Antivirus Software... Ripoff!?

[Jimlad]

I have mcafee thing which came with my laptop. I just went to renew the licence on it and they want £49.99 for the year!!!

I'm sure you can buy a new program for less than that!?

Anyone got any recommendations??

Saying that, what I am renewing is a internet security type thing with firewall, antivirus etc, etc. Is that the normal price?

[T600]

AVG Free no cost basic Anti-Virus software with minimal performance affect on your PC.

Or for better protection, still good performance and commercial use see their AVG Internet Security. Better than Symantec / McAfee etc and cheaper.

[Demonic Angel]

AVG is ok, but you can't beat Kaspersky... I swear by it!

[sotal]

I use AVG Free - it's great, NOD32 always gets top recommendations though if you want to pay

[Jimlad]

So what's the best Antivirus/internet security program out there? Free or otherwise.

[cfc1]

I use AVG free edition, I couple that with a twice weekly online check from Trendmicro I've never had any problems and have been useing them for years, I also use Sygate Pro Firewall.

Hitman Pro can also be quite usefull

[zzzleepy]

If you want to pay, go for NOD32... the best by far... (personal opinion of course :P)

[T600]

So what's the best Antivirus/internet security program out there? Free or otherwise.

What do you want from an internet security suite?

AVG Free + Sunbelt Personal Firewall (in free mode) is a reasonable no cost solution.

[Jimlad]

I just noticed my Netgear wireless router is actually a firewall router. So do I need a software firewall?

Could I simply use the router and switch windows firewall on?

In my router settings at the moment it says all outbound traffic is allowed, but all inbound is blocked always.

[T600]

You should be fairly safe doing that.

It's not quite as secure as having a top notch firewall like the full Sunbelt Personal Firewall say, but it's a question of how much you're prepared to spend, and how vital your security is.

On some machines I just do what you described - i.e. rely on the hardware firewall + windows firewall + AVG free, but for my main system I don't trust those minimal measures.

[DaveSR]

I also like my own firewall so I can let certain programs connect to the net to update/upgrade etc and block ones that I dont for one reason or another ;)

[Jimlad]

Ok... I'm going to use AVG free. What's the best free firewall out there then?

The reason I would usually use a suite as such is for the anti spyware etc also.

[T600]

Ok... I'm going to use AVG free. What's the best free firewall out there then?

The reason I would usually use a suite as such is for the anti spyware etc also.

Sunbelt Personal Firewall

They also do a very good spyware tool but I think you have to pay. I don't use it as I have a spyware removal tool that came as part of System Mechanic 7 (which also includes Virus scanner and Firewall but they're not rated so I don't use them).

[Jimlad]

I'm now thinking it might just be easier paying for the full AVG ?

[T600]

I'm now thinking it might just be easier paying for the full AVG ?

Well, that's not a bad option - the price is still considerably less than the full McAfee and most IT peeps rate AVG highly because it usually puts little load on the system. I have several copies of the AVG paid for Virus scanner and never have any problems with it. I'd subscribed to that before the full AVG suite was available, otherwise I may well have gone that route, and will consider it when its time to renew, though that's 18 months away, so probably everything will have changed by then.

[GIDDLEPIN]

Nod32 all the way, the subscription covers my PC & both lappy's as well

[Jimlad]

Is NOD32 simply anti-virus?

[T600]

Nod32 all the way, the subscription covers my PC & both lappy's as well

Interesting Les. The blurb on their site looks impressive, but how do you figure the subscription covers 3 PCs? Did you get a special offer, or buy 3 licences because I don't see anything on there about cover for multiple machines unless you buy multiple licences.

Tony

[GIDDLEPIN]

CLICKY

There's a free 30 day trial

[GIDDLEPIN]

Nod32 all the way, the subscription covers my PC & both lappy's as well

Interesting Les. The blurb on their site looks impressive, but how do you figure the subscription covers 3 PCs? Did you get a special offer, or buy 3 licences because I don't see anything on there about cover for multiple machines unless you buy multiple licences.

Tony

Can't remember how it was done but I received a code for each one of my PC/laptop and it was in with the 2 year renewal that I took out.

[T600]

Can't remember how it was done but I received a code for each one of my PC/laptop and it was in with the 2 year renewal that I took out.

Found it mate; looks like a bargain for anyone wanting to protect several machines - 3 user family pack for 2 years = $123

Probably more for UK I guess, and no firewall as far as I can see, but does include spyware protection which I think is important.

[Jamesb4uk]

its only as important as the data you are trying to protect.

I use Sophos Endpoint Security and Control on my network at home.

J

[JAHill]

I went with a 3xPC Kaspersky license. I think it was about £30 for the year. Top stuff from the Russians and it doesn't choke your PC up either. That covers all my kit. I tried Bit Defender on my Vista boot but it completely killed it and I had to reinstall Vista... Nice! Shame too because it was working lovely with the XP boot.

[Remoh1]

I used the free avg for years and now have the full avg and I have to say its worked exceptionally well so far, when I used macafee I was having problems and loaded avg onto the pc and it found 3 virii that macafee had missed

[jaxx]

AVG is ok, but you can't beat Kaspersky... I swear by it!

Agree

It pisses all over everything else :)

I wouldnt thank you for anything from Norton :o