What is the best antivirus?

[lndm]

Originally posted by aimeeandbeatles
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.

True, and FF and it's ancestors have pretty much had vulnerabilities all the way through. However, the vulnerabilities in IE are typically more fundamental in nature, like buffer overflows, and less enthusiastically attended to.

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

I agree that warez and porn are no more dangerous to those in the know. It's just that there are more traps within these frontiers. I guess the reason for this is that these sites are bait for people that probably aren't concentrating as hard as they should

Oh, and good choice on IE for that.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

The best antivirus is yourself ( Or possibly the worst, it really depends doesnt it )

 

[Mike Hussey]

AVG Free 8.5 has just released, the best freeware antivirus.

If you want to fork out, then nothing beats NOD32 v4 released a few days ago, best detection rates going and smallest footprint out of all the major antivirus programs.

 

[Zelig]

If you want to fork out, then nothing beats NOD32 v4 released a few days ago, best detection rates going and smallest footprint out of all the major antivirus programs.

How are you measuring?

http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse_2008_08.php

For the most recent tests they did there, Antivir, AVK, avast, AVG, Kaspersky, Norton and Trustport were all ahead of NOD32 in detection rates. (of those, only Norton managed it without many false positives)

 

[Speedo]

I stopped worrying a while ago about what was "best", and just used what was free (AVG). The only one I really have an opinion about is McAfee. It's one of the worst pieces of software ever written. They should change the name to "McMakesYourComputerMoveLikeYourGrandmotherfee".

 

[Genocidicbunny]

I stopped worrying a while ago about what was "best", and just used what was free (AVG). The only one I really have an opinion about is McAfee. It's one of the worst pieces of software ever written. They should change the name to "McMakesYourComputerMoveLikeYourGrandmotherfee".

Hey, my rather spry grandmother would take offense to that.
You make a good point though. Unless you're truly a PEBKAC, any decent anti-virus will be fine for you. And that slowing down? Probably your own gunk that you installed.
I will say this though, antiviruses that have real-time protection ( which is most nowadays ) are extremely useful. Downloading something questionable? It should catch it once the download is complete.

 

[Agent327]

http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse_2008_08.php

For the most recent tests they did there, Antivir, AVK, avast, AVG, Kaspersky, Norton and Trustport were all ahead of NOD32 in detection rates. (of those, only Norton managed it without many false positives)

Good to know.

 

[Northen Wolf]

Most test are fake or not proper.

I myself am using Eset Smart Security and have no issues.
Kraspersky is "too good" for my computer, so half of the things I do are "bad" for it.
I hate Symatec and Mcafee (Sorry if names were misspelled), these AV's had problems when I sued them, so I never use them anymore.

AVG is something I do not "trust", don't know why. Same with Northon.