Windows 7: What's the Best Anti-virus?

I don't actually use BT NetProtect + (McAfee) because i finally found that it is crap i use AVG now.

For me AVG or Avast! is the best

I think the best IMO is Norton AntiVirus 20, the ONLY issue I've had is the system tray icon sometimes disappears which people are complaining about on the official site. That combined with Comodo Firewall, and common sense is the best anyone can get.

Hi everyone,

I am debating using MSE or Avast. I have used Avast free for a number of years and only had 1 virus (god knows how I got that - I'm a pretty careful surfer I thought!).

Anyway, I find my biggest problem is that I don't KNOW if the a/v is doing anything or not. How do I know if it's good or not? I don't viruses to 'test' on the a/v software. All I can do is install one, hope it works, and continue my constant paranoia when using windows (I still love it though - just got rid of a mac to get back to my trusty Windows 7 which I can customize and mess about with to my hearts content).

My paranoia helping backup software used to be:

Spybot S&D
Spywareblaster

But I am now thinking of using:

Malwarebytes
Superantispyware

It's a minefield of a question which is 'best' and rather annoying and time consuming researching it as everyone has an opinion about it.

I really would have thought there would be a best a/v software, I mean, one must do the job better than another, surely?! If they are all the same, then it's just a matter of price, which is a decision I can handle quite easily!

Sam.

I will agree with Malwarebytes and SuperAntispyware. Keep Spywareblaster. I haven't felt S&D was worthwhile since I found MBAM years ago. As to avast! or MSE. I personally use avast!, but MSE is highly recommended here. I think either will serve you well for protection. I personally believe avast! is better at detection, but MSE integrates with windows better on average (I have never had an issue with avast!). Using your common sense, (and paranoia ) you should be fine no matter which you use. A Guy

Like Guy said keep the MBAM and SAS but as a freebie the Comodo Internet Security Premium is hard to beat.

Personally I prefer paid for as you get what you pay for. My own is Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 on all my machines.

Thanks for the replies.

I chose to stick with avast free and MBAM + SAS. I will also keep spywareblaster just as a precaution. I don't suppose it could do any harm.

Sam.

Hum sam I am a but of a sceptic my friend and when I read this I am even more so I would be wary of running the Avast with this app.

Spyware Blaster Report

Personally I would uninstall it and get it back if you feel the need, but there are plenty of other apps to choose from.

Now that adds to the melting pot of confusion!

So let's say I want to run 4 things:

1) Avast (free a/v)

2) MBAM
3) SAS
4) Spywareblaster

I presume the needs are (a) a realtime scanner to stop crap getting on the pc and (b) a remover, if any of the crap gets onto the pc.

Would 2,3 or 4 be worth paying for? I don't mind if it gives some added peace of mind. Any why is SAS in my taskbar? If the free one's not a realtime scanner, surely it doesn't need to be there.

Sam.

No sam I think you will find almost everyone will tell you that running two AV's as real time will cause you conflicts.

Really my friend you are best off running the Avast as your main suite and just using the free version of MBAM SAS and that Spywareblaster which looks to me to be a pro active for want of a better term application - as I said last night I would personally ditch it and then use it if you felt the absolute need to.

If you feel that you have something on board which the others have missed then there are plenty of use on demand scanners to choose from that will not conflict with your main AV - Avast.

Just as matter of interest I always set my MBAM scan up by not including th e File system as in my case Kaspersky does not like it and it takes a while longer to do.

But hey I think you are doing just fine as Brink always says the dumbest question is the one that doesn't get asked