Which Anti - Virus?
- Thread starter mfcphil
- Start date
Pete
Bright Spark
That's a very open question and there was a similar thread floating about recently (i'll see if i can dig it up)
Personally i use Avast and SpyBot Search & Destroy.
But the Microsoft security essentials is getting good reviews these days
Norton in the past has been bloated but also is much better now, if you want the whole security type package.
Edit :
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?2407-Best-anti-virus-internet-secrity-package
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?302-Internet-Security-Suite
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?1356-What-is-the-best-security-software
Pc Pro reviews : http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/internet-security
Personally i use Avast and SpyBot Search & Destroy.
But the Microsoft security essentials is getting good reviews these days
Norton in the past has been bloated but also is much better now, if you want the whole security type package.
Edit :
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?2407-Best-anti-virus-internet-secrity-package
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?302-Internet-Security-Suite
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?1356-What-is-the-best-security-software
Pc Pro reviews : http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/internet-security
Last edited:
I'm running Avast as the moment, I still have about 3 months of my subscription with McAfee left but I simply do not trust their product, after getting charged 3 x £60 in a year to have them do the mobile fix....looked good having someone who's not there fixing your pc....but gets a bit boring after £180, and thats on top of the annual cost!
So I'm going to look into your suggestions for when the new pc gets here tomorrow!
What does Add in a bit of web smarts and healthy skepticism and you are all set. mean Gorman??
So I'm going to look into your suggestions for when the new pc gets here tomorrow!
What does Add in a bit of web smarts and healthy skepticism and you are all set. mean Gorman??
Gorman
Author Level
Most of the battle against Virus' and malware etc etc is user education on the subject.
No amount of firewalls and anti virus will protect a machine when the user allows themselves to be infected.
As an example, nasty arrives in email, user opens attachment, AV prompts is it safe? user clicks yes.
End result is an infected machine where the AV was not at fault.
So basically (and im not trying to offend anyone in any way here) being careful where you click, what you open and having an air of healthy suspicion when browsing can go a long way to preserving a clean system.
AV + Firewall + Paranoia = Clean system
No amount of firewalls and anti virus will protect a machine when the user allows themselves to be infected.
As an example, nasty arrives in email, user opens attachment, AV prompts is it safe? user clicks yes.
End result is an infected machine where the AV was not at fault.
So basically (and im not trying to offend anyone in any way here) being careful where you click, what you open and having an air of healthy suspicion when browsing can go a long way to preserving a clean system.
AV + Firewall + Paranoia = Clean system
Agreed!!!
Look left and right brfore you cross the road.....The best advice is always the obvious!
pengipete
Rising Star
I paid for Norton rather than using the "free" McAfee offered by my ISP. I'm using NIS with Vista 32 and W7 X64 and it's all but invisible - which is a good thing in my book.
I should say that ease of use is not the be-all-and-end-all - detection rates are more important. The trouble is, the success rate at detecting threats varies as new malware emerges on an almost daily basis. The big players like Norton have the edge these days because they use a mixture of user reports (mostly automated) and "insight" - looking for behavioural patterns and and other clues to spot nasties before they have been propely identified as new threats.
There's one other factor that may or may not bother you - the "free" solutions like Microsoft's offerings are funded by advertising - either directly or by using information they gather about to for targetted advertising on other websites.
A couple of tips to save a few quid...
Buy multi-licence versions - obvious really.
Shop around - last time I looked, Amazon and Staples had the best prices by far.
Never renew a subscription - they'll charge you the full price when you could nip to shops and buy it half-price.
Norton - and some other - bring out new versions every year. If you buy the "old" version a few weeks before the new one is released, you'll get it cheap as they try to clear the old stock. When the new version is released, you'll get a free, automatic upgrade.
I should say that ease of use is not the be-all-and-end-all - detection rates are more important. The trouble is, the success rate at detecting threats varies as new malware emerges on an almost daily basis. The big players like Norton have the edge these days because they use a mixture of user reports (mostly automated) and "insight" - looking for behavioural patterns and and other clues to spot nasties before they have been propely identified as new threats.
There's one other factor that may or may not bother you - the "free" solutions like Microsoft's offerings are funded by advertising - either directly or by using information they gather about to for targetted advertising on other websites.
A couple of tips to save a few quid...
Buy multi-licence versions - obvious really.
Shop around - last time I looked, Amazon and Staples had the best prices by far.
Never renew a subscription - they'll charge you the full price when you could nip to shops and buy it half-price.
Norton - and some other - bring out new versions every year. If you buy the "old" version a few weeks before the new one is released, you'll get it cheap as they try to clear the old stock. When the new version is released, you'll get a free, automatic upgrade.
I have MSE running.
- What specific/important settings should I be looking at on my router?
- I'll be moving from ZEN to SKY broadband next week or so (a purely financial decision). I believe SKY will be providing a new router. Do I have to use the new router or can I stick with my current Belkin (if so, which would you guys recommend?)
A Fine Frenzy
Member
I use the Free editions of Avast and ZoneAlarm. I may try out Comodo sometime.
pengipete
Rising Star
Using a third-party router is against Sky's terms and conditions. It is possible and there entire forums dedicated to the subject but it's not exactly easy - for a start, Sky's router hides your log-in and password so you have to crack that first then you have to get past the fact that Sky's servers check the MAC address of the router - again, you can get around it but is it really worth the effort? Sky seem to be using D-Link routers these days (though some people report getting Netgear) - they're not bad but there'sno Wireless "n" which is a pain. Connection-wise, there's a a total of four ethernet ports and not much else. I haven't tried a wireless repeater but I've been able to extend the wireless using a BTHomehub 2.0 and powerline adaptors. One plus point for the D-Link router - it supports the Authenticity Java tool allowing you tweak the SNR margin - useful if you are on the cusp of the next IP Profile margin.
Ive used Eset for many years followed by Kapersky, but now only use Microsoft security essentials mainly becouse ive not had a virus in the last, that long i cant remember it really is down to user error if you pick one up ie- not keeping your pc updated, using a very poor web browser, very bad websites where should not be downloading hacked files or older operating systems.
I was struggling with to find a suitable free anti-virus 2 years ago or so... Tried Avg(free), Avast and Avira. I found Avira to be the least recourse hungry and the least annoying of the 3 
It works really well even now, if on some odd chance it fails I just get cureit! from dr. web, scan once and delete it. Anything new out there (free preferably) that I should try?
It works really well even now, if on some odd chance it fails I just get cureit! from dr. web, scan once and delete it. Anything new out there (free preferably) that I should try?