[robmd]

At present I have AVG 7.5 on my Laptop, and F-Secure (supplied by my Bank as a 2 year freebie) on my desktop.
AVG is now at version 8, and I'm not at all sure it is as good as it used to be - although it may be better if the Full version is purchased as opposed to the free version.
F-Secure seems O.K. but there are a number of progs. it isn't compatible with.

I dumped Norton 2 years ago because although IMO it was one of the best it became to big and caused more than a few problems.

Question now is, what is a good. reliable anti-virus which isn't bloated,
Is it better to get an all-in-one Antivirus - Firewall -Spyware Remover, or go for stand alone progs.
I have no objection to paying for progs - as long as I get value for money, but free progs. are very acceptable.

Any Ideas - thoughts???

[lunarlander]

For antivirus, there's the free Avast.
For spyware, I use Webroot Spysweeper.

[Broni]

AVG 7.5 will be getting updates until the end of this year, so you may stay put.
8.0 is having a lot of problems, so I'd stay away.

[gr277]

Originally Posted by Broni

8.0 is having a lot of problems, so I'd stay away.

Like what?
I use AVG8.0, and have no problems whatsoever with it.....

[Broni]

Like what?

Hit Google.

[robmd]

I've heard of Avast Antivirus, but Webroot Spysweeper is a new one on me. How does it compare to progs. like Spybot & Adaware.
I did try the AVG antispyware prog, but not overimpressed.

[Broni]

My favorites:
real-time:
ThreatFire - http://www.threatfire.com/
off-line scanners:
SUPERAntiSpyware: http://www.superantispyware.com/
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - http://www.majorgeeks.com/Malwarebyt...are_d5756.html

[robmd]

Thanks! - I'll look those up

[ferrija1]

Antispyware Applications
Free - http://www.download.com/Spybot-Searc...dlPid=10804822
Free - http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-200...dlPid=10844457

Antivirus Applications
Free - http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download-...s-free-edition
Free - http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
$90 - http://www.eset.com/smartsecurity/

Firewall Applications

Free - http://www.zonealarm.com/store/conte...ku_list_za.jsp
Free - http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.c..._firewall.html

[Broni]

Comodo? Avira?

[robmd]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I've just had notification from my bank that they are giving away th Kaspersky Suite.
Any idea if it is any good? or am I better off using AVG or Avast etc.

[laxstar]

Personally I've had a lot of problems with AVG 8.0, and I really wouldn't recommend it. Although I have to admit, it works absolutely fine on my familys laptop with vista. But on all the pc's I use with xp, AVG 8.0 gives lots of error messages, doesn't update itself and there is no way to open it what so ever. Just my experiences but i hope they have helped :-)

[robmd]

Thanks for that - I'll leave AVG 8 until it's debugged! - sounds like more trouble that it's worth.
Trouble is, that the big ones(Norton, McAfee and similar) are so resource hungry.
I appreciate that such programs are complex, but IMO the power and resources of todays machines have allowed programmers to become lazy and not bother to write efficient programs - and I suppose that a big program appears to be better value for money (together with a big box!).

[Broni]

Stay away from Norton, and McAfee.
Nothing, but super-bloated crap.

[NICK G]

AVG 8 FREE is good as gold and only lists "warnings" because I still have spywareblaster running also.
W-XP/SP2
Windows Firewall
AVG8 FREE real-time
WinPatrol FREE real-time
Spyware Terminator FREE real-time (will terminate that this week)
Spywareblaster FREE (will terminate that this week)
Superantispyware FREE on-demand weekly
Cable/Modem/Router
Never infected...EVER.