Need Advice regarding Anti-virus software

tiger_man · #1 June 1, 2006, 07:09 AM

guys,
i just brought a new dell inspiron laptop....the laptop came with a 3 months McAfee subscription. as of the moment nd for the next 3 months, my laptop has its anti virus software installed.

but my worry is after the 3 months when the subscriptions ends....i hear ppl suggest many different anti-virus software but dunno which one is good nd cheap...i thought of renewing mcaffee when it expires but it costs money...

is there a free anti-virus software like McAfee that is free nd is as realiable as McAfee or other well known anti-virus software??

any help will be appreciated...thanks

Rubu · #2 June 1, 2006, 07:20 AM

use avast.
www.avast.com
its free for home users, and better than norton or MacAfee. I think the best is PC-Cillin, but thats not free. so go with avast.

**Nasif** · #3 June 1, 2006, 02:49 PM

Avast is the best. No questions. Been using it for over 5 years now, never had any problem.

Frost · #4 June 1, 2006, 03:05 PM

If you are a subscriber of broadband connection you can check the ISP. Sometimes they provide free AntiVirus, AntiSpam, etc. I know for sure that RoadRunner, Cox communications provide that.

Visit CNET.com for freely downloadable AntiVirus software. They have a lot of FREE software. If you want to pay a fee - you can try F-Secure. I found it extremely helpful.

Hatebreed · #5 June 1, 2006, 04:33 PM

Sorry I don't know any free and reliable AV but McAfee is the best IMO, although it takes up a lot of running memory. Whatever you choose make sure you install a firewall program also for added security. Try ZoneAlarm which is free.

ammark · #6 June 1, 2006, 05:23 PM

AVG. its free for home use, and not as much of a resource hog.

RazabQ · #7 June 2, 2006, 12:56 AM

Funny, no one mentions Norton AV - has it really fallen that far behind?

ammark · #8 June 2, 2006, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RazabQ
Funny, no one mentions Norton AV - has it really fallen that far behind?

I use it because I have a free subscription from my uni. Otherwise I think its a bit of a pain requiring subscriptions, and also a resource hog on my pc.

Spitfire_x86 · #9 June 2, 2006, 05:01 AM

I use Symantec Antivirus 10 Corporate Client. It's Norton Anitvirus without the unnecessary stuff.

NOD32 is a good alternative, and probably the least system resource using AV.

Rubu · #10 June 2, 2006, 07:47 AM

Nasif vai, just wondering have u ever tried PC-Cillin?

For MacAfee lovers, my personal experience is (happened twice) off norton, macafee and pc-cillin only pc-cillin could find the virus that was giving me hardtime.

Rabz · #11 June 2, 2006, 08:04 AM

im using AVG...but im not quite sure if its doin me any good. ha ha...
not a big computer maestro myself...but im quite sure ive got some virus or something like that inside my beloved cant-live-without notebook....
though its not giving any troubles yet..
guess i'll act on disaster-to-oh_pls_help_me_god basis....

cricket_pagla · #12 June 2, 2006, 09:07 AM

AVG Free edt.. its GRRRREEAAT!..

**Nasif** · #13 June 2, 2006, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rubu
Nasif vai, just wondering have u ever tried PC-Cillin?

Yea tried it (some time ago), didn't like it

Hatebreed · #14 June 2, 2006, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RazabQ
Funny, no one mentions Norton AV - has it really fallen that far behind?

Norton is untrustworthy, I've used it in the past and it was the worst ever. Even recently security flaws were discovered in its latest software.

Hatebreed · #15 June 2, 2006, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rubu
Nasif vai, just wondering have u ever tried PC-Cillin?

For MacAfee lovers, my personal experience is (happened twice) off norton, macafee and pc-cillin only pc-cillin could find the virus that was giving me hardtime.

It also happened to me but decidate AV software can't always detect or remove certain malicious items (it depends on the nature of the threat), for which you need a special tool. My PC was twice attacked by an IRC worm which automatically started a timer and shut down my PC. When I had Norton, I had to use a seperate tool from Symnatec, and recently I got the worm again but McAfee AV couldn't detect, although its stand-alone utility called Stinger was able to remove it.

Mr-Cricket · #16 August 18, 2006, 05:32 AM

I'm downloading Avast at the moment, but does anyone know of any decent free integrated Antivirus/Firewall/Anti-Spyware programs, or indeed if any exist? I've been using Norton for a while now but keep hearing there are much better programs out there. Conversely, what are the better free Antispyware/Firewall programs that I could choose from?

Thanks in advance!

Alien · #17 August 20, 2006, 08:09 PM

I use McAffee and but I think its a limited subscription. When it runs out I might go for Avast.

If you think your computer is infected by virus/worm/trojan then then you can run the anti-virus application without the whole package. It will scan and eliminate any virus if found.

I guess if you are looking for FREE software then Avast would be the top choice. In terms of running memory it occupies, performance etc.

But the best precaution one can take is to browse safely and being careful of opening spam mails. A few click here and there might be tempting but from personal experience, its not worth the trouble when your anti-virus pops up and says you have a trojan virus.

kalpurush · #18 September 25, 2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rubu
use avast.
www.avast.com
its free for home users, and better than norton or MacAfee. I think the best is PC-Cillin, but thats not free. so go with avast.

To Rubu, Shafin and Nasif bhai...

Which one is better?
Microsoft Security Essentials Beta

or, AVAST?

Ashraf-FTP · #19 September 26, 2009, 12:28 AM

i have been using AVG for some time now (the free one, ya its good).. last time i had Mcafee but it couldnt detect the virus in my computer which destroyed my internet.. it couldnt be fixed.. i uninstalled and re-installed but didnt work so i had to format it.. im very angry at Mcafee.. havent used Avast.. maybe i will try it.. but i think if u pay, AVG is the best.. free, i think basically most of them work the same way (except some)..

Abid_Khan · #20 September 26, 2009, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalpurush
To Rubu, Shafin and Nasif bhai...

Which one is better?
Microsoft Security Essentials Beta

or, AVAST?

I use Avast Home Edition (the free one) and it has saved my computer many times.. not sure about Microsoft Essentials but stick with Avast as the other one is a 'beta'

Abid_Khan · #21 September 26, 2009, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatebreed
Norton is untrustworthy, I've used it in the past and it was the worst ever. Even recently security flaws were discovered in its latest software.

Yes same, I literally watched my computer die when some worm attacked my computer and all Norton was doing was 'alerting' me of my PC being attacked but it Norton didn't do anything to stop it!

Shafin · #22 September 26, 2009, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalpurush
To Rubu, Shafin and Nasif bhai...

Which one is better?
Microsoft Security Essentials Beta

or, AVAST?

For me, Security essentials is doing a good job, though I use it very rarely. My operating system gives much better protection.

kalpurush · #23 September 26, 2009, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shafin
For me, Security essentials is doing a good job, though I use it very rarely. My operating system gives much better protection.

Much thanks Shafin bhai. Going to upload tonight then...

kalpurush · #24 September 26, 2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abid_Khan
I use Avast Home Edition (the free one) and it has saved my computer many times.. not sure about Microsoft Essentials but stick with Avast as the other one is a 'beta'

Could you please explain a bit more?!

Much thanks.