The W
Views: 178996310
Main | FAQ | Search: Y! / G | Color chart | Log in for more!
28.3.17 0657
The 7 - Internet & Computers - Anti-virus software recommendations accepted here
This thread has 6 referrals leading to it
Register and log in to post!
(74 newer) Next thread | Previous thread
User
Post (13 total)
DJ FrostyFreeze
Scrapple
Level: 119

Posts: 3165/3467
EXP: 18396302
For next: 533044

Since: 2.1.02
From: Hawthorne, CA

Since last post: 137 days
Last activity: 137 days
#1 Posted on 20.2.12 1548.59
Reposted on: 20.2.19 1549.28
I got hit with some scareware a few months ago (viruses that look/act like anti-virus software telling you something catastrophic has happened to your computer). Luckily my McAfee firewall caught it when it was trying to connect to the internet, but couldnd actually stop it from infecting me in the first place. After Googling it, I found out how to get rid of it and I did. I also read up on how sucky everyone thinks my McAfee Security Center AV software is. Who knew? It came free with my AT&T/Yahoo ISP service years ago so I never bothered to research or read any reviews on it.

Fast-forward to a week ago and I get bit by a particularly nasty virus ("backdoor:win32/cycbot.b"). Of course McAfee didnt see it coming at all, Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool popped up out of nowhere and caught it but couldnt fix it. I never even heard of MWMSRT so I Googled that too and it turns out it's legit. Google also says if you're infected by that virus, your best bet is to stop banking/eCommerce-ing on that computer, change all your passwords, reformat your HDD and start over. Luckily for me, I had already backed everything up a few months ago after my scareware-scare for just such an occasion.

Now that I've reformatted I'm hesitant to install McAfee again (I'm using a different computer to type this). I'd prefer to go with something/someone else, but what??? That's where YOU come in. Any suggestions & sharing of expertise would be greatly appreciated :)
Promote this thread!
Mr Heel II
Lap cheong
Level: 84

Posts: 1318/1559
EXP: 5528483
For next: 133493

Since: 25.2.02

Since last post: 1891 days
Last activity: 1627 days
#2 Posted on 20.2.12 1607.59
Reposted on: 20.2.19 1618.56
I'm about as barebones as it gets on my Windows machine, using Windows Defender for the firewall and the free AVG Anti-Virus.

But I don't venture into unknown sites too often.

I used to use ZoneAlarm Free for my firewall, but that's been becoming more and more problematic lately, to the point where I got rid of it.
Mike Zeidler
Pepperoni
Level: 73

Posts: 745/1117
EXP: 3327621
For next: 158264

Since: 27.6.02

Since last post: 3515 days
Last activity: 737 days
#3 Posted on 20.2.12 1650.56
Reposted on: 20.2.19 1652.16
I use Microsoft Security Essentials (from from MS) and no firewall. I haven't had a virus in well over a decade, and I *do* go to unknown sites quite a bit.

In fact, my wife has had her CC # stolen twice, but those were both physical instances of it happening. One didn't get anywhere, but the second time they were able to make around $1000 worth of purchases before we realized what happened. The only non-Amazon place she had used it was at a clothing store in town, so the culprit was caught and charged fairly quickly.

(edited by Mike Zeidler on 20.2.12 1653)
samoflange
Lap cheong
Level: 88

Posts: 1538/1786
EXP: 6466475
For next: 184215

Since: 22.2.04
From: Cambridge, MA

Since last post: 3815 days
Last activity: 3807 days
#4 Posted on 20.2.12 1657.54
Reposted on: 20.2.19 1658.41
If you are running Windows 7, the built-in Microsoft Security Essentials is great. It works well and is very unobtrusive. That combined with basic internet common sense ought to keep everything safe.
CRZ
Big Brother
Administrator
Level: 239

Posts: 14417/17695
EXP: 212426468
For next: 1734331

Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス

Since last post: 8 days
Last activity: 3 days
ICQ:  
Y!:
#5 Posted on 20.2.12 1708.01
Reposted on: 20.2.19 1708.24
As Symantec directly deposits money into my account on a regular basis, I am obligated to recommend Norton 360 (us.norton.com).

Hey, we're having a sale (buy-static.norton.com)! (Also, free 30 day trials from this page)
Brian P. Dermody
Liverwurst
Moderator
Level: 75

Posts: 1204/1205
EXP: 3708358
For next: 118563

Since: 20.9.02
From: New York, NY

Since last post: 4381 days
Last activity: 3803 days
Y!:
#6 Posted on 20.2.12 2049.14
Reposted on: 20.2.19 2049.43
I had McAfee and had the same issue as you, DJ. I switched over to Norton and haven't had those problems since.

And nobody's paying me to say that.
Big G
Landjager
Level: 67

Posts: 590/952
EXP: 2547940
For next: 44946

Since: 21.8.03
From: the people who brought you Steel Magnolias....

Since last post: 19 days
Last activity: 5 hours
#7 Posted on 20.2.12 2117.35
Reposted on: 20.2.19 2118.04
When I built this computer over two years ago I asked the same question.

What I ended up doing was purchasing Norton Internet Security with a 3 year subscription. (303 days remaining). That license allowed me to install it on 3 different computers which was handy. I've had no problems with it and no viruses / nastiness.

One of the machines I installed it on was a netbook with an Atom single core CPU and Norton behaved itself and didn't kill the performance.

I also had occasion to use Symmantec's tech support and that was a reasonably good experience.

I've also built computers for family / friends based on Microsoft Security Essentials + Avast free anti-virus and they have been OK to. (Although Avast could do to lose the virus definitions updated audio message).
DJ FrostyFreeze
Scrapple
Level: 119

Posts: 3166/3467
EXP: 18396302
For next: 533044

Since: 2.1.02
From: Hawthorne, CA

Since last post: 137 days
Last activity: 137 days
#8 Posted on 20.2.12 2246.25
Reposted on: 20.2.19 2254.37
    Originally posted by Mike Zeidler
    I use Microsoft Security Essentials (from from MS) and no firewall. I haven't had a virus in well over a decade, and I *do* go to unknown sites quite a bit.
I also frequent unknown sites quite a bit, so the idea of using so few AV resources scares me, especially after the last few months I've had. It's odd too because I've never had any trouble EVER until late last year. Weird.

    Originally posted by Brian P. Dermody
    I had McAfee and had the same issue as you, DJ. I switched over to Norton and haven't had those problems since.
I'm hesitant to switch to Norton because last time I had it several years ago it was REALLY obtrusive, not only with constant alerts about this-that-and-the-other, but it was a really "heavy" program that made my whole system drag. I got that one from AT&T/Yahoo too (they switch AV companies every few years. I've had Norton, McAfee, CA, and AVG so far from them). When their contract with Norton ran out and we switched to CA Associates, my computer got 75% faster over night.

So yeah, is that really not the case with Norton anymore?

CRZ
Big Brother
Administrator
Level: 239

Posts: 14418/17695
EXP: 212426468
For next: 1734331

Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス

Since last post: 8 days
Last activity: 3 days
ICQ:  
Y!:
#9 Posted on 20.2.12 2318.47
Reposted on: 20.2.19 2319.28
    Originally posted by DJ FrostyFreeze
    So yeah, is that really not the case with Norton anymore?
I think they shed that (admittedly well-deserved) "CPU hog" label two or three major releases ago.
theremin
Boerewors
Level: 40

Posts: 27/338
EXP: 414045
For next: 27268

Since: 31.1.12

Since last post: 2208 days
Last activity: 2208 days
#10 Posted on 21.2.12 0022.54
Reposted on: 21.2.19 0023.41
I just noticed that I'm only running MSE on here now. I also go to sketchy places sometimes, but chrome helps out a lot too.


I worked in computer tech work for half a year in 2010. I highly recommend against McAfee and Norton. I saw a lot of things come in the shop with those programs on it. (most of our business we virus removal).

For free, I would recommend Avira and AVG over Avast.

For spending money, I don't think you can beat VIPRE.
Zeruel
Thirty Millionth Hit
Moderator
Level: 142

Posts: 4818/5284
EXP: 34613007
For next: 355508

Since: 2.1.02
From: The Silver Spring in the Land of Mary.

Since last post: 1675 days
Last activity: 1675 days
#11 Posted on 21.2.12 0201.06
Reposted on: 21.2.19 0202.14

I had to dump Zonealarm. I think it was a CPU hog or something because it was really making my system unusable. I switched to Avast and haven't looked back.

You can turn off the Avast audio updates in the settings. After that first one waking me up in the middle of the night, I turned that option off right away.
Mike Zeidler
Pepperoni
Level: 73

Posts: 746/1117
EXP: 3327621
For next: 158264

Since: 27.6.02

Since last post: 3515 days
Last activity: 737 days
#12 Posted on 21.2.12 0228.47
Reposted on: 21.2.19 0229.01
Yeah, in addition to MSE, adblocker (with pop-upblocker), flash block and script block in Firefox have probably saved me more than any anti-virus could have.
thecubsfan
Scrapple
Moderator
Level: 152

Posts: 4101/6203
EXP: 44087098
For next: 214664

Since: 10.12.01
From: Aurora, IL

Since last post: 947 days
Last activity: 327 days
#13 Posted on 21.2.12 1059.51
Reposted on: 21.2.19 1101.56
    Originally posted by theremin
    I worked in computer tech work for half a year in 2010. I highly recommend against McAfee and Norton. I saw a lot of things come in the shop with those programs on it. (most of our business we virus removal).


Your experience may be different, but mine has always been the problem is not as much with the McAfee/Nortono software itself, but the way the users use it. Or don't use it. It'll come installed with a 3 month license, and the users were just ignore the expiration warnings until it's too late. If you stay on top of it, they're no worse than the others, but the people who have those on home PCs are the least likely to be paying attention to them, and it just creates a false sense of security. It doesn't sound like that was the problem for DJ FrostyFreeze, but I've run into enough.

I use MSE extensively and recommend it to others, because it's relatively nuisance free and I do not have to worry about it going out of date someplace without being caught. (I have run into issues of late where the daily call back to SpyNet for tracking information has not worked right and the computer just freezes for about 15 minutes, so I've turned that off a few places.)

But I also help out people who've used Norton the last few years, are completely content with it, and wouldn't think of changing to something else.

Besides the anti-virus program, I always try to have an anti-malware program handy. (Malwarebytes is my current favorite, but there are others.) Sometimes the virus will obstruct MSE, but the anti-malware program can remove it. Sometimes an issue just be sitting in the background and it can be swept up before it becomes a problem. It's something I try to run at least once a month, just to so I'm not totally dependent on one piece of software for all my protection.
ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Thread ahead: Problem with Gmail chat
Next thread: Kindle Fire
Previous thread: iPhone apps & contacts privacy
(74 newer) Next thread | Previous thread
The 7 - Internet & Computers - Anti-virus software recommendations accepted hereRegister and log in to post!

The W™ message board - 7 year recycle

ZimBoard
©2001-2024 Brothers Zim
This old hunk of junk rendered your page in 0.165 seconds.