Best Antivirus 2013

[Cs342]

So I have finally decided to ditch Norton Internet Security  :)  Which antivirus is the best in terms of virus detection, scan times and system performance?

[joelthezombie15]

Payed: Eset Nod 32. i have used it for years and never once gotten a virus.

 

unpayed, idk

[bradscoolio]

Avast free, malwarebytes and common sense.

 

Payed: Eset Nod 32. i have used it for years and never once gotten a virus.

 

unpayed, idk

 

If an antivirus says you don't have any viruses then what does that suggest?

• A: You don't have any viruses

or

• B: You have viruses but your anti-virus hasn't detected them

*hint: the answer is B

 

[samuel]

Windows 8 Defender. Basic and no performance drag. 

[AvoK95]

Windows 8 Defender. Basic and no performance drag. 

 

I found it useless. I always use AVG Free. Been using it since 2006 or something. 

[samuel]

I found it useless. I always use AVG Free. Been using it since 2006 or something. 

honestly, I don't need a powerful antivirus... I'm past the "click here" traps and such.

[AvoK95]

honestly, I don't need a powerful antivirus... I'm past the "click here" traps and such.

Well yeah, in that case no one needs it :D But hey..it's there and it's free and it's always better to be safe than sorry  ^_^

[911^NEmeSis]

Well in terms of free ones it's usually between AVG Free, Avast and Avira

[joelthezombie15]

Avast free, malwarebytes and common sense.

 

 

If an antivirus says you don't have any viruses then what does that suggest?

• A: You don't have any viruses

or

• B: You have viruses but your anti-virus hasn't detected them

*hint: the answer is B

I never said that i told me i have no virus' i said i have never gotten one and ive had it on the computer for almost 7 years.

[Blackterror25]

I've been using avast free for over 5 years now, it does what I expect an ani virus software to do, keep quiet until it needs to.

[ybriK]

I'm assuming you prefer free ones? well I highly recommend MS Security Essentials, Avast or AVG. Also you should install on-demand malware scanners since not all Antivirus programs can detect every single virus out there and an Antivirus is programmed to protect you from viruses not the other malicious softwares such as: rootkits, backdoors, trojans, worms, blackhole exploits, bankers, dialers, etc. But these three Antivirus software are bundled with other goodies that should help you stay protected from the ones I mentioned before. I recommend installing Malwarebytes or SUPERAntiSpyware for your on-demand scanning software. You should be doing daily updates of your Antivirus and the choice of your on-demand scanner program. I know it is a pain the bum doing it but you're far better of spending 2-5 minutes of updating than becoming infected which may result of your files becoming vulnerable to harm.

 

Malwarebytes: http://www.malwarebytes.org/

 

SUPERAntiSpyware: http://www.superantispyware.com/

[Buchis]

You could also try Kaspersky Internet Security/Anti-Virus or ESET Smart Security (both payed), but to be honest if you don't have some really important information on your PC (company information ect.) some free one, like Avast or AVG, should be fine and AV is more of a just assistance, so don't install things you don't trust, never click those "hotties near you", also porn is a possible way to catch a PC virus so watch out for that too and you should be fine.

[Cs342]

Is simply installing a free antivirus good enough or do I need to get a firewall program too? Norton Internet Security comes with far more than just an antivirus

[ybriK]

Is simply installing a free antivirus good enough or do I need to get a firewall program too? Norton Internet Security comes with far more than just an antivirus

A third party software firewall like ZoneAlarm Free Firewall 2013 is an extra protection from preventing hackers to gain access to your computer. In my opinion it is only useful if you want your network to be monitored more specifically since these third part firewalls have the ability to prompt you or notify you on programs that have been allowed to receive or send connections. Also majority of them allow network port filtering so you have more control on which ports can be used by your system. If you want an added security layer protection then you have two choices:

 

FREE

1. Install a free antivirus and a free firewall such as AVG Free Antivirus with ZoneAlarm Free Firewall or ZoneAlarm Free antivirus + Firewall 2013

 

OR

 

NOT FREE

2. Pay for an internet security package software such as Norton Internet Security 2013 , AVG Internet Security 2013, Bitdefender Total Security 2013, avast! Internet Security 2013 and so on.

[Cs342]

Would uninstalling norton make my computer faster?

[ybriK]

Would uninstalling norton make my computer faster?

Yes, you should notice a performance increase. The same applies to uninstalling any antivirus or internet security package software as there is less CPU/RAM consumption, especially during boot times unless you have an SSD which will make everything super snappy.

[kirashi]

Common Sense. After that, I personally use Security Essentials paired with MalwareBytes Pro. For something a little less techie, I can highly recommend Avast! from previous experience, especially if you have an Android Device.

[Cs342]

Yes, you should notice a performance increase. The same applies to uninstalling any antivirus or internet security package software as there is less CPU/RAM consumption, especially during boot times unless you have an SSD which will make everything super snappy.

I meant would switching to a different antivirus improve performance

[ybriK]

I meant would switching to a different antivirus improve performance

It depends on how the antivirus product has been reviewed and if majority of users see minimal resource impact towards their system. From my experience Norton has given me a hard time not only on my 5 years old laptop but also my gaming rig, that's why I switched to AVG and did not have a problem regarding slow performance since. There are many reviews out there of different antivirus products try reading one about AVG, avast and MSE.

[Lyons]

I found it useless. I always use AVG Free. Been using it since 2006 or something. 

 

Useless because you got a virus? It's been very effective for me, and has almost zero performance deterrence. 

[Cs342]

I'd prefer to be on the safe side... what's the fastest and most reliable paid internet security suite?

[smjpl]

MSE & Malwarebytes combo FTW.

 

Microsoft Security Essentials all the way. The great thing is I never see it, hear from it or have to deal with it that often,. Exactly how anti virus software should be. Avast & AVG annoy me. Don't even get me started on Norton. :angry: 

 

 Then I use malwarebytes (free, non real-time version) to run my own scans to make sure nothing is getting through.I just run malwarebytes around once a month or if i have any suspicion of a virus. Luckily I have been virus free for a few years and I do download torrent etc. 

[AvoK95]

Useless because you got a virus? It's been very effective for me, and has almost zero performance deterrence.

No I didn't get a virus, but AVG for example doesn't let an exe file open if it's a threat. Like every other piece of security software doesn't. Maybe it has 0 performance deterrence because it doesn't have real-time protection. In fact I think it even failed the AV test.

[Lyons]

No I didn't get a virus, but AVG for example doesn't let an exe file open if it's a threat. Like every other piece of security software doesn't. Maybe it has 0 performance deterrence because it doesn't have real-time protection. In fact I think it even failed the AV test.

 

Oh well, it works flawlessly for me. I know what I am downloading, all the time.

[ybriK]

I'd prefer to be on the safe side... what's the fastest and most reliable paid internet security suite?

Why don't you try out a trial version of AVG Internet Security 2013? http://www.avg.com/us-en/download

or Bitdefender Internet Security 2013 trial http://www.bitdefender.com/Downloads/