Opinions on Anti-Virus software?

[Dannybray107]

Personally I use Norton 360 and have been for some years; I know it coast A LOT compared to something like Kaspersky, McAfee and free AVG, but protecting your expensive system, I feel, is something that people should spend more time and money on, plus the added features Norton give you and exemplary. 

 

I was wondering what do you use?

 

and

 

How to pick the right software?

 

 

 

 

[Thunderjolt]

I use Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free and it works perfectly. It never lags or crashes and does pretty much what every other anti-virus does.

[sonarctica]

I used Bitdefender and it was great if you wanna get bugged about non essential windows updates. My trial + beta trial just ended and now I'm trying Kaspersky PURE 3.0 trial and see what it's like. To be honest, I doubt I'll ever pay for a AV software. I've used avast!, norton, McAfee and AVG as well and I gotta say, they are pretty bad all of them except Avast!

 

Go for one of these:

Bitdefender

Kaspersky

Avast!

 

Avast! probably has the best free AV if you don't want to buy anything.

[Xin]

Just use Microsoft Security Essentials and avoid visiting porn sites. If you're careful and you know your way around a PC, you won't even need an anti-virus.

[Uncharted218]

I use security essentials, its free 

[Anult]

I am using Avast and MBAM in sync, it works perfectly as long as you tell each program that the other program is safe etc.

[orangecat]

I use the built in stuff that comes with Windows 7 and i use malwarebytes because its pretty good and I never get viruses anyways.

[Mattyd]

I haven't used any anti-viruses in almost a year and I've been fine since. A few user mistakes, but nothing virus related. If you use your common sense, there really isn't a need for an anti-virus.

[Suspectmammal]

Just use Microsoft Security Essentials and avoid visiting porn sites. If you're careful and you know your way around a PC, you won't even need an anti-virus.

Couldn't have said it any better.

[SNIT]

I use ESET NOD32, It hasn't done me wrong since I started using the product line 5 years ago, although from memory it's on the expensive side.

[DrunkenSquirrel]

For Protection I use Adblock Plus with easylist/easyprivacy/fanboy's list and also noscript.

I use malwareytes to scan every now and again but other than that I've been running without A/V for almost 2 years and never got a virus.

Use Adblocks/Scriptblocks and don't go on dodgy sites and you'll be fine, I get Computers to fix all the time with some of the "best" antivirus software available with often 3-4 viruses.

Adverts/Scripts and infected USB Sticks are the biggest ways of getting viruses, if you avoid them you shouldn't get one in the first place.

[xzero]

I don't use anti-virus.

Because I'm pro.

[Jonny]

Avast here seems to do everything

 

Tryed AVG was ok but avast seems better

 

Had norton 360 for 2 years no point getting it. not very user friendly cant the program unblock thing does not work all ways blocks things when you allowed them. says thing were virus when there clearly not. uses alot of ram and cpu.

 

Basicly get Avast the free is good but if you alot of banking i would get full avast as they have a awesome banking broswer thats really hard to get hacked :D. Avast all ways does what i want it to do

[godlikegohan]

i use zone alarm or norton 360

but a good resource for info

http://www.av-test.org/en/tests/home-user/windows-7/novdec-2012/

[Purple]

Norton is bad and McAfee has had a lot of problems with me.

I'm testing out Avast at the moment though.

[Cruiseshipfan]

Never ever use AVG, it is by far the worst you can get. My friend run a store and around 25% of the PC's brought in with a virus have AVG installed. 50-60% have no security and the rest is evenly spread. If you have a decent computer the modern Nortons 360 is actually really good and majority of the time I have no issue. In fact I have only had it give a false reading once and I just had to tell it to leave he file and the issue was solved. 

[Dannybray107]

hahaha, I could never get away with no software *shifty eyes* I ended up turn off things like Windows Explorer and Windows Firewall

[vandanved]

I use quick heal total security in my pc and it is awesome

[sabrina]

I would suggest you to download the free version of Comodo Internet Security, which is very safe and secure.
In a recent AV test conducted on various security softwares based on protection, performance and usability. Comodo is the only FREE Antivirus to get 6/6 for Protection.. Other AV which have scored top have Trial versions, but not Free for Life-time.

http://www.av-test.org/en/tests/home-user/windows-xp/marapr-2013

[Caleb10E]

Microsoft Security Essentials. It's very unobtrusive, so you can easily forget that it's there working in the background. As long as you also restrain yourself from downloading anything that may seem sketchy, you and your computer will be fine. My computer has gone without any virus-related issues for the entire 3 years of its lifespan.

[ViperGTX88]

I always use Avast but, it seems to have issue with Win 8.

[glutesontheloose]

CommonSense 2013 :lol:

 

 

jokes aside, My Windows 7 System uses Microsoft Security Essentials as it is very small on resources and doesn't annoy you with notifications and updates.

 

Though on my Windows 8 System I do not use anything since I believe Windows 8 has built-in Anti-Virus (which is Windows Defender a.k.a. MSE) which works the same.

[Jeteroll]

I would go with Bitdefender, F-Secure, or Bullguard if your not a knowledgeable user when it comes to viruses, all are decently fast and have great protection. Webroot is by far the fastest and uses the least system resources, but doesn't have top-notch protection. Avast is great but half of the entire program is ads, even in the paid versions. AVG and Norton geared towards average users, so they have features I don't really care about like backup and parental controls (although many other products have parental controls also). If you are knowledgeable and know your way around viruses and Windows, go for MSE or no anti-virus at all. My personal favorite is ESET, although it eats RAM. Check the chart in my signature for more info, it compares almost every anti-virus product in many different ways, and includes tons of statistics.

[kreotis]

Antivirus programs are just placebos

[R4STABAN]

Eset smart security (nod 32) or go home