Spyware, viruses, & security : avast! or AVG
How about an entire suite for free?
by jdbell63 - 6/17/07 11:32 AM In reply to: I too have an issue with the update by darkdestiny7Hi there. I've used AVG for years and years. During some routine research I liked the CNET reviews on Avast, so I gave it a shot. I've been using it for months on my PC. I started to install it on customer PC's until I discovered that to continue using it requires free registration. My customers had no idea what to do, they didn't register and it would stop working. So I install AVG on their machines.
Yesterday I've discovered Comodo firewall through a friend at work. I replaced ZoneAlarm firewall with Comodo and it discovered 3 viral infections. Looking at their web site today I've discovered that they have a fully functional suite of security products. I've installed all of them today. If you like I can tell you my opinions in a month or so.
thanks for all the posts!
by SEGMAT - 6/17/07 12:30 PM In reply to: How about an entire suite for free? by jdbell63wow. this has turned into a huge thread! thanks. anyway, in reply to the ones on Norton and McAffee, it's no wonder that there are issues. those huge comanies don't really care about the average person and that's why free software is the way to go. or maybe NOD32 if you have money for it but I don't so... in response to Comodo products, they seem really good, they have great potential, but the HIPS in the anti-virus product gets REALLY ANNOYING! i don't like it because of that. as for the comodo suite antispyware part, that gets poor reviews everywhere and the firewall, if you have a properly configured router firewall and the windows XP one, you'll be fine, IMHO. if i'm wrong, i'd appreciate correction. i am downloading the comodo products to try them out again though, so maybe they've improved since last i tried them. they've been getting quite a name for themselves though so maybe they're ok. oh, and in response to the bit about the avast! license, that's the only thing holding me back from using it is that license. why do that for a free product? what a waste. thanks again for all your responses! hope you've had a good weekend!
Matt Segstro
Why ask why?
by jdbell63 - 6/17/07 4:13 PM In reply to: thanks for all the posts! by SEGMATHi there Matt.
Registration is usually asked by most companies so they can email you crap. AVG has optional registration as does Microsoft and just about every other software company. Avast registration expires after 60 days if you don't register. It's no big deal and as you said funny to require that for a free product.
I'm the guy who finds new stuff and ooooh I've got to install it. I do most of my work on the net anyway, and if I have to reimage my machine then so be it. After the annoying popups when I first installed the Comodo products it seems to work quite well.
Let me know how you make out.
COMODO IS BETTER THAN THEM ALL
by SEGMAT - 6/17/07 6:23 PM In reply to: Why ask why? by jdbell63I've just installed Comodo and it's a dream! I love it. I looked at some reviews and people said all over the place that it would cripple your machine and all that, well, I never had any issues with it slowing anything down, the scan is fast (as fast as AVG basically) but the only thing is that after it scanned, it told me that I had something like 1200 things that were suspect because they wern't in the safe database and it's still trying to submit them all to Comodo. I don't really know how long it's going to take but other than that, it's great. I'm going to continue using Spybot S&D but I'm probably going to try out the other Comodo products as well, like the firewall and all that, maybe a free security suite is the way to go... we'll see. Thanks for the suggestion, I'm pleased as punch!
Matt Segstro
NO32 finally
by penawab2007 - 6/17/07 4:49 PM In reply to: thanks for all the posts! by SEGMATI was wondering when I was gonna see Esets NO32 in this convo. I've tried them all. AVG is o.k. but it will use up more and more reosurces. Avast is good too, but same thing. NO32 is much lighter and from re3cent independent research, was tops for AV currently. Who knows, that might change tommorrow. And I too came across Comodo Firewall, and eureka! It's the bomb for a FREE firewall. And in the same study, it topped the charts. Imagine that, a freeware topping all these supposed rankers, Norton, McAfee, et al. I wouldn't impress upon anybody though to use Norton or McAffee, you wanna talk about crap programs. I know too, both their tech support and Cust Service leave allot to be desired. So anyways, NO32, Comodo, and Spyware Catcher, (which literally acts like another FW, Spyware Blaster (although its marginal utility is in serious question lately) and WIN Patrol, can't leave out ol' Scotty the Mutt! I do keep some backup programs for scanning reasons. All this on XP Pro.
NOD32, Comodo and Vista
by ghicker - 6/18/07 3:11 PM In reply to: NO32 finally by penawab2007NOD32 works great, but is expensive. If you are looking for free virus scanners, NOD32 is at the opposite end (very expensive).
Comodo works great with Windows XP, but it does not work well with Vista. I had to uninstall Comodo on my Vista machine due to conflicts and problems. Hopefully, they will bring Comodo up-to-date to work with Vista, but for right now I would advise against installing it on a Vista machine.
Reply to I love Gizmo
by Grimbles - 6/18/07 3:03 PM In reply to: I LOVE GIZMO! by SEGMATHi Matt - One thing is obvious from all these posts and from my own delving - NONE of the free applications do all things right. While performing most tasks satisfactorily they all fall well short in one department or another. It seems strange, when between them all, the necessary functions are adequately covered. Why then, can't somebody combine the best components from each and make one free ant virus program that works well on all fronts?
A small comparison between free anti virus and the commercial products:
My grand daughter (aged 15) uses Limewire and has AVG Free installed. The AVG scanner finds no infections and after 12 to 18 months her computer was so badly infected she had to have the hard drive completely wiped clean. I downloaded and installed Limewire (largely out of curiosity). After being connected for around an hour searching for and downloading 4 audio files my PC-cillin scan revealed 17 infections, mostly trojans. Needless to say, Limewire is no longer installed on my computer.
Any way, happy hunting, if you stumble upon the ideal free anti virus please let us know.......Regards......JIMBO
avast! --- Yea. AVG --- Nay
by Catgic - 6/18/07 4:56 AM In reply to: avast! or AVG by SEGMATSEGMAT --- Although the performance of any piece of software is dependent, in part, on what other software your machine has running on it --- the experience I have had on my computer is that avast! Free is functionally better then AVG.
I am running on a Dell XPS w/ WIN XP Pro SP2 and IE6.
Running AVG on my machine resulted in regular conflicts, screen freezes and BSODs, whereas, my switching to and use of avast! Free has been very smooth and contention free. JP 
Avast & AVG
by larrydou38 - 6/18/07 2:30 PM In reply to: avast! or AVG by SEGMATMatt:
I am not very familiar with Avast but I have used AVG for years and have installed it on many computers that I set up for people in the senior complex where I live.
I put it on my kids computers also and it does a great job
LarryD
Was AVG, Now Avast.
by au561 - 6/18/07 2:41 PM In reply to: avast! or AVG by SEGMATI used AVG for three years until a critical update caused it to stop working. Rebooting and reloading it from the website didn't solve the problem. Nothing did. So I switched to Avast and everything has been fine for 18 months. My OS is XP SP2, with Windows Defender, Avast,
and Spybot S&D running simultaneously and happily together. Seamless and silent updates, and no virus, rootkit or dialer problems since the switch. I'm happy.
AVG
by segmilton - 6/18/07 2:41 PM In reply to: avast! or AVG by SEGMATi am an ordinary Grandma type. I have been using AVG for over a year. I HATE Norton and Macafee. If I have any issues with AVG I don't know what they are. I did not like its spycatcher ( cancelled it) and I use Spysweeper and Ad Aware for that. But have had no problems with AVG.
reply to replies
by SEGMAT - 6/18/07 3:10 PM In reply to: AVG by segmiltonthanks for the replies, I do want to let everyone know who is tracking this thread and those who stumble upon it, I am no longer using either of these products, I had decided to stay with AVG instead of switching to avast due to the responses in this thread. however, someone posted a reply that I should go with neither and instead try out Comodo. Comodo is the best. I switched to it and don't think I'll ever switch back. There are so many benefits, it's amazing. I'm using the suite now, the award winning firewall, the antivirus (with integrated antispyware) as well as the memory resident BOClean which detects many forms of malware. to those who are following this thread, check these products out. there's no license like avast has, and it's a full product unlike AVG where you need to buy more products in order to get full protection. it scans as quick as AVG and so what if the antivirus is in beta, it's still great. Some reviewers say that the product locks up their computers and blue screens it, I never had any of those issues and my computer's not top of the line either. It scans through emails (in fact, i just got an email through Thunderbird and it displayed an icon in the system tray that it had scanned the email!) sorry this is so long but it's a great product and you should check it out.
Matt Segstro
If you're asking about the firewall...
by darkdestiny7 - 6/18/07 4:53 PM In reply to: reply to replies by SEGMATBoth Comodo and ZoneAlarm work to a certain extent. Comodo is a pretty fine tool that I was able to operate properly, while ZoneAlarm is more understandable.
Yes, Comodo had managed to pass a leak test, but that doesn't mean that it's the only leak test at all. Comodo Firewall Pro also has certain disadvantages as well.
So, if you're willing to part with your money, I'd suggest Outpost Firewall or ZoneAlarm Pro.
P.S. Free firewalls ain't really that good. Comodo is at the middle of the rankings in the leak test, while ZoneAlarm's ranked worse.
firewalls...
by SEGMAT - 6/18/07 4:57 PM In reply to: If you're asking about the firewall... by darkdestiny7in regards to the firewalls, many, if not most people, have a router that is a firewall as well. for the longest time, I was simply running the Windows Firewall and was fairly well protected because I configured my router properly. Comodo is simply a nice addition and even more protection but probably not necessary, although it's kind of nice to get a full suite type thing.
Matt Segstro
avast! or AVG
by j.macdonagh - 6/18/07 3:13 PM In reply to: avast! or AVG by SEGMATI was looking for an anti-virus tool when my norton subscription ran out as I believe you should only have to pay once.
After searching the internet I tried AVG but somehow got a virus and it would not remve it, I later found AVAST which removed the offender and have had no problems since.
I do like the way you can schedule a boot time scan.
I hope this helps
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