What to look for in an anti-virus software?

Question

Just came across Norton 360, Kaspersky and NOD32.

I know Norton 360 is an all around internet security but do I really need all of them as its quite expensive? or could I buy them separately like for firewall, spyware...etc.? If so, what are the holes I need to protect and what are the best software in protecting them?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Well, there are a list of things that we need to search for in an antivirus software. In my view, I would search the following things in an antivirus software.

1. The software must be able to find malwares as well as potentially unwanted softwares not only by the help of their databases, but even by the help of the heuristics.

2. The antivirus software must not be a resource hog. What's the use if the antivirus software makes the computer slow, which in fact is the task of a virus?

3. Antivirus softwares must have an easy to interface, with background scanning modes and must have a good look.

4. The antivirus software must provide us with the facility to configure every small function in its working. For instance, disabling real-time protection, scheduling a scan, and the like.

5. Antivirus softwares must release their updates as fast as possible. That ensures maximum protection form new malwares.

6. The antivirus software must not produce annoying messages time to time and interfere computing experience.

That's all I look for in an Antivirus software. & as for your choices, I would rate the antivirus softwares as follows.

Kaspersky - - - - * * * * * * * * * *= 10 stars out of 10

ESS NOD32 - - - * * * * * * * * *  = 9 stars out of 10

AVAST - - - - - - - - -* * * * * * * * = 7 out of 10

Grisoft AVG - - - - -  - - * * * * * * = 6 out of 10

Symantec Norton - - - - - - -* * *  = 3 out of 10

Kaspersky and ESS NOD have all the things I looked for. So, I use ESET Smart Security 3.

Maybe that was a lot useful. Go for a good one and look for the things I mentioned above.

Cheers !!!

Answer 2

The best one is Avast Anti-virus, believe me, I've tried quite a few. Norton slows down your PC and Avast is free anyway so it's worth you trying it. You will find only GREAT reviews of it on Google.

Answer 3

For me is the AVG free 8.0

I am without virus from 6 months ago.

First I used Norton, Mcafee, nod32, panda, Tend-micro.

Now I am very happy with AVG "and It´s free"

Answer 4

I have avast and it is quite good, i recommend avast home edition, all you got to do is sign up and put your real email address in and then they will send you a key to avast and then you be able to use it.

Answer 5

Go with     Kaspersky or Nod32 and stay away from Norton.

I use Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 8.0.0.454

and this is what it offers>

Checks for and protects from

Viruses

Trojans

Spyware and Adware

Rootkits and Keyloggers

Phishing and Spam

Hacker Attacks

Plus

Integated Personal Firewall

Privacy and Parental controls

Hourly updates

Free Technical Support

Answer 6

I agree that avast is good.

And you should know that nothing reoplaces Avast Better than kaspersky.

ITs good.

Beleive me good.

Answer 7

Get rid of Norton, try Avg 8 (free anti-virus)

Free Firewalls

Comodo Firewall pro

ZoneAlarm free

Pc Tools firewall

Answer 8

Most malwares are designed to attack popular

antivirus products (like Symantec, Norton ), but since free anti-virus product is much less used, it's capable of fighting the viruses when industry leaders fail.

Symantec/Norton are responsible for BSOD ( Blue Screen Of Death )

see story

http://www.computerworld.com/action/arti...

I would suggest that you get Avast Home Edition version 4,

which is free for personal use.

Avast is a very effective and free anti-virus program because it can do

a boot time scan in safe mode and it will remove the entire virus on your PC.

Even those viruses that hide inside the system restore folder.

Windows utilize a restore utility that backs up selected files

automatically to the System volume information /System Restore folder.

This means that an infected file could be stored there as a backup file,

and most anti-virus programs will be unable to delete these files. You

must disable the System Restore Utility to remove the infected files

from the folder if you use another brand of anti-virus. However, you do

not need to do so if you use Avast to do a boot up scan in safe mode.

Avast Anti-virus installation

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.ht...

How to configure Avast ?

http://www.infodiv.unimelb.edu.au/soe/an...