What's the Best Anti-virus?

This thread was started in 2010.
Still quite active.

Is it fare to say no one has found the best anti virus program that will suite the needs for all systems and users?

Couldn't agree more since there is "Absolute 100% PERFECT" program to find! It simply doesn't exist especially when you consider there are new bug being worked on all the time with many geared to slip past the present array for av and other security softwares.

Now here's a favorable test done on VIPRE at the start of the year still showing that despite the best I have run so far it proves it sill isn't 100% fail proof and will have a few minor issues. Test ThreatTrack VIPRE Internet Security for Windows 7 | AV-TEST

Layback Bear said:

This thread was started in 2010.
Still quite active.

Is it fare to say no one has found the best anti virus program that will suite the needs for all systems and users?

Perhaps this is one area where competition actually works as per the "Standard Model".

Since weird hardware/software interactions cause issue for things like browsers, it is reasonable to assume that AV programs are no different.
That is to say, some hardware/software combinations may degrade the effectiveness/performance of the AV programs.

In most cases it always would seem to be the oppostie where av programs end up clashing with the existing wares when first being introduced onto a system. One thing I can state quite clearly is never having to have to shut down the av protection here in order to run some other program whether gaming, video capture, etc. since VIPRE has a very light footprint.

In the past however even with AVG at times the rule of thumb was to disable the av when running a resource intensive app. After years of complaints the companies realized they had to smarten up a little about the intrusiveness of their wares!

The first program I install is Macrium Reflect (so that I can create a "pristine" initial install image with no AV).
An AV is usually the 2nd program I install.

An AV that has issues with the OS, isn't worth installing.

My interest as far as VIPRE became focused not on the av side but a firewall that included web filtering to prevent things from getting on in the first place. Once you get veered away from potentially bad sites to sites found clean you avoid 99% of the bugs most encounter from the start!

Others I have been finding are slipped into various forms of media site downloads to not only pc but hand helds leading to bigger problems like the 2013 FBI PayPal scam! Lately a friend's kid had just that on his Android he bought used off of a friend when someone sent him a link for some non genuine rock group site and bbboingggg...!!! nailed! The screen was locked up and before he brought me the phone to find the safe mode or administrator mode he took and shot it with a pellet gun!

But the lesson there is to be smart when it comes to the web! Email filtering is another layer to consider there to as well as .... ? Does your av have coverage over social networks? FaceBook, Twitter, and/or some other? Malware writers can be found just about anywhere!

Night Hawk said:

Couldn't agree more since there is "Absolute 100% PERFECT" program to find! It simply doesn't exist especially when you consider there are new bug being worked on all the time with many geared to slip past the present array for av and other security softwares.

Now here's a favorable test done on VIPRE at the start of the year still showing that despite the best I have run so far it proves it sill isn't 100% fail proof and will have a few minor issues. Test ThreatTrack VIPRE Internet Security for Windows 7 | AV-TEST

Totally agree and have done for years he best AV is working the keyboard. There can never be a perfect one simply because of the stream of malware that pours out everyday and you have got to be a genius to first guess what it will be.

Scam wares can be the worst at times not since they are that difficult to manually remove but since there is no forewarning! The av program or other protections are immobilized upon you "clicking on something" that delivers a blow like Mohamed Ali! BOOM!

I cleaned off a friend's laptop a few times from some of those that locked up the task manager and discovered the exe bug file it was calling itself the "Windows Process Doctor" blocking the TM and moved that from one folder to another when not able to delete it on the spot. It was buried in one of the user account sub folders. Once in safe mode bye bye bug!

From there VIPRE being on that laptop (showing how even the best web filtering is never 100% fool proof either while one of the better ideas) was then able to clean off the four phoney trojans that weren't any actual problem just emtry files and the rogue gui part where you see the most buy fake program that doesn't even exist to clean the phony trojans off of machine! They got you if you swallow the line of crud!

In most cases easier when having web access with a second machine of course someone will have run into one of these and wrote some useless removal instructions for both pc desktop, laptop, tablet, embedded OS units as welll cellular, smart, IPhonies type hand helds.

With the number of av software companies now deciding to make strides sometimes pooling bug information malware writers are looking for other avenues to bug bomb the users with. And it isn't limited to just Windows systems either! A good portion of what is now being seen in the last year or so is now multiple OS as well as multiple platform. They are trying to cover all bases!

I run <censored> and <censored> to block unwanted web content.

Of course their will never be a perfect AV program. It is nice to see companies trying to be better than the other guy. We end up with better AV programs.

In my opinion more attention should be directed towards informing the general public about needed security. People reading this forum and others like it have some sort of idea the importance of security.

Now how to do that is the question.
If someone doesn't want to learn they can't be tought. A lot of advertisement would help but who pays for it?

The bad guys have a upper hand.
They take the time to learn their trade of infecting computers. Their opponents won't even take the time to boot their computer.
Those that are lost but don't take the time to find their way will be lost forever.
Most computers users are lost.

Note: The word computer in this post = all computing devices.