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mikedz4
join:2003-04-14
Weirton, WV | best FREE anti-virus, malware, spyware program(s)? What is/are the best anti-virus,malware,spyware programs for me to get? | |
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JTM1051
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-08
Moorpark, CA
| Re: best FREE anti-virus, malware, spyware program(s)? Hard to provide answer since you did not provide any info on type of system/OS you're using.
You can start by:
* Looking at the various AV, AS, and AT Poll links at the upper left column of this forum.
* Use the forum's Search (e.g., Best AV) -- you'll find PLENTY of similar posts.  | |
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mikedz4
join:2003-04-14
Weirton, WV | Re: best FREE anti-virus, malware, spyware program(s)? i'm using windows xp with 4gb ram and yes 32bit as of right now.
I don't have time to search through millions of posts for what i want.
can someone please help? | |
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JTM1051
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-08
Moorpark, CA
1 edit | Re: best FREE anti-virus, malware, spyware program(s)? IMHO for free and very good protection:
avast! Home 4.8 will provide AV, AS and Rootkit protection. It has done very good in latest tests at several different reptible AV test sites.
Free SUPERAntiSpyware known for doing a very good job at removing various spyware, malware, etc. After you use the free SUPERAntiSpyware for awhile you'll get the option to purchase at a reduced price--note that its a one-time purchase which makes it an excellent value.
Are they the "Best", some will agree and others will disagree.
said by mikedz4  :...I don't have time to search through millions of posts for what i want. ... Don't have to ... just look at the Poll Results, and browse through the posts for the AV/AS at the top of the polls. 
If you take just a little time and look at posts asking "What is the best ..." you would see the results will be subjective at best.
can someone please help? Below are some test sites/results:
»www.av-comparatives.org/
»www.virusbtn.com/news/2008/09_02
»www.virus.gr/portal/en/content/2···-21-june
Edit: FWIW The Best Free Security Software for PC | |
| | | booger
join:2008-10-15
1 edit | Good advice from both markeleven and JTM1051.
As your using XP, you could do worse than Online Armor or Comodo for your firewall. Are you using a router?
On a spyware/trojan/root-kit app, I third's Super. It's excellent.
(edit): I intended to add .. I like Opera.
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A sticky proposition. | |
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ironwalker
World Renowned
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-31
Keansburg, NJ
clubs:
 ·Optimum Online
| said by mikedz4 :I don't have time to search through millions of posts for what i want. can someone please help? I normally wouldn't reply after reading the above but, I have to ask how the link in the reply has had you thinking it was millions of posts to sift through. There are 2 polls on DSLR readers advice on av products for 2007 and 2008. The results page is on the first thread.
»AntiVirus Poll 2008
I agree with jaykaykay. | |
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Cthen
join:2004-08-01
Ypsilanti, MI
·Comcast
| said by mikedz4 : as of right now. I don't have time to search through millions of posts for what i want. can someone please help? Yet you have time to wait for people to post which is longer?
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"I like to reffer to myself as an Adult Film Efficienato." - Stuart Bondeck | |
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hdman
Flt Rider
Premium
join:2003-11-25
Appleton, WI | I like a simple, one stop solution. Avast Free. It is an antivirus and antispyware, plus it watches email, etc. Works well with all Windows OS's | |
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Cheese
Premium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
clubs:
| said by mikedz4 :i'm using windows xp with 4gb ram and yes 32bit as of right now. I don't have time to search through millions of posts for what i want. can someone please help? You aren't going to get what YOU want because the "best" is different for different people | |
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markeleven
@net.my
 from:
booger
| I've been using these for some time, and no infection so far.
Browser: Firefox with WOT addon
Windows Vista Firewall turned on
Resident:
Avira AntiVir Free
Sandboxie free
On Demand:
SUPERantispyware Free
MBAM Free
All free (but both Avira AntiVir free and Sandboxie free give nag screen). | |
| | | | Carr
join:2003-06-20
Gardendale, AL
| Im prone to agree with Ironwalker and Jaykaykay,,,,
One of the problems is that a lot of people wont or dont want to spend the time administering a system, any system no matter what the OS to keep it safe.....that having been said--
For me the following...XP Pro with the XP firewall on and system kept fully patched even to the out of bandwidth updates from Microsoft (I dont use XP much anymore, all of the systems here are OSS.. 2 desktops and a laptop with XP Pro dual boot on only one of them). I run with automatic update off to have control over, and moreover awareness of what happens in the XP environment. . I also pay frequent i.e daily attention to this and a few other forums to see what the current threats and vulns are and workarounds.
All of the systems run behind a Netgear FvS 318V3 firewall with up to date firmware, a strong password and remote admin disabled.
In XP I run Avast Pro updated daily with daily scans and the process guard features turned on. I also guard against process execution using built in XP Pro tools for that and do not run as administrator but in a limited user account. All unneeded services are disabled. Firefox browses and Thunderbird is the mail client. Internet Explorer gets opened once a month for updates, more often as needed but only for updates.
Additionally at a minimum of weekly I scan the system with Spybot S&D and will use this more often depending on the threat level. Spybots' immunize feature gets used as well every time its run.I will also run up to date versions of a rootkit detector like Blacklight.
Other admin tasks involve running a boot time chkdsk weekly and Perfect disk to keep the system fast in as much as is possible running XP Pro, As I commented earlier though, I run almost exclusively OSS for everything now. The considerations for OSS are different but nonetheless present and for me the admin tasks are easier and take less time under OSS.
Monthly I open the cabinets up, brush and vacuum everything out and monthly run Seagate Seatools from a bootable disk to check hard drive health as well as a RAM diagnostic to check memory health. As a system utility I run Speedfan to monitor system voltages, fan speeds and CPU loading. All of this may sound excessive but I use the systems to make a living and Im my own IT department. As a note I ve never had (knock on wood) any security problem of a serious nature....I have had hardware failures, most recently a power supply but running a HW monitor alerted me to that before it happened.
Finally I cant emphasize enough the value of the forum here and a lot of the security pros who help us all out. Running secure though, takes time to learn whats needed and administering any OS. My machines operate in a home office, I occasionally trade futures contracts and all of my account info is present...so security is paramount to me.
Hope this helps. | |
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bellgamin
Kachunga
Premium
join:2003-01-12
Ewa Beach, HI
| said by mikedz4 :What is/are the best anti-virus,malware,spyware programs for me to get? I recommend Drive Sentry...
»www.drivesentry.com/
It is antivirus, antimalware, antispyware, behavior blocker, file protector, registry protector -- all in one. | |
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Noah Vail
Premium
join:2004-12-10
Lorton, VA
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: best FREE anti-virus, malware, spyware program(s)? I hadn't seen them before, I'll check them out
Thanks for the heads up.
NV
--
I support Little League RollerBall. | |
| | SipSizzurp
Fo' Shizzle
Premium
join:2005-12-28
Hilo, HI
·RoadRunner Cable
| This is a Beastly piece of software. I had just installed and activated the 30 day trial Avira Antivir Premium and had password protected all areas. I was testing it against WinAntivirus 200X and it was doing a great job of preventing infection. I tried to manually terminate Antivir from the task manager and it denied me. Then I ran across this thread and loaded Drivesentry. About half way through the install it knocked Avira out of the system tray. The computer froze up for about 45 seconds, and then Drivesentry continued it's installation successfully. Now when I click the AntiVir PE icon on my desktop I am prompted for the password. I supply the password and the gui starts up but the program never really starts nor does Antivir make it back into the system tray. I click the X to close the AntiVir window and it closes right away with no prompting (The icon in the system tray is for DriveSentry).
When I hit print screen (Gadwin 3.1) DriveSentry pops up an informative window warning me about the print screen activity, describes the potential security risk of what a print screen operation may pose, and provides the option to continue. When I was converting the screen shot from a 2 MB GIF to a JPG, DriveSentry informed me that 602 photo was attempting to access a protected area (My Documents), and I had to approve access. I did a different photo just after that, and DriveSentry had learned that 602 photo was OK, and permitted access with no prompt. Oh, I hit print screen again and did not get a prompt the second time. Heavy duty stuff ! Now I have two new toys to play with, but I'm afraid one has already been obsoleted before I could enjoy it.
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I spent most of my money on Women and Beer, and the rest I just wasted ! | |
| | booger
join:2008-10-15
| said by bellgamin :I recommend Drive Sentry... » www.drivesentry.com/It is antivirus, antimalware, antispyware, behavior blocker, file protector, registry protector -- all in one. I'll be. This looks interesting! So, if it's "antivirus'ie" .. is Kaspersky (KAV) going to have a problem?
How bout conflicts with Online Armor?
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A sticky proposition. | |
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hayc59
VoodooChild
Premium
join:2001-02-26
David R.I.P. | a2
SUPERAntispyware
avast!
you are good to go with all those
in my opin...no bloviating | |
| Arup
join:2007-12-09 | Browser Opera as per Secunia and for free AV, its Avast without doubt. | |
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tempus45
join:2006-07-08
USA
| I see alot of people recommending SuperAntiSpyware, but in reality that software sucks. Here's a review.
»www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2127210,00.asp
If you want competent anti-spyware, you need to cough up some cash and buy Spysweeper, Spyware Doctor, or Counterspy.
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"I never knew my father was an alcoholic until he came home sober one night..." -Andre Botes | |
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Kayrac
Premium
join:2001-09-29
Rochester, NH
1 edit | Re: best FREE anti-virus, malware, spyware program(s)? said by tempus45 :I see alot of people recommending SuperAntiSpyware, but in reality that software sucks. Here's a review. » www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2127210,00.aspIf you want competent anti-spyware, you need to cough up some cash and buy Spysweeper, Spyware Doctor, or Counterspy. PCMAG is not trustworthy, superantispyware is a very good program, and best of all, has a free version
please do research before bashing products 
PS it's one of 2 products that even comes close to doing a good job with the fake antivirus malware, which is leaps and bounds ahead of even the leading antivirus | |
| | KoRnGtL15
Premium
join:2007-01-04
Grants Pass, OR
| Crazy. I always thought it was greatly favored by the security experts. I use both SAS and MAM for my on demand needs. I thought those are the top 2?!?
said by tempus45 :I see alot of people recommending SuperAntiSpyware, but in reality that software sucks. Here's a review. » www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2127210,00.aspIf you want competent anti-spyware, you need to cough up some cash and buy Spysweeper, Spyware Doctor, or Counterspy. | |
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tempus45
join:2006-07-08
USA
| Re: best FREE anti-virus, malware, spyware program(s)? Pc Magazine has been in publication for more than 27 years and has millions of subscribers. They are the original authors when it comes to personal computer magazine services.
I would rather take there word for it rather than yours.
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"I never knew my father was an alcoholic until he came home sober one night..." -Andre Botes | |
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Kayrac
Premium
join:2001-09-29
Rochester, NH
| Re: best FREE anti-virus, malware, spyware program(s)? said by tempus45 :Pc Magazine has been in publication for more than 27 years and has millions of subscribers. They are the original authors when it comes to personal computer magazine services. I would rather take there word for it rather than yours. Okay mate, enjoy being inbetween a rock and a hard place | |
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forum poster
@verizon.net
from:
Curley
| They will always favor the company that pays the money for advertising in their publications. | |
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MarkAW
Barry White or lil bratt
Premium
join:2001-08-27
Canada
 ·Bell Sympatico
·Cogeco Cable
1 edit | said by tempus45 :Pc Magazine has been in publication for more than 27 years and has millions of subscribers. They are the original authors when it comes to personal computer magazine services. I would rather take there word for it rather than yours. What does PC Magazine being in publication for 27 years have to do with the Magazine being not trustworthy, common sense and your own testing of a product is better than the crap PC Magazine sometimes comes out with, for instance you're saying that they say SuperAntiSpyware is crap and that Spysweeper, Spyware Doctor, or Counterspy are more competent. SuperAntiSpyware was the first program to be able to remove Antivirus 2008 and Antivirus 2009 before the three paid programs you mention. Paid is not always the best, there are free programs out there that will do much better than paid.
--
Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have elections is to find out if the polls were right?
The man who knows how will always have a job. The man who also knows why will always be his boss. | |
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tempus45
join:2006-07-08
USA
1 edit | Re: best FREE anti-virus, malware, spyware program(s)? When a person studies gets a 4(degree) or more years in school that person is called an authority of there respective fields. What does 27 years in publishing in computer does?
Well let me see? doesn’t that makes them an authority? An influence in computer field? How about prestige since they have survived that long? Moreover, how about an upper hand in the competition. I don’t know about you, but I would rather take there word of a publication that’s been an authority for 27 years. So to answer your question, yes 27 years makes a big difference. | |
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MarkAW
Barry White or lil bratt
Premium
join:2001-08-27
Canada
·Bell Sympatico
·Cogeco Cable
2 edits | Re: best FREE anti-virus, malware, spyware program(s)? said by tempus45 :Well let me see? doesn’t that makes them an authority? An influence in computer field? How about prestige since they have survived that long? Moreover, how about an upper hand in the competition. I don’t know about you, but I would rather take there word of a publication that’s been an authority for 27 years. So to answer your question, yes 27 years makes a big difference. You know what you believe what you read in PC Magazine and i will believe what i have learned over the years the hard way.
--
Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have elections is to find out if the polls were right?
The man who knows how will always have a job. The man who also knows why will always be his boss. | |
| | | | | | jerry666
Premium
join:2002-12-12
Sainte-Anne-Des-Lacs, QC
clubs:
·Uniserve
| Tempus and PC mag know best . Can it be that software that does NOT PAY for any advertising gets bad ratings and the ones that advertise rate well , no never happen .
pc mag is a business promoting other computer businesses , how long would they last bashing advertisers ? Conflict of interest , ever hear of that ? | |
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MrTwister
Premium
join:2003-09-27
Hilliard, OH
| Re: best FREE anti-virus, malware, spyware program(s)? said by KrK :said by tempus45 :When a person studies gets a 4(degree) or more years in school that person is called an authority of there respective fields. What does 27 years in publishing in computer does? I've met some of these college degree experts. No thanks, I'll take the guy in the trenches experience. Look, I'm not saying PC Magazine sucks or anything, but nobody is right all the time, and reviewers are humans with personal likes and dislikes of their own, too. I'll go along with that.. PCMag has long been known for being biased towards companies that advertise. I've read
that mag along with a lot of the other mags that that company puts out from the beginning. (scratching head, I think Byte mag was one of the early ones).
I've seen articles and reviews that went both ways, but
most of the things are main stream.
You can't base your decisions on a single review/source.
Shop around, there are a lot of sources these days, and yes
you'll have reviews that are biased, but you'll have
a ton of data to use to make your decision.
There is one mag out there that doesn't pull any punches.
They don't care if the company of a product has a 1,2,3 or
8 page full color advertisement in their mag, they will
bash it. Even if they give the product a kick ass rating,
they will find something to bash it, even it it's a simple
thing of being an awful color or weird/wacky shape. The
mag is "Maximum PC (minimum BS) -- usually missed in the
title.
Maximum PC, in the latest release (just received 2 days ago)
, did a review on 10 different AV packages. One of the
packages I use, got a low rating, but when you look deeper
into the data, you see, they bashed it for not being an
entire security suite, the interface took a beating, it
did not have a firewall, etc.. From that stand I can agree
with the ugly interface, but from having full package, eh
that's to be decided. I'd rather have a AV that works and
a firewall that works, as opposed to a security suite that
has all the bells and whistles, and one app works great
and another is hit or miss. I don't mind taking the time
to select packages that work together and offer a total
security solution. But that's just me.
Hell, I was using a Norton's solution for the longest time,
keeping all the signatures updated as well as the programs
themselves, but was shocked, that after doing weekly
full system scans for a couple of years, I didn't have
any hits, but the day I installed Avast on the one
machine and AVG on the other, I started getting hits
on files that have been on the machine for 4 years.
It's really odd to say the least.
But I digress.. | |
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Cheese
Premium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
clubs:
| Re: best FREE anti-virus, malware, spyware program(s)? said by MrTwister :said by KrK :said by tempus45 :When a person studies gets a 4(degree) or more years in school that person is called an authority of there respective fields. What does 27 years in publishing in computer does? I've met some of these college degree experts. No thanks, I'll take the guy in the trenches experience. Look, I'm not saying PC Magazine sucks or anything, but nobody is right all the time, and reviewers are humans with personal likes and dislikes of their own, too. I'll go along with that.. PCMag has long been known for being biased towards companies that advertise. I've read that mag along with a lot of the other mags that that company puts out from the beginning. (scratching head, I think Byte mag was one of the early ones). I've seen articles and reviews that went both ways, but most of the things are main stream. You can't base your decisions on a single review/source. Shop around, there are a lot of sources these days, and yes you'll have reviews that are biased, but you'll have a ton of data to use to make your decision. There is one mag out there that doesn't pull any punches. They don't care if the company of a product has a 1,2,3 or 8 page full color advertisement in their mag, they will bash it. Even if they give the product a kick ass rating, they will find something to bash it, even it it's a simple thing of being an awful color or weird/wacky shape. The mag is "Maximum PC (minimum BS) -- usually missed in the title. Maximum PC, in the latest release (just received 2 days ago) , did a review on 10 different AV packages. One of the packages I use, got a low rating, but when you look deeper into the data, you see, they bashed it for not being an entire security suite, the interface took a beating, it did not have a firewall, etc.. From that stand I can agree with the ugly interface, but from having full package, eh that's to be decided. I'd rather have a AV that works and a firewall that works, as opposed to a security suite that has all the bells and whistles, and one app works great and another is hit or miss. I don't mind taking the time to select packages that work together and offer a total security solution. But that's just me. Hell, I was using a Norton's solution for the longest time, keeping all the signatures updated as well as the programs themselves, but was shocked, that after doing weekly full system scans for a couple of years, I didn't have any hits, but the day I installed Avast on the one machine and AVG on the other, I started getting hits on files that have been on the machine for 4 years. It's really odd to say the least. But I digress.. Maximum PC = Awesome | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Maximum PC is great! | |
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JTM1051
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-08
Moorpark, CA
| * Be it good or bad I would not make judgment on any security app base on a single review. Did you bother to read through the "Reader" ratings to the PC Mag Review?
* Review was done 05/08/07; SAS has made many improvements since then.
* Like to see if you can find at least two other reviews on the current SAS 4.23 that concur with the PC Mag review.
* At Wilders Security, Castle Cops, etc. forums SUPERAntiSpyware has received very good comments by users that have used SUPERAntiSpyware to clean/remove malware from infected systems.
* Read reviews at PC Mag/Cnet I thought were off, and the Reader Rating/User Reviews concurred with my thoughts.
FWIW:
»www.techsupportalert.com/best-fr···over.htm
»www.softsea.com/review/SUPERAntiSpyware.html | |
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hayc59
VoodooChild
Premium
join:2001-02-26
David R.I.P.
| said by tempus45 :I see alot of people recommending SuperAntiSpyware, but in reality that software sucks. Here's a review. » www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2127210,00.aspIf you want competent anti-spyware, you need to cough up some cash and buy Spysweeper, Spyware Doctor, or Counterspy. you must be crazy!!! do you believe everything you read?? | |
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Noah Vail
Premium
join:2004-12-10
Lorton, VA
·RoadRunner Cable
| Avast! 4.8 home has been the best of the 10 or so AV programs I demo'd for 6 months on a few dozen machines. Fewest problems, fewest slowdowns and it does everything you'd expect your AV product to do.
Another AV product that doesn't get a lot of press is Rising AV.
»www.download.com/Rising-Antiviru···col;psum
It's got a skinned, Linux sort of look. The best thing about it is that it runs on Server 2003. I don't know of another free one that will do that. I deployed it on 4 servers and they all seem to be doing fine. It's got some awards from know reviewers.
Good Luck.
NV
--
I support Little League RollerBall. | |
| 
ctceo
Premium
join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN
clubs:
1 edit | Firefox, Avast, AdBlock Plus & Spybot SD with TeaTimer Active.
Setting the first two aside I'd use:
Opera, Avira as backups if the above fail. | |
| | | | | Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| So where did you go to? I guess you don't have time to even read the thread you started?
Ah, well...for whatever it is worth Avira is the best choice. It is free, it is very light, very fast and currently rated the number one AV by all major testing groups. You'll need to do a trial of it of course as you might not like it. You should do a trial of several AVs mentioned here and see which one works best for you. What works best for you may not be the number one AV. For years, a really crappy AV was chosen by the majority of posters here. I never understood that. So, you really have to do trials of them to see for yourself. We can only tell you what we like and point you to the testing organizations to show you which they rate as best.
»www.free-av.com/
»www.av-comparatives.org/
»www.av-test.org/
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"The same ferocity that our founders devoted to protect the freedom and independence of the press is now appropriate for our defense of the freedom of the internet. The stakes are the same: the survival of our Republic". Al Gore, The Assault on Reason | |
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