Internet Security - which product is best ?

I see Avast is free, do you recommend it then, Bernie ?

I have been using Norton for 5+ years (£30 for disk but shared with three others) with no worries, but have been informed that my BT Total Broadband arrangement now entitles me to free McAfee.

Was wondering what to do come December.

[Q]

From a personal point of view (unless its changed in recent times) Norton is very bloated & over-priced, McAfee likewise.

I always used to use AVG free but had a small problem with them around a year ago so I did my research and found that Avast was actually a much better package, it updates daily and (touch wood) I haven't had ANY problems (until today, but that was easily sorted).

They will try to convince you to pay for the full package but it is not needed, the free version does a brilliant job.

After careful consideration, and based on the advice of you guys (on the "Server slow today?" thread) I've deleted my Norton and installed Avast Internet Security on a month's free trial.

I've already got the registration code ready to input to carry it forward for a year.

I have a question, though.....With Norton, I was used to running a "Quick Scan" at the end of each day to remove any low/medium threats, a process which took about a minute. But on Avast, a "Quick Scan" takes 32 minutes and 56 seconds !  

Do you just rely on everything to run in the background, or is it worth doing a daily "Removable Media Scan" (as per the Scan menu), and if so, how long does this take ?

Thanks,
tommo

Recent experiences and findings :

1. Norton. Does the job 'adequately' but no way of avoiding £30+ pa for up to 3 computers.

2. Avast. Seemed a good package, very efficient. The free extended cover after the month's trial only covers the "anti-virus" element (level one of protection). Again, £30 plus for full (level 3) internet security (incl. protection against Spyware, Malware, Phishing eMails etc)

3. AVG. Similar to Avast, took on a month's trial. Slowed my system down slightly, fewer warnings than Avast (which blocked a Trojan) but perpetual reminders to renew. When I removed it today it offered me the full year for free if I had a change of heart !

4. BT Net Protect Plus (in association with McAfee). A free entitlement for BT Infinity customers (12 months and beyond). Loaded this today (and on Margo's as well). Gives me everything I want, and runs quietly in the background.  

[barbelman]

I don't know how many other Mac users there are on here but Sophos are now doing a free AV package for Macs that after the initial scan, which can take a couple of hours depending on the speed of your machine, runs very unobtrusively in the background and updates automatically.  Sophos are a very popular (100 million users), commercial and academic AV provider and are a Oxford University spin-off company.

Software suitable for OS X 10.4 (Tiger), 10.5 (Leopard), 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or 10.7 (Lion) can be downloaded here;

www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-antivirus-for-mac-home-edition.aspx

I know Macs don't really need Antiviral software (yet) but it stops you passing Windows malware on to others.... :-/

cheers
Tony

Good information there from Tony for AppleMac users (= a rare breed). 8-)

This thread is intended for assistance rather than to push forward particular products. Some people are new to computers and will encounter a different set of problems to habitual users.

It's very rare that any two computers are set up exactly the same anyway, and it's all a question of what works for You. A case of 'horses for courses'.

But sometimes we can learn from other peoples' experiences, so any further recommendations are welcome !

[Sparky]

I have been trouble free using the Free version of AVG for some years on different machines, following advice from KP (RIP), which immediately solved problems I had been having with Norton.

Inevitably any software will run more effectively on reasonably up-to-date hardware, and if I didn't get little notifications I would hardly notice that AVG was running.

nb at THAT time KP didn't reckon it was worth paying for the extra bits of the full package as the important part of the AVG software was the same..........I have no way of knowing if that advice is still true but can say that I do not get any Viruses.

To me, just as important as staying anti-virus free and 'clean' is warding off 'intrusions'.

Some cookies on the face of it seem harmless, but can allow access to personal information stored on your computer by 'hackers'.

I'd always advocate going for the full package, better to be safe than sorry. ;)