Best virus detection and removal software

Question

I have a bit of a dilemna. My computer has been wiped out by viruses for the past 2 years I have had it about 4+ times. I bought Norton Internet Security 2004 for it. It worked for a while, then it messed up, allowing a worn to get in and screw up the hard drive, making it go bad. So now I have to get a new one. But since I'm getting a new one, my question is that what is the best antivirus and firwall software that won't mess up on you after only having it for a few months? I want something that's going to save my new hard drive because I'm going to be laoding it up with all of the pictures i will be taking for the years to come.

100mph · Answer

It all depends on your habits … If you are downloading files from questionable sources, browsing porn or practicing other forms of unsafe online behavior without enough security knowledge, nothing will help you.

http://www.cert.org/
http://www.sans.org/rr/
http://www.us-cert.gov/current/current_activity.html
http://www.niscc.org.uk/
http://www.itsafe.gov.uk/
http://www.antionline.com/
http://www.securityfocus.com/
http://www.nsa.gov/snac/support/WORMPAPER.pdf
http://www.nsa.gov/snac/index.cfm?MenuID=scg10.3.1
http://www.firewallguide.com/

Good Luck!

mknabster1 · Answer

Well, the only things that I downlaod are games from the internet from sites that I have been downloading form for a long time, like Microsoft.com and Gamerevolution.com. And no, I have never downlaoded porn before along w/ risque online behavior. So that doesn't apply to me. Anyway I have SP 2 already on it, but it seems that didn't stop anything from getting on my computer. I saw on the Symantec website that in their technical support page they had one specifically for Dell users, which tells me that consumers with Dell systems must have many problems with their Norton products. What about Mcafee? Is that a good solution?

Abrandoned · Answer

Hi mknabster1,

Anti-Virus

Tips for using AVG 7.0 at http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/avg7.htm by mvps.org on AVG 7.0

If you’re a Windows user you need an Anti-Virus. I do not recommend the current top sellers: Norton Anti-virus or McAfee. They’re bloated and less effective than others. Check any anti-virus before you buy by visiting the independent Virus Bulletin : Independent Anti-virus and Anti-spam Advice at http://www.virusbtn.com/. Any anti-virus you choose should also be certified by the Standards for commercial security products are set by ICSA Labs at http://www.icsalabs.com/ (all the big commercial products are).

* If you can’t afford, or don’t want to buy, an anti-virus program I recommend the Free Version of AVG at http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5 from Grisoft. It’s fairly accurate but to reduce bloat you might want to turn off the background tasks.

* The best commercial anti-virus is NOD32 at http://www.eset.com/ from Eset. It’s relatively inexpensive and has a 100% effective rating from the Virus Bulletin.

Symantec’s Anti-Virus Research Center at http://sarc.com/ is a good source of virus information. The site also lists hoaxes and offers many free virus removal tools. Most anti-virus companies maintain similar sites. Unfortunately, there’s no standard for virus names, so you may have to look around to find the right page.

If you are having problems installing an AV product it may be that your system is infected. Use one of these free Online Anti-Virus/Trojans/Worms.

* Anti-Virus Program's

AntiVir Personal Edition at http://www.free-av.com/index.htm

AVG at http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

Bitdefender at http://www.bitdefender.com/bd/site/downloads.php?menu_id=21

Eset Home - NOD32 Antivirus System at http://www.nod32.com/download/download.htm

Kaspersky at http://www.kaspersky.com/productupdates

McAfee Inc. - McAfee AVERT Stinger at http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

Symantec at http://www.symantec.com/downloads/

Currently these online scanners below require Internet Explorer and activex, but a cross-platform version of Housecall is reportedly under development.

* Online Anti-Virus Scanner's

Spyware911- Free Tech Support Virus Scanner's at http://www.spyware911.net/forum/index.php?act=page&pg=virusscan (Link's to all of these online virus scanner's listed below). BitDefender, Computer Associates eTrust Antivirus Web Scanner, F-Secure Support pages: F-Secure Online Virus Scanner, Kaspersky, McAfee - Computer Virus Software and Internet Security For Your PC, PandaSoft, TrendMicro, RAV, Symantec Secruity Check

Sygate Online Services at http://scan.sygate.com/ (sos)

* Trojans/Worms Online Scanner's Program's

a² free at http://esd.element5.com/affiliate.html?affiliateid=62338&publisherid=34449&target=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emsisoft.com%2Fen%2Fsoftware%2Ffree%2F%3F

DiamondCS at http://www.diamondcs.com.au/index.php?page=products

Windowsecurity at http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/

* You can search your virus for removal instruction.

Symantec Search at http://www.symantec.com/search/

Choose one of thses firewall for your computer.

Firewall/Security

D-Link Router at http://www.dlink.com/

Firewall Test, Port Scan and Internet Security made easy - Spy Ware, Audit and Tools at http://www.auditmypc.com/

Kerio at http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_home.html

OutPost at http://esd.element5.com/affiliate.html?affiliateid=62338&publisherid=34449&target=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.agnitum.com%2Fdownload%2Foutpost1.html

Prevx at https://www.prevx.com/homeoffice/homeoffice_homedownload.htm

Protowall at http://www.bluetack.co.uk/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2

Router - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Router There are several manufacturers of routers listed here on this website.

Sygate Port Scan at http://esd.element5.com/affiliate.html?affiliateid=62338&publisherid=34449&target=http%3A%2F%2Fsmb.sygate.com%2Fdownload_buy.htm

Tiny at http://www.webmasterfree.com/tpfw.html

Welcome To Linksys.com at http://www.linksys.com/

Zonealarm at http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp (for dialup connections)

Message Edited by Abrandoned on 06-17-2005 10:54 AM

100mph · Answer

Please review the links I provided in the previous reply. The following (short) guide should give you some general pointers:

http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/before_you_plug_in.html#III

The first link below has some specific information on how to make Windows simpler, faster and more secure by stripping down unnecessary junk.

All the Best!

mknabster1 · Answer

Ok, let's just put it very simply, what is the best security software out there that I can get?

cren · Answer

Hi I have the norton internet security 2005 on 2 notebooks and it works great never had a problem with it, but you do have to make sure it is updated all the time as all the virus and firewall programs.

it has the virus and firewall on it and more just make sure your definitions and everything is updated on it and run your scans at least once a week and you should be ok. it works for us no problems.

Best of luck

msgale · Answer

It may be a simple question, but there is no simple answer.  Many swear by, and others swear at Norton, McAfee, Panda, AVG, NOD32, PC-cillin (Trend Micro) +...+.  THe only consenses that I know of is you need both an Anti-Virus and an Anti-Spyware program (s).  Only one Anti-Virus, but possibility more than one Anti-Spyware application.  Many but not all recommend a firewall also,  The most important issue is to keep signatures up to date.

obey_gravity · Answer

Hello, I have tried many products also, The computer my kid's have used for the past five years had frequent 'meltdown's' from virus's, untill I found and installed these programs:

Zone Alarm Pro : Firewall -- very user friendly, and easy to configure for your needs

Spybot Search and Destroy: For removing/isolating Trojans -- A little complicated, but the Help section is very good at explaining the various functions

Have had no problems since installing these two products (with necessary updates of course!) for a little over two years!

My Dell came with the McAffee Firewall/Anti-Virus, and I have not had any trouble with it as of yet!

mknabster1 · Answer

Thanks for your help guys!

The George · Answer

Ooooops sorry about the double post!

The George · Answer

I know it's frustrating at times because we all like a little porn now and then and we all like to play games....(maybe even games with a little porno in em) but I think a lot of peoples problems actually stem from not knowing how to properly use the Virus software they install. You need to read the instructions thouroughly and make sure you understand how they work.

The George · Answer

I know it's frustrating at times because we all like a little porn now and then and we all like to play games....(maybe even games with a little porno in em) but I think a lot of peoples problems actually stem from not knowing how to properly use the Virus software they install. You need to read the instructions thouroughly and make sure you understand how they work.

Mary-p · Answer

Hi there,

I always use Norton AV on my computer. It does what it is suppose to do and it does it very well.
My advice - just spend the $30 to update last year's version online.

As for free antivirus, I appreciate mainly Avast. I am not an expert but it is easy for me to install. Just one criticism : I am forced to identify and delete each cookies individually.

Antivirus Comparison:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,124475;page,1/article.html

http://www.all-internet-security.com/top_10_antivirus_software.html

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/software/antivirus-software/comparisonchart.html

I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Mary

Virus & Spyware

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