AV Poll

I'd like some input (from experience preferably) for the following in terms of which AV you would go with:

Kaspersky 6

NOD32

BitDefender 10

--thanks

 

Hi James,

Ok, I'll start

Use both NOD and KAV and like both very much. Both have forums BTW.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks, Charles, for the post. I'm a curious guy. Why did you choose to go with two rather than one? That is to say, why not purchase two licenses for KAV or for NOD for your desktop and laptop? What influenced your decision in selecting these as opposed to BitDefender?

 

Hi James,

First, for the record, I dual boot two XP installations, that started because I was running WinME (since replaced with another XP) and when I installed XP in early 2002, XP being new, wanted a "fallback ". Since then discovered too many advantages of having two OS's running - the biggest being if problems with one, have the other. Back on topic, one side benefit is the ability to scan one OS's files from the other, and since that's the case, using a different AV is much the same as going online and using an online scanner to double check one's AV.


I've been using NOD for three years now, first when I was running WinME, where originally NAV2001 was installed, and then on XP. What brought it to my attention was the consistent high marks NOD got at this AV testing site: main page http://www.virusbtn.com/index Ratings page index http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/index and also the praise NOD recieved from other security forums. Really two deciding factors - it was one of the first AV's that developed Hueristics, and from my reading about security, understood that signiture files alone would not be enough to ward off threats. The other was that NOD had a forum, and I don't trust any company making security software that doesn't have one and for the Company, a feedback mechanism, so obvious, too bad Symantec chooses to ignore this. Since then I'm happy to see that the newer entrants in the field realize that and have forums. NOD's forum here: http://www.wilderssecurity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16

KAV I've been using since May of this year after getting rid of NAV2005 on the second XP installation. Also has an excellent reputation and high test scores - up to now, consistently the highest. KAV's forte is the large size of its virus database, and the frequency of updates. Word lately is that KAV will have an advanced hueristic engine to rival anyone else's (read NOD's). BTW, AOL uses the KAV engine in its new anti malware suite. The down side of KAV is its fussy - if encountering any other AV's residue, it will give you hell, and its expensive. It also has a reputation of being "heavy ". In my case though, I gained 15+ MB's of RAM with the deletion of NAV2005 and then KAV installed to take its place - no other changes. I don't use the WEB AV part, this is the feature that's complained about the most in terms of speed/resources. Don't use that in NOD either and didn't use it in NAV, I think it redundant. KAV's forum: http://forum.kaspersky.com/

BitDefender, I'm not familiar with other than by its excellent reputation.When I first started looking to replace the "usual suspect" AV's, I wasn't aware of it and NOD caught my eye - and when I did become aware, I already had decided on KAV as my second AV.

Look at this testing site http://www.av-comparatives.org/ As far as I can tell, IBK, the site author, is independent. I understand the complexity is intimidating with all that data. The Avanced/Advanced+ status though is the bottom line judgement.

Looking back on AV development of the last few years, I'm amazed and very happy how what used to be obscure and 2nd tier AV's have leaped to the forefront surpassing the giants Symantec/McAfee.

Regards - Charles