Anti-Virus Software

[Petrushka]

When my computer crashed a fortnight ago my computer man blamed the anti-virus programme (AVG) saying that the free ones all fail to cut the mustard and he wouldn't recommend any of them.

My computer man recommended Bullguard Security, of whom I'd not heard, and he put me on to a 60 day free trial with them. While he may be on some sort of commission for pushing them, I've gone along with it.

Certainly, my computer experience so far does indicate that he may be right and all the free ones are useless as I've had no end of trouble with viruses, some of them pretty frightening.

What anti-virus software have Forum members got?

[Warlock]

Bullguard! Which magazine recommended it as the best two or three years ago.

[Bryn]

Bullguard! Which magazine recommended it as the best two or three years ago.

In the various comparative reviews of antivirus software I have consulted, Bullguard! comes somewhat down the list for performance. A particular criticism is the slow downloading of emails, but its general performance is seen as lacking somewhat. Bitdefender generally gets the highest marks. For the moment, I make do with Avast! Internet Security (until the current licence runs out, at which point I intend to upgrade to Bitdefender) and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Premium).

[Dave2002]

petrushka

Do you simply have AV software or do you also have a firewall? There are various ways of protecting your system, and perhaps you need to have more than one line of defence.

How do you think you pick up the viruses? A fairly common way is by installing software which comes in bundles - with the malware installed along with the supposedly good stuff you really want. Also, do you exchange data with others, or transfer data via USB sticks? Email? Opening attachments?

Some AV software will slow your computer down to a snail's pace though, and perhaps cause other problems.

If you think you might be being attacked while online, assuming you're running Windows (highly likely) then running tcpview is a really interesting exercise - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/s.../bb897437.aspx
If you can figure out how to use it, and look up the IP addresses, then you may find all sorts of interesting "people" come to visit your computer.

[Frances_iom]

mine comes free - Linux

[cloughie]

webroot - works fine for me!

[gurnemanz]

When my computer crashed a fortnight ago my computer man blamed the anti-virus programme (AVG) saying that the free ones all fail to cut the mustard and he wouldn't recommend any of them.

My computer man recommended Bullguard Security, of whom I'd not heard, and he put me on to a 60 day free trial with them. While he may be on some sort of commission for pushing them, I've gone along with it.

Certainly, my computer experience so far does indicate that he may be right and all the free ones are useless as I've had no end of trouble with viruses, some of them pretty frightening.

What anti-virus software have Forum members got?

I also got Bullguard in similar circumstances when I got a new laptop a few years ago, having previously mainly used AVG free version and have been quite happy with it in that I've had no crashes or invasions, which I suppose is the ultimate test. It was easy to install, did not write itself all over my system like some others I have used briefly in the past (Norton) and then got rid of. It mostly works unnoticed in the background. The email helpline always has always responded fairly promptly and answered any queries I have had. I don't use an email client to download mail to my computer so don't need its spam filter. It scans regularly to tell me which programs need updating.

[Richard Tarleton]

I'm no expert but I've had many problem-free years with Norton.

[Sydney Grew]

. . . What anti-virus software have Forum members got?

I have none, and have had none ever since 1988. Mind you, I use an old rubbish computer to access the inter-net, and I never allow my important working computers to go anywhere near "the net." But even the old rubbish computer (in its various incarnations across the years) has never experienced that kind of trouble. I have never permitted any "updates" of anything I have installed, I turn off java, turn off flash except when needed, use the HOSTS file to block all intrusive advertising, and I never run any executable programme about the function and pedigree (crane's foot) of which I do not have a pretty good idea.

[Beef Oven!]

Avast, malwarebytes & CC cleaner.

What do people use on Apple?

[Dave2002]

Avast, malwarebytes & CC cleaner.

What do people use on Apple?

Many people use nothing, as Macs seem largely, but not completely, immune.

There is a useful free AV from Sophos - though I took it off recently as it seemed to be blocking pdfs for no very good reason. I'll perhaps put it back again though, as what it does detect and deal with could have been real hazards - it's just a shame about the pdf blocking. The Sophos software seems to detect most serious stuff, and also tries to safeguard PC users by removing dodgy emails which would not affect the Macs.

There is another one - ClamAV - but although that appears to detect a lot of stuff, most of it is not particularly serious.

There are times when it's good to run these, though.

Some of the newest threats hit the browsers - and redirect to other sites. These are a real pain, and I think they can affect browsers on Macs and Linux as well, so even Frances will have to watch out too.

[Beef Oven!]

Many people use nothing, as Macs seem largely, but not completely, immune.

There is a useful free AV from Sophos - though I took it off recently as it seemed to be blocking pdfs for no very good reason. I'll perhaps put it back again though, as what it does detect and deal with could have been real hazards - it's just a shame about the pdf blocking. The Sophos software seems to detect most serious stuff, and also tries to safeguard PC users by removing dodgy emails which would not affect the Macs.

There is another one - ClamAV - but although that appears to detect a lot of stuff, most of it is not particularly serious.

There are times when it's good to run these, though.

Some of the newest threats hit the browsers - and redirect to other sites. These are a real pain, and I think they can affect browsers on Macs and Linux as well, so even Frances will have to watch out too.

Thanks Dave2002

I go naked on my Mac, so I'm pleased I'm not alone.

Sounds like I need to look into some of those other things, though.

[Frances_iom]

...
Some of the newest threats hit the browsers - and redirect to other sites. These are a real pain, and I think they can affect browsers on Macs and Linux as well, so even Frances will have to watch out too.

do people still browse with Javascript turned on ? - use No Script, remove anything associated with Adobe + remove flash - use Hosts file to block all known advert serving sites + for faster downloads turn off images + fetcxh those you actually want to see

[Dave2002]

do people still browse with Javascript turned on ? - use No Script, remove anything associated with Adobe + remove flash - use Hosts file to block all known advert serving sites + for faster downloads turn off images + fetcxh those you actually want to see

I agree in principle, but even those "in the know" may forget at times. Many others won't know to do these things - and some people actually want to use services which use Flash.

[Bryn]

... some people actually want to use services which use Flash.

What, like the BBC iPlayer, for instance?