Anti Virus Protection

[sandypas]

Would love some advice on which anti virus is the best.

I have had Norton for several years.  The free Avast before that but our computer tech (who originally put Avast on because they used it) picked up a virus on their system & lost all their data so put Norton on for us instead.  Last year I renewed it on the net but just tried and it wouldn't work.  Several people have told me Norton slows down your computer etc.  Which one do you use?  I don't mind paying for a good one but free would be great as well.

A friend said the use Microsoft Essentials (or something like that).

Any advice would be appreciated.

[moonlyte]

There is no trial period for the free(basic) versin of AVG. It is free, forever. There will be a 30 day trial for higher versions.

[debra9275]

the AVG free one is pretty good Sandy

[lakeland27]

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@moonlightbooksandgifts wrote:

There is no trial period for the free(basic) versin of AVG. It is free, forever. There will be a 30 day trial for higher versions.

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 well, thats what is says.  this computer has used it for 2 years before they attempted to have me pay. the trial did run out, but kept working. then it reverted to the same config as before after i ignored the warnings that lasted 2 or 3 weeks.

[sandypas]

Thanks so much everyone.  Freddie, I can't get over how cheap Norton is on eBay.  I tried to renew Norton on the computer this morning and it didn't work.  I'm glad now.

Might try AVG again - had it years ago but as someone said, there is always someone who doesn't like one or the other for some reason and I changed.  Then again, the log-in assistant is great with Norton.  Open the vault and all my log-ins are automatic.  I've got another couple of days to consider it.

[bright.ton42]

I'm due to renew my AV too.   I didn't like Norton when I had it and changed to Avast free which has picked up some nasties. 

I also use Spyot and Malaware Bytes, and Super anti Spyware all free and they have picked up a lot of diferent nasties too. 

As I'm doing a lot more downloading now i think I'll either upgrade Avast to paid, or another one. 

On Whirlpool a lot like eset.  

[poison_ivys_pen]

I use Trend Micro but have found AVG and Avast free versions to be very good.  I was using Microsoft Security Essentials but ran into some issue's with it letting in things that Trend never had so went back to Trend.

If you google AV-TEST it's an independent certifying body that runs analysis on all AV software daily/monthly and ranks them.  Microsoft Security Essentials lost it's certification with AV TEST over a year ago as it had performed very poorly compared to other free software and paid for software.

I'd never use Norton, each comp I've bought with it pre installed I remove it.  Whilst it can be a good AV software it has a massive tendency towards overkill and often blocks innocent sites.

[poddster]

Norton is almost a virus itself, it buries itself deep into the system and is almost impossible to irradicate completely.

The uninstaller leaves behind vestiges of Norton behind and continues to keep tabs on your usage.

[lakeland27]

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@bright.ton42 wrote:

I'm due to renew my AV too.   I didn't like Norton when I had it and changed to Avast free which has picked up some nasties. 

I also use Spyot and Malaware Bytes, and Super anti Spyware all free and they have picked up a lot of diferent nasties too. 

As I'm doing a lot more downloading now i think I'll either upgrade Avast to paid, or another one. 

On Whirlpool a lot like eset.  

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these various protection systems tend to dislike each others software and warn you. the warnings i find for the most part unwarranted.

its just competition.

[lakeland27]

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@poddster wrote:

Norton is almost a virus itself, it buries itself deep into the system and is almost impossible to irradicate completely.

The uninstaller leaves behind vestiges of Norton behind and continues to keep tabs on your usage.

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 i've mever installed it , but a box comes up once a day for years saying 'Norton has expired and can no longer be used on this computer'

maybe that cookie comes from sites such as this one. it cannot be removed as you say.

[sandypas]

I have just made a list of all my passwords saved in the Norton vault - including one that's not mine!  I have decided to delete Norton and try AVG.  I think last time I had AVG I also had a malabyte one.  Do I need this as well?