PCFormat Forum Archive

Lo All ,

I read the negative review of AVG Internet Security in this month's issue , and is wondering now , what is a good AV program that has Anti-Virus + Anti-Spyware if AVG IS is that bad ?

If you want a FREE solution try Avast or AntiVir if you don't want AVG as an anti virus.
Get Spybot Search and Destroy for spyware.

AVG has been crap for ages.

Like jammie says, AntiVir.

The problem I have with AntiVir is that I can't find any update files that can be downloaded from their site to update the AV database. For example if my Inet is down at home I can't download the update from their site on another computer and update mine manually. (which happens a lot with cable theft)

For that Kaspersky is the BEST. It has good anti-virus, web protection and spyware. You can also update it manually.
But at a price...

With regards to the update issue, Avast does let you download an update file that you can use. That's what I used to do when I had sucky internet at home (my 56K dial-up NEVER connected faster than 14.4K) - used to get friends to download the update file for me.

These days, I use NOD32. If you don't mind paying for an anti-virus, this is just about the best that you can get. If you do mind paying for an anti-virus, then it's what jamin said - Avast or AntiVir.

As for spyware, go with Spybot S&D.

You should also get hold of a rootkit detector - I don't know of any good ones myself, so you'll have to wait for someone like rustypup to post.

Apparently Avast sucks too though. Rayne did a review on it a while ago. He said it was absolutely pathetic.

Yeah I tried Avast before and it is crap. It doesn't have to be free. So NOD32 and Kaspersky is good ? Bitdefender was mentioned , how good is that ?

I have checked out NOD32 , but it also doesn't have manual update

mazal69 wrote:So NOD32 and Kaspersky is good ?

Yes, these are probably (imho) about the two best options.

mazal69 wrote:Bitdefender was mentioned , how good is that ?

Jack of all trades, master of none, imho.

Firewall: Outpost (retail) or Commodo (free)
Antispyware: Spybot Search and Destroy

DAE_JA_VOO wrote:Apparently Avast sucks too though. Rayne did a review on it a while ago. He said it was absolutely pathetic.

can i have link to this review. i am avast fan.

so far i have used it and had no probelms with viruses. it removed everything so i wanna see if this review will change my mind.

I also don't see anything wrong with Avast.

Rayne is not a man renowned for his patience, and IIRC he got upset because it took almost an hour to create his virus recovery DB or something along those lines.

My license for Trend 2007 expired a while back and I have been using Avast. No complaints so far. I'm not going to rave about it, but it does a pretty decent job - comparable to anything else on the market - free or otherwise.
It also has downloadable update files http://www.avast.com/eng/updates.html for manual updates

so true jamin_za.

also the features its got in the free edition are great compared to the features of AVG and others. it even detects rootkits( at least it says it does on the website) but i still use other rootkit detectors.

Link to review pls

Avast Crap?! Blasphemy!!!

Although the update is on the larger side its only one file not like avg thats multiple smaller sized files ut ends up being a bit large. It also has a user friendly interface plus for the advanced user it has you can do boot scans and a few other things that i dont recall at the moment.

Its one of the better free anti virus programs.

I agree with the Avast fans.

Tried Antivir on clients computers. Had issues. Tried AVG myself. Had issues.

I would say, the best free AV is avast. It gives the least trouble. And the only downside I see on it, is that you have to register, which if you have internet, is no trouble.

NOD32 for a subscription solution and Avira AntiVir for a free personal solution.

Only problem with AntiVir is the freakin annoying popup ad after each update. This is easily disabled though but stopping the 'avnotify.exe' process from running, either by blocking it with a firewall program or similar app, or simply setting some deny permissions on the executable.

Just a hint, for those using this anti virus solution.

An AntiVir gripe I have is I have found the updates are incredibly slow, like they have a single old server supplying the 'free guys'. But that is a minor gripe.

AVG, I find really struggles once the pc gets a good dose of infection, the scan engine seems to get confused and can't get itself started cleanly and from then on you get "Error state" from AVG. But otherwise I think it is ok.

Avast is fine, updates are a bit large. I have found it misses things that Antivir and AVG have both picked up, but it does seem to be the most robust in terms of not grinding to a halt if something evil gets through.

Nod32 - pay and be happy

Been testing out Avast! and must say I'm very impressed so far, the interface is the best of the free bunch IMO...

Is Nod32 really that good ?
Why have I never heared of them?

Why is nobody mentioning norton ?

Why is my toe so itchy?

Why doesn't Kiera Knightly love me?

Where do babies come from?

Yes, I aslo want to know about Norton. Is such 1337 antivirus even necessary? I've been virus free forever with plain old Avast. I'm now trying Antivir. Which doesn't auto update unless you babysit it.

Oh and thanks for the tip Ryan.

TheModDoctor wrote:For that Kaspersky is the BEST. It has good anti-virus, web protection and spyware. You can also update it manually.
But at a price...

Brett Venter and I interviewed Mr Kaspersky. That man is so clued up and the whole vision behind the company is to on the cutting edge of AV technology.

Sojourn wrote:Why is nobody mentioning norton ?

Because this thread is about ANTI-Viruses, not viruses.

I use AVG Free 8. Been good to me so far and works well on Vista. Haven't bought the mag, so I wouldn't know what they said about it.

I am a true AVAST fanboi nobody ganna be changing my mind anytime soon unless mayb if nod 32 became free.