My subscription to Norton 360 is due for renewal. Although it works well I am wondering if there are good virusscanners that are equally good but also for free.
What are you using?
What are you using?
Virus protection
- Thread starter foraloysius
- Start date
Avast.
I quit buying AV, now i only use Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free and it works well. I think it would be available to you in The Netherlands
Malwarebytes . . .
This is free or you can pay for a more feature-laden version. I use it in conjunction with Norton just to be on the safe side since I use my computer for professional work. Malwarebytes and Norton seem to co-exist with no problems. Usually I can find Norton really cheap if I look around for a sale.
This is free or you can pay for a more feature-laden version. I use it in conjunction with Norton just to be on the safe side since I use my computer for professional work. Malwarebytes and Norton seem to co-exist with no problems. Usually I can find Norton really cheap if I look around for a sale.
Isn't Malwarebytes more an ad hoc adware/malware scanner than resident antivirus?
I had Comodo on my parents' system for a while, but they're on dial-up and the definition update files are so large that it couldn't ever get caught up.
I have no idea how far Malwarebyte's product line goes, but they have some for-pay versions with automatic scanning, etc. I discovered them when I had a Trojan virus of some sort and Norton would get part of it but not all of it - I could hardly do any work on the computer. Malwarebytes took care of it almost instantly, and since then I've kept using it.
Hate Norton
Hate McCaffee, Not crazy about Bitdefender either, their tech support is atrocious, but it has a smaller footprint. At home am trying Kaspersky this year ,so far its the smallest footprint of all.
Heard there is a new one out called Esnet? or Enet? Supposed to be even smaller than Kas. My Kas runs out this spring so I will try to find it and try it out.
Hate McCaffee, Not crazy about Bitdefender either, their tech support is atrocious, but it has a smaller footprint. At home am trying Kaspersky this year ,so far its the smallest footprint of all.
Heard there is a new one out called Esnet? or Enet? Supposed to be even smaller than Kas. My Kas runs out this spring so I will try to find it and try it out.
austinado16
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Avira Antivir Personal. It was/is highly rated, and it's free. There are updates daily, and there's a pay version with more features.
I also have Spybot Search and Destroy to help with spyware/malware, etc.
I also have Spybot Search and Destroy to help with spyware/malware, etc.
dj-gabriele
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- Jun 24, 2007
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I'm behind an hardware firewall and my rule is "don't open it if you're not sure" so I feel quite safe, last time I got a "proper" virus was in 1997, more lately there were a couple of "trojans" that came in the mail and Avast home edition did a great job to keep them at bay, I run once in a while the Microsoft app for spyware and it always reports a clean system so Avast is sure doing a nice job.
I really liked Norton antivirus but it is a resource sucker and when the free subscription plan expired I simply uninstalled it.
Avast is more than enough, otherwise you could try Avira, everybody seem to say good things on it.
Also, if you can find it free, I suggest you the Trend Micro security suite with antivirus and firewall, both my banks gives it free to the customers so maybe you could find some institution that has an agreement with them too. It's very easy to use but on the "heavy" side of performance degradation
I really liked Norton antivirus but it is a resource sucker and when the free subscription plan expired I simply uninstalled it.
Avast is more than enough, otherwise you could try Avira, everybody seem to say good things on it.
Also, if you can find it free, I suggest you the Trend Micro security suite with antivirus and firewall, both my banks gives it free to the customers so maybe you could find some institution that has an agreement with them too. It's very easy to use but on the "heavy" side of performance degradation
I have been using norton for many years with no problem. In the past 2 years our internet provide which is comcast, started providing it for us "free of charge" to download onto your computers. doesn't matter how many you have. You might look into what if any your internet provider provides.
Jon
Jon
whitekingd
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- Mar 6, 2008
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- 484
I use Emisoft, formerly "A-squared". A wonderful anti-virus that is very pro-active, easy to use, and catches far more problems than most programs out there. There is a free version, but I spend the money for the upgrade which runs me about $12 for three months.
whirlcool
Well-known member
You really don't need the full Norton 360 product. All you need is the Norton Anti-Virus product. It's much cheaper.
Also it's much cheaper to just buy a new version of Norton when your current version of Notron expires. The online renewal fee is higher than what a new Cd would cost.
Also it's much cheaper to just buy a new version of Norton when your current version of Notron expires. The online renewal fee is higher than what a new Cd would cost.
AVG Free
Here is the link to the 'Free' Edition
http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free
Here is the link to the 'Free' Edition
http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free
Free Antivirus/Firewalls
I have several computers, and use Microsoft Security Essentials on a couple with no problems. It is completely hands off - it updates and scans w/o any fuss. The down side is that it doesn't give you as much control or feedback
Since I am a bit of a control freak, on one computer that has the internet connection coming in and then shares it with other computers, I use a combination of AVG Antivirus and Zone Alarm Firewall. The zone alarm firewall allows you to more carefully control access and will let you know if a program is trying to access the internet, so it is more interactive (and informative) than the Microsoft Security Essentials.
Microsoft Security Essentials:
http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
AVG (Make sure you download the free version - not the free trial of the paid version):
http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free
Zone Alarm Free:
http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/zonealarm-pc-security-free-firewall.htm
Trend Micro's Housecall also is free, and is web based - I like to use it from time to time as a sort of "second opinion." Since it is web based, you can just use it when you want to double check your system without loading a second virus software program that could result in degraded system performance.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
Joe
[this post was last edited: 1/19/2011-10:30]
I have several computers, and use Microsoft Security Essentials on a couple with no problems. It is completely hands off - it updates and scans w/o any fuss. The down side is that it doesn't give you as much control or feedback
Since I am a bit of a control freak, on one computer that has the internet connection coming in and then shares it with other computers, I use a combination of AVG Antivirus and Zone Alarm Firewall. The zone alarm firewall allows you to more carefully control access and will let you know if a program is trying to access the internet, so it is more interactive (and informative) than the Microsoft Security Essentials.
Microsoft Security Essentials:
http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
AVG (Make sure you download the free version - not the free trial of the paid version):
http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free
Zone Alarm Free:
http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/zonealarm-pc-security-free-firewall.htm
Trend Micro's Housecall also is free, and is web based - I like to use it from time to time as a sort of "second opinion." Since it is web based, you can just use it when you want to double check your system without loading a second virus software program that could result in degraded system performance.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
Joe
[this post was last edited: 1/19/2011-10:30]
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: small;">When I was last using AVG, a program update on it caused Firefox to freeze repeatedly. That's when I switched to Avast. Could very well be the problem was reported and solved since then.</span>
Goodness! I didn't know there were so many different ones.
Norton is working fine, but it makes my older computer perform slower. In the past I had some problems with communicating with Norton. Haven't needed that the last few years, but it's time for something else.
I have AVG on my mini laptop, just wanted to try something different.
So far Avira and Avast seem the winners to me, but if somebody has something bad to say about one of them please stand up now or hold your peace forever... lol
Thanks for your opinion, it's a big help.
Louis
Norton is working fine, but it makes my older computer perform slower. In the past I had some problems with communicating with Norton. Haven't needed that the last few years, but it's time for something else.
I have AVG on my mini laptop, just wanted to try something different.
So far Avira and Avast seem the winners to me, but if somebody has something bad to say about one of them please stand up now or hold your peace forever... lol
Thanks for your opinion, it's a big help.
Louis
One of my computer-tech friends has recommended NOD32, she uses the paid version of it. I don't know if there's a free version.
Her last recommendation to me for a free package was Avast ... but she does occasionally change her opinion.
I agree with Joe in Philly and MattL, Microsoft Security Essentials, I have found to be pretty good have had no issues and have been using on several laptops and pc's that I have within the family. I have had no issues with it and have been using it for quite a while. I will however look into AVG and Zone Alarm as Joe Recommends.
passatdoc
Well-known member
CA (Computer Associates)
I started using this when Norton stopped supporting Windows versions before XP, about five years ago. At the time, I had one XP Pro and two Win2000 Pro computers networked in my office. Buying the then-current version of Norton would not work, since it no longer supported Win2K.
I took the problem to Staples and they suggested CA Antivirus, which at the time worked on 98, Me, 2K, XP, and Vista (7 had not yet been introduced). It comes in both "full suite" versions and "antivirus plus antispyware only" versions. I bought the latter, simpler version. It currently is sold in single user and five-user versions, the latter of which in particular is economically priced. I typically buy the five-license version, and install it on my three office computers plus two home computers.
The two Win2000 computers have been retired and replaced with Dell XP machines, but I've stayed with CA since I was forced to change by Norton's refusal to support versions before XP. I recall the change was about 2005-6, only four years after XP introduction. Either you ran XP or Vista, or you didn't use Norton anymore. CA works well on 7, I have a netbook running 7 basic and CA works fine.
I started using this when Norton stopped supporting Windows versions before XP, about five years ago. At the time, I had one XP Pro and two Win2000 Pro computers networked in my office. Buying the then-current version of Norton would not work, since it no longer supported Win2K.
I took the problem to Staples and they suggested CA Antivirus, which at the time worked on 98, Me, 2K, XP, and Vista (7 had not yet been introduced). It comes in both "full suite" versions and "antivirus plus antispyware only" versions. I bought the latter, simpler version. It currently is sold in single user and five-user versions, the latter of which in particular is economically priced. I typically buy the five-license version, and install it on my three office computers plus two home computers.
The two Win2000 computers have been retired and replaced with Dell XP machines, but I've stayed with CA since I was forced to change by Norton's refusal to support versions before XP. I recall the change was about 2005-6, only four years after XP introduction. Either you ran XP or Vista, or you didn't use Norton anymore. CA works well on 7, I have a netbook running 7 basic and CA works fine.
passatdoc
Well-known member
CA en Benelux.....maar niet op Nederlands
http://www.ca.com/be/en/default.aspx
http://www.ca.com/be/en/default.aspx
http://www.ca.com/be/en/default.aspx
http://www.ca.com/be/en/default.aspx
dirtybuck
Well-known member
Avira
I've used Avira for over 7 years, and have been very happy with it.
However, with the last re-format on my hard drive, I reinstalled it and for some reason it will NOT update automatically. I've tried scheduling it for different times more than once, and still no luck. I've deleted it from my hard drive and reinstalled it (twice). Same problem. For the heck of it, I switched to AVG for a few months, but I didn't like it (it seemed to slow my computer down a bit).
If I remember (without getting a notice from Windows when I do a morning boot up), I'll do a manual update (last manual update before today was on the 14th of this month).
I also use Windows Defender, Ad-Aware, CCleaner, SpyBot, and good old-fashioned Disk Clean up (from the accessories column on Windows XP) to keep my computer running decently. I do a "tune-up" every 3-4 weeks.
I've used Avira for over 7 years, and have been very happy with it.
However, with the last re-format on my hard drive, I reinstalled it and for some reason it will NOT update automatically. I've tried scheduling it for different times more than once, and still no luck. I've deleted it from my hard drive and reinstalled it (twice). Same problem. For the heck of it, I switched to AVG for a few months, but I didn't like it (it seemed to slow my computer down a bit).
If I remember (without getting a notice from Windows when I do a morning boot up), I'll do a manual update (last manual update before today was on the 14th of this month).
I also use Windows Defender, Ad-Aware, CCleaner, SpyBot, and good old-fashioned Disk Clean up (from the accessories column on Windows XP) to keep my computer running decently. I do a "tune-up" every 3-4 weeks.
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva; font-size: small;">I've never used Computer Associates AV, but I recall a couple years ago a client who uses it caught a spam zombie infection that it apparently didn't detect. One of their office computers was spewing spam, which prompted their mail server host to block their DSL IP, bringing their entire office's mail service (they're a title company that hugely depends on email) to a halt until we figured out what had happened.</span>
Just installed Avira, it looks like my computer is faster now. Thank you all for your opinions!
3beltwesty
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- Nov 29, 2010
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- 1,057
With AVG Win 2000 is still supported
Even NT versions below Win2000 here are used with AVG very manually updating with the update from folder. ie with the folder containing today's latest BIN file which is about 67 megs today.
Even old Win98SE machine here with AVG still can have there updates down via pointing to todays BIN file. If one reboots or opens up AVG's control panel; one gets the "AVG bitch notice" that one just ignors twice. If you do the as the say with WIN98SE the version it seeks will not run under win98se. Thus here I have been just upgrading the BIN files on these old win98SE boxes.
Like washing machine repairs; the software guys want everybody to have a new washer and XP, 2000, Win98SE and DOS killed of; and 1-18's crushed too.
Virus software does not catch everything AND never will. If you deal witht eh public's inputs like I do with discs, fobs, emails, ftp transfers one is goint to catch some manure after awhile. Thus a disposible or reghosted box is used.
Here I run NT3.51, NT4, Win2000, XP64, XPpro, Vista and Win&, plus DOS. I have an Imac 20" unit that has been the internet for 1 yar only and is all screwed up. Yet FTP box runs win2000 has no issues and hands not even behind a router.
http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-update
Even NT versions below Win2000 here are used with AVG very manually updating with the update from folder. ie with the folder containing today's latest BIN file which is about 67 megs today.
Even old Win98SE machine here with AVG still can have there updates down via pointing to todays BIN file. If one reboots or opens up AVG's control panel; one gets the "AVG bitch notice" that one just ignors twice. If you do the as the say with WIN98SE the version it seeks will not run under win98se. Thus here I have been just upgrading the BIN files on these old win98SE boxes.
Like washing machine repairs; the software guys want everybody to have a new washer and XP, 2000, Win98SE and DOS killed of; and 1-18's crushed too.
Virus software does not catch everything AND never will. If you deal witht eh public's inputs like I do with discs, fobs, emails, ftp transfers one is goint to catch some manure after awhile. Thus a disposible or reghosted box is used.
Here I run NT3.51, NT4, Win2000, XP64, XPpro, Vista and Win&, plus DOS. I have an Imac 20" unit that has been the internet for 1 yar only and is all screwed up. Yet FTP box runs win2000 has no issues and hands not even behind a router.
http://free.avg.com/us-en/download-update
I give my vote to Microsoft Security Essentials. I did a lot of reading of reviews before choosing and since it is made by MS it seems to have the least problems working with Windows and Explorer. It also does not seem to slow the computer down at all while it is scanning or updating its definitions. Best part is it's FREE. Good Luck!
I'm actually not very impressed by Microsoft Essentials. Last year I had a very agressive virus attacking my computer when I clicked on a link that looked innocent. Norton 360 immediately was activated and caught it. ME didn't do a thing. Or at least hadn't detected it yet.
I'm using the ME firewall now, Norton 360 had one, but I activated the ME one when I removed Norton from my computer.
I'm using the ME firewall now, Norton 360 had one, but I activated the ME one when I removed Norton from my computer.
seamusuk
Well-known member
My Choice...
Hey Guys
I use the free security software my ISP (Virgin Media Cable) provide. Its actually rebadged Bitdefender, seems to work really well and dosent slow the PC down unlike both McAffee and Norton when ive had them in the past.
Seamus
Hey Guys
I use the free security software my ISP (Virgin Media Cable) provide. Its actually rebadged Bitdefender, seems to work really well and dosent slow the PC down unlike both McAffee and Norton when ive had them in the past.
Seamus
austinado16
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- Dec 23, 2009
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- 617
Glad you like the Avira
Also glad you were able to do a successful uninstall of the Norton. Usually, it's woven so tightly into the registry that there can be problems with it after-the-fact.
Also glad you were able to do a successful uninstall of the Norton. Usually, it's woven so tightly into the registry that there can be problems with it after-the-fact.
Uninstalling wasn't a problem. Deleting my account isn't as easy though. There is no way to get rid of your account yourself. I mailed Norton with the request to remove it. We'll see what happens.
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