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Computer help: Which Anti-Virus Program is Best?
Which Anti-Virus Program is Best?
by DoeMz - 10/16/09 4:04 AMI have recently found a trojan on my computer. Kapersky has told me that it has deleted it. I'm not so sure of this. But, I also got Avira Anti-virus as another precaution. A friend of mine has suggested BitDefender as another program to really delete trojans. But I'm unsure of what to keep. I've also just purchased Advanced Registry Optimizer. What should I keep? I only want one program.
Re: best antivirus
by Kees Bakker
- 10/16/09 4:20 AM
In reply to: Which Anti-Virus Program is Best? by DoeMz
Registry Optimizers generally don't remove trojans. They only 'optimize' the registry (if you're lucky).
Tests of antivirus programs consistently show that each one recognises 98-99% of known threads. So they don't recognize 1-2% of known threads. And that 1-2% isn't the same for each program. And that's why no single program will ever suffice.
Kees
I forgot...
by DoeMz - 10/16/09 4:28 AM In reply to: Re: best antivirus by Kees Bakker
... I also have Vista on an E-machine... any ideas on what may work best with Vista?
Avira . . .
by Coryphaeus - 10/16/09 5:08 AM In reply to: I forgot... by DoeMzreceived the best results in a recent PCWorld test.
But do not run more than one Anti-virus program at a time. Two AV programs do not play well together. Two or more anti-spyware/malware programs are OK. I run AdAware and MalwareBytes together.
However, read ...
by Kees Bakker - 10/16/09 5:10 AM
In reply to: Avira . . . by Coryphaeus
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6122_102-0.html?messageID=3151046#3151046 for a possible negative point.
Kees
They all have problems . . .
by Coryphaeus - 10/16/09 3:45 PM In reply to: However, read ... by Kees Bakker
I had the darn-est problem with AVG for several months. Every time I would boot my computer and AVG went for updates, it would tell me that I needed to reboot. Of my five mirror machines (XP Pro) this one was the only one that did it. I went in circles from the AVG forums and nothing worked. I finally uninstalled it and scoured the registry for all entries, removed them, removed all remnants and folders from the hard drive, and reinstalled it. Voila.
Free is like the old saying. "If it has wheels or boobs, you're gonna have trouble with it".
But I still run AVG.
Wrong question
by Jimmy Greystone - 10/16/09 8:30 AM In reply to: Which Anti-Virus Program is Best? by DoeMzYou're asking the wrong question. It's not which is "best" period, because there's no such thing. They all miss things because virus scanners are reactionary. There's always a lead time between when a threat is identified and virus scanner vendors have had time to analyze it and come up with a method of removing it.
So, rather than focusing on "best" you should be focusing on "best for me". In that case, try 'em all. Personally, I'd avoid McAfee and Norton. McAfee is a resource pig and will lop off 25-33% of your system's performance just as a function of it's normal operation. Pretty much every other virus scanner has a more modest 5-10% performance hit, and despite what you may see in marketing material, some performance hit is unavoidable. Anyway, Norton has long had issues with false-positives, since at least their 2003 edition, sometimes which target key OS files. Until they can get that issue under control, so that it's a once every 50-60 blue moons sort of event, like virtually every other AV vendor, I can't recommend their product.
But more than that, YOU are the single best virus scanner out there, because YOU can take proactive measures to PREVENT the virus from getting onto your system in the first place. So, here are some tips you can follow, which will make your computing experience very problem-free.
TIPS FOR A PROBLEM FREE COMPUTING EXPERIENCE
============================================
The more of these suggestions you follow, the fewer problems you should have. They won't solve any existing problems you have, but if you follow them all you should be able to avoid virtually all problems in the future.
Things you should NOT do
--------------------------------
1: Use Internet Explorer (1)
2: Use any browser based on Internet Explorer (e.g. Maxathon and MSN Explorer)
3: Use Outlook or Outlook Express (2)
4: Open email attachments you haven't manually scanned with your virus scanner
5: Open email attachments you were not expecting, no matter who they appear to be from
6: Respond to spam messages, including using unsubscribe links
7: Visit questionable websites (e.g. porn, warez, hacking)
8: Poke unnecessary holes in your firewall by clicking "Allow" every time some program requests access to the Internet (3)
9: Click directly on links in email messages
10: Use file sharing or P2P programs
11: Use pirated programs
Things you SHOULD do
-----------------------------
1: Use a non-IE or IE based browser (4)
2: Always have an up to date virus scanner running (5)
3: Always have a firewall running (6)
4: Install all the latest security updates (7)(8)(9)
5: Delete all unsolicited emails containing attachments without reading
6: Manually scan all email attachments with your virus scanner, regardless of whether it's supposed to be done automatically
7: Copy and paste URLs from email messages into your web browser
8: Inspect links copied and pasted into your web browser to ensure they don't seem to contain a second/different address
9: Establish a regular backup regimen (10)(11)
10: Make regular checks of your backup media to ensure it is still good (12)
Being a considerate Internet user & other online tips
----------------------------------------------------------------
1: Do not send attachments in emails (13)(14)
2: Do not use stationary or any other kind of special formatting in emails (13)
3: Do not TYPE IN ALL CAPS (15)
4: Avoid texting speak or "l33t speak" (16)
5: Do not poke sleeping bears (17)
6: Do not use registry cleaners/fixers/optimizers (18)(19)
Offline tips and suggestions
----------------------------------------------------------------
1: Avoid buying Acer, HP. Compaq, Gateway, and eMachines computers (20)(21)(22)(23)
2: Avoid sub-$500 systems that aren't netbooks or part of some limited time price promotion (24)
Notes
--------
(1) Sadly sometimes this is unavoidable, so only use IE when the site absolutely will not work with any other browser and you cannot get that information/service anywhere else, and only use IE for that one specific site.
(2) Outlook and Outlook Express are very insecure, and basically invite spam. The jury is still out on Vista's Windows Mail, but given Microsoft's history with email programs, extreme caution is advised. Possible replacements include Mozilla Thunderbird, Eudora, The Bat, and dozens of others.
(3) When it doubt over whether or not to allow some program, use Google to find out what it is and whether or not it needs access to the Internet. Otherwise, denying access is the safest course of action, since you can always change the rule later.
(4) On Windows your options include: Mozilla Firefox, Seamonkey, Opera, Flock, Chrome, and Safari. I would personally recommend Firefox with the NoScript extension for added security, but it the important thing is to pick one and use it instead of IE.
(5) AVG Free and Avast are available if you need a decent free virus scanner
(6) XP/Vista's firewall is probably good enough for 99% of all Windows users, but other options include ZoneAlarm, Outpost Firewall, and Comodo. If you have a router with a firewall built into it, there is no need for any of the aforementioned firewalls to be running.
(7) Microsoft's usual system is to release security updates every second Tuesday of the month.
(8) Use of Windows Update on Windows operating systems prior to Windows Vista requires Internet Explorer, and is thus a valid exception to the "No IE" rule.
(9) Service packs should ALWAYS be installed. They frequently contain security updates that will ONLY be found in that service pack.
(10) You can go with a full fledged backup program, or simply copying important files onto a CD/DVD/Flash drive.
(11) I'd recommend a tiered backup system. For example, you might have 5 rewritable DVDs, and every day you burn your backup onto a new disc. On the 6th day, you erase the disc for Day #1 for your backup, and so on so that you have multiple backups should one disc ever go bad.
(12) Replace rewritable CDs and DVDs approximately every 3-6 months.
(13) These dramatically increase the size of email messages (2-3X minimum) and clog up email servers already straining to cope with the flood of spam pouring in daily.
(14) If you want to share photos with friends/family, upload them to some photo sharing site like Flickr or Google's Picasa Web and then send people a link to that particular photo gallery.
(15) This is considered to be the same as SHOUTING and many people find it to be hard to read along with highly annoying.
(16) Unless the goal is to make yourself look like a pre-adolescent girl, or someone overcompensating for their gross inadequacies, and you don't want people to take you seriously.
(17) Most REAL hackers are quite content to leave you alone unless you make them take notice of you. No dinky little software firewall or consumer grade router is going to keep them out of your system. So do not go to some hacker website or chat room and start shooting your mouth off unless you're prepared to accept the consequences
(18) Most of these programs are scams, and sell you something you don't need. Most of them report non-issues in an attempt to boost the number of "issues". Sometimes using these programs can lead to a non-functioning computer.
(19) The Windows registry is not some mystical black box of untapped performance tweaks for Windows, that will lead to untold improvements in system performance. Most of the tweaks will lead to very modest performance gains of 1-2% tops, and probably less than 10% all combined. There is also a good chance that you will render your system unbootable if you make a mistake when editing. Registry default settings are set that way for a reason. Just do yourself a favor, and forget you ever heard of the Windows registry unless you are a computer programmer/debugger and your job requires knowledge of the registry.
(20) Acer now owns Gateway and eMachines
(21) HP owns Compaq
(22) Hardware failures seem far more common with these brands than can be considered normal
(23) These companies use cheap labor in Asian countries were working conditions are often what would be considered sweat shops, and are run by brutal dictatorships, which you are supporting by buying from these companies
(24) If you just do some simple math, and realize that the cost of individual components like the CPU are around 25-33% of the total retail cost of the system, and everyone involved in the making and selling of the system is looking to make a profit, how much money can they possibly be making on each system. And if you're only making a few pennies on every system, how much quality control do you really think is going to go into the manufacturing process?
You are so right :)
by The Bob - 10/17/09 10:59 AM In reply to: Wrong question by Jimmy GreystoneIt's being years I'm telling this to my friends and don't believe me or to lazy to do it. after they ask me to fix it but they don't learn but some do. Have a nice day to you friend 
what is l33t speak?
by Piercan - 10/19/09 12:32 PM In reply to: Wrong question by Jimmy Greystonewhat is l33t speak? (or is it I33t?)
If you have to ask
by Jimmy Greystone - 10/19/09 2:35 PM In reply to: what is l33t speak? by PiercanIf you have to ask, then odds are you're not doing it, so don't need to worry about it.
Pretty subjective
by villanim - 10/17/09 7:41 PM In reply to: Which Anti-Virus Program is Best? by DoeMzIn my experience the best has been Norton. McAfee is good on giving false positives despite purchasing their virus database from Symantec (makers of Norton). Symantec used to be a huge resource hog up until their last version when they finally reigned in the beast and you do not even notice it running now. MaximumPC rated about a dozen anti virus suites at the end of last year (including free ones) and rate Symantec the best. They are working on another test which will be out about December though I doubt the results will be much different from the last one. Here is the look to the test if you wish to look over the results your self and choose one from their review, but Symantec Security Suite is the best, 2010 edition should be out now - http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/protect_your_pc_from_guys_like_this?page=0%2C0
Thank you
by DoeMz - 10/17/09 10:01 PM In reply to: Pretty subjective by villanimThis helps!
how about NOD32?
by porsche10x - 10/18/09 9:49 AM In reply to: Which Anti-Virus Program is Best? by DoeMzGee, I'm surprised that no one has mentioned NOD32 from Eset. I was under the impression that tech experts (like CNET readers) favor it. Comparably speaking, it has a very high kill rate and uses very few system resources. It's especially useful for those who are running older operating systems and can't find a program that's backward compatible. There's no free version, but it's priced similarly to everyone else's. The only criticism I've heard is that the user interface can be intimidating to beginners. They also have a complete security suite, but I have no idea how it compares to others.
First mistake
by Jimmy Greystone - 10/18/09 10:01 AM In reply to: how about NOD32? by porsche10xFirst mistake is assuming Cnet readers are experts. Cnet appeals to the technically illiterate who like to think they know more than they do, but when you get down to it, Cnet makes no real effort to actually educate people.
They're a for-profit business, so I don't really fault them for it. I'm just pointing out that you would be in error to think that they are interested in performing any kind of public service.
NOD32
by steveahill - 10/20/09 12:00 AM In reply to: how about NOD32? by porsche10xI have used NOD32 for four years upgading to the security centre 2 years ago I have not been caught out by a single virus, spyware or mailware in that time. It has caught several and safely removed them. The only false positive I have had was one of te Nokia suite programs. It also alerts you to Microsoft update before Microsoft updates gets round to checking for them. It Doesn't slow your system like Norton or Symantec. I would and have recomended it every time I'm asked about antivirus.
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