Antivirus

[Magicman]

My McAfee expires in a couple of days.  What's better, cheaper?

[Jeff]

Microsoft essentials. Its free.  Thats what I am running on two machines, so far so good, and as the other three that have the paid stuff expire, I will switch them over as well.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

[iffy]

I have also heard good reports about AVAST and AVG. Of course, most free products will frequently urge you to upgrade to their paid product.

[Radar67]

I'm using AVG Free 2011. It does not nag you to upgrade, it updates the software and virus definitions regularly and it works.

[Norm]

I use Microsoft Essentials also. Works great, it's free and no nagging stuff about buying.

[Magicman]

McAfee wouldn't give up without a fight.   >:(

I am now "Essentially" secure.   ;)

[Warbird]

What's better, cheaper?

Linux.  ;)

[beenthere]

Also on MS Essentials. Has been good to work with.

[Magicman]

Wow,  It's not my imagination.  My boot up time is now only half of what it was.  I had wondered if that McAfee was bogging me down.  It was continually trying to do something.

Of course, I really don't know how this thing works.  I just want it to work.    ;D

[tyb525]

I second warbird  ;)

[Tony]

well I've tried to download this and we're having all kind of trouble

[Warbird]

I second warbird  ;)

OS X works pretty well, too.  ;D

[Magicman]

Just what goes on behind the keyboard and screen is beyond me.  Something may be better than something else ??  I guess if it stops the bad stuff it's OK.

I mentioned earlier, this laptop feels like it had a load removed from it.  I just can't believe how much faster it is.   

[Raider Bill]

My internet explorer started running real slow the other day. This PC is built for speed so I ran all the anti virus, malware, cc cleaner, system mechanic programs. Nothing worked.
Rest of machine ran great.
Tried Mozilla again and although it doesn't seem to like my favorites from IE it runs fast so I guess I'm using mozilla now. I do like the instant spelling checker. We'll see I guess.

[Magicman]

I agree about the spell checker Bill.  That feature alone is worth the switch.

[Magicman]

McAfee wouldn't give up without a fight.   >:(

I thought that it ran out in November, but they were just wanting me to renew early.

It tried one last battle.  I got an email stating that AcAfee would be auto-renewed.  (I guess that I had blown by this option when the product was initially purchased.)  I went online and finally got to their "Live Chat" option.  After some conversation, I got an email stating that the auto-renew was canceled.  The last battle arrived in the mail yesterday.  The credit card that initially purchased the McAfee had expired and they needed a credit card update.  :D  This letter had been mailed before my Live Chat.

Anyway, maybe the Wicked Witch is Dead.   

[Buck]

MM, I too went thru the months of expiration of Mcaffee. Finally I guess they gave up and I honestly think they crashed me....took my laptop in for a flush and got norton added without a flush and all is good now.  There is a lot of truth to that wicked witch comment.

[Magicman]

I believe that the "Anti Virus" companies are busy infecting us with viruses that only their product will prevent, and the other companies are busy trying to figure each other out.   :-\

[Wrangler55]

Anti-Virus & firewall software are necessary evils these days. I use AVG, Zone Alarm, Spybot Search & Destroy, Microsoft Essentials, Linux utilities like IP Tables, shorewall, and anything else I can add that doesn't slow down the computer too much.  On some older machines I have that won't run the newer Windows products, I use one flavor of Linux or another. My server runs Mandriva.  The laptop I'm using now is running Windows 2000 and Office 2000. It's due for an upgrade pretty soon.  It's going to be another Linux machine soon because after Microsoft stops updating it's products using the Internet with it is impossible.  

IP Cop is a linux release that works great with an older computer to set up a hardware firewall for your home network. My computer is an older computer that came with Windows ME. I added extra network cards.  My cable modem attaches to one, my wireless router attaches to another one and the third attaches to a non-wireless router for the bulk of my home computers and XBox. The wireless router is on a different IP block from the wireless router so traffic on one, can't be seen on the other. The wireless is encrypted and only a few IP's are allowed to connect to the Internet. None of the auto assigned IP's route to the Internet.  The default gateway goes to lala land. When I'm away from my home network I use SSH to connect to my home network and it sets up a vpn to let me do everything with all the traffic from my laptop to the Internet encrypted. The digital video recorder I put together is the only computer on the main network. It never surfs the Internet and it's connection is just to keep the TV program list current. If you really want to see how your Internet connection is under attack, run IP Cop (it boots from a CD or USB) then check the log after a few hours.  You'll see hundreds if not thousands of queries to your system with an details on each exploit your system has been subjected to. Plus you'll see where they originate. IP Tables is a linux utility that will allow you to block any ip or range of ip's.  A reverse DNS query will tell you where any specific ip is issued.  I block all requests from Asia, South America, Europe and any specific IP that trys to login to my system.  Any attempt at root gets the ip blocked and 3 login attempts with a bad id or password, gets the ip blocked. I know this is way to technical without a lot of details for a sawmill forum, but that's what I did before I got into woodworking, sawing, and logging. Google some of these topics if you need more information.  

Hal

[SwampDonkey]

I've used Norman Security Suite for 10 years and have not ever been taken over. I also run Spybot.  I don't trust Microsoft to protect me. :D

[SPIKER]

few week back my McFafee was done as well, I bought Web Root security suit, with my turbotax well that WR went back it worked but slowed system down (not as bad a Norton though) WebRoot has money back guarantee but the fine print is you have to call & work with them to fix problems ect ect ect. I sent it back with my receipt to get my 50 bucks back I HOPE 6 to 8 weeks and no you dont get your mail costs or tax back...   It screwed up much of my browsing fun Face boox and some on-line games failed to work and even now the ATARI on-line stuff wont work any longer.    I went to AVG so far so good.  I also have a PC Tools regestry Mechanic on here that runs on its own that has slowed the system a bit and not sure if the WR & It conflicted but I couldnt use this thing with WR on it.

Mark

[Jeff]

Magicman, did you uninstall Mcafee?

[Magicman]

I did from the Control Panel, "Add or Remove Programs".

This latest "auto-renew" deal came in an email from McAfee, and then in the US Mail.  I'm confidant that it has been properly squashed.  I have an email from McAfee stating that it has.

I don't know what would have happened if that Visa number had been valid.

[AvT]

I have never experienced a virus.  Up until I got this computer a couple of years ago I never used and antivirus beyond the trial periods.  I never got a virus.... other than the antivirus software itself.  I did decide to get the paid version of AVG when I bought this computer and have been satisfied even though it has never picked anything up other than a few cookies.  It doesn't seem to tie up too many resources............... KNOCK ON WOOD

[Bandmill Bandit]

For PCs i found Avast to be one of the better ones but the best one of all so far has been Apple. Still have one PC mail server running but it will be out of here with in the next  3 months if it holds up that long. Then I will be parasite/virus free.

3 years and not a single issue with any thing that may even look like a virus with our Apple systems and we run about dozen of em not including I phones.