Anti-Virus Programs

[Sun Tzu]

I am looking to get a nice anti-virus program for a network of PC's that I have recently set up. I have gotten mixed reviews on the big two (McAfee/Norton), so I'm a bit hessitant to go out and buy just any old big name program without reading a good deal into it. I was wondering what the FOFC'ers prefer, and what their take is on each one. Any info you can provide with is greatly appreciated.

[Draft Dodger]

AVG from Grisoft.

it's free.
and better.

[sabotai]

I use AVG as well.

[Buccaneer]

I chose Trend Micro PC-cillin over the bigger names, fwiw.

[Franklinnoble]

I use Symantec, but, then again, I don't generally have to pay for it.

[TredWel]

All right. I work for a personal and small business IT shop, so here's what I have found from my experience.

Norton is the best. Often times I see OfficeMax or Staples selling copies for free with a rebate, so I suggest you snap up a copy when they're on sale. They work great.

AVG is also very good, and it's free by nature. I run it on my home computer, and I am very pleased with the results. The reason I don't recommend it as the #1 choice is that I've never tried it out on any real troubled computers, putting it through its paces. It's worked great for me, but I don't have any personal anecdotes about it's usefulness.

As for McAfee ... well, let's just say that a tinfoil hat placed atop your monitor provides about the same amount of protection. I can't count the number of times I have people bring in infested computers with McAfee installed and updated. We remove McAfee, install Norton, and find 5-10 viruses that McAfee never looked for. I have been very dissatisfied with McAfee, to say the least.

[Glengoyne]

My company uses Sophos. It is a bit pricy, but they actually allow employees to install it on their home systems without additional cost. I give it very high marks. They keep it very up to date, and when one of the big worms or viruses hits, I am always notified by them well before the story hits the media.

[Draft Dodger]

AVG is also very good, and it's free by nature. I run it on my home computer, and I am very pleased with the results. The reason I don't recommend it as the #1 choice is that I've never tried it out on any real troubled computers, putting it through its paces. It's worked great for me, but I don't have any personal anecdotes about it's usefulness.

I have used it to save two EXTREMELY troubled machines (neither of them were mine)...including one just a few hours ago. This kid (the son of a co-worker) had seemingly downloaded every software title known to man from Kazaa (including at least one antivirus program...but had failed to actually USE it). Just about every executable file on his drive was infected...AVG cleaned it up nicely, and quicker than PC-Cillon was doing it. It also cleaned up my mom's computer a few months ago when she had about 2,000 copies of the Klez virus on her hard drive.

I've also used Norton and McAfee, but I find that they both tend to be a bit of a resource hog (let alone the cost to re-up the subscriptions every year).

Truthfully, I don't even use an antivirus program...but if I was to go back to one it would be AVG as much for its performance as it would be for its price.

[MizzouRah]

All right. I work for a personal and small business IT shop, so here's what I have found from my experience.

Norton is the best. Often times I see OfficeMax or Staples selling copies for free with a rebate, so I suggest you snap up a copy when they're on sale. They work great.

AVG is also very good, and it's free by nature. I run it on my home computer, and I am very pleased with the results. The reason I don't recommend it as the #1 choice is that I've never tried it out on any real troubled computers, putting it through its paces. It's worked great for me, but I don't have any personal anecdotes about it's usefulness.

As for McAfee ... well, let's just say that a tinfoil hat placed atop your monitor provides about the same amount of protection. I can't count the number of times I have people bring in infested computers with McAfee installed and updated. We remove McAfee, install Norton, and find 5-10 viruses that McAfee never looked for. I have been very dissatisfied with McAfee, to say the least.
My thoughts exactly, except I use Norton.


Todd

[finkenst]

I use Symantec, but, then again, I don't generally have to pay for it.
Likewise here...

Work has provided antivirus software to all employees and contract workers, free of charge as part of the licensing agreement with the publisher.

[pennywisesb]

I just downloaded this AVG anti-virus for my computer at work to go along with a symantec one that I already had and it has already found 6 viruses that the symantec one didn't find. Needless to say, I'll be downloading this at home too. Thanks for the tips guys.

[Draft Dodger]

I just downloaded this AVG anti-virus for my computer at work to go along with a symantec one that I already had and it has already found 6 viruses that the symantec one didn't find. Needless to say, I'll be downloading this at home too. Thanks for the tips guys.

you had 6 viruses?
:eek:

[pennywisesb]

Actually, its up to 12 now, jees man, I'm not the only one who uses this computer and I'm very careful as to what I choose to download so I think I'm gonna have to have a sit down with the morning guy.

[pennywisesb]

Dola: Its actually about 4-5 different viruses, but its found them in 12 different files.

[Pyser]

i just ran the avg program for the first time and it found 53 infected files. didnt even know it existed. so, thanks!

[Airhog]

I have used Pc-Cillian for the longest time, It came with my motherboard software, so it was a nice freebie. I know people that use AVG, but ive never tried it, there's just something that bothers me about trusting a free program, but hey, if major companies can use linux....

[pennywisesb]

i just ran the avg program for the first time and it found 53 infected files. didnt even know it existed. so, thanks!
Hey Pyser, how long did it take to scan your system? It seems like its taking forever for me...

[Pyser]

i didnt clock it, but i think it was around a half hour or so.

[Danny]

I've used Norton, Mcafee and AVG, but currently I'm using Avast Home Edition. It's reviewed very well (better than AVG) and is also free.


http://download.com.com/3000-2239-10285256.html?tag=lst-3-2

[MizzouRah]

Dola: Its actually about 4-5 different viruses, but its found them in 12 different files.
Are those viruses or spyware?


Todd

[BigJohn&TheLions]

I installed AVG because my symantec expires this weekend. AVG detected no viruses, but then norton found one... THE AVG FILE! It says it is a trojan worm.

[sterlingice]

I installed AVG because my Norton definitions are over 100 days old. It found a pair of MyDoom files inside zips in my archived email but I knew that (and never was stupid enough to open them but lazy enough that I didn't delete them until yesterday). So no real virii on my computer and all is well :)

SI