antivirus recomendation

[Guest blb]

Hi

Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows xp,

broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it has been

suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am also looking with a

tight budget in mind.

Thank You !

[Guest Mick Murphy]

RE: antivirus recomendation

 

Avast is a very good Anti-virus; and the free version is very good.

I also included some good Anti-spyware/ malware Programs to give you a good,

all round security package.

 

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

 

Avast Anti-Virus is XP and Vista compatible (32bit and 64bit Versions),

FREE, auto-updating, and a low resources user of your computer.

And, only have 1(one) Anti-Virus installed / running on your computer at any

one time..

Conflicts may occur if you have more than 1(one).

 

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

 

Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6 is a very good, FREE Anti-Spyware Program.

Download, install, update, and immunize your System with it.

Then SCAN with it.

Update it, and scan your System once a fortnight.

 

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

 

SpywareBlaster 4.1 is a non-intrusive, FREE Anti-Spyware Program (no

scanning by you!).

SpywareBlaster prevents the installation of many so-called spyware, adware

and malware programs by disabling the CLSIDs of popular spyware ActiveX

controls, and also prevents the installation of any of them via a webpage

Update it once a fortnight.

 

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

 

Malwarebytes is as the name says, a Malware Remover!

For the Free version scroll down their page to either download from

Download.com, or Major Geeks.com

 

Download, install, and update.

 

--

Mad Mike

 

 

"blb" wrote:

> Hi

> Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows xp,

> broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it has been

> suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am also looking with a

> tight budget in mind.

> Thank You !

[Guest WindPipe]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

 

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

 

- WindPipe

 

"blb" <blb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:68150E36-E715-4204-AE1F-FDF0DF96AD93@microsoft.com...

> Hi

> Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows xp,

> broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it has been

> suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am also looking with a

> tight budget in mind.

> Thank You !

[Guest nass]

RE: antivirus recomendation

 

 

 

"blb" wrote:

> Hi

> Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows xp,

> broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it has been

> suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am also looking with a

> tight budget in mind.

> Thank You !

 

You will get a lot of info and a lot of opinions here as it is n't an easy

subject. It looks like Left and right again!

 

First off, what you pay is what you get? The better Protect method is the

users themsleves and the way they practice safe Hex. You need to educate

yourself and others you are responsible for to limit the risk of getting

infected.

Microsoft Security At Home - Help Prevent Identity Theft, Spyware ...

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/default.mspx

 

Microsoft Recommends Taking 3 Easy Steps to Help Keep Your PC Secure

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/security/protect/alert.mspx

how to practice safe hex

http://www.washington.edu/computing/virus.html

HTH,

nass

---

http://www.nasstec.co.uk

[Guest Larry(LJL269)]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

AV I bought was 1/3 cheaper at from a vendor than at the AV's site!

Try Google shopping

 

Hope that helps. Larry

 

On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:54:01 -0700, blb

<blb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I am also looking with a

>tight budget in mind.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

A working unsecure OS is infinitely better than non-working secure OS.

Just spent 1 week cleaning up the mess WUpdate made preventing

hypothetical security problems. http://microscum.com/comsense/

[Guest Patrick C]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

I second Micks' selections on Avast (less intrusive than AVG) and

SpywareBlaster but use Adaware by http://www.lavasoft.com (free version) instead of

Spybot as Spybot was using too much memory on my 1 gig ram machine. With

windows firewall and Defender it's a great no cost solution.

 

"Mick Murphy" <MickMurphy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:E82C0953-FA74-4C06-8065-562A24D1F27D@microsoft.com...

> Avast is a very good Anti-virus; and the free version is very good.

> I also included some good Anti-spyware/ malware Programs to give you a

> good,

> all round security package.

>

> http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

>

> Avast Anti-Virus is XP and Vista compatible (32bit and 64bit Versions),

> FREE, auto-updating, and a low resources user of your computer.

> And, only have 1(one) Anti-Virus installed / running on your computer at

> any

> one time..

> Conflicts may occur if you have more than 1(one).

>

> http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

>

> Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6 is a very good, FREE Anti-Spyware Program.

> Download, install, update, and immunize your System with it.

> Then SCAN with it.

> Update it, and scan your System once a fortnight.

>

> http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

>

> SpywareBlaster 4.1 is a non-intrusive, FREE Anti-Spyware Program (no

> scanning by you!).

> SpywareBlaster prevents the installation of many so-called spyware, adware

> and malware programs by disabling the CLSIDs of popular spyware ActiveX

> controls, and also prevents the installation of any of them via a webpage

> Update it once a fortnight.

>

> http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

>

> Malwarebytes is as the name says, a Malware Remover!

> For the Free version scroll down their page to either download from

> Download.com, or Major Geeks.com

>

> Download, install, and update.

>

> --

> Mad Mike

>

>

> "blb" wrote:

>

>> Hi

>> Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows xp,

>> broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it has been

>> suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am also looking

>> with a

>> tight budget in mind.

>> Thank You !

[Guest Jim]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:54:01 -0700, blb

<blb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Hi

>Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows xp,

>broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it has been

>suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am also looking with a

>tight budget in mind.

>Thank You !

 

Avast a/v ( free ) -audio and visual warnings .

[Guest Twayne]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

> Hi

> Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows

> xp, broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it has

> been suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am also

> looking with a tight budget in mind.

> Thank You !

 

 

Avast and AVG are good; some will dispute that but it's my own

experience. Avira is a newcomer and pretty good but I didn't like their

periodic ads so uninstalled it; it's aimed at making you buy it, but it

does seem to be decent.

 

The words "been suggested" and "may be slowing" are pretty relative

terms; YOU have to decide whether it is or not since it's your machine.

You can tell by running a few benchmark tests, disconnect from the

'net, turn off Norton AV protection, and see if it's any faster. If

not, forget it. For your benchmark measurements, use your most intensive

programs running all at once and do everything in the same order each

time. Restart after turning off Norton of course, then do the second

benchmark.

Always beware of "suggestions" about your own machine; you are the

only one knows that it's doing. In some cases Norton can slow things

down, especially if it defaulted improperly and checks every byte that

moves, copies, gets created or deleted on the machine, cup speed is

under a GHz, not enough RAM (esp 256/512 machines) and/or improperly

managed machines. Not to mention malware possibilities. I use NAV on

XP Pro/SP2+, 2.7GHz Pentium 4 and a Gig of RAM with three physical hard

drives and I never know it's there or see any impact of it. It also IMO

probably should not recommended for the very inexperienced users with no

concept of what's going on under the hood.

It's never a good idea to troubleshoot "problems" if/when you áren't

experiencing any.

 

HTH

 

Twayne

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:54:01 -0700, blb

<blb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows xp,

> broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it has been

> suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am also looking with a

> tight budget in mind.

 

 

 

My view, and that of many of us here, is that Norton is the worst

choice available.

 

The best anti-virus is NOD32, but there is a charge for using it. If

the charge is a problem, I recommend the freeware Avast! instead.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest Twayne]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

> On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:54:01 -0700, blb

> <blb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>

>> Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows

>> xp, broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it

>> has been suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am

>> also looking with a tight budget in mind.

>

>

>

> My view, and that of many of us here, is that Norton is the worst

> choice available.

>

> The best anti-virus is NOD32, but there is a charge for using it. If

> the charge is a problem, I recommend the freeware Avast! instead.

 

Avast is decent. NOD32 also if a pay-for is OK. As for "most of us

here", what you mean is, "most of the vocals here" because in the

overall you are not the majority IMO. You're welcome to your opinions

of course unless and until you begin to force them on people, just as I

am.

 

Don't forget to clean your registry,

 

Twayne

[Guest WindPipe]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

 

"Twit" <nobody@dunno.spamflop.net> wrote in message

news:eP13yMvLJHA.2348@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>> On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:54:01 -0700, blb

>> <blb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>

> Avast is decent. NOD32 also if a pay-for is OK.

Is that your opinion too?

> As for "most of us here", what you mean is, "most of the vocals here" because in

> the overall you are not the majority IMO.

Check out the brain on bread...!

> You're welcome to your opinions

Exacltly what was asked for in the first place, thanks for approving.

> of course unless and until you begin to force them on people, just as I am.

No, not after your next line you are not, you don't even come close for polite

consideration.

> Don't forget to clean your registry,

Really!

> Twit

 

Now to provide some assistance to the original Poster;

 

blb, look at http://www.av-comparatives.org/ do only a slight more bit of

research, the three main contraints you need to consider is you want to purchase

AV software;

 

Price + System Resource Usage + Detection Rate\Success, for free software look at;

System Resource Usage + Detection Rate\Success

 

Ken above gave some good advice relative to these constraints. AVAST is good, and

NOD32 is one of the best when it comes to paying for it.

 

- WindPipe

[Guest EncinoMan]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:54:01 -0700, blb

<blb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Hi

>Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows xp,

>broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it has been

>suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am also looking with a

>tight budget in mind.

>Thank You !

 

Why ask here? This has absolutely nothing to do with the OS and is

nothing but pure subjective preference on your part. Go out on the

web and get all the opinions and information you want by yourself.

 

IOW, Ask elsewhere

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

blb wrote:

> Hi

> Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows xp,

> broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it has been

> suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am also looking with a

> tight budget in mind.

> Thank You !

 

 

You'll get nearly as many differing opinions as you will responses.

 

I'll start by saying that I don't think any security "suite" is a

good choice. It'd be better to use smaller, less-resource-draining

stand-alone products. And, having had personal experience with

Verizon's business practices, I certainly wouldn't trust anything they

offer. Even if the product/service itself is fine, there'll be hidden

costs and "unadvertised" conditions and limitations associated with it.

 

I had used, and recommended, Norton Antivirus and then Norton

Internet Security, for many years, on Win98, WinNT, Win2K, and WinXP,

all without any significant problems. I had used McAfee prior to that.

But it's been several years since I've been tempted to try McAfee

products. Their quality seemed to take a steep nose-dive after they were

acquired by Network Associates.

 

However, when my subscription to Symantec's updates for Norton

Internet Security 2002 came up for renewal (at a cost substantially

higher than the preceding year's subscription), I decided to try less

expensive solutions. I downloaded and installed the free version of

GriSoft's AVG (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php ). It proved

to be easily installed, easy to use, and quite effective. Additionally,

I was pleasantly surprised to see a small but very noticeable

improvement in my PC's performance, once I'd replaced the Symantec

product. Another free (for personal use) anti-virus product is AVAST! 4

Home Edition (http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html), which is what

I've used without problems on both WinXP Pro and Vista Business.

 

For a recent comparison of anti-virus products:

 

Retrospective / ProActive Test

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

 

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

 

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

 

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has

killed a great many philosophers.

~ Denis Diderot

[Guest AB]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

On Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:24:06 -0400, "Twayne"

<nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote:

>> On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:54:01 -0700, blb

>> <blb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>>

>>> Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows

>>> xp, broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it

>>> has been suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am

>>> also looking with a tight budget in mind.

>>

>>

>>

>> My view, and that of many of us here, is that Norton is the worst

>> choice available.

>>

>> The best anti-virus is NOD32, but there is a charge for using it. If

>> the charge is a problem, I recommend the freeware Avast! instead.

>

>Avast is decent. NOD32 also if a pay-for is OK. As for "most of us

>here", what you mean is, "most of the vocals here" because in the

>overall you are not the majority IMO. You're welcome to your opinions

>of course unless and until you begin to force them on people, just as I

>am.

>

>Don't forget to clean your registry,

>

>Twayne

>

 

I just had my computer freeze up in deadlock after installing NAV

2009, an upgrade to my existing '08 version. It was i contentio with

ZoneAlarm firewall. Why an AV should clash with a firewall is beyond

my expertise. I had to get a computer tech person in to get my

computer going again, which he did. After this experience, NAV is no

longer welcome. I removed it, although it's tentacles are so

far-reaching that I later found over 200 associated files still

resident on the computer, some couldn't be removed as they're locked.

In my opinion Symantec is way out of line with this software!

 

I've since loaded Avira, as recommended by the tech. It's the free

version, loaded easily, much more user friendly than NAV, and seems to

work well. My response time is also so much better after removing

NAV.

Cheers,

AB

[Guest blb]

RE: antivirus recomendation

 

Thank you all so much for all of your help !!!!! I have looked into all, and

am thinking of going with Avast - is actually #4 on CNET. Anyway - now comes

another all be it silly question...... do I have to remove Norton before I

download AVAST??

sorrry ! and thank you all again !

 

"blb" wrote:

> Hi

> Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows xp,

> broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it has been

> suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am also looking with a

> tight budget in mind.

> Thank You !

[Guest Ray Parrish]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

No, but you need to uninstall it before you install Avast. Downloading

is different than installing.

 

Later, Ray Parrish

 

blb wrote:

> Thank you all so much for all of your help !!!!! I have looked into all, and

> am thinking of going with Avast - is actually #4 on CNET. Anyway - now comes

> another all be it silly question...... do I have to remove Norton before I

> download AVAST??

> sorrry ! and thank you all again !

>

--

http://www.rayslinks.com/ Web index of human reviewed links.

<http://www.rayslinks.com/Troubleshooting%20and%20fixing%20Windows.html>

Trouble shooting and Fixing Windows

http://www.writingsoftheschizophrenic.com My poetry in web pages

[Guest jim]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

I like AVG Free 8.0.175.Its Much less complicated than Avast I

think.Have tried Avast several time's But ?.Only yesterday was the

latest. Have been using a Version of AVG for several years,& have found

it OK. Jim

 

Ray Parrish wrote:

> No, but you need to uninstall it before you install Avast. Downloading

> is different than installing.

>

> Later, Ray Parrish

>

> blb wrote:

>

>> Thank you all so much for all of your help !!!!! I have looked into

>> all, and am thinking of going with Avast - is actually #4 on CNET.

>> Anyway - now comes another all be it silly question...... do I have

>> to remove Norton before I download AVAST??

>> sorrry ! and thank you all again !

>>

[Guest blb]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

do I do this in the control panel - add/remove programs?

Thanks !!

 

"Ray Parrish" wrote:

> No, but you need to uninstall it before you install Avast. Downloading

> is different than installing.

>

> Later, Ray Parrish

>

> blb wrote:

> > Thank you all so much for all of your help !!!!! I have looked into all, and

> > am thinking of going with Avast - is actually #4 on CNET. Anyway - now comes

> > another all be it silly question...... do I have to remove Norton before I

> > download AVAST??

> > sorrry ! and thank you all again !

> >

> --

> http://www.rayslinks.com/ Web index of human reviewed links.

> <http://www.rayslinks.com/Troubleshooting%20and%20fixing%20Windows.html>

> Trouble shooting and Fixing Windows

> http://www.writingsoftheschizophrenic.com My poetry in web pages

>

[Guest Ray Parrish]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

Yeah, that's normally how you uninstall a program. I've heard that

Norton stuff is hard to remove and you may need to go to their web site

and get their removal tool to insure it is completely removed.

 

Later, Ray Parrish

 

blb wrote:

> do I do this in the control panel - add/remove programs?

> Thanks !!

>

> "Ray Parrish" wrote:

>

>> No, but you need to uninstall it before you install Avast. Downloading

>> is different than installing.

>>

>> Later, Ray Parrish

>>

>> blb wrote:

>>> Thank you all so much for all of your help !!!!! I have looked into all, and

>>> am thinking of going with Avast - is actually #4 on CNET. Anyway - now comes

>>> another all be it silly question...... do I have to remove Norton before I

>>> download AVAST??

>>> sorrry ! and thank you all again !

>>>

>> --

>> http://www.rayslinks.com/ Web index of human reviewed links.

>> <http://www.rayslinks.com/Troubleshooting%20and%20fixing%20Windows.html>

>> Trouble shooting and Fixing Windows

>> http://www.writingsoftheschizophrenic.com My poetry in web pages

>>

 

--

http://www.rayslinks.com/ Web index of human reviewed links.

<http://www.rayslinks.com/Troubleshooting%20and%20fixing%20Windows.html>

Trouble shooting and Fixing Windows

http://www.writingsoftheschizophrenic.com My poetry in web pages

[Guest blb]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

THANKS !! once I remove the program from control panel, how will I know if I

will need a removal tool or not?

thanks again

 

"Ray Parrish" wrote:

> Yeah, that's normally how you uninstall a program. I've heard that

> Norton stuff is hard to remove and you may need to go to their web site

> and get their removal tool to insure it is completely removed.

>

> Later, Ray Parrish

>

> blb wrote:

> > do I do this in the control panel - add/remove programs?

> > Thanks !!

> >

> > "Ray Parrish" wrote:

> >

> >> No, but you need to uninstall it before you install Avast. Downloading

> >> is different than installing.

> >>

> >> Later, Ray Parrish

> >>

> >> blb wrote:

> >>> Thank you all so much for all of your help !!!!! I have looked into all, and

> >>> am thinking of going with Avast - is actually #4 on CNET. Anyway - now comes

> >>> another all be it silly question...... do I have to remove Norton before I

> >>> download AVAST??

> >>> sorrry ! and thank you all again !

> >>>

> >> --

> >> http://www.rayslinks.com/ Web index of human reviewed links.

> >> <http://www.rayslinks.com/Troubleshooting%20and%20fixing%20Windows.html>

> >> Trouble shooting and Fixing Windows

> >> http://www.writingsoftheschizophrenic.com My poetry in web pages

> >>

>

> --

> http://www.rayslinks.com/ Web index of human reviewed links.

> <http://www.rayslinks.com/Troubleshooting%20and%20fixing%20Windows.html>

> Trouble shooting and Fixing Windows

> http://www.writingsoftheschizophrenic.com My poetry in web pages

>

[Guest gram pappy]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

 

Yes but Norton is like a Pit Bull, it will not let go easy.

First I would go to Norton Homepage and download their

Removal Tool to the desktop or somewhere you can find it.

 

http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039?OpenDocument

 

Go off-line close all applications then go to control panel/

Add/Remove programs select Norton Internet Security/Remove.

 

Then run the Norton Removal Tool to remove any leftover crud.

 

If you have no other Firewall go to control panel select Windows

Firewall before back online...

--

gram

 

"blb" <blb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:F7BF9C70-E4CC-48A9-9869-C180DB2E8183@microsoft.com...

> do I do this in the control panel - add/remove programs?

> Thanks !!

>

>> "Ray Parrish" wrote:

>> No, but you need to uninstall it before you install Avast.

>> Downloading

>> is different than installing.

>>

>> Later, Ray Parrish

>>

>>> blb wrote:

>>> Thank you all so much for all of your help !!!!! I have looked into

>>> all, and

>>> am thinking of going with Avast - is actually #4 on CNET. Anyway -

>>> now comes

>>> another all be it silly question...... do I have to remove Norton

>>> before I

>>> download AVAST??

>>> sorrry ! and thank you all again !

>>>

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: antivirus recomendation

 

On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:02:02 -0700, blb

<blb@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Thank you all so much for all of your help !!!!! I have looked into all, and

> am thinking of going with Avast - is actually #4 on CNET. Anyway - now comes

> another all be it silly question...... do I have to remove Norton before I

> download AVAST??

> sorrry ! and thank you all again !

 

 

 

Yes. Running two anti-virus programs at once is a poor idea. They will

likely interfere with each other.

 

> > Can anyone suggest what is the best antivirus for a home pc, windows xp,

> > broadband internet? I have Norton internet security - and it has been

> > suggested that it may be slowing down my computer. I am also looking with a

> > tight budget in mind.

 

 

In my view, the best is NOD32. But considering your tight budget,

Avast, which is also excellent, may be a better choice for you, since

it's free.

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup