What AV software are you using?

[A31]

What anti-virus software do you use?

I am using Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 on this pc (only because I bought it), and the free edition of Avast on the other machines.

What do you like to use and/or recommend?

I used to like AVG Free, but it turned a bit rubbish from version 8.5 onwards so I left it and got something else instead (I think Kaspersky 2009?), and then once Kaspersky had expired I went back to AVG 9 for a while, and then I liked Microsoft Security Essentials, and then I tried Avast Free and it seems to be very good.

Note I haven't included software such as Malwarebytes, SuperANTISpyware, Spyware Doctor or Spybot S&D in the poll as these are not AVs.

[craigmontHunter]

I use MSE - it is fast, efficent, does the job required. That's all I need. Originally I used AVG free, but like you, I found it has gone downhill in recent years, namely in terms of performance and system requirements.

[emeraldgirl08]

Avast Free edition. It's just one that I've gotten accustomed to and hasn't let me down! I've installed this on friends comps and they have yet to come to me for troubleshooting or *knock on wood* virus problems

[dr_st]

Symantec Corporate.

[Tasurinchi]

Avira Antivir Personal (free) in all my Windows installations...

[Marin85]

I am using Kaspersky AV 2011. I will be honest here: Some time ago I tested about 20 different AV products (including the ones listed above) on separate virtual machines with 3 different trojans (no viruses though) and 2 programs that were expected to be false positives ('the usual suspects'). Only Avast and Kaspersky gave me satisfactory results in the cathegories "detection", "healing an infected system" and "number of false positives". I did not consider the performance aspect at all as they all ran in VMs, so the results would have been biased. I was rather interested in the effectiveness of AV programs than its efficiency. Recently, I have considered Avast for my desktop system as it has a free version unlike Kaspersky, but it gave me 2 false positives and also let some malware slip through... Since then I only use Kaspersky and don´t look back!... I guess I should repeat these tests soon, but right now I don´t really have time to play such games And btw, for all that are "happy" with MSE, it is a complete bogus IMHO, it was not able to detect anything at all, even when I manually executed the malware...

Only my 0.02$
Marin

[craigmontHunter]

MSE catches things for me, and I figure that it is better than no av at all , which is what I ran for several years before getting my T61.

I guess the other diffrence is that the comptuers in my house are a fairly "low risk" enviroment for infection, I don't think we have ever had a problem or were alerted to suspicious behaviour, and we ran norton for years on the main computer.

When you tested MSE, was it version 1 (blue background) or 2 (gray web background?)

[Marin85]

MSE catches things for me, and I figure that it is better than no av at all , which is what I ran for several years before getting my T61.

I guess the other diffrence is that the comptuers in my house are a fairly "low risk" enviroment for infection, I don't think we have ever had a problem or were alerted to suspicious behaviour, and we ran norton for years on the main computer.

When you tested MSE, was it version 1 (blue background) or 2 (gray web background?)

It must have been v1 as I remember I did the test shortly after it was released. Now that v2 is out,this is one more reason to do the test all over again

[craigmontHunter]

The biggest advantage (IMHO) of MSE version 2 is that you can select the percent of cpu use to allocate, so on a single core system it is not bogged down while running a scan.

[A31]

n separate virtual machines with 3 different trojans (no viruses though) and 2 programs that were expected to be false positives ('the usual suspects'). Only Avast and Kaspersky gave me satisfactory results

This is good news as Kaspersky and Avast are the anti virus products I use currently, and even put on customer's machines!

Never liked Norton or McAfee, too slow and bloated.

[sysiphus]

Does SELinux count?

[MrPeter1985]

Like everyone said, AVG has went downhill since 8.5. I used Avast Free for years till viruses kept getting past. I found Avast to be best at preventive, not so good at removing once on my PC. Tried MSE loved it. Finds stuff after 30 seconds of being installed on an infected PC. The only issue with MSE is that it failed when it came to script viruses. Which most users still use IE for whatever reason. (av-comparatives.org will show results for MSE failing in that field) I have tried AVIRA Free and will say it is real good. Uses less resources than both Avast and MSE. The ONLY issue with AVIRA is the daily ad that pops. But hey its free. I am using ESET NOD32 Business Edition on my main PC. No issues there.

[BGoins12]

For the A31, Comodo. It works great, plus it's free. Never had a virus when using it, either.

For the desktop, nothing. Don't really need AV for a Mac unless you are downloading applications from bad websites.

[jdrou]

Symantec Corporate.

Same here (although I selected 'Norton'). I normally keep it disabled at home unless I'm surfing 'questionable' web sites. On my work systems it's required to be active at all times.

I almost certainly wouldn't be using Symantec/Norton if I had to pay for it myself.

[sarbin]

i like eset nod32. been using for about 5 years now without any problems. no infections, no nothing.

for a free solution for family i support, i've switched over to mse2. seems to be doing a good job. no complaints and no infections, so far.