Best Windows desktop antivirus

[DimPrawn]

Can anyone recommend an anti-virus package for Windows XP?

Currently using Norton AV 2005 which has expired.

Don't need personal firewall just AV and anti-spyware.

Needs to be reliable, fast, up to date and not too expensive.

What do you recommend?

[Cowboy Bob]

Well, if you're Windows encumbered I've heard good things about AVG - http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

It's free too.

[Ardesco]

Kaspersky or McAfee, although I belive Symantic are now something to do with McAFee so Kaspersky are probably the better choice.

Norton is rubbish and lets through all sorts of crap in my experiance.

[DimPrawn]

Kaspersky or McAfee, although I belive Symantic are now something to do with McAFee so Kaspersky are probably the better choice.

Norton is rubbish and lets through all sorts of crap in my experiance.

Hence why I am not renewing my subscription with them.

[DimPrawn]

Well, if you're Windows encumbered I've heard good things about AVG - http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

It's free too.

Hmmm, what you don't get with the free versions.

anti-virus

What you do not get
Anti-Spyware Available only with commercial versions
Anti-Spam
Firewall
64-bit and server support
24/7 Technical Support
High-speed updates
Multiple languages
Detailed settings
Consent for commercial use

anti-spyware

What you do not get
Automatic online-update Available only with commercial versions
Real-time monitoring of the entire system
Self-protection at kernel layer guaranteeing gapless monitoring
Consent for commercial use

Sounds like linux, free but mostly useless.

[Cowboy Bob]

I think you need to learn to read The pay for version is fairly reaonably priced if you're going to pay.

If you want anti-spyware, then you may as well get MS's own Windows Defender.

What you get with AVG Anti-Virus Free

yes Easy to use
yes Regular and automatic virus database updates
yes Realtime protection of files and e-mails
yes Scheduled and manual testing
yes Windows and Linux
yes And most of all ... great customer satisfaction!

What you do not get

no Anti-Spyware Available only with commercial versions
no Anti-Spam
no Firewall
no 64-bit and server support
no 24/7 Technical Support
no High-speed updates
no Multiple languages
no Detailed settings
no Consent for commercial use

[_V_]

What trust an MS product to defend an MS product?

[Ardesco]

Built in firewall with windows does a perfectly good job. Doean't have all the bells and whistles but stops most things.


Linux is very very useful if you are building servers. Robust, Stable, Cheap. I have a Linux mail server that has cost me nothing in software licenses to setup and does everything you need!!!

[ratewhore]

Well, if you're Windows encumbered I've heard good things about AVG - http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

It's free too.

The free version of AVG may not have all the bells and whistles but it works, is robust and has a minimal pefrormance impact. Those of you using Norton probably dream of this.

I run AVG on my windoze lappy but overall I would say buy a Mac...

[NoddY]

AV is toy software for the masses. You don't need it, you really don't.