Virus Protection of Choice?

Hey guys,

It's time to buy a new virus protection plan for my family. Last time I checked in during 2010, I was told that Kaspersky Anti-Virus was the protection of choice. While I've heard nothing to contradict that, is it still accurate? Is Kaspersky still the virus protection worth my dollars? I'm willing to spend up to $100 on the yearly plan.

I would get NOD32 but that's just me. Kaspersky is also good.

I'm just using Microsoft Security Essentials. I don't do much shady stuff on my PC, so it's good enough for me, so far.

Responsible web use

Common Sense 2012

@TheHT said:

I'm just using Microsoft Security Essentials. I don't do much shady stuff on my PC, so it's good enough for me, so far.

MSE also has the benefit of costing zero dollars and being just as good/better then commercial AV software.

@Little_Socrates:

If you do end up purchasing a paid subscription, make sure that you disable the auto-billing feature that pretty much every AV company uses. They usually charge repeat customers more than they charge new customers. Also, more often than not, you can call up their support line (be prepared to wait) and ask them for special offers (sometimes up to 75% off).

@TheHT said:

I'm just using Microsoft Security Essentials. I don't do much shady stuff on my PC, so it's good enough for me, so far.

Microsoft really stepped up their game with that. It's actually pretty solid as long as you take the obvious measures to not get attacked. Not only that but it's free, doesn't take up too much computer resources and is easy to configure and work with.

Microsoft Security Essentials along with Super AntiSpyware and Malware Bytes. Run once a week with CC Cleaner and it's triple protection at zero cost.

@Jack268 said:

Common Sense 2012

...along with this.

I have Avast but recently i've been having a ton if problems with it and games, can not recommend.

Norton 360. Came with my machine and hasn't failed/annoyed/spammed me yet.

Haven't used any since around 2006.. Haven't had a virus since around 2003. I dunno how people get viruses, honestly. My sisters' PCs always end up with bloatware shit, but even they don't get viruses.

@CaLe said:

Haven't used any since around 2006.. Haven't had a virus since around 2003. I dunno how people get viruses, honestly. My sisters' PCs always end up with bloatware shit, but even they don't get viruses.

Sometimes a bad Advertisement window on legit sites will run a script and infiltrate your computer. This actually happened to Giantbomb once about a year and a half ago, but it got sorted out quickly.

Microsoft Security Essentials, haven't had any problems yet.

Buying anti-virus programs? What decade is this?
 
I've been using a combination of AVG Free, Spybot S&D, and Malware Bytes Anti-Malware (all of which are completely free) for years without any problems.

Norton

@TheHT said:

I'm just using Microsoft Security Essentials. I don't do much shady stuff on my PC, so it's good enough for me, so far.

@Jack268 said:

Common Sense 2012

That's a very rare program. Not many people use it.

@TooWalrus said:

Responsible web use

@Jack268 said:

Common Sense 2012

AVG together with Super AntiSpyware.

I used to have NOD32 and it was very good, but not I'm using a AVG that my university game me...haven't come across any viruses as of yet, but it won't automatically update for me, and I can't be bothered to click on the update button when I open it.

I'm just using Microsoft Security Essentials. I don't do much shady stuff on my PC, so it's good enough for me, so far.

@MooseyMcMan said:

@TooWalrus said:

Responsible web use

@Jack268 said:

Common Sense 2012

@Akeldama said:

Norton 360. Came with my machine and hasn't failed/annoyed/spammed me yet.

@InternetCrab said:

Norton

As someone who interacts with Norton (the company) as part of my job, I cannot disagree enough.

@MooseyMcMan said:

@TooWalrus said:

Responsible web use

@Jack268 said:

Common Sense 2012

The guy has a family. I think it's a little harsh to assume everyone in it must be internet savvy. Especially if he has kids.

I use Microsoft Security Essentials and Norton Internet Security.

MSE seems to be my favorite so far. Runs quiet in the background and is pretty good on not sucking up all your PC's resources. Also it sweetens the deal with it being free including pretty much all the features you need if you're just a basic user.

Responsible web use

@InternetCrab said:

Norton

Good one...

I have used it and it is easily one of the worst antivirus programs out there. In fact, it in itself acts more like a virus than an actual virus does!

@TheHT said:

I'm just using Microsoft Security Essentials. I don't do much shady stuff on my PC, so it's good enough for me, so far.

I do a shit ton of shady stuff on my computer and this has been alright so far... Porn is the shady stuff we're talking about, right?

I shouldn't post this, my picture is on this website and my sense of humor probably doesn't play in text as much as I like to think it does.

MSE

Microsoft Security Essentials. Uses very minimal resource, is free and does the job well.

@Jrinswand said:

Buying anti-virus programs? What decade is this? I've been using a combination of AVG Free, Spybot S&D, and Malware Bytes Anti-Malware (all of which are completely free) for years without any problems.

This. Exactly. Got them off CNET, they were the editors top choices and most popular at the time.

@TooWalrus said:

Responsible web use

Your computer will get attacked even with responsible web use.

@Mr_Skeleton said:

@TooWalrus said:

Responsible web use

Your computer will get attacked even with responsible web use.

How so?

@BonOrbitz said:

Microsoft Security Essentials along with Super AntiSpyware and Malware Bytes. Run once a week with CC Cleaner and it's triple protection at zero cost.

@Jack268 said:

Common Sense 2012

...along with this.

All of this - the Super AntiSpyware.

I will also occasionally use virtual machines to sandbox if I think it is necessary.

The FSF recently put it best:

"Proprietary security software is an oxymoron -- if the user is not fundamentally in control of the software, the user has no security."

I can endorse ClamAV and the graphical interfaces made for it.

Windows defender / stop clicking those links.

Kaspersky Internet Security...it protects against everything and has one of the best firewalls you can get. (It's around $60-70)

@YI_Orange said:

@MooseyMcMan said:

@TooWalrus said:

Responsible web use

@Jack268 said:

Common Sense 2012

I know that, obviously, but my mom and brother don't know what is and isn't responsible web use beyond avoiding most pornography or piracy. And the brother is the only one who would use either of those things, and I think he uses neither.

@Deinos said:

@BonOrbitz said:

Microsoft Security Essentials along with Super AntiSpyware and Malware Bytes. Run once a week with CC Cleaner and it's triple protection at zero cost.

@Jack268 said:

Common Sense 2012

...along with this.

All of this - the Super AntiSpyware.

I will also occasionally use virtual machines to sandbox if I think it is necessary.

This seems to be a good summary of what I'd probably want, though the argument that continuing to use Kaspersky is fine as well is also compelling.

I use AVG Internet Security.

I've used Avast forever. It has started complaining about running games the first time I've loaded them up but I haven't had any other issues after I tell it to shut up. I guess it's fallen out of vogue.

AVG Free or MSE is all you need, both are fantastic. I use MSE personally, I find it integrates very well within the Windows environment and is nicely lean on resources.

ESET Smart Security and NOD32

MSE mixed with common sense is the best anti-virus.

@CaLe said:

@Mr_Skeleton said:

@TooWalrus said:

Responsible web use

Your computer will get attacked even with responsible web use.

How so?

Had a lecture about this in one of my classes but this will describe it pretty well.

http://www.novo-ordo.com/security.php

I've always used Norton and never had any trouble with it. On the one hand though it sucks to be paying £50 a year to get rid of the few cookies it deems unsuitable but they provide a bunch of other services that are pretty useful as part of the price. For example, my dad recently had to resort to getting Norton staff to remove a virus through remote control (he's yet to get the basic avoidance thing down). It's those extra thing's that justify the price for me.

Virus Protection is nonsense. All of them are bloated, terribly written pieces of software. Do Windows updates, back up your data, and If you get a virus, format.

Regarding my family, my protection of choice is to remove their LAN cables and tell them that the internet is closed for maintenance.