Collarspace Discussion Forums


Home  Login  Search 

Best Virus Removal Software?


View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
 
All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Best Virus Removal Software? Page: [1] 2   next >   >>
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 5:59:47 AM   
DominantXY


Posts: 12
Joined: 7/1/2008
Status: offline 		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...
Profile   Post #: 1
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 6:11:40 AM   
RCdc


Posts: 8674
Status: offline 		Best antivirus you do not have to purchase would be AVG or Avast.
 
the.dark.

_____________________________
RC&dc


love isnt gazing into each others eyes - it's looking forward in the same direction

(in reply to DominantXY)
Profile   Post #: 2
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 6:16:20 AM   
DominantXY


Posts: 12
Joined: 7/1/2008
Status: offline 		Thank you.  Would you run both or choose one over the other?

(in reply to RCdc)
Profile   Post #: 3
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 6:19:19 AM   
RCdc


Posts: 8674
Status: offline 		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.

_____________________________
RC&dc


love isnt gazing into each others eyes - it's looking forward in the same direction

(in reply to DominantXY)
Profile   Post #: 4
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 6:23:19 AM   
patwi


Posts: 296
Joined: 6/24/2007
Status: offline 		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.

(in reply to RCdc)
Profile   Post #: 5
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 6:24:45 AM   
RCdc


Posts: 8674
Status: offline 		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.

_____________________________
RC&dc


love isnt gazing into each others eyes - it's looking forward in the same direction

(in reply to DominantXY)
Profile   Post #: 6
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 6:28:56 AM   
RCdc


Posts: 8674
Status: offline 		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.

_____________________________
RC&dc


love isnt gazing into each others eyes - it's looking forward in the same direction

(in reply to DominantXY)
Profile   Post #: 7
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 6:47:44 AM   
DominantXY


Posts: 12
Joined: 7/1/2008
Status: offline 		Thank you!  That article is really informative.  Downloading AVG and zone alarm this morning...

(in reply to RCdc)
Profile   Post #: 8
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 1:18:27 PM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		A timely post- my laptop is acting up.

(in reply to DominantXY)
Profile   Post #: 9
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 1:22:50 PM   
DarkVictory


Posts: 247
Joined: 8/7/2004
Status: offline 		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!

(in reply to pahunkboy)
Profile   Post #: 10
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 1:25:25 PM   
LaTigresse


Posts: 26123
Joined: 1/15/2006
Status: offline 		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.


_____________________________

My twisted, self deprecating, sense of humour, finds alot to laugh about, in your lack of one!

Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!

(in reply to DominantXY)
Profile   Post #: 11
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 1:33:27 PM   
mrbob726


Posts: 155
Joined: 4/15/2007
From: Illinois
Status: offline 		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.


< Message edited by mrbob726 -- 7/1/2008 1:39:48 PM >

_____________________________

"Love many, Trust few, Harm none" (Yau Man, Survivor Fiji)

"If builders built buildings the way some programmers write programs, the first woodpecker to come along would destroy civilization."

(in reply to LaTigresse)
Profile   Post #: 12
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 1:55:13 PM   
DarkSteven


Posts: 28072
Joined: 5/2/2008
Status: offline 		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.

_____________________________

"You women....

The small-breasted ones want larger breasts. The large-breasted ones want smaller ones. The straight-haired ones curl their hair, and the curly-haired ones straighten theirs...

Quit fretting. We men love you."

(in reply to mrbob726)
Profile   Post #: 13
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 3:25:45 PM   
SteelofUtah


Posts: 5307
Joined: 10/2/2007
From: St George Utah
Status: offline 		I use SpyBot Search and Destroy it is Shareware and it is the very best thing I ever had.

Look it up

Steel

_____________________________

Just Steel
Resident Therapeutic Metallurgist
The Steel Warm-Up © ™
For the Uber Posters
Thanks for the Grammatical support : ) ~ Term

(in reply to DarkSteven)
Profile   Post #: 14
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 4:27:11 PM   
fungasm


Posts: 321
Joined: 8/2/2007
Status: offline 		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


_____________________________

"Science is a lot like sex. Sometimes something useful comes of it, but that's not the reason we're doing it." (Richard Feynman)

Blog: http://antidomme.sensualwriter.com

(in reply to DominantXY)
Profile   Post #: 15
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 4:29:53 PM   
fungasm


Posts: 321
Joined: 8/2/2007
Status: offline 		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. 

_____________________________

"Science is a lot like sex. Sometimes something useful comes of it, but that's not the reason we're doing it." (Richard Feynman)

Blog: http://antidomme.sensualwriter.com

(in reply to DarkSteven)
Profile   Post #: 16
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 5:50:15 PM   
camille65


Posts: 5746
Joined: 7/11/2007
From: Austin Texas
Status: offline 		Zone Alarm is what I use, it is easy and it works.

_____________________________


~Love your life! (It is the only one you'll get).




(in reply to DominantXY)
Profile   Post #: 17
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 5:56:51 PM   
farglebargle


Posts: 10715
Joined: 6/15/2005
From: Albany, NY
Status: offline
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...




_____________________________

It's not every generation that gets to watch a civilization fall. Looks like we're in for a hell of a show.

ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוקינו, ריבון העולמים, מי יוצר צמחים ריחניים

(in reply to DominantXY)
Profile   Post #: 18
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 6:27:08 PM   
DesFIP


Posts: 25191
Joined: 11/25/2007
From: Apple County NY
Status: offline 		AVG but if you can afford the pro version, do so. It will update daily instead of you needing to remember to do so.

_____________________________

Slave to laundry

Cynical and proud of it!


(in reply to camille65)
Profile   Post #: 19
RE: Best Virus Removal Software? - 7/1/2008 6:29:48 PM   
Racquelle


Posts: 600
Joined: 4/21/2008
Status: offline 		If you write to me off-line I can often get free copies of Trend Micro Internet Security Pro.

(in reply to DesFIP)
Profile   Post #: 20
Page:   [1] 2   next >   >>
All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Best Virus Removal Software? Page: [1] 2   next >   >>
Jump to:





New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy

0.094