Reply to: Antivirus Software

[minestrone]

I just got shot of AVG this morning on my desktop and my laptop. First reason is that it missed a trojan that S&D picked up and also it was starting a daily scan at 2 in the morning and taking 10 hours to run.

Went for the windows essentials instead and it seems quite good.

AVG was also causing havoc when I was trying to open jar files.

[Ruse]

Tell you what, do a search on the net for a comparison of free AVG results. Then, you'll find free AVG is pretty poor compared to Avira & Avast etc.

AVG is shyte because it stops **** all compared to Avira Free & Avast.

This good enough to make you think again?

http://antivirus.about.com/od/antivi...s/a/freeav.htm

WHS I used to use AVG but when I upgraded to latest version(8.1 I think) it slowed everything down especially web browsing. Dumped it and normal service was resumed.

[BolshieBastard]

Exactly!

Why are posters slagging AVG but not providing any specific information as to WHY it sucks?

For the limited number of Windows VMs I run, it seems to do the job fine and unobtrusively.

AVG naysayers, please put up (with some facts).

Tell you what, do a search on the net for a comparison of free AVG results. Then, you'll find free AVG is pretty poor compared to Avira & Avast etc.

AVG is shyte because it stops **** all compared to Avira Free & Avast.

This good enough to make you think again?

http://antivirus.about.com/od/antivi...s/a/freeav.htm

[bogeyman]

I agree - the only rational thing said against AVG here is that it's bloated. Well compared to the Norton it replaced, it's very slim and agile!

It works well so I'll stick with it and keep recommending it

Exactly!

Why are posters slagging AVG but not providing any specific information as to WHY it sucks?

For the limited number of Windows VMs I run, it seems to do the job fine and unobtrusively.

AVG naysayers, please put up (with some facts).

[Platypus]

No such thing as a right anti-virus package, it a bit like getting a right condom.If it works then whats wrong?

I agree - the only rational thing said against AVG here is that it's bloated. Well compared to the Norton it replaced, it's very slim and agile!

It works well so I'll stick with it and keep recommending it

[stingman123]

Specifically, why?

If I'm using the "wrong" package, I'd like to know why !

No such thing as a right anti-virus package, it a bit like getting a right condom.If it works then whats wrong?

[Platypus]

NEVER use avg, its utter ####

Specifically, why?

If I'm using the "wrong" package, I'd like to know why !

[Spacecadet]

AVG used to be good but just became too bloated for it's own good

[Clippy]

Never had an issue with it myself - even thoughout the beta (a period of several months covering 3 updates to the software) the whole experience was pretty seemless. Unlucky.

Same here.

[chef]

Zonealarm Security Suite

never had a problem with zonealarm and their new beta for windows 7 seems to be as good as usual

NEVER use avg, its utter ####

[DimPrawn]

Unfortunately, all systems (not just Windows) have the potential of being susceptible to an attack that doesn't involve any user interaction. Some random machine can ping your system with a carefully-crafted packet and Bingo! you're pwned

Such flaws are most commonly discovered and exploited on Windows because of the larger attack profile created by the massive installed base; but whatever you run, something like that can get you whether you're smart or not. Of course, such an attack is much more likely to get you if you run Windows - market forces in action, in a realm other than the economy.

This is the main reason that you should never expose a version of XP less than SP2 to t'Internet - the default firewall settings introduced in SP2 will help to take care of most such attacks for you. But still, all it takes is a new and more cunning exploit and all your common sense amounts to naught

EDIT: Oh, and of course you're much better off when you're NATted rather than directly-connected, and all the other various ameliorations. I wonder how long it will be before somebody crafts a malformed UDP packet that can get through most NAT setups to 192.168.0.1 - unless it's already been done.

Firstly, Antivirus software won't pickup some new worm like that. Second, behind a hardware router with a hardware firewall so very unlikely.

Thirdly, antivirus is not going to stop a malformed UDP packet.

But go ahead and buy some bloat that will stunt your computers performance if it makes you feel safer.

[Platypus]

For god's sake dont use AVG!

I've been using it for a few years now (paid for), and so I recommend it to folks who are looking for solid, free AV.

Why do you say "don't" ?

I'm genuinely interested to know what's wrong with it.

[NickFitz]

Why would an IT professional need antivirus? I'm fully capable of not opening dodgy email attachments or running downloads from Warez sites so i just save myself the cash and processor usage.

Never had a problem. My PC that had OneCare on it never found a virus in all the time it was running and i (very) occasionally run one of the free housecall scans, again, nowt. Waste of time unless you habitually download loads of cracks or are a numpty.

Unfortunately, all systems (not just Windows) have the potential of being susceptible to an attack that doesn't involve any user interaction. Some random machine can ping your system with a carefully-crafted packet and Bingo! you're pwned

Such flaws are most commonly discovered and exploited on Windows because of the larger attack profile created by the massive installed base; but whatever you run, something like that can get you whether you're smart or not. Of course, such an attack is much more likely to get you if you run Windows - market forces in action, in a realm other than the economy.

This is the main reason that you should never expose a version of XP less than SP2 to t'Internet - the default firewall settings introduced in SP2 will help to take care of most such attacks for you. But still, all it takes is a new and more cunning exploit and all your common sense amounts to naught

EDIT: Oh, and of course you're much better off when you're NATted rather than directly-connected, and all the other various ameliorations. I wonder how long it will be before somebody crafts a malformed UDP packet that can get through most NAT setups to 192.168.0.1 - unless it's already been done.

[Durbs]

Why would an IT professional need antivirus? I'm fully capable of not opening dodgy email attachments or running downloads from Warez sites so i just save myself the cash and processor usage.

Never had a problem. My PC that had OneCare on it never found a virus in all the time it was running and i (very) occasionally run one of the free housecall scans, again, nowt. Waste of time unless you habitually download loads of cracks or are a numpty.

[BolshieBastard]

Hello Forum,

Which antivirus software (free downloads from the internet) would you recomend? A friend of mine mentioned Avast.

You advice will be very much appreciated.

For god's sake dont use AVG!

Been using Avira Premium paid for but very good.

Kaspersky shyte
Nod32, shyte
Bitdefender shyte