuse to pay for a second license with Norton because I can only be online with one at a time and still Norton requires two licenses be purchased.
When it comes to mal-spy-ad-etc-ware, I use both Webroot Spysweeper (fee) and Adware SE (free). Up until recently I preferred Webroot, but I've had lots of conflicts lately which I believe are attributalbe to Spysweeper. I am considering going exclusively to Adware SE when it's time to renew Spysweeper.
Guess I didn't answer the question -- here's my answer
by Eradikator - 8/1/06 7:58 PM In reply to: Have both by EradikatorI guess I focused on which I prefer. As far as protection, for me, both fee and free and worked well.
FREE VS. FEE
by fludo10 - 8/3/06 12:39 PM In reply to: Guess I didn't answer the question -- here's my answer by EradikatorREMEMBER THE OLD SAYINGS :- YOU ONLY GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR AND THERE'S NO SUCH THING ASA FREE LUNCH
Fee and Free AntiVirus
by jerryp4809 - 8/1/06 11:08 PM In reply to: Have both by EradikatorI too run Adware (free) and Webroot SpySweeper (fee), as well I run AVG (free). I think that they are all needed as one will catch things that the other won't. I don't think that you can have enough protection. I don't like Norton for the same reasons and will never subscribe to them again. I used them in them in the early 90's when nobody else seemed to have a good program.
Try a different band
by Keith_C_A - 8/3/06 8:27 PM In reply to: Fee and Free AntiVirus by jerryp4809I had norton once, and it was crap, slowed my system right down, i had norton 2000 and had heaps of probs, it was updating every day as it should, but too many problems and i removed it, and went back to my old version of PC Cillin 98, which wasnt updating and it found 6 viruses on my system that norton didnt detect. Need I say more against Norton??? Try Trend PC Cillin I think you will find it is pretty good. Failing that try NOD 32 they are the top 2 brands. AVG is ok but you will be surprised what it doesnt do.
Fee and Free
by papa3131 - 8/2/06 6:19 AM In reply to: Have both by EradikatorI use Windows Defender (free) MailWasher (not free) and Spyware Doctor (not free). Haven't had any problems thus far.
Joe
The only problem is that they dont always admit upfront
by patbird - 8/1/06 8:00 PM In reply to: Do paid versions of security apps provide more protection? by Marc Bennett
which other programs there are conflict issues with. The paid up version of Ewido 4 conflicts with Panda platinum with Truprevent 2005. I had to go into safe mode and remove Ewido to get my computer to function again. I paid for them on the principle that it is not fair to ask the programmers to work for nothing to keep me safe. Ewido subsequently returned my money but were not prepared to resolve the conflict.
Free
by flyingbags - 8/1/06 8:17 PM In reply to: The only problem is that they dont always admit upfront by patbirdMany fee based that I have tried take over your computer and give you little control and are nearly impossible to removed. Who wants a virus that gathers information on your computer that "protects you from viruses"?
No thank you, I would rather take my chances with less protection than give an application total control over my computer. I've never had a virus get through my free protection why would I want anything else?
Fee programs or free programs
by hamerhead_12 - 8/2/06 8:44 AM In reply to: The only problem is that they dont always admit upfront by patbirdI had a problem where McAfee kept telling me I had a virus in my documents each time I tried to e-mail one of them. 3 virus scans by them reported no virus. I did a virus scan with AVG and they found and removed 3 viruses. Now, I use both programs to make sure I am safe.
Mickey
fee and/or free
by Justlouck - 8/3/06 2:39 AM In reply to: Fee programs or free programs by hamerhead_12I do just the same. Use both McAfee and AVG.
(NT) Pay
by BSinton - 8/1/06 8:14 PM In reply to: Do paid versions of security apps provide more protection? by Marc Bennett
You get what you pay for
If pay is no better than free, how would they make a profit?
Bruce
Freeware VS Feeware...
by dmcgarry - 8/2/06 6:45 AM In reply to: (NT) Pay by BSintonContrary to your belief, I think there are people how make stuff (good stuff) to give away. I sure like getting stuff for free. Why wouldn't I develop something for free to repay those who took time to develop the free software I use?
I don't see why would a software be of less quality only because its free...
The paid versions usually are a little more user friendly, or has access to some options in a easier way (sometimes they do have extra options, but most of the time you can get another freeware to cover this functionality) so for the average user this could be the only way to go. But the need to be more user friendly usually makes them more intrusive (collecting information), more resource consuming (prettier interfaces that aport nothing to functionality) and more... well annoying.
I've used Norton and McAfee (paid versions, on different computers). McAfee sucks lots of memory and one day i just had to de-install it. I tryed AVG free and the machine now runs really smooth. Norton was working ok, but i saw no need to renew the licence when it expired, so i moved to AVG too.
If you know where to look, and don't feel like you are an average user who needs software with little options on plain sight so you won't get confused, go for free versions. Otherwise look for paid versions.
In the end it comes to a matter of personal taste. My choice? I say the best things in life are free.
Re: Do paid versions of security apps provide more protectio
by Cryshal - 8/1/06 8:34 PM In reply to: Do paid versions of security apps provide more protection? by Marc Bennett
I said maybe because I love my avast! for anti virus but use Spy Sweeper for my anti spyware and think it's the best of those I've tried.
I prefer paid
by aka_tripleB - 8/1/06 8:39 PM In reply to: Do paid versions of security apps provide more protection? by Marc Bennett
I've had to remove many free programs that my dad installed on his computer because they were causing too many issues. They would hog his CPU and would be just as bad as having viruses on the computer and there were also actual viruses on the computer.
Right now, I have the CA suite that was offered with the DSL package I use through SBC/AT&T on my laptop and I use Microsoft's Windows Live OneCare on my desktop. OneCare seems to work just as well as the CA at keeping my computer safe, but OneCare seems to integrate better with Windows, so I might be remove CA from my laptop and putting OnceCare on it because Microsoft gives you 3 licenses with your purchase. Plus, I got a discount on OneCare because I was a beta tester.
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