What's your favorite virus/spyware scanner?

What's your favorite virus/spyware scanner and firewall and why? I currently run McAfee on my XP and Trend PC-cillin on Vista. Friend of mine swears by the free AVG virus scanner. What do you guys think about this Windows OneCare?

 

NOD32 + Sunbelt Counterspy + Sunbelt Kerio firewall

 

Hey 'dude

Personal favorite is SuperAntiSpyware - free and paid. I use the free version as an on demand scanner.

http://www.superantispyware.com/

Forum here: http://forums.superantispyware.com/ - a must IMO for security software.

AV's - NOD and KAV and on Vista, free AVG.

Firewalls:
On one of my installations I use XP's in conjuction with System Safety Monitor http://syssafety.com/ the paid version has an outbound blocker. On the other two Kerio, Sygate, and on Vista - Vista Firewall Control, which is an add-on for Vista's firewall which simplifies outbound blocking.

Regards - Charles

 

Spybot-S&D = safer-networking.org = http://www.safer-networking.org = Be sure to use the immunize feature, and as with everything else, keep it updated.

and Ad-aware = http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=506 +

SpywareBlaster/SpywareGuard - Freeware = http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

AnalogX Script Defender- Freeware = http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/sdefend.htm
and
http://www.winpatrol.com = Freeware

Comodo Firewall = http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com = "Comodo Firewall, rated by PC Magazine Online as an Editor's Choice, constantly monitors and defends your PC from internet attacks. It's easy to install and use and passes the industry's most stringent firewall "leak" tests. Unlike some other 'free' firewalls, this is not a stripped down version but is the full, completely functional product. This free solution comes complete with continual updates that are free forever." Note - Not compatible with Windows 98 systems. "

Avast = 4 Home Edition - Free antivirus software - free virus protection for home PC: - full-featured antivirus package designed for home usage.(FREE) = http://www.avast.com

An important thing to keep in mind, regardless of which anti-virus, anti-malware, anti-spyware and firewall you use
( http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/default.mspx ) is to keep it UPDATED, just as it is important to make sure you have all windows critical and security updates +
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Note: The way I have mine set is to only notify me that updates are availiable, but to not download them automaticaly. Then I can check to be sure I get just the ones I want. I then click on "custom ", and after the updates have been downloaded I look them over to see which ones I want, then disconnect from the net, disable firewall and anti-virus program, and then install the updates, and then re-enable the firewall and anti-virus programs before reconnecting to the net.

http://www.dailyrotation.com

Calendar Of Updates= http://www.dozleng.com/updates/index.php?act=calendar

 

I have been using Panda Titanium for the last 5 years. The last couple of years it has been an all-in-one solution with anti-spyware and firewall added. Panda has kept me clean without any major issues. When there was a small problem I just dropped their support an email and they had me fixed up overnight.

 

Avast Antivirus
Spybot Search & Destroy (The only problem is you need to update manually.)
Spyware Terminator (Doesn't run in Vista RC1.)
Comodo Firewall

You can find them all in google. All update automatically and all are free.

I uninstalled Windows Defender. It never caught anything, when the others have. Why bother giving up resources to a useless program?

 

donniebnyc,
Why don't you like Ad-aware and SpywareBlaster?

 

On my Desktop PC , I am using KAV 6 and Outpost Firewall ; both are outsanding programs ; both have a tech support which is friendly and efficient ; I had to get rid of Norton once and believe me this is a pain really ; I also used Mac Affee when they used to be customer friendly ; their support became incompetent , hazardeous and clearly not in time (eventually no answer at all ; the chat is absurd ) . regarding Microsoft last creation , it's really something extravagant ; just beacuse they launch a new
OS , they feel forced to create something which almost anybody already is equipped with and they just cannot compete ; their suite or whatever the name is useless at best .
On my laptop I suse the suite Bitdefender ; there also the program is fanatastic , using very few ressources at the expense of speed but the Tech support is really wonderfull : they would do anything for you.
It is also cheap
If you have large drives to sacn I would advice KAV with regard to Bitdefender for speed reasons . OLIVIER GEBUHRER

 

I didn't say I don't like Ad-aware and SpywareBlaster.

 

Good move, Pete.

 

I had a problem with NOD32

Last week my system suddenly slowed down. I knew something must be wrong, so I scanned with NOD32 (I have been using it for years), Spyware Terminator, and Spybot. All came up clean. So I did a boot scan with Spybot which also came up clean. However, after completing the boot, NOD32 did not load. To me, this said NOD32 had been compromised.

I uninstalled NOD32 and installed Avast. The first Avast scan found Win32:CTX and deleted it. My system immediately returned to normal speed. Avast has since thwarted two more attempted infections from this virus. I am still investigating where it's coming from.

I emailed Eset with this info early last week. I still haven't heard back from them.

 

Hello donniebnyc,

If you're interested in persuing this, NOD has a forum here: http://www.wilderssecurity.com/index.php

These kinds of experiences can happen with all security software, Avira in this case, another highly rated AV http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=63059 which is why I highly recommend using security software that have public forums.


Regards - Charles

 

I agree that no security software will provide absolute prevention. I don't know that avast would have prevented this infection. Once I was infected, though, NOD32's scan did not find the virus, avast's scan did. That is why I switched.

Don

 

I use the following

Zone Alarm Pro for firewall "“ have used for a few years now "“ once you figure out how to configure, it does a good job. Not free version.

Norton AV for everyday antivirus monitoring. "“ have been getting it free every year for past 4 years "“ Buy Turbo Tax, because I do our taxes and with that purchase and upgrade rebates, get it free. It can be annoying to use, (especially 2007 version) but appears to do the job.

I also run once or twice week the following

SpyBot, AdAware, AVG antivirus and even Windows one care.

Windows one care online at least cleans up some things for me.
SpyBot and Adaware occasionally find some things important to delete. I like these 2 programs very much

Tried Defender for a while "“ not worth anything in my opinion.
Occasionally run some of the online ones like Panda and Trend micro. They don’t fix anything but can point out problem - tho often one that is not a problem or one I can easily fix.

Most of this seems to work for me as I have very few problems.

One other thing I use with both IE (When I have to use it) and Firefox is McAfee Site Advisor "“ which may mark some web sites as possibly not being safe that are, but it at least gives me an idea of what is there.

I also use Spam Bayes in my Outlook email program to screen out spam that could be a problem with viruses.
http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/index.html

I run the following once in a while to check what is going on.

http://www.auditmypc.com/

Some people have called me paranoid , this may be overkill, but my PC stays fairly clean.

Jorjab

 

Not a fan of norton

When someone hires me to setup a new pc the first thing I do is remove norton/mcafee. The increase in speed is immediate and noticeable. I then install comodo, avast and, recently, spyware terminator. Together, these three have less effect on system responsiveness than norton/mcafee security.

They all work well, they are all free, and spyware terminator has a "beginner mode" that doesn't issue warnings all the time.

I have discovered that when faced with too many warnings, most users will either allow everything, or call me constantly. Neither is good.

 

couple questions regarding the a couple applications mentioned here:

Charlesvar - you seem to like superantispyware. do you like it over spybot ?
also the system safety over za's free ?

donniebnyc - regarding Comodo - how can they offer a free firewall and from what i can see both way protection. is it really that good ???

to anyone regarding SpamFighter - has anyone used it and if so whats your opinion. would be nice to be able to put a free anti-spam program on built machines that really works.

 

Re: Comodo

You'll have to ask them how they can give it away.

So far nothing has gotten past Comodo. It even warns me when I click a link in an email that Thunderbird is attempting to access the internet through Firefox. I have also discovered, and stopped, programs phoning home without telling me about it first. I like to know what's going on and I like a lot of control. Comodo has provided both.

I think a router probably provides the best incoming protection. If you don't have one, you can install Comodo and test it here.