AntiVirus/security

[viper]

just wanting advice for new Antivirus/security software, cos the new Zonealarm software im using Atm really slows down my pc, from booting up to normal pc activities. any help would be gratefull thx

[olobley]

I always have (and still do) maintain that Antivirus software is a false economy. It's a really easy way to retard the performance of your PC by a whole 1-2 years.
Presumably your PC is sat behind a DSL modem/router, and is thus pretty much invisible to the internet at large.
To this end, there are only two ways you are likely to get a virus/trojan.

1) Email: Your ISP really should be AV filtering this for you, and if you bar any .com/.exe/.zip files, that'll trim out 99% of anything that your ISP misses
2) The internet: Avoid Warez/P2P/Porn sites, or use Opera/Mozilla if you're going to go investigating

I've never seen the point of AV on a system that only I use. Chances are that the scanner engine is going to have a very similar detection set as the ones of my mailserver, so if the mailserver missed it, it's more than likely that the local AV won't have definitions for it yet either.

That said, I tend to use the AVG free on machines which I don't exclusively use (my folks ones for example)

[L33]

+1
The best AntiVirus is common sense (nope, that 1.2Mb "Vista.Ultimate.Full.No.Activation.exe" isn't real )

[MaddAussie]

I sort of agree with Olly, its fine for relaively tech savy peeps but if its going on a general use PC the AV all the may (waves at my mum ) Avast is pretty good for a free one

[Demonjock]

Or as i do 1 machine for gaming and general web stuff and 1 for naughty stuff .

[Nex]

If I recommend one it has to be ESET smart security.

[Blak]

Always used AVG free for my A/V needs.

Not that I actually have any needs as I'm sat behind a router and I'm not a cretin who clicks on every email attachment I see (not that I see any spam anyway as Gmail's filters are top-notch).

[CORPSE-MAKER]

currently deployed kaspersky across the network here at home.

Runs like a dream and stops me from having nasties and stuff all the time

[Colio]

Originally Posted by olobley

I always have (and still do) maintain that Antivirus software is a false economy. It's a really easy way to retard the performance of your PC by a whole 1-2 years.

a man after my own heart.

Antivirus is overrated, and its more often than not, so reactionary, the damage has already been done.

More effective in my opinion would be an application whitelist. If its not in the list, it doesnt run. But that adds further complications, especially if you run custom applications that require varied windows executables etc.

We only have AV because our Group IS policy mandates its required (more to satisfy the various auditing companies to be honest)...but as soon as I can offer a more substantial report offering more effective cost savings I'll be ripping the POS out.

[Sin_Chase]

I dont use any AV.

From time to time if I am feeling particulary paranoid I'll run a system scan using an online scanner. Nothing ever turns up.

[viper]

thx for all the feedback and help guys.

[lamarwisneski]

As I suppose one should buy licensed version of antivirus instead of downloading it from net..Licensed version generally comes for a year and update daily with internet...I used K7 antivirus..

[Hairy]

The free Avast works fine for me. Just stay off the dodgy sites

And thanks for the necro Lamar

[Platinum]

Microsoft security essentials for me, works well and is not intrusive.

[Cronos]

Originally Posted by Platinum

Microsoft security essentials for me, works well and is not intrusive.

+1