Virus Protection for My Laptop

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by emissary, Oct 25, 2010.

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  1. emissary

    emissary New Member

    I know there are a bunch of tech-junkies on here. My free Micro subscription runs out this week on my shiny new laptop. This is a business & personal use machine that has to be able to link up to my home wifi and my office LAN networks. I'm absolutely broke, and can't swing any big fees for virus protection. Additionally, I am a very surface-level user, if that makes answering my question any easier.

    Are there any reliable free services available for download? Any benevolent open-source projects that I can use?
     
  2. imalcolm

    imalcolm New Member

  3. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

    I personally use AVG anti-virus for almost all of my computers. It is free and works well. I have also heard good things about Avast, another free anti-virus.

    I will never use Norton/Symantec or McAfee again. Not only do they use a ton of resourses on my computers, but McAfee behaved like malware when I tried to uninstall it.
     
  4. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    I have used McAfee for several years - the licence allows me to use it on three computers - not free but can be bought at low cost ($29.99 on amazon) as I recall) when stores such as Staples, Fry's, or Amazon have specials. Never had a problem with McAfee and it updates frequently (I set it to update during my normal dinner hour).

    Just in case you have a Mac don't believe the myth that they are hack and virus free - I know two people whose macs were attacked in the last few months. (It is rumored that I-phones can be hacked)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 25, 2010
  5. emissary

    emissary New Member

    I'm not cool enough to own a Mac. emissary=:lame:
     
  6. BlueMason

    BlueMason Audaces fortuna juvat

  7. BlueMason

    BlueMason Audaces fortuna juvat

    <arnold accent ON>

    It's not a rumor...

    <arnold accent OFF>

    Sorry.. couldn't resist :lmao:
     
  8. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I switched to Ubuntu Linux a while ago and will never go back to Windows, but when I was still using XP I used AVG's free edition. Why pay Norton or McAfee when AVG is just as good and free?

    -=Steve=-
     
  9. BrandeX

    BrandeX New Member

    Because it gives false positives :)

    Most people I've seen on the net suggest Microsoft, or Avast. I use Avast myself.
     
  10. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Oh. Well, that didn't happen to me when I used it. Has its quality gone down in the last two years?

    -=Steve=-
     
  11. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    I have done dozens of hours of research, and my conclusions clearly favored Comodo as a firewall and heuristic, Avira as antivirus, and Adaware as adware protection.

    Even if you don't like the other programs, I PROMISE you that Avira is several times... YES, several TIMES stronger than Norton, McAfee and especially AVG.

    For anyone who is using the default windows firewall, you might as well just rent a blimp and have it display your credit card number and security pass code.
     
  12. rickyjo

    rickyjo New Member

    Hey MC, I think that perhaps the lines have blurred in the last year or so. You would have been absolutely correct until recently.

    According to the in depth testing I've seen most recently, Avira has failed to maintain its previously clear edge over other free products and Norton 360 actually works uncharacteristically well recently (still at the expense of performance), Mcafee still sucks (it's arguably the worst mainstream product). My only problem with ad-aware is that it has an active process. I like my anti-spyware to supplement my anti-virus and don't want them both running at once. I've been an avid user of Avira for years but I think that it isn't unreasonable to go with Avast after recent disappointing reports.

    I'm going to try to find the data sheet. It took me forever to find it last time, I can't believe I didn't save it.
     
  13. jbennet12

    jbennet12 member

    I used AVG for years and didn't have any major problems. The only issue I would run into was it would take a long time to scan but then again it's probably my computer which I need to update!!
     
  14. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    I must admit that it was at least a year ago since I last looked at the numbers myself. If avira has sunk, then maybe its time for me to move on. Is PC Tools still strong? I loved its interface and low use of resources, but it was somewhat weaker than Avira and Comodo for its antivirus and firewall respectively.

    i am actively considering switching to a beginner-friendly version of linux, so maybe none of this will matter soon enough :)
     

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