What do you use as an ANTI-VIRUS program ?

[alofano]

What do you use to protect your Thinkpad from virus ? Microsoft Security Essentiels ... any good ? AVG .... any good ? Panda .... any good ? Etc. What do you like ?

[killer]

AVG seemed to take a while to update and didn't spot viruses too well. Avira's updates were too large. Avast got on my nerves because of its quirkiness. MSSE appears to work well ... no problems yet.

It's hard to remember who it was that said on these forums that he wasn't a Microsoft fan but he was really impressed with MSSE. (Maybe it was jdhurst?)

Anyway, that posting led to me abandoning Avast and installing MSSE.

If anything better turns up then let me know.

[Neil]

Microsoft Security Essentials when using Windows XP. Nothing on my 98SE 600X or Linux 600X.

[ArtShapiro]

In order to connect to my corporate network, it is mandatory (and enforced) to use the corporate version of Symantec. But that's a terribly obnoxious, obtrusive, and resource-intensive program so I just keep it on my main desktop and one thinkpad - the T61.

I've moved everything else over to MSE, which despite being Microsoft strikes me as a decent program. It seems to get in one's face less than AVG or Avira that I'd previously used, both of which are constantly prompting one to purchase the fancier paid version of the freeware programs. I've never gotten a "hit" on MSE, but it was only on multiple-years intervals that Symantec would catch anything. There seems to be a general consensus that it is a reliable and trustworthy AV, and one can't complain about the price.

Art

[craigmontHunter]

I use MSSE on all my computers, and it has caught issues for me. I find it to be faster than avg or any other solution, and the adds on AVG are annoying, especially with a 800x600 screen - no room. (I eventually ended up with no AV on that computer anyway but...). For years I did not run any antivirus, namely because I have never had a particularly powerfull computer (cheap acer, then a T41 was most powerfull before this T61, which flies )

[Harryc]

Your post didn't say 'free' AV solutions, although that what has been talked about so far. I use Nod32 on all of my machines and have for years. It is hardly noticeable and catches lots of bad things. Still in the top (5) - http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

[GomJabbar]

I have been using Avira AntiVir Premium for the last 3 years of so.

Top rated at the following site: http://www.av-comparatives.org/

[ajkula66]

AVG and Avira, free versions, depending on what mood I'm in when installing the OS...

[dr_st]

In order to connect to my corporate network, it is mandatory (and enforced) to use the corporate version of Symantec. But that's a terribly obnoxious, obtrusive, and resource-intensive program so I just keep it on my main desktop and one thinkpad - the T61.

I've been using Symantec Corporate, and to me it's been the absolute opposite of what you describe. But I'm talking about Corporate Antivirus version 10 (pre-Internet Security). I didn't like the Internet Security - looked too much like the home versions of Norton to me...

[j-dawg]

Ubuntu Linux

Now that I'm done being smug, I actually don't run antivirus on my Windows partition. I run Spybot S+D with a regularity, but that's not really protection.

I did have a problem once on another computer (back in the dark XP days), and I just gave up and erased the drive. It was a big waste of time and probably put my personal information at risk. So yes, I should use antivirus. But I don't.

[ZaZ]

Don't use anti-virus software. I prefer to do a clean install, then make an image, which I can put back in a minutes if needed. I really find anti-virus software more annoying than it's worth. I've not had a virus in years or if I did, it was so benign I didn't notice it.

[alofano]

Don't use anti-virus software. I prefer to do a clean install, then make an image, which I can put back in a minutes if needed. I really find anti-virus software more annoying than it's worth. I've not had a virus in years or if I did, it was so benign I didn't notice it.

What do you use to make your "image" ?

Thanks

[frankiepankie]

AVG works great for me, and isn't a resource hog in my opinion.

[ArtShapiro]

I've been using Symantec Corporate, and to me it's been the absolute opposite of what you describe. But I'm talking about Corporate Antivirus version 10 (pre-Internet Security).

Interesting observation, as I too use version 10.x as appropriate for the XP and for the later machines.

I find that upon boot or hibernation wakeup, the hard drive goes berserk. Task Manager (once one manages to get it initiated given all the disk activity) indicates tens of thousands of I/Os from Symantec. And this is after disabling startup scans.

It also makes sending a large message (say something with a bunch of .jpg files attached) via Outlook a real exercise in patience.

So I guess we have different experiences. My employer gives it to employees for free, but that's too costly for me.

Art

[dr_st]

Interesting observation regarding startup activity and I/O reads. I have not noticed any abnormal disk activity during startup (at least not something worth mentioning), but I will look into the statistics and see.

I don't use any non-web mail clients on the machines where I have Symantec installed, so I cannot comment on the interface with Outlook etc.

[RealBlackStuff]

After using Eset Nod32 for a couple of years, I ditched it and changed to the (free) Avast.
Works just as good for me.
Can't remember the last time I had any trace of a nasty, must have been in the last century....

[ZaZ]

What do you use to make your "image" ?

True Image.

[rkawakami]

I've not had a virus in years or if I did, it was so benign I didn't notice it.

The best keyloggers are very silent .

I've been using AVG since around 2007. It seems like it has continually consumed more system resources with each "upgrade" cycle. And now it's been prompting me every day to download the 2011 version. I'm almost at the point where I'll look around for another AV solution but it's a matter of inertia .

[hoppinbob]

I've heard good things about MSE and have installed it on various PC's/laptops etc. once my current yearly subscription with Eset nod32 comes to it's end, I may give it a go.

As mentioned, making an image of a fresh install is also something I do using Acronis true image. It's hell of a lot quicker at restoring a system with all relevant drivers etc. (it's also a great util when upgrading a HDD).

I also use Spybot S&D regularly along with Malwarebytes Anti-malware.

[ansible212]

I use MSE and have done for some time.

Recent anecdote: was helping a friend a couple of days ago who had a problem with Internet Explorer either continually closing or not displaying images. He'd run Norton and Malwarebytes and neither had found anything.

A quick shufty with MSConfig revealed what appeared to be a rogue program loading for his user profile (other profiles on the PC were working fine). Unchecked it in MSConfig and problem fixed.

We then downloaded and installed MSE and lo and behold it identified that and one other trojan on the PC.

I've had similar experiences with other PCs. MSE appears to be at least as good, and in my experience better than, either free anti-virus programs like Avira or AVG and paid-for ones like Norton.

[dr_st]

Interesting observation regarding startup activity and I/O reads. I have not noticed any abnormal disk activity during startup (at least not something worth mentioning), but I will look into the statistics and see.

I did check and indeed the number of I/Os from Rtvscan.exe is insanely high, but with all this, the computer does not feel sluggish at all. And I have SAV installed on a number of computers, the oldest of which is a P4-M 1.8GHz... If I feel like at some point, I might actually uninstall SAV and see if I notice any significant speedup.

[sarbin]

nod32 for me. been using for about 3yrs now with nary an infection.

have used avg, avira and avast on a number of supported machines and am leaning towards avast as the free solution 'of choice".

[GomJabbar]

Recent anecdote: was helping a friend a couple of days ago who had a problem with Internet Explorer either continually closing or not displaying images. He'd run Norton and Malwarebytes and neither had found anything.

A quick shufty with MSConfig revealed what appeared to be a rogue program loading for his user profile (other profiles on the PC were working fine). Unchecked it in MSConfig and problem fixed.

We then downloaded and installed MSE and lo and behold it identified that and one other trojan on the PC.

Interestingly, recently our desktop PC at home had the McAfee suite installed on it as a free download from Comcast (our ISP). When the McAfee suite expired, Comcast was now offering the Norton suite. I uninstalled McAfee and installed Norton. A few days later, Norton was no longer working. No icon in the notification area and a check in Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services showed that the Norton services were stopped. Rebooting made no difference. I uninstalled Norton and used the Norton removal tool from Symantec, then I installed Avira AntiVir Premium (I bought a 3 PC license from them). No more problems.

[Worzyl]

Norton 360. I'm not really clued up on anti-virus programs.

[topmahof]

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/General-Dis ... d-p/328857

mse and about once a week i run malwarebytes.

[lead_org]

NOD32... because it is an awesome program and it does its job effectively...

[Temetka]

I use Microsoft Security Essentials at home on all my Windows PC's.

In linux I use ClamAV for the times I need to scan something.

At work we use Symantec EndPoint Protection. Not glamorous by any stretch of the word, but it works fine.

[anthean]

Avast on my two Thinkpads.

AVG on an old desktop, Norton Internet Security on a new desktop.

We use McAfee at work.

Why the multiplicity of different anti-virus solutions ? I had a bad virus experience maybe seven years ago that knocked out all computers (both at work and home), and I am just trying to avoid putting all my eggs in the same basket.

[loyukfai]

BTW, MSE 2.0 has just been released...

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2 ... ection.ars

Cheers.

[noetus]

I used to use ESET NOD32 (and McAfee Pro before that) but ditched it over a year ago and haven't looked back. I don't bother with antivirus any more, I don't think it's necessary and they are all resource hogs one way or another. On Windows I run 3 servers, 2 desktop machines, and one HTPC (some of these are virtual) plus a linux server and a Mac laptop with no antivirus on any of them. Haven't experienced any problems yet, but I run my machines clean (especially the servers) and check them regularly. Suspicious stuff I put in a sandbox. However I still have ESET NOD32 installed on my wife's two laptops