Community poll forum: Which antivirus utility protects your computer?

Ever since Norton started messing up my OS a few years back, I switched to AVG Anti-Virus. I surf a lot and have never had a virus. I have also put it on numerous friends' computers and they have never had a virus, either, so why pay for any other? AVG does the job of protecting your computer as well or better than any Anti-Virus program out there,it doesn't mess with your system, and it's FREE!!!

I've been using AVG's antiviral and antispyware software for several years now, and have never had any problems. Quick updates, (I've seen as many as three in one day) easy to use, and very, very effective. I've used McAfee and Norton, both are to bloated and slow for my taste. I'll stick with the lightweight, effective, and free app.

No. 1 my verizon DSL comes with it.

No. 2 I used before Verizon DSL because Norton caused conflicts with two of the programs I had installed at the time. I never have had any conflicts with McAfee.

I had traditionally used Norton for years, but the program had gotten so large and combersome that I seemed to have constant problems particularly at upgrade time. I had similar problems when McAfee came with a new laptop. Then I changed to Kaspersky internet suite adn I have not had any problems. It is updated daily, and does not take up some much space and doesn't slow things down.

I have been using Norton for years, I started with their AV stand-alone and about 6 or 8 years ago I went with the System Works package. I have upgraded a few times and I am now using the System Works Premier.

I moderated the AOL Anti-Virus Chat for a few years and my exposure to problems there strengthened my feeling that Norton is the best. They had some serious problems with NIS (Norton InternetSecurity) for a few years. Nearly every person who entered the chat with any problems while running Norton had been running NIS rather than the standalone NAV or the SystemWorks Anti-Virus. Those problems have been resolved.

I am all over the Internet including the dangerous web areas, in the last 12 years I have had one Trojan get in but it was immediately stopped by Norton while trying to install itself, I have had one worm get in but Norton caught it before it was able to execute.

I like the feedback, alerts, and reports that Norton gives.

BTW I was able to run AVG with Norton for over a year about 5 years ago without any conflicts. I had spoken with a few other users who had also run them together. With all of the advice that you can not run more than one AV program on a system I did ininstall AVG

We use it at work and works great on my home system for the last few years. Never had a issue with it. Have a brand new computer with McAfee and it's been doing fine, only a 3 month license, will see what I will do from there.

Before Trend I used Norton, AVG, and one provided by Cox my cable provider. Had issues with all and would find it had to go back to any, at least AVG and Cox was free.

Other posters were lucky or I was unlucky with PC-Cillin IS 2007 Suite. Sometimes it wouldn't open, but locked with its logo on screen, requiring manual PC turn off; sometimes it opened with Windows, sometimes not; when scanning it would sometimes preclude other programs from running. Tech Support's solution always the same: Reinstall PC-Cillin. This fixed whatever the current problem was, until the next one, or a repeat of the same. Early in the month, I reported that PC-Cillin was undependable. Support didn't respond until I wrote a number of followup nessages; it then responded to a different problem than the one I'd submitted; I told them that, and they replied again to that non-existent problem; I told them again of their mistake: then they dealt with ANOTHER problem that was not the one I'd submitted; then they sent messages that the "solved" problem would be closed in 48 hours if I didn't respond; I responded that the problem hadn't even been addressed,let alone solved, but they kept sending "48 hour" messages; Finally, a technician responded, about a different problem than the one I'd submitted; never once did Tech Support refer to the problem I'd submitted. I was without dependable anti-virus for two weeks as the incredibly incompetent Tech Support kept responding to the wrong problem. When I asked TS to please review the history of the problem I'd submitted, to know what it was, they ceased corresponding. I reinstalled the progran (for possibly 9th time), for use until I get a good program (today or tomorrow).

Have had no problems with ZA.

This machine uses McAfee, simply because it was the installed system when I bought the box. I've had to pay for the update, and i've just gone on to the latest version which was offered to me automatically. My "other W98SE" machine, no longer connected usually to the internet, used for letter writing and light duties had Norton (Symantec) which I used to update by download. It ran out of time for updating protection a couple of months back so I've not renewed as it is a stand-alone now. I don't see much difference between the varieties. A couple of months ago I checked the firewall log. The number of attacks shocked me, so many of them origination in China or Russia - but that is probably another story.

I had used Mcafee Security Suite while I had dial-up. When I switched to Verizon DSL I switched to their Security Suite. So far, I have had no problems with either.

I have been using Trend Micro for over 2 years and I found it to be the best of all the others I have used. Before Trend Micro I used McAfee and Norton for a while but found out they slowed my computer down with auto scanning and scanning my computer took forever. Also the firewall and anti spyware weren't bundled together so I was more expensive. I have been using VCom System Suite 7 for a couple of months and I think it's the best not only because it has a firewall, antivirus and anti spyware but also a bunch of other tools such as disk optimizers and registry optimizers, it also uses Trend Micro anti virus and anti spyware technology and you can use it on up to three computers for 60 dollars which is a great deal if you have more than one computer at home.

For all round virus protection I find it easier to manage suite vs individual programs. I used McAfee for many years while my wife used Norton. We were both happy with the overall protection we received. However, our home network grew to four computers (two pcs and two laptops) and I started experiencing compatibility problems with the Internet protection that prevented me from accessing our home network. Now that were all using Norton its no longer a problem.

subscription has the whole show, anti-virus, anti-spam, firewall, and spyware protection. All under one roof.

I have seen several postings mentioning the fact that Norton is resource greedy. I have been using Norton since Peters picture was on the box. I have never experienced the "resource greed" that you and several others have mentioned.
I have cleaned spyware and adware out of machine to make them run up to 10 times as fast. I have uninstalled Norton and installed CA, AVG, Trend Micro and Avast in computers and seen no improvement in performance or speed as a result.
I have also Uninstalled AVG and Trend Micro and installed Norton and saw no degredation in performance or speed.

Have been using Avast on my desktop, laptop and 5 other family members computers. It is free, which is a good thing for us. We are not heavy internet users.