2008 DU security poll - which AV (anti-virus) are you using?

[mvd]

I'm still using Kaspersky.

I added a poll option for those who don't want to say.

[MrCoffee]

1. AVG

[mvd]

2. Provides pretty good protection for free

But you can pay to get extra anti-spyware protection.

[hobbit709]

3. Yeah, but you can get free spyware protection elsewhere

I prefer not to let one app do everything.

[mvd]

4. True

I just like the detection rate of Kaspersky - but AVG plus Ad-aware and Spybot S&D will be fine unless you take a lot of risks. I use more than needed for the risks I take.

[hobbit709]

6. I play on the hack/crack sites occasionally

I'm using Windows XP X64, AVG, Spybot S&D, Spywareblaster, Advanced Windows Care and Ghostwall; and I've tweaked a lot of the settings from the defaults. Occasionally I get a warning but nothing's gotten through. Of course this sytem is NOT networked to anything else in the house. Even if something does, I have an Acronis True Image backup on an external drive. I can be back up and running in 10 minutes if need be.

[deucemagnet]

24. Have you considered Sandboxie?

I use a sandboxed browser when I'm visiting a dicey corner of the internet. It'll give you some peace of mind, and there's a free version, too.

http://www.sandboxie.com/

[hobbit709]

26. Evidently Microshaft doesn't want anyone to play with 64 bit versions of Windoze

[deucemagnet]

25. Another AVG free user, here.

I've had some issues with it lately and almost switched to Avast, but I still have AVG for the time being.

[mwooldri]

5. RoadCrawler users get to use Computer Associates' security suite free of charge.

When I'm running Windows XP then I'm using that, plus running Spyware Search & Destroy as an added measure.

When I'm on Ubuntu, I don't have anti-virus, plus I don't think it needs it... yet.

Mark.

[akwapez]

7. Other: condoms,...oh wait....what did you mean?

edited to add: actually Avast

[ghostsofgiants]

8. Avast.

[MrCoffee]

9. How do you like Avast? I tried it and it seemed really clunky.

I never could figure out if it was actually doing anything.

[ghostsofgiants]

10. Clunky? Really?

I love it. It's effective. (I've tested, haha.) Updates frequently, and compared to every other AV program I've used it has a very small memory footprint.

[akwapez]

11. Avast was a little confusing to setup, but once you get it, you're good

[MrCoffee]

13. I must have screwed up the installation.

[jonnyblitz]

12. I use Avira (which is free) and rely on my Window's Defender

that automatically comes with Vista to deal with the spyware.I have had no problems so far. Before I used Norton 360.

[mvd]

14. I have an Avira license

Started getting a lot of false positives (with the Security Suite,) so I moved to Kaspersky. It's an excellent AV, though.

[mvd]

16. However, I'm still deciding between two setups

KIS or Avira Antivir + Outpost Firewall. The heuristic detections of Avira with heuristics on high are maddening - most of them are website-related false positives. Even got a couple FPs with heuristics on medium.

NIS 2009 is improved, but I'm not spending the extra money - and I still think the detection is a little better with what I have.

[Pierre.Suave]

15. None

I use a Mac.

:P

[Chan790]

21. You know...

I know it's un-hip and contrary to their advertisements...but even my local Apple Store certified-"genius" (Josh) recommends using an anti-virus suite (ClamX). The best indication that he really believes in that advice...he uses it on his Mac.

It only takes one first greatly-talented virus writer to completely fubar that "No viruses for Macs" thing and create a couple million Apple-branded OSX doorstops. The fact that they brag about their invulnerability makes it more likely and sooner.

:P :P

[Awsi Dooger]

22. Meanwhile, I've been hearing that for at least a decade

:rofl:

Including on this site for 6 years, primarily from one poster.

It's like Bush, rely on fear.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pierre.Suave]

30. Your friend is mistaken

and the Geniuses at the Apple Store, Arent.

ClamX AV is a steaming load of bullpoo. It is more likely to screw up your computer than it is to do anything worthwhile.

As to your second point, any AV solution, no matter how good is only as good as its definitions file, basically it will only detect and deal with "known" threats. The fact that there are zero "known" threats to the Mac OS makes an AV solution 100% useless.

they have tried and failed.

[MilesColtrane]

17. None.

My G4 has never been infected.

[CatholicEdHead]

18. Avast

It works good, it has caught a few incoming viruses via my web browser already.

[whistler162]

19. Clamwin

http://www.clamwin.com/

[pokerfan]

20. Multiple

AVG provides basic virus protection
Ad-aware and Spybot S&D finds and removes malware
Zonealarm firewall keeps an eye on the traffic
AVG Safe Search and McAfee SiteAdvisor keeps me away from the phishers
Adblock Plus with Filterset.G blocks unwanted crap on sites
NoScript blocks unwanted scripts from getting installed

And they're all free!

[Jamastiene]

23. Assuming that is the AVG Free version,

damn, we are a cheap bunch, or tight asses one. :rofl:

[liberaltrucker]

27. Avast

Free and VERY good.

:)

[ironflange]

28. None at all

Linux.

[Courtesy Flush]

38. Me too n/t

[mvd]

31. New av-comparatives test is out

The free AVs are doing very well now. Link is below - go to "comparatives," then go to the latest report.

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

[DS1]

32. Used to be AVG, until it let my system get totally fucked

yes, I know what I'm doing


Kaspersky came in and cleaned it right up. I've ran the full version ever since. Well worth the 50 dollars.

[mnhtnbb]

33. Just renewed Kaspersky. My computer tech son says none of the

intended for home use AV programs are any good, but Kaspersky is the best of them.

In the last few months, Kaspersky has isolated several of my in-coming e-mails that it said contained a virus. So far, so good.

[mvd]

37. Despite falling a bit in the AV Comparatives test, it's still great IMO

I was trying out anti-keyloggers, and one download was a trojan - only Kaspersky detected it. Right now I'm trying out AntiVir + Outpost firewall, and will decide based on how each setup runs. AntiVir is at the top in about every test.

NIS 2009 is their best yet. I never expected to give such credit to Norton. Performance and updates are much better. But when you already own two great AVs, no reason for me to change to Norton now.

[Patiod]

34. eEye Blink on one, Symantec on the other

One IT guy pushed one, another prefers the second.

I'm a dope when it comes to doing anything with computers.

[qb]

35. Kaspersky rocks. Especially for dial-up

It doesn't hog much memory & has frequent small updates rather than the mega downloads from the likes of Norton.

[brentspeak]

36. Avast

[City of Mills]

39. Symantec Endpoint Protection

Best AV ever, small program, never crashes, detects everything and uses very little CPU resources...





Just kidding, actually the opposite of all that. I'm the AV Admin at work and their newest product is the worst by far. I begged management to switch but we're stuck with it. Everyone's PC at work runs slower now!