Best Anti-Virus software

[Mighty Mazz]

Well seeing as how my computer was and still is undergoing virus attacks I want to get some software to help eliminate them once and for all. Just wondering what the best anti-virus software out there is now.

Right now I have PC-Cillin 2002 and Norton 2003 (limited time deal thing) running. And it seems that both of them detect/miss certain trojans/viruses/worms. Is McAfree any good?

By the way my computer is as we speak getting infected with viruses I cant frigin stop them it seems like new ones just keep coming every 30 mins even if I'm not doing anything online or at all just having the power on (also I run through a router so its a built in firewall so I dont understand whats going on) I'm starting to lose my mind here, any suggestions on anti virus software is much appreciated

[Deafrix]

I use Norton AntiVirus 2004 and so far I have no problems with it.

[shockwave203 Profile]

AVG

I have it, and it works really great. It's free (you can also buy it), and is constantly updated.

http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

It was reviewed on TechTV and they think it's a really good antivirus program

[Camel toe joe Profile WebsiteYIM]

my office uses McAfree on all the machines, i use it at home as well seems ok, althought it told me that the exe fro th ebf pirates mod was a trojan:confused:

[smithpa68 Profile]

We use McAfee at the office too. 3500 seats. Works pretty well. I have been using it for 6 years and haven't been infected. I do keep it updated VERY regularly. Updates have been coming out almost daily due to the Netsky and assorted others.

I also had a false detection a week or so ago. No damage done other than deleting a couple of Formula 1 Challenge mods.

[BladeRunner Profile]

I agree with Shockwave, AVG imo is the best free anti
virus software out there.

Musashi, you might need some expert advice from some
of our resident security experts. (cue for Chacal)

cleaning up those viruses after they have embedded
themselves can be a pain.

good luck

[Mighty Mazz]

Now is McAfree owned by Symantec because I was told that Symantec just recently bought up a lot of other companies and now its just basically Microsoft and Symantec that own all these diff AV softwares. And my biggest thing is I don't want to buy something and then have to buy the rights to download updates every year or so.

Sidenote- I think I got my comp clean now the virus I had was AGOBOT and it kept opening up all these diff worms. Found I had to go to Safe Mode and run Nortons again to remove it permanently .... hopefully.

[Mighty Mazz]

While I have somepeoples attention I have another question. Having this virus led me to investigate getting a solid (not cracked) version of XP so I could update the service packs to help prevent such hack attacks. Now I found this : http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=37-102-141&depa=0

But I was told that if I get this and install it I cant add any new hardware without having to pay microsoft a fee. Example if I install it on my 20 gb harddrive and then decide to get a 120 gb drive microsoft thinks im pirating it and charges me!.?

[TeamFHA|Aragorn]

Musashi,

You were misinformed. If you buy Windows XP you can add new hardware at any time. When it is installed it sends information about your hardware configuration to Microsoft. If any major hardware changes occur in the future and you attempt to reinstall, that new information will be compared with old information that Microsoft has on file - At that point there is a chance that Microsoft will think it a bit suspicious (thinking that you are trying to install it on a new system perhaps at the same time as you are running it on another machine, since significant hardware changes look like a new system to MS). You may then need to call Microsoft and provide them with reasonable information about your system configuration changes, at which time they will provide you with what is needed to install it on the new hardware.

This is obviously an anti-piracy measure of Microsoft's. It is a nuisance for end-users, but it is somewhat effective.

You won't run into a problem when installing it for the first time - You _may_ run into a problem if you need to reinstall it later after a significant hardware change. But, at that point you just need to contact Microsoft at the number they provide and they will take care of it.

Mike

[Bullhead]

1. NAV 2k3 or 2k4 are both solid programs, 2k4 throws in spyware detection as well (and requires licensing like XP).

2. No personal experience with AVG, so can't comment

3. PC-cillan couldn't stop a wet paper towel.

4. McAfee, while a good protector, is also a resource hog, often times loading itself 2-3 times in startup (haven't seen there newest version, but it's been the Achilles heel of the program since day 1).

5. You really should consider backing up the important stuff to cd/anotherHD, and doing a deep clean of the system (fdisk/mbr to wipe the master boot record, then a repartition and format).

6. You do not have to pay a a license fee to them, not even if you change hardware. The fun occurs if you've changed hardware and you reinstall windows. Then it will detect your pc as a "different" pc, and think you're cheating. Then you get to call a 1-800 # to explain to a (sometimes rude) microsoft rep why/what you've changed, and they give you a product key to enter in, and you're aok. I'd like to tell them to go F themselves, which is why I use a cracked XP even though I OWN a legal copy, because the cracked one doesn't harass me when I reinstall windows every 3-4 months.......

**edit** Forgot to mention, I use NAV 2k3 on my pc, have since the day it was released. NEVER have had a virus, although a few have made failed attempts. Also use Ad-aware on a regular basis.

[RCinator]

Originally posted by Bullhead

6. You do not have to pay a a license fee to them, not even if you change hardware. The fun occurs if you've changed hardware and you reinstall windows. Then it will detect your pc as a "different" pc, and think you're cheating. Then you get to call a 1-800 # to explain to a (sometimes rude) microsoft rep why/what you've changed, and they give you a product key to enter in, and you're aok. I'd like to tell them to go F themselves, which is why I use a cracked XP even though I OWN a legal copy, because the cracked one doesn't harass me when I reinstall windows every 3-4 months.......

FYI Bullhead - SP2 will not install on most of those hacked XP versions, or with hacked XP keys!!!

[beowulf]

You guys saying your XP ISN'T pirated????

Mine came with Service Pack 1 even!

[RCinator]

Originally posted by beowulf
You guys saying your XP ISN'T pirated????

Mine came with Service Pack 1 even!

Yes, some of us, especially those of us that write software for a living, understand the effects of piracy on software developers - even those as large as MS.

Thief.

[Bullhead]

Originally posted by RCinator
FYI Bullhead - SP2 will not install on most of those hacked XP versions, or with hacked XP keys!!!

Yeah I know...... I'm not gonna worry about it immediately, since SP2 will likely have alot of fun bugs to work out. I guess it may finally make me go back to my legit copy, as annoying as that is. Although, they tried the same thing with SP1, and it initially worked, and then those clever hackers figured out ways around it, so.........

[RCglider Profile]

If M$ charged a reasonable price for their OS, they wouldn't need to worry as much about pirating. I'm mainly talking about multiple copies. Sorry Bill, not gonna do it, wouldn't be prudent.

Also, for you xp home/pro (non corp) folks, you can copy the wpa.dbl file to disk, then paste it back to the system32 folder after reinstalling. This way you don't have to reactivate.

There's a workaround for just about everything Micro$haft has.

I have detailed instructions, or just look it up.