What is the real deal on anti-virus programs?

[Jimmy9190]

Some of you here may know I just bought a new desktop computer about 10 days ago, after my old XP machine got infected with a very bad rootkit. This new computer is not the top of the line by any means, but I spent a lot of money on it and I want to keep it protected and free from malware and viruses the very best I can. My computer is a new HP P6-2100, has 4 GB of RAM and a 1TB Hard Drive, and it runs Windows 7 Home Premium. It came with a 2 month free trial of Norton Internet Security 2012. So far the Norton is working very well, as far as I can tell anyway. I don't have a lot of working knowledge of computers but the computer runs very fast and has not had any malware or virus problems since I bought it.

When I bought this computer I got rid of all of the bloat ware that came with it. I only kept the OS, Internet Explorer and the free MS Word basic program. I also added MWB, there is a free trial of the Pro version right now, and I am using SAS to get rid of tracking cookies and whatever spyware it may find. I took the advice of other fellow BITOG'ers and am running Chrome for my web browser, and it works great, much better than IE. I also am running the latest 6.31 version of Java and have my Windows updates set to update every night at 3 am. Everything seems to be OK now.

Norton appears to me to be working very well, it has already kept me off of a couple of known malicious websites, and it does not bog down my computer's resources. I only use my computer for Itunes and Ipod management, internet and email, and I do Google searches on a lot of topics if I need help trying to fix something around the house or on my truck or girlfriend's car. I also play chess on Yahoo and I play a few legit 80's retro video games. I don't surf for porn or watch porn or go on any other unsavory web sites. I have absolutely no interest in porn.

I have been trying to read here and on Google to find the best protection for this new computer. I don't want to have to buy another one for a long time. I have a paid AVG disc that has one more license left on it, I could put that on here when the free Norton runs out. I have also read that Avast free edition is the very best AV you can get.

Which is really going to give the best real world honest protection? I am tempted to just buy a Norton subscription when the free trial ends, because it has worked very well so far. But when I go online, all of the AV manufacturers say theirs is the best you can buy, and even the AV reviews I have read online have conflicting info. One says Avast is the best, another says G Data is the very best in the whole entire world... To be honest I am very confused by what I have read online, and I would appreciate your help here. I don't mind paying for a good AV program, I just need to know which one might be best to use.

Thanks.

 

[SLCraig]

I simply use Microsoft Security Essentials.
It's free, and it seems to work fine. Not always being logged in as an administrator helps, as does not having a blank password for administrator.

 

[dparm]

The tests seem to show a new best product every year or every other year. The differences among the top products are getting smaller from year to year as well.

Safe browsing habits, common sense, and the rule of least-privilege will be your best bets.

 

[94astro]

No one product can do it all, that said, using a good anti-virus program of your choosing along with a good mal-ware program is better protection. Yes,safe browsing habits go a long way in preventing problems in security.

 

[clarkflower]

Originally Posted By: dparm
The tests seem to show a new best product every year or every other year. The differences among the top products are getting smaller from year to year as well.

Safe browsing habits, common sense, and the rule of least-privilege will be your best bets.


I work for a software company that does work for car dealers and others. We have the best stuff. I have to be all over the web and I still get stuff. The other day I searched google for SEO, clicked the number 4 link and got one. The are also getting through on Google news stories on a "hot topic" so it's not just porn sites anymore. If a web site is just a little behind on java update they can slip it in a legit site.The next guy to hit that site gets one. When Google finds out the server will take down the site but that can be days.
Hard to just go to the giants like NY Times. LOL
One last thing is I never open anything in my personal mail. My cousin's computer always sends me virus's. He does not even know he is infected. LOL

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
I don't surf for porn or watch porn or go on any other unsavory web sites. I have absolutely no interest in porn.


"Methinks thou dost protest too much."

sorry, couldn't resist

anyway, I use super anti spyware, and do a ccleaner scan on occasion. one time something bad happened but I was able to download the free malwarebytes and it cleared it up.
I bought the SAS, it's not that expensive and has features onot offered on the free version.

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Download Sandboxie and browse within it. I am form believer in layered security. Sandboxie will keep your broweser safe and MSE will handle the rest. I like MSE since it has a 64-bit edition as well.

 

[Loobed]

Windows is a virus. The more you upgrade it, the worse your computer will run.

Make a back-up /restore disk now before your computer is filled with junk. If you ever have problems. reload from that back-up.

For a good and free MS Office clone try OOo v-3.2
http://www.filehippo.com/download_openoffice/7009/
It is the last Sun Microsystems version before Oracle screwed it up.

I use Avira, Malwarebites, and Supper Spy Sweeper. All free.

 

[uc50ic4more]

Originally Posted By: Loobed
Windows is a virus.


+1

"I've heard that if you play the Windows install DVD backwards it plays satanic messages!"
"That's NOTHING! If you play it forwards, it installs Windows."

One day when you've got 15 minutes to kill, check out http://ubuntu.com

Originally Posted By: Loobed
For a good and free MS Office clone try OOo v-3.2
http://www.filehippo.com/download_openoffice/7009/
It is the last Sun Microsystems version before Oracle screwed it up.


It's been forked by a consourtium of some pretty big players and is now called LibreOffice. It is at version 3.5.x now.

 

[sjstangman]

I haven't paid for a quality anti-virus program in years. You can always find ones that really work free after a mail in rebate. I'm PMing you a link for McAfee Antivirus Plus 2012 for 3 PCs which will be free after a rebate.

 

[Oregoonian]

I'm using a AV/Malware program called 'VIPRE'

After doing some research....its considered one of the best out there....and very reasonable cost-wise.

I've used VIPRE for several years now...and I'm very pleased with it.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

First of all, don't be under the impression that the Internet is out to get you because it sounds like you are. Just being online isn't a risk; it's all about where you go, what you click on, and how you handle strange pop-ups and messages. You're not going to get infected with Internet cooties by shopping on Amazon or writing an email to Aunt Martha.

Surfing online is like taking a car trip. With a little knowledge and preparation, you can avoid most problems. Make sure you have gas, air in the tires, wiper fluid full, etc. Look out for potholes. Don't pick up hitchhikers. Don't drive over anything laying in the road. Don't take an exit off the freeway into a bad part of town unless you know what you're getting yourself into, etc.

Make sure your computer is updated regularly with both security patches and AV definitions. Don't open email attachments. Don't read spam email out of curiosity. Don't click on any buttons inside pop-up windows even if it's 'No' or 'Cancel' or whatever; hit the X in the window bar or use Task Manager instead. These are basics.

You aren't going to get infected with viruses and malware randomly by just surfing around. Most infections are allowed in by the user because they are clicking on things they shouldn't. As far as your AV software is concerned, you gave it access so it's your fault. It'll hopefully clean it up once it's infected but just because the machine got infected in the first place really isn't it's fault at that point.

Remove Java unless you have a need for it. It's a huge security risk. Fewer and fewer sites are using it for just that reason.

Chrome is a fine browser but it isn't really any more secure than IE9. It can't keep you from clicking on the wrong things.

 

[Jimmy9190]

I am not afraid of the internet. I don't click on "the wrong thing", at least not on purpose. I picked up the Fake AntiVirus 2012 bug last December by going to imageshack.com to upload pictures online. I believe I picked up that root kit a couple weeks ago from the brothersoft.com web site where I had gone to download a recommended zip file application to help with an Itunes installation. I believe both of those "mistakes" were honest enough and I had no idea there was malware to be had on those sites. Same as any other poor schmoe who gets the next malware that some dirtbag somewhere sticks onto a website so they can rip people off. Incidentally, on both of those malware problems I was running MSE, MWB and SAS. I don't care for MSE.

I may just stick with Norton, it seems to be doing a good job and so far I like its interface. Of all the reviews I have read, Norton has gotten a good amount of high marks and good reviews by people who know a lot more about computers than I ever will. I have no idea if I can get by without Java, I always understood it was required and most all internet sites use some form of it. Maybe I am wrong about that.

 

[volk06]

Norton Internet Security 2012 has been fantastic for me and is rated as one of the best on the market. And you can get it FAR at at times.

 

[antiqueshell]

It all depends on how you use the internet. If you are a cautious user, then all you need is MSE. Free and does a excellent job , I would argue that it probably is almost as good as full blown Norton without the bloat.

But if you don't think first before clicking or go to clearly DANGEROUS sites, brothersoft.com is one of them, and it is well known to carry many malware items, you need extra help.

Another of the worst offenders is to click on FORWARDS attached to your e mail...All for a few stupid jokes or cheap chuckles and bam your're infected. I hate people that insist on sending FW and opening them. My folks are like this, I have recovered their PC a number of times from infections due to opening forwards and I now have told them that the next problem take it to someone else or buy a new computer, I'm done enabling STUPID behavior.

 

[dave1251]

I will tell you what works for me and that is AVG free and Malware Bytes. I have used them combo for many years and use common sense when web browsing that has kept me virus and malware free for many many years.

 

[Jimmy9190]

Originally Posted By: volk06
Norton Internet Security 2012 has been fantastic for me and is rated as one of the best on the market. And you can get it FAR at at times.


Yep I keep watching the Sunday newspaper sales ads and the websites for Staples, Office Depot, Office Max, Best Buy etc to see if there is a FAR or some other good deal on Norton. I can get it on CD for $20.00 for a one user license on Amazon, but I am a bit leery about downloading it from Amazon. There are posts there from folks that had problems with the license key when they paid for the downloaded version thru Amazon.

 

[itguy08]

Best thing to do is not use Windows. For the most part that eliminates the need for an AV program. That also eliminates 99% of the malware out there.

 

[bmwjohn]

Hi:
I always use MSE (FREE) and sometimes run Avast, as it slows things down to have multiple programs running at once. Recently I caught a program that turned one of my e mails into a spam bot. I ended up changing passwords, improving passwords, and running the above programs AND CCCleaner plus vipre plus Malwarebytes. Malwarbytes found some root kits. Nothing else found anything. Every review shows a new "best of" program so I expect the next time around a different program may be the solution. Today's ULTIMATE solution may be tomorrows also ran once you hit a big problem.Just FYI.

 

[crinkles]

I have used ESET for 3 years now on the advice of StevieC... It has worked well and picked up threats a few times over those years. I am now using a mac, but will probably switch back to PC next time I upgrade.