Which Anti virus software is the best ?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effectiveness and selection of antivirus software, exploring various options, personal experiences, and differing opinions on the necessity of antivirus protection. Participants share their views on specific antivirus programs, the perceived threats of viruses, and alternative approaches to computer security.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants list various antivirus software options, including Norton, McAfee, Panda, and AVG, with one noting AVG as a free option.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of antivirus software, citing high costs and the belief that viruses are often ahead of the software.
  • Another participant suggests that using Linux negates the need for antivirus protection, mentioning the rarity of Linux viruses.
  • A participant argues that backing up data does not protect against viruses, as existing viruses would also be backed up.
  • Some participants share personal experiences with antivirus software, with one stating that F-prot has been effective without causing conflicts, while another criticizes Norton for causing issues with other programs.
  • There are claims that using operating systems like Linux and Mac OS X provides better protection against viruses compared to Windows.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of understanding viruses and trojans before discussing antivirus software, providing a basic definition of a virus.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the necessity and effectiveness of antivirus software, with no consensus reached. Some advocate for specific antivirus programs, while others question their value or suggest alternative approaches to security.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the limitations of antivirus software, including the potential for new viruses to evade detection and the importance of understanding the nature of viruses and trojans. There is also mention of the varying effectiveness of different antivirus solutions based on user experience.

vote one

  • norton

    Votes: 5 50.0%

  • mcafee

    Votes: 4 40.0%

  • pccillin

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • AVG

    Votes: 1 10.0%
  • Total voters
    10
Saint
Messages
438
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1) Norton
2) Mcafee
3) Panda
4) Norman
5) Bullguard
6) Pccillin
7) AVG grisoft--------FREE of charge
8) you name it
 
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I gave up on anti virus a long time ago. It is too expensive and viruses are always a step ahead of the software. I just back up my computer every once and a while and I don't download from kaza or anything like that.
 
Who needs antivirus protection when you got Linux.
 
Originally posted by DarkAnt
I gave up on anti virus a long time ago. It is too expensive and viruses are always a step ahead of the software. I just back up my computer every once and a while and I don't download from kaza or anything like that.

That's your choice of course but not very safe. AVG is free as mentioned above. Backing up your computer is in no way a protection against viruses. Any viruses that are on your system will be backed up as well. P2P programs like Kazaa are not the only source for viruses.

Certainly there are going to be new viruses that software won't be aware of, that still leaves the thousands of known viruses that can infect your system. Statistically, you are more likely to get a known virus than an unknown one.
 
Thanks for the info, I guess I didn't read all the options. I didn't know there was a fairly good free one. ty
 
There's about 2 Linux viruses I've seen so far. Bliss and Staog.
 
F-prot is the best one I've used to date. AVG is OK. Norton sucks. Haven't used McAfee long enough to know if it's any good. F-prot hasn't created any conflict problems for me. I *know* that Norton causes some problems while running simultaneously with other programs. And the real-time protector that comes with F-prot is great!
 
the best anti-virus software I have found

it keeps my computer from getting infected no matter how long it takes for companies to up date their definitions...

Linux and Mac OS X :-D...

ok, ok, I use windows XP as well, but I read my e-mail on OS X, and do most of my work in Linux and OS X, so my XP machine does not really have much of a chance on my network to get infected.
 
The best antivirus I own is a Powermac G4 1.25 using OS X v. 10.2.8. :)
Not a single virus for it. :)
 
  • #10
antivirus

when talking about viruses, windows sucks
i used almost every anti virus software (no matter if it was free, share or trial) and i find that mc afee is the best.
with all mcafee (antivirus+firewall) i`ve got the best protection for my PC.
at work we don't use any antivirus. but from time to time i scan my computer on line. on line scanning it`s a solution too...
 
  • #11
viruses

before talking about which anit virus is the best we shoult talk a lil bit about viruses and trojans.

Originally posted by DarkAnt
I gave up on anti virus a long time ago. It is too expensive and viruses are always a step ahead of the software. I just back up my computer every once and a while and I don't download from kaza or anything like that.

virus=a computer program that is able to replicate
(this is a "simple" definition of a virus)
a virus can be found in other parts of the computer (boot sectors, memory, etc) not only in your OS. if u make a back up with a virus inside u`ll do it for nothing... u will remain infected.
my advice: get an antivirus
btw: look out for trojans too... (special kind of viruses and the most used for hacking)
 

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