McAfee or AVG

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

Nix on MS's Beta Spyware--it missed tons on my new computer. I went back to
AdAware and Spyware Doctor, and run Trendmicro each week in addition. Thank
goodness I got rid of NSW so I can now program my System Tolls to do regular
scans for me. Good ole NSW had that locked up so we had to use "One Button
Check-Up" which snagged up all my Dragon profile files (after 26 hours of
dictating them for "training" Dragon). Ahhh free at last!


I'll bet most of what it missed was cookies, right? It doesn't check
cookies because they are just text files and can't hurt the machine.

 

[Pappion]

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety (Benjamin Franklin)."

Odd, I have not viewed many postings about that particular problem
subject!!! Like the WGA, anything Microsoft provides brings out a lot of
problem posters who complain endlessly about problems that most don't
experience or find. Must be a BS in that field available from somewhere!
Please elucidate on anything you consider serious.

Windows Defender in it's current version is much improved, but some people
are still having problems with updating the definitions (and engine).

Also, if you're on a network that updates machines through SUS that won't
work. You would have to switch to WSUS.

 

[Pappion]

re It doesn't check cookies because they are just text files and can't hurt the machine.
But, I have a right to protect my privacy as much as possible, and the misnomer, "cookies" are a serious violation. Some of them are akin to being followed every time I leave my home. :-((

Nix on MS's Beta Spyware--it missed tons on my new computer. I went back to
AdAware and Spyware Doctor, and run Trendmicro each week in addition. Thank
goodness I got rid of NSW so I can now program my System Tolls to do regular
scans for me. Good ole NSW had that locked up so we had to use "One Button
Check-Up" which snagged up all my Dragon profile files (after 26 hours of
dictating them for "training" Dragon). Ahhh free at last!


I'll bet most of what it missed was cookies, right? It doesn't check
cookies because they are just text files and can't hurt the machine.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

re It doesn't check cookies because they are just text files and can't hurt
the machine.
But, I have a right to protect my privacy as much as possible, and the
misnomer, "cookies" are a serious violation. Some of them are akin to being
followed every time I leave my home. :-((

I'll bet most of what it missed was cookies, right? It doesn't check
cookies because they are just text files and can't hurt the machine.


And you don't need an anti-spyware program to keep from getting them. IE
does that just fine.

 

[Ron Martell]

re It doesn't check cookies because they are just text files and can't hurt the machine.
But, I have a right to protect my privacy as much as possible, and the misnomer, "cookies" are a serious violation. Some of them are akin to being followed every time I leave my home. :-((

It takes not more than 30 seconds to "toss your cookies" using Control
Panel - Internet Options.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Guest]

From my experience McAfee and Norton have done nothing but hinder performance
and constatly require attention.
Since switching to AVG Free everything is rosy.
It's not a hindrance and goes about it's businees quietly.

JMHO

 

[Blair]

Same scenario for me.

IMO, McAfee is buggy, intrusive, performance-degrading, and difficult to
uninstall. (Even after uninstalling, I had to use msconfig to stop
vestiges
from launching at start-up.)

I ended up using your combination (AVG, Zone Alarm, Spybot and AdAware)
and
am generally satisfied.

I am very grateful for all the replies to my original question which has
helped me to decide to Uninstall McAfee which I have now done and load
AVG,Zone Alarm and Spybot but when I downloaded the "free" version of
AdAlarm I found in using it I was required to register and registration
meant I had to pay $39 for the privilege.
I even downloaded my copy I had made previously but I was again required to
pay.
Is there no "free" AdAware now?
If there is no free AdAware is there a free alternative?
Blair

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am very grateful for all the replies to my original question which
has helped me to decide to Uninstall McAfee which I have now done and
load AVG,Zone Alarm and Spybot but when I downloaded the "free"
version of AdAlarm I found in using it I was required to register and
registration meant I had to pay $39 for the privilege.
I even downloaded my copy I had made previously but I was again
required to pay.
Is there no "free" AdAware now?
If there is no free AdAware is there a free alternative?

Is "Adalarm" a typo for "Adaware"?

Yes there is a free version. You must have clicked on something in error.
Try it again.

 

[Lu Powell]

AdAware is free for home use. AdAlarm is a different product.

 

[Blair]

Is "Adalarm" a typo for "Adaware"?

Yes there is a free version. You must have clicked on something in error.
Try it again.

You are right I opened the wrong package. I opened NoAdware instead of
AdAware!
Blair

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

You are right I opened the wrong package. I opened NoAdware instead of
AdAware!

Great! Glad you solved it.

 

[Leythos]

I am very grateful for all the replies to my original question which has
helped me to decide to Uninstall McAfee which I have now done and load
AVG

be aware that we've had at least 23 machines running AVG Free
compromised by malware through AIM/YIM/MSN and emails.

 

[Pappion]

Same scenario for me.

IMO, McAfee is buggy, intrusive, performance-degrading, and difficult to
uninstall. (Even after uninstalling, I had to use msconfig to stop
vestiges
from launching at start-up.)

I ended up using your combination (AVG, Zone Alarm, Spybot and AdAware)
and
am generally satisfied.

I am very grateful for all the replies to my original question which has
helped me to decide to Uninstall McAfee which I have now done and load
AVG,Zone Alarm and Spybot but when I downloaded the "free" version of
AdAlarm I found in using it I was required to register and registration
meant I had to pay $39 for the privilege.
I even downloaded my copy I had made previously but I was again required to
pay.
Is there no "free" AdAware now?
If there is no free AdAware is there a free alternative?
Blair

 

[Pappion]

You just hit the wrong tab...its very easy to do with that program. Remove it and go back in and download the free version.

Same scenario for me.

IMO, McAfee is buggy, intrusive, performance-degrading, and difficult to
uninstall. (Even after uninstalling, I had to use msconfig to stop
vestiges
from launching at start-up.)

I ended up using your combination (AVG, Zone Alarm, Spybot and AdAware)
and
am generally satisfied.

I am very grateful for all the replies to my original question which has
helped me to decide to Uninstall McAfee which I have now done and load
AVG,Zone Alarm and Spybot but when I downloaded the "free" version of
AdAlarm I found in using it I was required to register and registration
meant I had to pay $39 for the privilege.
I even downloaded my copy I had made previously but I was again required to
pay.
Is there no "free" AdAware now?
If there is no free AdAware is there a free alternative?
Blair

 

[Pappion]

BTW you have a month or so free before you have to pay...so do it now.

Pappion
--
A pessimist's blood type is always B-negative

Same scenario for me.

IMO, McAfee is buggy, intrusive, performance-degrading, and difficult to
uninstall. (Even after uninstalling, I had to use msconfig to stop
vestiges
from launching at start-up.)

I ended up using your combination (AVG, Zone Alarm, Spybot and AdAware)
and
am generally satisfied.

I am very grateful for all the replies to my original question which has
helped me to decide to Uninstall McAfee which I have now done and load
AVG,Zone Alarm and Spybot but when I downloaded the "free" version of
AdAlarm I found in using it I was required to register and registration
meant I had to pay $39 for the privilege.
I even downloaded my copy I had made previously but I was again required to
pay.
Is there no "free" AdAware now?
If there is no free AdAware is there a free alternative?
Blair

 

[Wesley Vogel]

What kind of malware?

AVG is an AntiVirus application, not directed towards adware, foistware,
spyware, hijackware, etc. As are most AV applications.

23 machines running AVG Free?

<quote>
AVG Anti-Virus Free is for private, non-commercial, single home computer use
only. Use of AVG Anti-Virus Free within any organization or for commercial
purposes is strictly prohibited.
<quote>

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Leythos]

What kind of malware?

Several times it was a trojan/virus that spewed email via built-in SMTP
service in the malware. Several times it was something identified as a
flood type malware that swamped the routers so that users could not get
internet access, all was internally directed from the compromised
machines.

AVG is an AntiVirus application, not directed towards adware, foistware,
spyware, hijackware, etc. As are most AV applications.

Yes, I'm old enough and used computers since before the first virus, to
know what AVG should/should not detect.

23 machines running AVG Free?

More than that, but that's what is running between the three Sororities
users. As they are individuals and not commercial/business of any type,
they downloaded and installed it. The university had a list of suggested
AV solutions in addition to the site license for CA's AV software. We
also suggested AVG Free for individuals that could not afford a free
application if they also met the AVG Free licensing rules.

<quote>
AVG Anti-Virus Free is for private, non-commercial, single home computer use
only. Use of AVG Anti-Virus Free within any organization or for commercial
purposes is strictly prohibited.
<quote>

Yes, but residents in a Sorority are "Private", not commercial, have a
single computer....

 

[Satya Kumar]

I have just taken delivery of a new Dell desktop which came with McAfee anti
virus.
I have used a combination of AVG, Zone Alarm, Spybot and AdAware for rears
and have always been satisfied
Before I uninstall McAfee what is the opinion of others on how good or not
McAfee is?
Blair

Hi,

I always see that Free softwares fail at the crucial time. You wont get
support for free softwares as well. Mcafee is my choice. Once your
subscription is over, then you have no choice other than using free
AVG. Till then keep mcafee is my suggestion.

Cheers--Satya Kumar

 

[Pappion]

With AVG being as top notch as its free version is, its still wise to run an AV scan on www.trendmicro.com each week. Using both will be advantageous.

I never had a problem with AVG since it came out but NSW and McAfee have caused me no end of headaches--and I'm far from being alone in this "group" of victims.

I have just taken delivery of a new Dell desktop which came with McAfee anti
virus.
I have used a combination of AVG, Zone Alarm, Spybot and AdAware for rears
and have always been satisfied
Before I uninstall McAfee what is the opinion of others on how good or not
McAfee is?
Blair

Hi,

I always see that Free softwares fail at the crucial time. You wont get
support for free softwares as well. Mcafee is my choice. Once your
subscription is over, then you have no choice other than using free
AVG. Till then keep mcafee is my suggestion.

Cheers--Satya Kumar

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi,

I always see that Free softwares fail at the crucial time.

If that's your experience, I can't argue with it, but it's not may
experience at all.Free software is just like commercial software--some of it
is excellent, some of it is terrible, and some of it is in between. Which of
those three categories any product falls into depends on that particular
product, not on whether or not it's free. The four products Blair
mentions--AVG, Zone Alarm, Spybot and AdAware--are all excellent, in my
view.

You wont
get support for free softwares as well.

That statement, however, I will definitely argue with. It's completely
false. I have often gotten excellent and rapid support from freeware
products. In many cases, support for freeware is much better than what you
can get from the bigger companies.

Mcafee is my choice.

You are certainly welcome to your choices, but in my view, you've chosen the
second worst security software available. Only Symantec is worse.