Anti Virus Software

[Accessless]

Looking for some suggestions for a better free Ant-virus program. I currently use AVG free edition, unfortunalty it is no match for the might of my parents virus gathering abilities. I want todays virus to be the last that I have to remove manually (not that it isn't fun ).

[patio]

AVG is actually pretty solid...
What you need is to add a few more tools to your arsenal...
No 1 tool catches everything...Period.

MalwareBytes

SuperAntispyware

Stinger (on demand Trojan sniffer )

WinPatrol.

All the above are Free and this has been my protection package for well over 4 years now....zero issues...and there are teenagers in the equation.

[Allan]

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,106291.msg717728.html#msg717728

[patio]

I refuse to join the AVG bash crowd...they had issues when 8.0 was initially released...they have corrected them and it is still a strong viable Free A/V choice...

[Allan]

I'm not a fan. But then again I'm not a big fan of any free anti virus software.

[Accessless]

Bare in mind this has to be simple and preferably automated. My parents are not very technically minded when it comes to computers so this computer needs to be able to defend itself. Will those softwares you recommended be able to work automatically around each other patio?

[patio]

AVG as you know will update and run on a schedule...
Stinger should be DLoaded and ran approx. every 3 weeks...
WinPatrol runs in the background...and notifies when an app wants to make system changes.
I update and run the other 2 weekly...

Hope this helps.

[Accessless]

Ok the two manual ones are no good but I'll give Stinger a go and substitute Winpatrol for Zone Alarm (once proved very usefull in isolating a virus for removal).

Teenagers? pfft that's nothing, get some clueless parents. I'm seriously thinking about contacting some of the online malware file scanner websites to apply for jobs collecting new and undocumented viruses for them.

[patio]

You may want to keep ZA...WinPatrol is NOT a firewall.

The manual ones are very good...maybe set them up on TeamViewer and you can do their updates/scans from your location...

[Accessless]

I could but then I would have to set up a service charge. 

[reddevilggg]

Sorry to HJT, but wpould like to know Patio's opinion on avast anti-virus

[patio]

Avast is also a fine A/V app...

For some ungodly reason the last time i tested it i could not get it registered properly on their end...so i had to do manual updates....that lasted about a week and i ditched it.

[overthehill]

Avast is also a fine A/V app...

For some ungodly reason the last time i tested it i could not get it registered properly on their end...so i had to do manual updates....that lasted about a week and i ditched it.

It would be interesting to find out if others are having any problems with Avast. As far as Free A/V's ,I used AVG for quite some time, but then someone here at CH mentioned Avast. I downloaded it (quite some time ago now) and have been very satisfied. Some time ago I opened a file that I shouldn't have (Duh!), and Avast sure let me know. All H broke out. Mind you by that time it was too late and no A/V would/could have saved me. I was fortunate enough to get the malware experts to guide me through cleaning my PC. and, at their suggestion I added additional protection ,such as MB ,S&D etc. So at this point I'm still using Avast, but I'm also a lot more careful now, and so far no more (Duh's.)

[reddevilggg]

Avast is also a fine A/V app...

For some ungodly reason the last time i tested it i could not get it registered properly on their end...so i had to do manual updates....that lasted about a week and i ditched it.

thats strange because thats the reason i ditched AVG - no manual updates, but avast does. I've never had a problem with either though.

[2x3i5x]

AVAST is currently running on my computer just fine. Software is registered properly and it automatically updates properly and there is no error on that part.

AVG is fine as well, its on my mom's old computer she has and it is doing fine too.

[harry 48]

i got rid of avg and got avast its great , no problems

[soybean]

Avast is also a fine A/V app...

For some ungodly reason the last time i tested it i could not get it registered properly on their end...so i had to do manual updates....that lasted about a week and i ditched it.

Count me among satisfied Avast users.  Using it with Win 7.  I like the multiple daily updates and the voice and popup box notification when it updates.

[harry 48]

Count me among satisfied Avast users.  Using it with Win 7.  I like the multiple daily updates and the voice and popup box notification when it updates.

voice what voice 

[Salmon Trout]

voice what voice 

Avast! antivirus has voice notification which can be turned on or off. There is a folder of wav files. They say things like "Virus Database has been updated" and so on. They (apparently) come in an American accent, which does not appeal to everybody.

[soybean]

voice what voice 

Yeah, it gives a voice notification.  I'm not sure of exact words but something like "Your virus database has been updated".  If you haven't heard it, the reason may be your settings.  I believe the default setting is that nothing will be displayed if a full screen application is running.  Now that I think of it, that seems consistent with my experience.  In other words, I can have application windows and still get the alerts as long as I don't have any application window maximized, i.e. using full screen. 

If you open the Avast control panel to the Summary screen, with Current Status selected on the left side of the screen, and then click "Change settings", you'll see options regarding alerts from Avast.

[2x3i5x]

if you don't want your avast to be annoying you unless it detects something, then just turn off the update notification and all the avast sounds and you're good to go

[overthehill]

voice what voice

Oh, Yeah harry, just gotta hear the voice. And has been stated, you get to hear that (probably not all that sexy voice) several times a day. And no, it's not all about the voice. As you already know, Avast is the real deal. overthehill

[2x3i5x]

the voice just proves that its working .... 

[soybean]

If I were using this computer in a setting where the Avast voice alert would disturb other people, I would disable it.  But, that's not the case, so I have not disabled it.  I mentioned it because it is a feature which makes me aware of multiple updates in one day.

[harry 48]

i updated the avast to-night and still no sound 

[kpac]

It's annoying anyway and it can slow down older PCs when it happens.

[harry 48]

It's annoying anyway and it can slow down older PCs when it happens.

ok i will not bother then its slow enough

[soybean]

It's annoying anyway and it can slow down older PCs when it happens.

Yeah, if it's annoying, then disable it or don't bother to enable it.  As far as slowing down older computers, I haven't noticed that on the computer on which I'm running Win 7, and it's a 5 1/2 years or more old Pentium IV, with 2GB of RAM.

[overthehill]

i updated the avast to-night and still no sound 

Should you decide to give it a whirl. Open user interface,settings,sounds. Works for me. overthehill

[harry 48]

Should you decide to give it a whirl. Open user interface,settings,sounds. Works for me. overthehill

ok thank you

Yeah, if it's annoying, then disable it or don't bother to enable it.  As far as slowing down older computers, I haven't noticed that on the computer on which I'm running Win 7, and it's a 5 1/2 years or more old Pentium IV, with 2GB of RAM.

mine is 6 years old 1.250 of mem  but its getting an upgrade in 3 weeks

[soybean]

mine is 6 years old 1.250 of mem  but its getting an upgrade in 3 weeks

But, your OS is Win XP, right?  I can't believe the avast alert would slow down an XP system with 1.25GB of RAM.  If it does, the that system has some serious issues affecting it.

[harry 48]

But, your OS is Win XP, right?  I can't believe the avast alert would slow down an XP system with 1.25GB of RAM.  If it does, the that system has some serious issues affecting it.

i know , thats why i'm getting an up-grade first of all

btw , broni is trying to look into it now in the xp forum and is giving  me some help after 4 idiots came on with stupid  answers

[kpac]

Yeah, if it's annoying, then disable it or don't bother to enable it.  As far as slowing down older computers, I haven't noticed that on the computer on which I'm running Win 7, and it's a 5 1/2 years or more old Pentium IV, with 2GB of RAM.

Well I was talking about more around 256 mb of RAM.

[joolifinaa]

Shield Deluxe is best antivirus software.It Controls over changes in the file system. Proactive protection.It Removes spyware parasites to protect your privacy and prevent system crashes and slow-downs.It also protection from rootkits and worms. Reactive method using signature databases.

[kpac]

"Shield Deluxe" is rogue AV software.
hxxp://www.pcsecurityshield.com/
http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/pcsecurityshield.com