ANTIVIRUS

[microsoft windows]

SO, DO YOU USE IT OR DO YOU NOT? IF YOU DO USE ANTIVIRUS ON YOUR COMPUTER, WHAT PRODUCT DO YOU PREFER?

[tp4tissue]

I use AVG, because Avast crashed 6/9 computers in my house during an update which generated memory errors, such that None of those 6 computers could boot.

Took me a while to figure out it was Avast causing the problem..  had to go into safe mode, and uninstall avast.

[evolveS]

On Windows 7, I just run MSE + Mbam.
On Windows 8, I also run MSE (aka Windows Defender) and have Chameleon just in case.

Avast seemed really powerful for freeware, but it was a P.I.T.A. to use. And look at (dem alerts).

[jdcarpe]

I don't use antivirus on my Linux boxen.

On my Windows machines, I use MSE.

[Thimplum]

I use malwarebytes on windows, and commons sense on linux.

[vun]

I'm pro-virus, so I just use IE6

[Thimplum]

I'm pro-virus, so I just use IE6

THAT'S VERY GOOD. IE6 IS A GOOD BROWSER AND IT'S VERY STABLE.

[meiosis]

I use my ergodox

[microsoft windows]

I'm pro-virus, so I just use IE6

THAT'S VERY GOOD. IE6 IS A GOOD BROWSER AND IT'S VERY STABLE.

YOU ARE CORRECT. IE6 IS AN EXTREMELY GOOD INTERNET BROWSER. STARTS UP IN JUST A MATTER OF SECONDS! I LIKE ITS ICON TOO.

[CommunistWitchDr]

I just play MC Hammer on loop and let the viruses know they can't touch me.

[divito]

I use nothing on Windows 7, and nothing on Ubuntu; have had no issues in 15+ years.

[dragonxx21]

I've always used Avast and haven't had any problems with it. I used AVG for a while but ended up going back to Avast.

[bazemk1979]

AVG all the way

[Badwrench]

I was using MSE, but had a small trojan come through (wife just blindly opens emails from anyone  ).  Switched to AVG+(mbam+spybot once a week), and have been great since the re install of Win7. 

[Leslieann]

Took me a while to figure out it was Avast causing the problem..  had to go into safe mode, and uninstall avast.

There was a version of it that caused a lot of issues, right around that version if I remember right.

I use nothing on Windows 7, and nothing on Ubuntu; have had no issues in 15+ years.

That you know of.
The days of it being obvious you caught something, are long gone.

[Gunni]

I use Microsoft Security Essentials.

[Photekq]

I just run search&destroy and malwarebytes every few months. Haven't found anything for about a year

[Findecanor]

I am using Linux, and no antivirus.

I am looking for some free antivirus for my mom's older Windows XP machine. Something that runs well on slightly older hardware and does not slow down the computer down to a crawl.
I have heard that AVG is a bit of a resource hog, that Avira has too many nag screens. Those two, MBAM and Avast! are the ones I am considering right now...

[rowdy]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46819.0

[ynrozturk]

I've never really used antivirus software. Haven't really had problems, either. That said I reformat my PC every 6-8 months.

[vun]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46819.0

In fairness that was a thread about the AV needs of a specific forum member that sorta got derailed into a general thread, might as well create a separate thread where people can go "i use this" and then get scolded for their choices.

[rowdy]

I use a Mac and do not need AV software bloating my Mac and slowing it down.

[Dubsgalore]

should probably get an anti-virus..

[divito]

That you know of.
The days of it being obvious you caught something, are long gone.

It's a fair point, but viruses/malware/etc... of old caused issues, annoying and sometimes crippling symptoms. I've had no driver conflicts, erratic behaviour, blue screens, or the like for a long, long time. I'm sure it's quite possible that there is something on my system, be it adware or similar, but I'm the sole user of my computer, and given my IT background and service to my clients, my usage and dealings on the computer and internet are fairly sound.

[Reomero]

Just MSE as it's lightweight (biggest selling point IMO).

Not the best, but hey, I don't do anything dodgy (i.e. opening suspicious sites/links/e-mails, or trying to earn over $9000 a day because I'm a single mum). )

[IvanIvanovich]

Forget AV on WinXP, go for steady state after getting it all patched up on a fresh install with all needed applications. It's the best solution I have found for people that are high risk users running old hardware. It dosen't slow the PC down at all, and it's like a fresh install on every reboot. Just get them into the habit of saving all personal files to a flashdrive or similar is the only downside.

On 7/8 I just use MSE/Defender, and once a month I boot a live linux AV to make sure they have been doing their job.

[TheSoulhunter]

Antivir and MSE on the main rig, Endpoint on the server...

[vasouv]

On my desktop (Win7) I have the latest Avast while on my laptop (Win8) I run Windows Defender or what it's called.

[daerid]

Never used any anti malware/software. Never had a problem with it, and my Win7 PC never had a reinstall (in the 3 years I had it)

[Puddsy]

MSE and Malwarebytes. I'm overly cautious.

[Glenn315]

I use avast and Malwarebytes.

[Leslieann]

I just run search&destroy and malwarebytes every few months. Haven't found anything for about a year

Try Super Antispyware (yes, lame name) and Combo Fix.
A year or two ago, those were kings, but not so much anymore.

It's a fair point, but viruses/malware/etc... of old caused issues, annoying and sometimes crippling symptoms. I've had no driver conflicts, erratic behaviour, blue screens, or the like for a long, long time. I'm sure it's quite possible that there is something on my system, be it adware or similar, but I'm the sole user of my computer, and given my IT background and service to my clients, my usage and dealings on the computer and internet are fairly sound.

One Russian group alone, makes more than ALL the Antivirus companies combined. It's big business now with the Russian Mafia running at least 3 world class groups. They is a standing $1 mil. bounty for bugs that require a major fix from Microsoft. Trust me when I say they can afford to hire quality programmers who know what they are doing. The old days of it being easy to find and remove are also gone.

So while you may be good, they are probably better.

[ImaMoFoThief]

I use malwarebytes and avast on my main PC and on my laptop I am exposed!

[dustinhxc]

Avira Premium (No Ads and other features) MalwareBytes Anti Malware, and Peer Block.

[Oobly]

I use nothing on Windows 7, and nothing on Ubuntu; have had no issues in 15+ years.

^^ This. With a bit of common sense (which includes not installing Office or Adobe products) there's no real need, IMO.

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

Agree with the above post. Common sense is the best antivirus.

Logic ftw.

[kolonelkadat]

I use Microsoft Security Essentials.

[microsoft windows]

I use nothing on Windows 7, and nothing on Ubuntu; have had no issues in 15+ years.

^^ This. With a bit of common sense (which includes not installing Office or Adobe products) there's no real need, IMO.

Adobe products are univerally bad. I hope web sites like Youtube get quicker to fully change over to HTML5 so I won't get "You need to install Crash Player to watch this video" anymore.

DOWN WITH ADOBE!

[Elrick]

On all my Windows 7 Pro/Ultimate x64's get BitDefender Internet Security 2013 or 2014.

Very smooth, non evasive and does it's job easily.  Have never had any money, credit cards and/or accounts hacked/stolen since using this software.

Trust me, when using Windows you need something safe to conduct banking with.

[Elrick]

Adobe products are univerally bad.

DOWN WITH ADOBE!

I know but if you're a professional you'll be required to work with either CS6 Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat X Pro, Flash Professional/Premium, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, Prelude, Encore, and some Cloud apps as well.

So like it or not in the world of professional imaging Adobe is still KING of it's roost with nothing threatening it's dominance anytime soon.  If anything starts to get too popular, Adobe buys them out like what Microsoft has done.

[dustinhxc]

Adobe products are univerally bad.

DOWN WITH ADOBE!

I know but if you're a professional you'll be required to work with either CS6 Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat X Pro, Flash Professional/Premium, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, Prelude, Encore, and some Cloud apps as well.

So like it or not in the world of professional imaging Adobe is still KING of it's roost with nothing threatening it's dominance anytime soon.  If anything starts to get too popular, Adobe buys them out like what Microsoft has done.

Yep have always and will always use Adobe as long as I'm in this field.

[Oobly]

<snip>


Yep have always and will always use Adobe as long as I'm in this field.

My condolences.

[cactux]

Linux do not need antivirus lol

[tormentor]

I just play MC Hammer on loop and let the viruses know they can't touch me.

Ahaha! I feel that way sometimes, I fix everyone's computers around me yet my baby never has any problems. I use a effective mix of common sense, single clicking and reading "Agreements" before I install anything to make sure it's not a disclaimer for another program, I also scan everything with MBAM. Every few months I'll run AdwCleaner, Combofix and tdsskiller even though I have nothing, not to my surprise. But I don't want to get too full of my self and slack off. XP

[kaotikb]

i use kaspersky on my desktop and laptop. I usually wait until they are clearing in it out for $20 or less at best buy.

[rowdy]

i use kaspersky on my desktop and laptop. I usually wait until they are clearing in it out for $20 or less at best buy.

Ha!  Kaspersky!

I tried to uninstall 2013 and it killed my mouse and keyboard (it is a known problem that some driver hooks are still in place after uninstall).  I followed all their steps to remove it and rebooted, everything seemed fine.  A couple of weeks later I installed OS patches and rebooted - no mouse or keyboard.  Several hours later still no mouse or keyboard.

So I ended up reinstalling the operating system.

Two days lost overall.

[Leslieann]

I use nothing on Windows 7, and nothing on Ubuntu; have had no issues in 15+ years.

^^ This. With a bit of common sense (which includes not installing Office or Adobe products) there's no real need, IMO.

Only if you remove Java as well, and only use Firefox or Chrome, but realistically, even then you are vulnerable.

Consider that over the course of one week last year, Google, Yahoo, Facebook and Myspace were all distributing malware, you cannot hide from it and Windows is an open invitation.

Also, the days of it being obvious you're infected are long gone. These guys aren't the amateur programmers they once were, unless you have run a check, you won't know if you're infected or not until it gets severely infected.

I do agree about Adobe (Flash) though, that program is horrid, but Jave isn't far behind. It's why Firefox started blocking it by default.

I use Microsoft Security Essentials.

Microsoft has changes the idea behind MSE, they now claim it is the minimum you should use for an anti-virus, and recommend you use something better. Which, considering how many times it has failed tests, isn't a bad idea.

[Oobly]

I use nothing on Windows 7, and nothing on Ubuntu; have had no issues in 15+ years.

^^ This. With a bit of common sense (which includes not installing Office or Adobe products) there's no real need, IMO.

Only if you remove Java as well, and only use Firefox or Chrome, but realistically, even then you are vulnerable.

Consider that over the course of one week last year, Google, Yahoo, Facebook and Myspace were all distributing malware, you cannot hide from it and Windows is an open invitation.

Also, the days of it being obvious you're infected are long gone. These guys aren't the amateur programmers they once were, unless you have run a check, you won't know if you're infected or not until it gets severely infected.

I do agree about Adobe (Flash) though, that program is horrid, but Jave isn't far behind. It's why Firefox started blocking it by default.

I use Microsoft Security Essentials.

Microsoft has changes the idea behind MSE, they now claim it is the minimum you should use for an anti-virus, and recommend you use something better. Which, considering how many times it has failed tests, isn't a bad idea.

I do have Java installed so I can develop Android apps, but it's always been blocked in my browser (Firefox, I go through the settings manually every install / update to make sure it's not going to do anything stupid).

I only use Google for searches (but have been considering switching to DuckDuckGo) and don't use Yahoo, Facebook or Myspace at all.

I use Foxit for PDFs, never enable macros on anything, etc...

This is all part of that "common sense" thing I mentioned.

[microsoft windows]

Sounds like you're using the best type of antivirus of them all!

[angelic_sedition]

I use a Mac and do not need AV software bloating my Mac and slowing it down.

Is there something special about your hardware that makes it so that AV is unnecessary? :O Amazing; I always looked at it from a software perspective.

I used to use Avast and never had a problem. I haven't used windows much lately, so AV hasn't really been necessary. As for MSE, I've heard a lot of thing about it failing more tests recently, so I have no plans of switching at this point.

I do have a serious question though. Is microsoft windows a forum joke? Is that why everyone puts up with his/her trolling? I think I'm missing something here.