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Geek Speak / Re: What is the best anti-virus software?
« on: 04/12/2010 06:37:30 »
Clamav/Klamav is a Free, Open Source antivirus that can be used in Linux, and doesn't require Dazuko. It seems to be able to scan files, but doesn't seem to be that comprehensive of an interface. Very Bare-Bones.
I would assume that clamwin would be related, but haven't used it. The virus removal options with KLAMAV were limited, but would direct one to the appropriate files to remove. I don't know about clamwin.
I guess I get tired of the "big name" antivirus companies that want to sell you their software over and over and over again to the point where some people have accused them of creating a virus-tolerant culture.
The two most popular "free" antivirus software programs for Windows are AVG and Avira
Avira: (http://free-av.com) now routes to (http://www.avira.com/en/avira-free-antivirus).
AVG: (http://free.avg.com)
My personal choice was Avira over AVG. It just seemed easier and more intuitive to use, but they should be equally effective.
Some ISP services also provide a free copy of McAfee Antivirus. It is one of the SLOWEST antivirus packages, but it is also quite professional. It is worth considering.
YOU CAN REALLY ONLY RUN ONE ANTIVIRUS PACKAGE AT A TIME. RUNNING 2 WILL SLOW DOWN YOUR COMPUTER.
As far as antiviruses, my general rule is that if the antivirus is more than 6 months out of date, it is worse than not having anything (which is why I disliked the big-name programs that had a tendency to disable themselves if you failed to keep "feeding the meter").
You may also choose an anti-spyware package. It has been a while since I've been using the Windows based antispyware. There were 3 packages in the past.
Windows Defender (downloadable from Microsoft, they may have re-named it).
Like many Microsoft packages, it was a bit overly intrusive, and hard to configure to just scan when one wanted it.
Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/)
Adaware (http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php)
As long as you aren't doing real-time scanning all the time, you can load all three anti-spyware packages, and there are benefits of having more than one installed on your machine.
Be careful of any other spykiller/spywhacker types of programs. Many are actually spyware masquerading as killing off what they actually are, and can be quite annoying to rid yourself of.
I suppose that is the big problem with the free antivirus program is the alacarte approach of needing a little of this and a little of that.
I would assume that clamwin would be related, but haven't used it. The virus removal options with KLAMAV were limited, but would direct one to the appropriate files to remove. I don't know about clamwin.
I guess I get tired of the "big name" antivirus companies that want to sell you their software over and over and over again to the point where some people have accused them of creating a virus-tolerant culture.
The two most popular "free" antivirus software programs for Windows are AVG and Avira
Avira: (http://free-av.com) now routes to (http://www.avira.com/en/avira-free-antivirus).
AVG: (http://free.avg.com)
My personal choice was Avira over AVG. It just seemed easier and more intuitive to use, but they should be equally effective.
Some ISP services also provide a free copy of McAfee Antivirus. It is one of the SLOWEST antivirus packages, but it is also quite professional. It is worth considering.
YOU CAN REALLY ONLY RUN ONE ANTIVIRUS PACKAGE AT A TIME. RUNNING 2 WILL SLOW DOWN YOUR COMPUTER.
As far as antiviruses, my general rule is that if the antivirus is more than 6 months out of date, it is worse than not having anything (which is why I disliked the big-name programs that had a tendency to disable themselves if you failed to keep "feeding the meter").
You may also choose an anti-spyware package. It has been a while since I've been using the Windows based antispyware. There were 3 packages in the past.
Windows Defender (downloadable from Microsoft, they may have re-named it).
Like many Microsoft packages, it was a bit overly intrusive, and hard to configure to just scan when one wanted it.
Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/)
Adaware (http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php)
As long as you aren't doing real-time scanning all the time, you can load all three anti-spyware packages, and there are benefits of having more than one installed on your machine.
Be careful of any other spykiller/spywhacker types of programs. Many are actually spyware masquerading as killing off what they actually are, and can be quite annoying to rid yourself of.
I suppose that is the big problem with the free antivirus program is the alacarte approach of needing a little of this and a little of that.