Time to buy a new internet security software. What should we buy?

[rickandcindy23]

Rick says to stick with what we have, which is Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security. Sounds fancy, but it was very inexpensive to buy, and we have thre computers, so it seemed smart to get this.

My problem is I had a trojan infect my computer about six weeks ago, and I thought the online information on the Trend Micro webside was quite complicated for a non-computer person like me. I followed the procedure with lots of reading of the directions (over and over again). I was finally able to get rid of it after about four hours.

Our kids say to use Microsoft's own program, which is free. I wonder if it's better to pay for another software, different from Trend Micro, or just use Microsoft's?

 

[easyrider]

We are still using free AVG and free Super Anti-Spyware. Most of our email is screened out a bit through our web host but one bad email made it over a couple of weeks ago. It was from the BBB claiming that I needed to respond to a complaint. We are A+ with the BBB so I clicked the link and my cpu went nuts. I shut down and restarted then ran the protection. I also had to use a restore point and run the anti spyware again.

 

[caribbeansun]

What's good one year is junk the next in this particular space.

I used Bitdefender for 3 years and never had an infection but the software became utterly unmanageable with false positives, shutting down entirely for no reason at all - just bad.

Bought Webroot based on reviews - horrible software that slowed my machine down to a crawl. Uninstall, get refund.

Bought Ad-aware to replace it - software ran better but then, like you, we managed to get a trojan in the fall - online support was outstanding and after much work managed to get rid of the little nasty after about a day and a half.

Having said that I may change again at renewal time in a couple months...to what, I don't know but Trend Micro is on the list of possibles

 

[malonem68]

I am a computer geek and Trend Micro is a good program. What I suggest to all of my customers is if you have Comcast, go with their free Norton Antivirus.

Norton and McAfee flip flop constantly on which program gets too big and bogs down a system. Right now, Norton has the edge and uses very few system resources. My vote is for Norton.

 

[Cathyb]

AVG Free

Rick says to stick with what we have, which is Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security. Sounds fancy, but it was very inexpensive to buy, and we have thre computers, so it seemed smart to get this.

My problem is I had a trojan infect my computer about six weeks ago, and I thought the online information on the Trend Micro webside was quite complicated for a non-computer person like me. I followed the procedure with lots of reading of the directions (over and over again). I was finally able to get rid of it after about four hours.

Our kids say to use Microsoft's own program, which is free. I wonder if it's better to pay for another software, different from Trend Micro, or just use Microsoft's?

We have a computer person that handles all of our installations and everything in-between. She put AVG Free on our two computers over 2 years ago and all is fine.

 

[stugy]

We also have the free AVG and it's fine, unlike Comcast's free Norton program which allowed a virus to get in.
Pat
and what's better than free?

 

[Passepartout]

I also get along fine with the free AVG and Superantispyware. I also practice 'safe computing' by not opening unknown attachments, and installing Web Of Trust(.com). If it tells me that a site is not trustworthy, I move on. Additionally my ISP screens for spam and viruses. I look over and dump what it has filtered out once or twice a week. Unnecessary, really, because it quarantines the filtered stuff for 2 weeks then purges it.

So far, so good. I haven't caught anything nasty in years, so something is working. Or I'm lucky. Or both.

Jim

 

[ScoopKona]

You should save your money and buy a portable hard drive. Web of Trust and not opening unexpected e-mail attachments obviates the need for expensive bloatware.

I have been running without anti-virus software since the 1980s. Never a problem. Anti-virus software will only help you if it's definitions file is up to the minute, and whatever virus is trying to get in has already been detected elsewhere.

I've noticed the "oh no, I have a virus, what do I do" questions have decreased significantly around here. But every one of these "oh no, a virus" people had some kind of anti-virus software installed. And it didn't help them.

Knowing how to avoid them in the first place, and having multiple, current backups will do far more for you than any software-based "solution."

Relying on anti-virus software is like relying on a revolver with only two bullets in the cylinder.

 

[artringwald]

I've spent many hours sanitizing friend's PC's that got infected. The worst ones are usually PC's used by teenagers. Personally, I use Microsoft's Security Essentials. I would never pay for an anti virus program because there are several good free ones out there. Maximum PC likes AVG the best of the free ones.

 

[JeffW]

...I have been running without anti-virus software since the 1980s. Never a problem..

While I congratulate you on your success, I wouldn't give out this approach as general advice. Some people can lead a totally healthy life that they never need health insurance either. However, most people aren't like that, and even the healthiest people can encounter a time when they need coverage.

Will anti-virus software catch every problem, absolutely not. Will the best catch a virus that was just released today, and isn't in a database yet? Also no. But how stupid would you be if you got infected by a virus that was a year old, that even the lamest A/V software that wasn't even recently updated, could have trapped?

I used to use Norton, but the new design (maybe circa 2009) slowed down my computer so much it was ridicluous (though it ran fine on my father's, and he has the same hardware). I went with the Microsoft product because: 1) it was highly rated (maybe not highest, but high), and 2) it was free. I also run Ad aware and Spybot, hopefully the combination provides decent coverage.

Jeff

 

[ScoopKona]

I used to use Norton, but the new design (maybe circa 2009) slowed down my computer so much it was ridicluous (though it ran fine on my father's, and he has the same hardware). I went with the Microsoft product because: 1) it was highly rated (maybe not highest, but high), and 2) it was free. I also run Ad aware and Spybot, hopefully the combination provides decent coverage.

All of them suck up system resources. I'm more interested in a computer that runs fast than virus protection. Because of my backup regimen, when something goes wrong -- hard drive failure, OS meltdown, whatever -- I can be from "oh crap" to "what failure?" in a few hours.

And I've yet to hear a reasonable argument from the pro-AV crowd that justifies running a slower computer 100% of the time, for AV "protection" that isn't 100% effective.

No cost, no false positives, no ridiculous slowdowns when trying to copy a file, no warning messages, no 'nuthin.

PS -- Adaware and Spybot are sooooo 2003. Malwarebytes and Superantispyware are far superior. But for some reason it still takes two programs. Nobody has yet made an all-in-one spyware sweeper.

 

[carl2591]

All of them suck up system resources. I'm more interested in a computer that runs fast than virus protection. Because of my backup regimen, when something goes wrong -- hard drive failure, OS meltdown, whatever -- I can be from "oh crap" to "what failure?" in a few hours.

And I've yet to hear a reasonable argument from the pro-AV crowd that justifies running a slower computer 100% of the time, for AV "protection" that isn't 100% effective.

No cost, no false positives, no ridiculous slowdowns when trying to copy a file, no warning messages, no 'nuthin.

PS -- Adaware and Spybot are sooooo 2003. Malwarebytes and Superantispyware are far superior. But for some reason it still takes two programs. Nobody has yet made an all-in-one spyware sweeper.

adaware and spybot may be so 2003, but we still explain it is the place to be...

use both and have not gotten anything so far. they have updated the programs and i run them evey month. first adaware then spybot then adaware then spybot.. that get most everything and Superantispyware in the mix is the bomb.

 

[timeos2]

Trend Micro is my paid version recommendation while Avast! is very good for free. Stay away from Norton, McAfee & Computer Associates as they kill pc performance.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Our daughter had her computer trashed by a virus this past few days. She uses McAfee, highly recommended by Dell, and would like recommendations of a better product.

Her computer is fairly new, and Dell has been terrible with tech support. They say she has to pay for software help. Only the hardware is covered under the warranty. She bought the best warranty and help, but that doesn't matter because Dell is not what it used to be.

I stick with Trend Micro and don't have issues, but I don't want to tell her that right now. She is so upset!

 

[hypnotiq]

McAfee is crap.

For my families computers, I have used webroot in the past and been happy with its effectiveness.

 

[mbger1]

I also use Webroot and have found it to be superior to the other products
available.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I also use Webroot and have found it to be superior to the other products
available.

Hey, how are you up in Summit Grove? We rode our bike up there a few months ago on a warm day. Did you see us? We were in the Rhoades Car.

http://www.rhoadescar.com/cycle-car.html

 

[tompalm]

Trend Micro is my paid version recommendation while Avast! is very good for free. Stay away from Norton, McAfee & Computer Associates as they kill pc performance.

Concur, Trend Micro is what I have been using for a few years. The best deals are at amazon.com

 

[KCI]

Norton 360 is said to be the best now. The thing I really like about it is it constantly updates itself and there is no need to run scans to find the bad guys. It does that contantly too. And the really nice part is it doesn't slow my computer down at all.
KCI's wingman

 

[Passepartout]

Norton 360 is said to be the best now....... And the really nice part is it doesn't slow my computer down at all.
KCI's wingman

Said by whom? What did they do to rejigger that? Norton has always been such a resource hog that I wouldn't trust it in a Mac that's basically immune from viruses.

Jim

 

[RX8]

I was faithful with McAfee UNTIL about a year ago. They had an issue in which XP computers were updated with a faulty virus data download that rendered my computer useless. I was unable to access the internet and could not restore the computer. I worked on it for hours thinking the issue was MINE alone (maybe a virus or bad power supply). Later that night, checking from another working computer, I found by searching the internet that it was McAfee's fault. They eventually posted a "fix" on their website that did not work for my computer. I ended up having to figure the fix out myself (I had help from searching fixes on the internet). End result, I was out of a computer for THREE FULL DAYS. Not the end of the world but frustrating enough knowing it didn't have to happen.

I find it ironic that these companies like McAfee put the fear of god in everyone about viruses, trojans and spyware and at least in my case, the ONLY TIME my computer ever had a problem was caused by McAfee itself.

I have since switched to a highly rated free version and have no issues whatsoever. Check out Consumer Reports for a report on free anti-virus programs.

 

[Wyominguy]

I use ESET Smart Security. Great program recommended by tech guru Leo Laporte. Do a Google search for reviews.

BTW, I see I am listed as a guest but I purchased a membership. If a moderator reads this please change.

Thanks

 

[DeniseM]

After you join TUG, you have to change your own status to "member," Click on the yellow BBS Help at the top of the forum, and scroll down to the last link on the first page, for that info.

 

[Passepartout]

Wyominguy,

With credit to DeniseM, here are her instructions:

When you joined TUG, you received an email with a member's code that you have to add to your profile, for the system to recognize you as a member.

If you can't find the email and code:

Click on TUG Resort Databases in the red bar at the top of the page,

Scroll down and click on MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO LOG IN,

Log in with your regular user name and password.

The member's code will be in the top box.

Now go back to the regular BBS (the discussion forums.)

There is a blue bar at the top of the page - click on USER CP in that blue bar.

Then click on EDIT BBS MEMBER CODE

Then scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page, put the code in the box

Save it.

 

[HatTrick]

...a Mac that's basically immune from viruses.

Hardly. And now virus writers are finding the popular and unprotected Macs fertile ground for introducing new viruses. Do a Google search and read the bad news...