best free protection for viruses, spyware

Norton corporate 10. 1 antivirus for all 5 computers in my house.

 

Hey jackluo923, this is completely OT but what Shaw internet package do you have? Do you get that speed most of the time? I have Extreme but it's a little less than extreme for me.

 

????

 

Avira by far.

 

I have shaw high speed (no extreme or nitro) rated at 7.5Mbit, but I'm constantly getting over 25Mbit over wired lan and 20Mbit on Wireless G.
Torrenting sometimes hit 2.5MB/s, but most of the time it stays in 1.5-2MB/s (12-16Mbps) range.

I'm paying about $20/month for their service.

My $1.99 router from futureshop/bestbuy is a serious bottleneck for my internet connection. When connected directly to modem, i get solid 30Mbps out of my 7.5Mbps* connection.

 

Why is Avira not on that list?

 

I think I'll write about my vote too

Mine went to Kaspersky - I'm using Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 - works flawlessly, no problems, also on older computers.

I had Avira on my grandfather's computer then installed Kaspersky as I got another license and the, why not use it - immediately RAM usage dropped by 100MB - what happened?? Avira was supposed to be light... but maybe something went wrong.

Don't take this as a black mark against Avira - I didn't make extensive comparisons, it just looked like that.

Kaspersky does a good job for me, my mother's computer and my grandfather's computer - also, I don't notice any impact on performance.

Features like IM (instant messaging) protection are good too - and the add blocker is a nice add on - I wonder what adds Google tries to give me - I don't see them...

 

It is, you need to open your eyes

 

I think yuyi64 was referring to this list below, not the poll in this thread.

 

This is the list in the poll you blind ****

NOD32 AntiVirus 5 16.67%
Kaspersky AntiVirus 4 13.33%
Norton 2009 2 6.67%
McAfee Virus Scan 2 6.67%
Panda Anti Virus 0 0%
BitDefender Antivirus 1 3.33%
F-Secure Anti-Virus 0 0%
AVG Anti-Virus 1 3.33%
Avast! AntiVirus 4 13.33%
Avira AntiVir 16 53.33%
Other (Please specifiy)

 

You still don't get it, do you???

Read those posts again, think them over for a few minutes.

He is referring to the list Chaz posted about which software he'll have in his comparison.

 

I even put Chaz' list in my reply.

 

I use to be a big fan of AVG free, but version 8 is very bloated and slow compared to how it used to be. Apparently, Norton re-wrote their AV software so it is faster and more streamlined than it used to be way back in the day.

During this uncertain times, I'll give NOD32 a whirl.

 

Norton IS 2009 is my choice. After the code re-write from 2008 to 2009, it uses even less resources than Eset Smart Security, which is definitely saying something. It has updates every few minutes, unlike Eset as well, and has one of the best detection rates of any of the current AV's.

 

Norton even after teh rewrite cannot compete with teh mighty NOD32.

System resource wise, and detection rate wise, NOD32 is still wins

 

How much resource does NOD32 use?
Norton Corporate (32bit) use about 25MB of memory.

 

In the background (while not scanning), Norton Internet Security is currently using a total of 9MB of my RAM (including the hidden processes). Installed on the same computer, Eset Smart Security in the background (while not scanning) used around 25-30MB of RAM (including the hidden processes).

While updating, NIS also uses slightly less CPU than Eset, which already had a remarkably low CPU usage during update.

 

I apologize for the intrusion bredren, but please allow me to step in here and apologize on MaXimus' behalf! He gets excited really fast!

 

I have used all the freebies for extended periods of time.

Avast does it for me.

 

just wondering whats a rootkit im lost

 

Rootkits are the worst malware.
If compared to criminals, rootkits are like child molesters; the worst of the worst.
Simply put, a rootkit is a piece of malware that's intended to seize control of the operating system while avoiding detection by hiding it's processes.

 

Nice link Baserk.

+1.

 

so Avira has antirootkit if im not mistaken but my avast professional had antirootkit to which one is better does anybody knoe.....
can some one give me the pros and cons of avast and avira those that have first hand experience.....................

 

so far the winners are:

Paid AV: NOD32 FTW
Free AV: Avira AntiVir FTW

 

There is one significant flaw in this poll.

We can only compare resource usage.

We cannot compare detection rates as some users will have a high risk and others a low risk - I possibly have a low risk.
(The biggest risk for me is one of my contacts in MSN/ICQ getting a virus that sends itself to me)

This doesn't mean that Avira and NOD32 are bad - but it doesn't mean this poll is "the poll".
Comparisons done in a controlled environment where every programme is given the same "set" of viruses is a better comparison.

But even that is not 100% accurate - someone once mentioned that Kaspersky also keeps track of usage patterns to find viruses - if that is true then a comparison with a set of viruses may not be enough as this may not allow the programme to establish a usage pattern.

 

You have a point, the poll cannot be 100% accurate, but I personally have never had any virus especially from these MSN messenger people who keep sending you stuff, has anyone with NOD32, Avira, etc. had a virus while running his full updates AntiVirus? Please share your experiences

 

I know of one person who's MSN was compromised while using Avira - I got the spam messages.... But I will not say who.

I had one of my friends on ICQ with an infected computer too... oddly enough that never happened again after I made sure they used Kaspersky - yes, I like Kaspersky - it belongs to the best - but look at comparisons and take your own pick

 

I use Avast now. AVG just doesn't cut it anymore.

 

No the flaw with the poll, is just that, it's a poll that is based off OPINION. The best av to someone is the av he/she tried and has had not serious problems with it. Hardly many people try out all the av's out there and factor their decision based on that.

 

When I voted for NOD32, my opinion came after 4 years of intense usage, how is my opinion not valid? or at least should be taken into great consideration?

 

My best AV is my router's firewall my my common sense. E.g. not clicking on those popups.

 

I'm not sure he gets it even after your explanation. I'm glad you do.

 

He did - we settled this little point.

Everybody can have a bad day - be in a rush - it happens.

 

well just uninstalled avira and installed avast way faster at start up at least for me avira made my computer slow at start up and i feel more protect with avast anyways...............IMO

 

Winners of POLL:

* Free AV: Avira AntiVir FTW

* Paid AV: NOD32 FTW

 

Between these two, NOD32 > Avira, IMVHO.

 

INYVHO? Off-course d00d, like I said, Avira is the best of the FREE AVs, but it is in no way comparable to the allmighty NOD32, NOD32 = 2-in1 Shampoo + conditioner, that is, strongest detection rate and protection+ lightest resources on teh system, you wont even feel u are running an AV honestly

Been a NOD32 user ever since it came out

 

Early 1990s?

 

NOD32 was out since then?? no i just came to know about it in like 2003 or 2004

 

Hate to nitpick but may I ask where you get the " NOD32 has a higher detection rate than Avira" from?

Looking at the past six comparatives, both On-demand and Proactive tests, Avira has consistently had a higher detection rate. Look at the May results of the On-demand tests and you'll see, for example, that for Windows Viruses Avira has an 86% detection rate while NOD32 had 48%. Link

I'm not dissing NOD32. I actually use ESET Smart Security 4 on one of my machines and love it but to say it has a higher detection rate than Avira is a little misleading.

 

lol You are a funny guy

I have tried NOD32 and avast! +++
I only trust Kaspersky Internet Securty 2009 !

 

Just because it is a paid software does not mean it is any better. Don't get me wrong there is of course better software that is paid compared to the free ones (ej; Microsoft Office over Open Office), but for AV, this is not the case. I am not a bias party either. I used to use Nod32 few years ago for a couple of years to boot! But when I got a new rig, a lot of rage was for Avira, so I did some research and Avira FREE continually placed top 3 in detection rates, so I definitely gave it a shot. At the time, I didn't care for resource usage, but since I got on this forum, everyone seems to care, so I took a look, and all the combined Avira processes don't even break 12,000k. It is extremely lightweight, fast, and has great detection rates.
if you are fine with paying for Nod32(unless you get it some other way) and are fine with the product, so be it and continue to use it! But if you really want to try a free av or sick of paying, use Avira Free, you won't go back to anything else.

 

I agree that Avira is my 2nd best choice after NOD32, I have used it for about 6 months on one of my PCs, caught every single virus I threw at it, and was light, you only get the annoying popups after each update but that's ok for what it gives j00.

I install Avira on any system that I fix

But for meh personalleh, NOD32 it is. to each his own I guess

 

Simple to get rid of that annoying pop up. Though it should be disabled by default. Oh well, can't get everything you want in a free product.

 

I would like to know how d00d, as I install it on all the PCs of friends that I f!x

 

http://www.elitekiller.com/files/disable_antivir_nag.htm

 

thanks alot bro, rep point added

 

There's promotions all over the internet that give you Avira PREMIUM for free for 3 or 6 months, you just have to search for them. Avira Premium is the best there is.

 

Don't you guys ever get tired of discussing this? There is no "best" anti-virus. Each variation has it's own faults. Some AV's have better malware indexes (although this fluxuates), others have better real-time protection... There are too many variables to pick out a definitive "best."

I would also say that most PC infections that are not the fault of the end user are quite uncommon... Most come from Torrents, "adult entertainment," and other questionable online activities.

 

I have used many antivirus programs over the years, and I came to realize that there is no such thing as a "Best Antivirus", every antivirus has its pro's and con's, I believe that the "Best Antivirus" is the one that suits your needs perfectly.

For example, I use Avast! because of its customizable interface and modules, and still keeps a very high detection rate, competing with Avira Antivir, it is updated continuously as well, but, it is not as User Friendly as Avira Antivir.