AntiVirus for the

[Carth]

I could have installed Norton when I made my computer and had a year's worth of virus definitions, but that boat has sailed now. The reason I didn't install it, is it's horribly bloated and resource heavy, and I don't want that again.

What I want is something that will keep me protected from viruses without hogging my resources, and also leave me with some money left in an already empty wallet.

I'm guessing if I want something that's updated, free is out of the question. I'm doing a scan with the McAfee free online tool right now, but anyway, what AV do y'all use, any recommendations?

Or should I carry on not using protection?

[UArchitect]

avg is pretty good, theres a free version too, which (according to the website) is exactly the same as the paid version but without help and technical support

(sounds kinda fishy to me personally) but its not a bad program anyway, and if you want even less sysem hogging, just disable the background check thingy too

[Carth]

I don't get that, people said there was a free version of AVG, all I found are versions you have to pay for or limited free trials.

[UArchitect]

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

heres the link

[Bucchus]

I've been using AVG free for years. It got updated very much during last winter or so, they switched to a new version number so the previous pay version got switched as the free version. It's very light on resources and is very much as good as any commercial antivirus programs. I'd definitely recommend it. It doesn't maybe have all the extra features of the priced version, but it's got all the basic ones, I wouldn't even need any more features. I recall it ranked as one of the best antiviruses out there in some tests earlier, as efficient as non-free antiviruses.

[Carth]

Somebody linked me to the website of the free AVG, it wasn't exactly easy to find on the Grisoft website. Using it now, thanks.

[necros]

AVGs great, its free - so you youll never have to pay to get definitions.
Also, norton really screws everything up (it set up a virtual proxy for some reason) so my internet went superslow.

I Just use AVG/WindowsSP1Firewall

but if you want more security firewall wise, Zonealarm, but again - theres no real need considering Windows will block most things malicious and if someone *really* wanted to hack your computer, they could get past either firewall anyway.

[BiG_D]

 Originally Posted by necros:

Windows will block most things malicious

ahahahahahaha ahahah ahahahaha

Really, that was sarcasm, right? Or did you mean to type "Windows will welcome most things malicious?"

[Machine]

Use AVG, if you require a 'professional' edition. Call me.

[necros]

95% of firewall alerts i get from ZAlarm were from Spy/Adware which later got nuked.

[Bucchus]

I like how Zonealarm stealths my connection. Dunno if it's really worthwhile but it makes my heat monster stealthy.

[bigfoot]

I think Eset NOD32 is the best one.

[reemulmyu]

i heard nod was good as well .also panda ?

[Moses2k]

Have you tried reinstalling your operating system?

[Carth]

Me? Yes.

[Moses2k]

No...not you.

[Schleicher]

Soo the AvG/ZoneAlarm Combo is teh shiat?

Need to switch my ISP because its expensive like hell, problem is with that goes my free Norton Subscription and THEN ILL BE NEKKID AND UNPROTECTED in this nasty interwebs unless i get something else which is a) free and b) good.

[necros]

norton blows... avg + ZA > norton, and its free

[Salvage]

ZA = Bloated POS.

Get a real firewall such as Outpost, Sygate, or Kerio.


Personally, I use Avast and Kerio. Avast takes up about 19 MiB total RAM and Kerio takes up about 14 MiB total RAM.

[Ghostly apparition]

 Originally Posted by Moses2k:

Have you tried reinstalling your operating system?

have you tried uninstalling your brain?
Oops nvm looks like you already have.


I have a firewall built into motherboard chipset. Nvidia Nforce4 ultra.

[Thebos]

Zonealarm does the security thing well, but is a resource hog. Been using the free version of Sygate on both a Win98 and a WinXp box without issue.

[Schleicher]

Well i tried Avg, seems fine enuff. Zonealarm seemed to be ok, but since my Computer crapped on me again making me do the fourth reinstall in two days i could aswell try Sygate. Thanks for the tips.

I wish i was a geek bein able to do this shit without problems, and im beginning to feel physically weakened here. I mean its just installing shit, THIS SHOULD BE IDIOT PROOF SO WHY IT ISNT WHY WHY WHY YOU LIARS YOU SAY "OOOH SO EASY" I EAT YOUR EARS HATE HATE HATE DESOLATION WHY DONT YOU WORK I BET THERE ARE INVISIBLE KOBOLDS HASSLING em omg fingersas trembling ooosing grasp of dsnd

On a bright note the new rig is the shiat, plays UT2004 with everything set on extrasuperdupereyecandy and Adept bots flawlessly. If just the basic crap would work

EDIT : Btw any of ya tried this? Seems to make Firewalls redundant, but just in case. Made by the "Chaos Computer Club" pretty reknown group of Uberhaxxorgeeks over here

[Baz]

I find Kerio to be an excellent firewall. The interface could be a little clearer to understand but i can't remember getting any infections or the likes while using it.

[Schleicher]

Running Sygate now and it seems ok. Doesnt bombard me with messages like Zonealarm and Norton (heard somewhere zealous messaging by Firewalls is a method by the companies to give the customer the feeling of "actively being protected" ) and isnt such a Nazi like Norton by far. That thing wouldnt even let me into the internet at times. Wasnt very smart about allowed applications either (YES I SAID ITS OK LIKE 5000000 Million times &%!$§). On the other hand Norton blocked every ad, not just popups. Eh, i think i can suffer those "PHUNNAY SMILIES DL NOW" things

[NoData]

First: STOP using Internet Explorer!!!
Second: Download Firefox!
After that, just get a good firewall... Personnaly, i use Agnitum Outpost Pro.

[immortius]

 Originally Posted by NoData:

First: STOP using Internet Explorer!!!
Second: Download Firefox!
After that, just get a good firewall... Personnaly, i use Agnitum Outpost Pro.

Insert:

Third: Install the Adblock Firefox plugin.
Firefox is nothing without Adblock.

[Salvage]

 Originally Posted by NoData:

First: STOP using Internet Explorer!!!
Second: Download Firefox!
After that, just get a good firewall... Personnaly, i use Agnitum Outpost Pro.

Then try Opera, after which remove Firefox to save space.

[Chainsaws]

OMG NO! Opera is uber bloatware, I'm so glad they got up to speed on Firefox so that I can stop using that POS. Firefox uses about 10% of the resources that Opera does, plus Opera is reputed to spy on you OMG!

As for firewalls? I'd seriously recommend buying a hardware one (mine is incorporated in my router). Even if you only have the one PC it means you save a large amount of system resources and they are very easy to configure once you understand what port forwarding is. I'd recommend NETGEAR as that's the one I have and it is very simple to configure.

[Schleicher]

 Originally Posted by NoData:

First: STOP using Internet Explorer!!!

What in the hells would make you think i did?

AvG/Sygate combo seems fine by now.

[Salvage]

 Originally Posted by Chainsaws:

OMG NO! Opera is uber bloatware. Firefox uses about 10% of the resources that Opera does, plus Opera is reputed to spy on you OMG!

As for firewalls? I'd seriously recommend buying a hardware one (mine is incorporated in my router).

For your first incorrect assumption: link.

While a hardware firewall is good, and I also recommend one, but you also need a software firewall as they stop things from going out of your computer, which a hardware firewall can't do(they only stop incoming traffic). If you somehow get a trojan, there's nothing to stop it from sending out your credit card details if you don't have a software firewall. Antivirus programs aren't very good at keeping up with trojans.