Norton Internet Security 2005 is causing me a major headache, either freezing my machine up or preventing program access to network programs, and it would seem this versions got a pretty dire reputation from reading various forums. 100% Certain its configured correctly.

So wondered what AV software you're all using? Any recommendations?

Anyone using the free "AVG" software

Neil

 

I am using Norton AV + Personal Firewall 2005, along with SpywareBlaster and Spybot, and a Linksys hardware firewall. Oh and, yes I am paranoid about net security

Oh and no problems with any of the software here.

 

I've been using AVG for ages, and it seems fine to me.

OTOH, it was getting some uncomplimentary comments on here the other day.

John.

 

AVG is bad.

For example (taken from an independant review)...

• Doesn't check for double infected files
• Some users have had freezes and other major stability issues on Windows 2000 and XP
• Slows down your computer considerably
• Inserts ads in your email messages.
• You need to use DOS commands for some advanced operations.
• Log file displays limited info
• You can't see anything in systray, so you don't know if it's running or not
• Terrible virus detection rate
• Doesn't update their virus definition files very often
• Deletes infected files without warning. This is especially bad if the file didn't contain a virus after all (a false positive).
• Very low detection rate on scripts, backdoors and trojans.

I wouldn't touch it with a very long barge pole...

 

I've used AVG for 2 years now - no lockups or freezes, it slows down my machine a lot less than Norton ever did, it updates every day when I startup my machine, and that bit about the systray is rubbish - it places an icon there just like every other AV.

I can't comment on the details of detection rates (that are mentioned twice ) other than to say that i've not once had a virus sneak through

Just to balance things out a little

 

I just cut and pasted that from a review site (didn't check the details ). If you do a web search though, you will see so many bad reviews of it (especially concerning detection rates), that it's just not worth the risk imo, especially as the good checkers (McAffee, Panda etc), are not expensive and are much quicker.

Up to you if you want to take the risk though. I still wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. I've had to recover too many systems that have had it installed...

 

Kaspersky

 

I like Mcafee - and you can get the full security suite 2005 sealed in the box from the secondary shops on amazon for under a tenner

 

I use Kaspersky which is great but I did spot McAfee AV 2006 retail boxed in PC World for less than £18 last week.

 

im using Nod32 which so far seems really good fair dues

 

tried Kaspersky and it was OK, bit clunky and missed a worm about a year back that caused me a major headache, so in the end swapped to Norton to sort out. Norton slows the machine down and often wont let me shut the machine off (ccapp crashing)

I'll take your advice of AVG Iain, (thanks) so left with Panda and McAfee - might try the latter.

Thanks for your help as always

Neil

 

I use AVAST, what is the consensus with it`s abililties

Jase