What's the Best Anti-virus?

[Imrankhan]

Using AVG Free Antivirus 2013 on Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. It failed loading at startup for which i have to manually open 'avgui.exe' manually after every boot to start its services, since last 2 weeks. But works well in defending most of Malware and Trojans out of my Laptop. So I am going to move out of Avg and moving towards Avast again after 2 years.

 

[Stephanie]

AVG is OK and Avast works well, have you tried (MSE) Microsoft Security Essentials I have it installed on one of my Desktops and it works very well.

 

[Bluesan]

Personally, I use MSE behind a NAT router, and with a standard account, and have been happy with it. Layering is the key to security, and my scheme seems to be working just fine.

I used avast! for years, and I certainly wasn't surprised that avast! 8 came in number one with Consumer Reports for a free AV program. It's a fine product. But, I finally gave it up, when it started to resemble a Latin American General's staff car, with all of the marketplace offerings, and popups for upgrades, hanging all over it. It seems the only thing that's missing is a pair of fuzzy dice. And yes, I know, it's their ball yard, and if you choose to play...

 

[Stephanie]

when it started to resemble a Latin American General's staff car, with all of the marketplace offerings, and popups for upgrades, hanging all over it. It seems the only thing that's missing is a pair of fuzzy dice.

:roflmao: Yes I know what you mean Bluesan

 

[Imrankhan]

I was running AVG with MSE on Win7. Totally secured for last 2 years.
Today moved to Avast with MSE. Lets see what it does...

 

[Stephanie]

I was running AVG with MSE on Win7. Totally secured for last 2 years.
Today moved to Avast with MSE. Lets see what it does...

Hi Imrankhan

Running two AVs is not a good idea as you may experience false positives and system instability, Avast or MSE on there own is enough, if you want a security second opinion try Malwarebytes (free) and run as on demand.

 

[Imrankhan]

So,Here is my view...
For free antivirus you could prefer Bitdefender.... Then followed by AVG, MSE, Avira , Avast...
But sad to say that Avast doesnt detect virus files which are tagged as system file (attrib +s) and it ignores that file...
Had a virus called help.vbs with system file attribute, when i moved to folder containing it, AVG popped out and removed...
MSE removed that file as soon as i booted by laptop ...
Avast said 'no threat detected' even after i asked it to scan that folder...

For full protection + considering value for money.... 1) Bitdefender 2) Kaspersky 3) TrendMicro Titanium 4)F-Secure

 

[Layback Bear]

Imrankhan I highly recommend following Stephanie advice. Post # 626
ONE anti virus on ONE computer at ONE time. Disabling is not good enough.

No anti virus detects and stops everything. When someone makes such a program we will all be very happy to use it as long as it gets along with Windows 7. If it doesn't get along with Windows 7 it's useless.
What ever anti virus program someone chooses is exactly that; their choice.
My choice is Microsoft Security Essentials coupled with Malwarebytes Anti Malware Pro and the built in Windows 7 Firewall.
Is my choice a perfect choice for every body; probably not but it does work quite well for me.
Periodically I do scans with other programs I trust for a double and triple check.
Another important thing is what one does online and allows to connect to their computer.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

The Best Anti-Virus is the 6 inches between your ears and the length of your arm to the mouse/keyboard.
Please have a back-up plan if the above fails..
THW

 

[Layback Bear]

The Howling Wolves I like your 6 inch rule.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

So,Here is my view...
For free antivirus you could prefer Bitdefender.... Then followed by AVG, MSE, Avira , Avast...
But sad to say that Avast doesnt detect virus files which are tagged as system file (attrib +s) and it ignores that file...
Had a virus called help.vbs with system file attribute, when i moved to folder containing it, AVG popped out and removed...
MSE removed that file as soon as i booted by laptop ...
Avast said 'no threat detected' even after i asked it to scan that folder...

For full protection + considering value for money.... 1) Bitdefender 2) Kaspersky 3) TrendMicro Titanium 4)F-Secure

Now you are talking my language Imran I have bee running KISS for the last four years and it has never let me down.
Now for a one machine one licence program I pay $50 which works out at $0.14 a day and they are always sending out offers either knocked down price or a bonus year licence for the same price.
See this http://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/avc_prot_201305en.pdf

Retailers do similar offers so have a look If you want a good config for it ask me.
For a decent freebie Comodo is also good value - AVG Norton Trend McAfee you couldn't give me it!

 

[Total]

So,Here is my view...
For free antivirus you could prefer Bitdefender.... Then followed by AVG, MSE, Avira , Avast...
But sad to say that Avast doesnt detect virus files which are tagged as system file (attrib +s) and it ignores that file...
Had a virus called help.vbs with system file attribute, when i moved to folder containing it, AVG popped out and removed...
MSE removed that file as soon as i booted by laptop ...
Avast said 'no threat detected' even after i asked it to scan that folder...

For full protection + considering value for money.... 1) Bitdefender 2) Kaspersky 3) TrendMicro Titanium 4)F-Secure

Now you are talking my language Imran I have bee running KISS for the last four years and it has never let me down.
Now for a one machine one licence program I pay $50 which works out at $0.14 a day and they are always sending out offers either knocked down price or a bonus year licence for the same price.
See this http://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/avc_prot_201305en.pdf

Retailers do similar offers so have a look If you want a good config for it ask me.
For a decent freebie Comodo is also good value - AVG Norton Trend McAfee you couldn't give me it!

Weird - they never tested Norton at all .. Very weird ... I have been using Norton internet Security the 3 license version , Every year they go on sale for 29.99 . cheap and great protection ...

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well Total this is just another result list and you will see Norton on it

Results and comments - www.matousec.com

 

[Total]

Well Total this is just another result list and you will see Norton on it

Results and comments - www.matousec.com

I see that - old norton ... Good way to adjust the results ..

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well Norton have been there about's for some considerable time, and as you are obviously trying to put the skids under anything I say I won't say anything else on the matter.

All in all pretty poor outcome as you are right and I therefore must be wrong and / or have a grudge against Norton. Personally I used it when I first started into computing and found it quite good but over the years I think it has gone down the gurgler. The fact that most computer makers bundle it speaks reams to me - if it is so good why would they need to do that?

 

[Total]

Well Norton have been there about's for some considerable time, and as you are obviously trying to put the skids under anything I say I won't say anything else on the matter.

All in all pretty poor outcome as you are right and I therefore must be wrong and / or have a grudge against Norton. Personally I used it when I first started into computing and found it quite good but over the years I think it has gone down the gurgler. The fact that most computer makers bundle it speaks reams to me - if it is so good why would they need to do that?

I fix many computers and look after 24 computers right now . So many computers are brought to me with full infections with many of the virus protection's that are high up on that list . But who actually cares ... Everyone use the virus protection at you feel comfortable using , and after you get infected , get something better ..

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yeah well whatever if those computers are so infected it speaks reams of the folks that use them as I am firm believer that if you walk around in circles on the freeway long enough you are going to get skittled.

I have been using Kaspersky for the last four years on my five machines plus the ones I have fixed when the folks can afford it - most of my workmates who don't earn a great deal I usually put either Comodo or Bitdefender on and have had no real issues with those either.

Anyway this subject (along with other issues) always brings out the daggers it seems to me and rather than work together it seems that it just creates an adversarial effect as no one is prepared to be open to others views if they go against that persons own personal preference.

 

[lehnerus2000]

So,Here is my view...
For free antivirus you could prefer Bitdefender.... Then followed by AVG, MSE, Avira , Avast...
But sad to say that Avast doesnt detect virus files which are tagged as system file (attrib +s) and it ignores that file...
Had a virus called help.vbs with system file attribute, when i moved to folder containing it, AVG popped out and removed...
MSE removed that file as soon as i booted by laptop ...
Avast said 'no threat detected' even after i asked it to scan that folder...

Did you try altering the settings?
There is a setting that caches previously scanned files (Persistent cache).

My copy of Avast seems to scan files with the "System" attribute set.
I set the "System" attribute (on a file Avast doesn't like) and I received the same warning that I receive without that attribute set.

 

[Imrankhan]

What about ESET NOD32 guys.

 

[ThrashZone]

The fact that most computer makers bundle it speaks reams to me - if it is so good why would they need to do that?

Could be because Norton pays to be pre-installed,
No different than Mcafee pays the manufactures to be there,
Money talks,
Junkware makes computers cheaper because they derive funds from pre-installed software.
Consumer looses.
I agree either one could not be gifted to me,
I read some where that either AVG or Avast was powered my Mcafee ?