Best Virus Removal Software? (Full Version)

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DominantXY -> Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 5:59:47 AM)

As much as I hate to admit it, I am only moderately computer savvy..
I'm running a dell with an XP OS that is about 5 years old..  Still a good machine but lately running so S L O W... I uninstalled Norton because it took over my machine.. (So did AOL for that matter. I removed that too).
I figure I am pretty vulnerable right now. 
I very much need some suggestions as to the best free anti virus software/ combination to use right now...



RCdc -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 6:11:40 AM)

Best antivirus you do not have to purchase would be AVG or Avast.
 
the.dark.



DominantXY -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 6:16:20 AM)

Thank you.  Would you run both or choose one over the other?



RCdc -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 6:19:19 AM)

Choose only one or they may conflict or fight each other.
I have AVG at the moment, on a 5 year old Vaio with xp.  So being biased I would suggest that.
To confuse matters though - I do know someone with a new Dell and vista who has AVAST and thinks it rocks.
 
the.dark.



patwi -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 6:23:19 AM)

Antivir is pretty good too, from my (limited) experience. It is free, and I got it at the advice of a very computer savvy friend of mine. I had had Avast for a short while which was also recomended to me, but it really slowed my machine down for some reason. I'm sure it could be tweaked to run optimally though.

And - Antivir's file scanner is called Luke Filewalker. It amuses me.



RCdc -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 6:24:45 AM)

I posted a link to this site on the BBC a couple of weeks back.  It is about free software and it's great for info.  When downloading free software, its hard to pick and choose the ones that do not stick on loads of spyware too so this is a good source of info for people who aren't computer software savvy, from my POV.

CLICK

Hope that helps!
the.dark.



RCdc -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 6:28:56 AM)

Oh - me again!
As an aside - was Norton your firewall too?  Ifso, check you still have one, or get another(unless you run off the windows firewall).  Zone alarm is what I use with AVG, but I believe AVAST has the firewall built in as well.
 
the.dark.



DominantXY -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 6:47:44 AM)

Thank you!  That article is really informative.  Downloading AVG and zone alarm this morning...



pahunkboy -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 1:18:27 PM)

A timely post- my laptop is acting up.



DarkVictory -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 1:22:50 PM)

Although it costs money, I cannot begin to recommend Kaspersky Labs anti-virus product highly enough over MacAfee and Symantec and all the others.  I have 27 years as a high-tech computer professional, including several years running and managing a help desk, and the Kaspersky product is the best I've seen.  It catches more than pretty much any of the others, and it also finds 'root' kits that other products do not.

Two thumbs up!



LaTigresse -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 1:25:25 PM)

AVG is what our computer doctor recommended. The free version works better than most of the stuff you buy. I did have a bugger of a time getting to the correct site and had to call him back for the exact web address.

We've put it on most of the the computers here at the shop and I immediately installed it on my personal computer.

Stopsign almost killed our most important shop computer.



mrbob726 -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 1:33:27 PM)

I use AVG on my XP machines, and Avast on a couple of windoze 98 macines, I recommend either. (avast lets me know when it has updated, the latest version of AVG doesn't, so I have to check occasionally to make sure.) I also run Zonealarm, I think it's the best firewall out there. I used both Norton and McAfee in the past: They're worthless,  and they put their fingers into every nook and cranny - I had a terrible time getting rid of them - I wouldn't touch either with a 10 foot pole.



DarkSteven -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 1:55:13 PM)

DXY, there's been a big hullaballoo about viruses, but malware is IMHO at least as much of a problem.  I recommend getting Lavaware's Ad-Aware and Spybot (both free for the downloading) and run them maybe once a week.

Viruses deliver knockout blows.  Malware just weighs down your computer over time.  Like the slowness you complained about.



SteelofUtah -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 3:25:45 PM)

I use SpyBot Search and Destroy it is Shareware and it is the very best thing I ever had.

Look it up

Steel



fungasm -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 4:27:11 PM)

It really depends on what you are using your computer for.

I like AVG- unless you are watching YouTube, videos on NetFlix, or other similar videos like BitTorrent.  If you frequently use your computer to do this, AVG can slow it down as to render it unusable.  (This was the same experience that a number of reviewers also had).  If you just use word, the internet (without video streaming), you should be find with AVG.

If you do use your computer to watch anything, here are the two best in their price range.

BitDefender is a Good Choice for under $30. 

F-Secure is the best I've seen. It's also $80.

Alison



fungasm -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 4:29:53 PM)

FYI- Newer versions of Ad-Aware and Spybot aren't the same as previous ones.  They are going towards a profit model where certain features are paid for.... so there are elements which are either no longer free, or there are extensive checks to verify if you have paid for the product, reducing it's effectiveness.  They look the same, and act similar- but they really aren't as effective. AVG has the same issues, but it's not quite as bad. 



camille65 -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 5:50:15 PM)

Zone Alarm is what I use, it is easy and it works.



farglebargle -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 5:56:51 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DominantXY

As much as I hate to admit it, I am only moderately computer savvy..
I'm running a dell with an XP OS that is about 5 years old..  Still a good machine but lately running so S L O W... I uninstalled Norton because it took over my machine.. (So did AOL for that matter. I removed that too).
I figure I am pretty vulnerable right now. 
I very much need some suggestions as to the best free anti virus software/ combination to use right now...


1) Save everything you care about to My Documents or a subdirectory thereof.

2) Copy My Documents to a USB drive or keychain.

3) Wipe the harddrive and reload it from the reload disks.

3.b) Run Windows Update.

4) Reinstall the absolute smallest number of applications you need.

5) Norton's not that bad, if you keep up the subscription... It tends to melt down sometime thereafter. There's a 'removal tool' on their website which I hear works good.

6) McAfee's not that bad, same caveats as above.

7) *someone* will have a horror story about $ANY_SOFTWARE

8) Reload data from back on USB drive or keychain.

Think of it as being prepared for an attack of Zombies. As long as you keep the usb drive backed up , and store it in your 'Go Bag' you'll NEVER have a living-dead-related data-loss event.

And you'll never lose your data following a harddrive crash, too. It can be traumatic to some to lose their Microsoft Outlook files.

quote:


Hudson: Let's just bug out and call it even, OK? What are we talking about this for?

Ripley: I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Hudson: Fuckin' A...





DesFIP -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 6:27:08 PM)

AVG but if you can afford the pro version, do so. It will update daily instead of you needing to remember to do so.



Racquelle -> RE: Best Virus Removal Software? (7/1/2008 6:29:48 PM)

If you write to me off-line I can often get free copies of Trend Micro Internet Security Pro.



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