What is the best antivirus?

[aimeeandbeatles]

From what I understand, the best free antiviruses are AVG & Avast, but NOD32 if you have the money. Although some other ones can get those stubborn infections that others can't.

Is this correct? What antiviruses do you use? (I use AVG. )

P.S. This is more for the Windows folks -- I read somewhere that you don't even need an antivirus on Linux. Anyways, there's only been like 10 viruses on it anyways.

 

[Zelig]

I don't install viruses.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Yes, but there's drive-by viruses. (Best way to prevent that -- DONT USE IE.)

 

[Aramazd]

I personally use avast, and I find it good, although the UI sucks.

Yes, but there's drive-by viruses. (Best way to prevent that -- DONT USE IE.)

No, you can still viruses on Firefox or Opera.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Yes, but you're much more likely to get them using IE. The drive-by ones, especially rogueware.

For example, with this computer, I've only used Firefox. (Except when I first got it, I had to use IE to go download FF.) And I've only gotten one virus, which was user error.

My mom's had at least 6 viruses on hers, I manually removed 6 and there's more, and she used IE. Since she switched to FF, she didn't get any.

 

[Aramazd]

Yes, but you're much more likely to get them using IE. The drive-by ones, especially rogueware.

No. Protected mode in vista's IE7 probably does a better job at protecting against drive by downloads, and firefox does nothing to prevent trojans from taking advantage of vulnerabilities in plugins. There are plenty of reasons to use Firefox over IE, but your deluding yourself if you think security is one.

For example, with this computer, I've only used Firefox. (Except when I first got it, I had to use IE to go download FF.) And I've only gotten one virus, which was user error.

My mom's had at least 6 viruses on hers, I manually removed 6 and there's more, and she used IE. Since she switched to FF, she didn't get any.

Anecdote != data.

 

[Zelig]

Yes, but there's drive-by viruses. (Best way to prevent that -- DONT USE IE.)

I only use IE to surf porn and warez, and I still don't have any viruses.

 

[Jazzmail]

AVG is good enough. and it's free for personal use, so don't switch.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I only use IE to surf porn and warez, and I still don't have any viruses.

Is this sarcastic?

 

[Zelig]

Is this sarcastic?

Not at all.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

But you usually get malware from porno and warez.

I read on another forum "how can I stop getting viruses?" "quit watching porn."

 

[J-man]

You just need to find the right sites

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I don't even watch porn.

 

[J-man]

Then how do you get viruses?
just kidding.. on-topic: I remember some company did a extensive test on AV software some time ago. I remember there wasn't much quality difference between the anti viruses (there where a few exceptions), the paid ones where a bit better then free ones. I use AVG, which is free but good.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I only got one virus, and that was because I inserted a CD (I burned an infected CD image onto it.) User error.

 

[GVBN]

Avast. Virustotal.com for suspicious exes

Porn and P2P don't give viruses. It's user's fault for double-clicking hornygirls.avi.exe or downloading 80kb Doom 3 full version

 

[plarq]

Short answer: Linux
Expensive answer: Mac

 

[El Koeno]

I use Comodo Internet Security: It's got antivirus, firewall, and a lot of annoying alerts that make me feel safe. Actually, there aren't that many alerts, and it's very light on system resources. I would recommend it if I knew what I was talking about.

 

[Zelig]

Then how do you get viruses?
just kidding.. on-topic: I remember some company did a extensive test on AV software some time ago. I remember there wasn't much quality difference between the anti viruses (there where a few exceptions), the paid ones where a bit better then free ones. I use AVG, which is free but good.

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

Comparitives.

 

[Enkidu Warrior]

None. Whenever I've been forced to use antivirus software on other computers it's wasted more of my time than manually killing off viruses ever did on my computer.