Best Anti-Virus System

**Spartan198** · 03-23-2008, 06:15

What's the best anti-virus program available for a decent price tag?

**Tratorix** · 03-23-2008, 06:34

I personally use AVG Free. I haven't had any problems, and best of all it doesn't cost anything.

**Raz** · 03-23-2008, 06:59

And what ever you do, do not get Norton Anti-Virus... Worst thing you could do.

**Hellenic_Hoplite** · 03-23-2008, 07:28

Originally Posted by Raz

And what ever you do, do not get Norton Anti-Virus... Worst thing you could do.

Not sure why you say that (well in a way I am (it sometimes blocks you're computer from playing online games)) I've had it for a while and I haven't got a virus since, as a matter of fact it blocked a couple of trojans the other day.

**Omanes Alexandrapolites** · 03-23-2008, 08:52

I think it's more the performance overhead on some Anti-Virus programs than their virus combating qualities. Norton is a bit of a memory hog in all honesty and its performance penalties are especially noticeable on my lower mid-range laptop. I probably would uninstall it, but both my PCs came with it pre-installed with a one year subscription. I don't really want to waste two free licences on an otherwise commercial product.

**Raz** · 03-23-2008, 12:47

Originally Posted by Hellenic_Hoplite

Not sure why you say that (well in a way I am (it sometimes blocks you're computer from playing online games)) I've had it for a while and I haven't got a virus since, as a matter of fact it blocked a couple of trojans the other day.

As omanes said, it isn't too crash hot for a PC that you'll be using for some sort of gaming. Before I'd get messages popping up saying "Windows is low on memory". I'd say, far enough I must have the graphics on too high a setting, so I tune them down, then it pops up again... I open up task manager, and there it is... Norton is using up pretty much all of my memory for a LiveUpdate or something... Gah!
This and it's very, very slow scan speed will slow your computer right up unless you can afford to own a top notch PC. You try scanning 180 GB of Hard-drive using Norton, you can easily spend 3 hours or more watching it scan... >_<

**grwn** · 03-23-2008, 13:51

I've been using AVG free for several years as well. Never had any kind of problems with it, not even viruses, so apparently it's doing it's job.

I've used Norton and McAfee as well, but these were both extreme system hogs. I've tweaked my system to give me the best performance (disabling unnecessary services, register edits etc..) and after installing either of these, I lost about 5 - 10 FPS (Frames Per Second) in every game I played. So both of these were gone immediately. I installed AVG and disabled the regular scans, and I am back at my normal FPS rate again.

I've also heard some nice things about NOD32, but I have n't used it so I can't comment on that one.

cheers,
grwn

**PseRamesses** · 03-24-2008, 10:35

Originally Posted by Raz

As omanes said, it isn't too crash hot for a PC that you'll be using for some sort of gaming. Before I'd get messages popping up saying "Windows is low on memory". I'd say, far enough I must have the graphics on too high a setting, so I tune them down, then it pops up again... I open up task manager, and there it is... Norton is using up pretty much all of my memory for a LiveUpdate or something... Gah!
This and it's very, very slow scan speed will slow your computer right up unless you can afford to own a top notch PC. You try scanning 180 GB of Hard-drive using Norton, you can easily spend 3 hours or more watching it scan... >_<

I´ve been using Norton since the mid 90´s and I must say it´s hazzel free. I admit I never play online so that´s maybee its weakpoint. I´ve never had any problems and I can really recomend it. In Sweden it costs around 90$ and I buy a new version every three years and updates meanwhile.

I take it you know you can set the updates on manual instead so it doeasn´t interfear with your gaming? That´s what I did. Every friday at 8 am? (in the evening) I get the updates, run a scan and defrag the hd. All is done within one hour on a 250GB hd. To remind me I set the kalender in Windows to remind me.
Another good thing is to, sometimes, disconnect your PC from the web while gaming so some occasional pop-up intrusion varnings doesn´t disturb you. In my case I´ve found that the first pop-up I get I check if Norton can handle it. The second time I get the same varning I disable the "warn-me-box", this way I won´t be bothered with pop-ups that I already know Norton can handle.

**Spartan198** · 03-23-2008, 09:53

Originally Posted by Tratorix

I personally use AVG Free. I haven't had any problems, and best of all it doesn't cost anything.

The zero-cost is always a plus,but I'd had AVG in the past (when I was picking up stray wireless signals) and when I finally got a wireless router and regular net access on my notebook,it gave me a partial incompatability reading.

Currently,I'm using Ad-Aware Free,but it's not doing as good a job as I'd hoped. I have a trial of another program that I downloaded a week or so ago,and it's always picking up infections that Ad-Aware is missing.

I'm currently of the opinion that the free anti-virus programs aren't so good.

And don't get me started on Norton. I've used it before and was sorely disappointed.

**Quirinus** · 03-23-2008, 10:53

I use AVG Free and Spybot Search & Destroy. I find them to be pretty effective, but I turn off the daily scans, and scan only about once a week. Otherwise it lags my computer up so bad it wouldn't be much better than viruses.

**caravel** · 03-23-2008, 13:48

Originally Posted by Omanes Alexandrapolites

I think it's more the performance overhead on some Anti-Virus programs than their virus combating qualities. Norton is a bit of a memory hog in all honesty and its performance penalties are especially noticeable on my lower mid-range laptop. I probably would uninstall it, but both my PCs came with it pre-installed with a one year subscription. I don't really want to waste two free licences on an otherwise commercial product.

There is nothing to waste as Norton is basically a crap product. You should uninstall it and not waste months or years with degraded performance.

Originally Posted by Spartan198

The zero-cost is always a plus,but I'd had AVG in the past (when I was picking up stray wireless signals) and when I finally got a wireless router and regular net access on my notebook,it gave me a partial incompatability reading.

What is a "partial incompatibility reading"?

Originally Posted by Spartan198

Currently,I'm using Ad-Aware Free,but it's not doing as good a job as I'd hoped. I have a trial of another program that I downloaded a week or so ago,and it's always picking up infections that Ad-Aware is missing.

This is not an anti virus program, it is an anti spyware program and not a very good one.

Originally Posted by Spartan198

I'm currently of the opinion that the free anti-virus programs aren't so good.

And what do you base that on? I'm of the opinion that AVG is easily one of the best Anti-Virus programs out there and is better than both Norton and McAfee in almost every way possible.

**Spartan198** · 03-23-2008, 16:09

Originally Posted by caravel

What is a "partial incompatibility reading"?

I have no clue,but after I got that message,my AVG wouldn't update properly.

Originally Posted by caravel

This is not an anti virus program, it is an anti spyware program and not a very good one.

I didn't know that. Thanks for telling me.

Originally Posted by caravel

And what do you base that on? I'm of the opinion that AVG is easily one of the best Anti-Virus programs out there and is better than both Norton and McAfee in almost every way possible.

That was when I thought Ad-Aware was an actual anti-virus program.