question on anti virus programs

[Leythos]

Just don't get too comfortable with any single product. I don't want
to get off on another Symantec rant. But I thought it was a good
product. I've seen it miss viruses in Outlook Pst modules. It also

Are you talking about Symantec or Norton - there is a big difference
between Symantec Corporate Edition AV and Norton Antivirus. The new
version of Symantec Corporate Edition will scan in/out bound SMTP, POP,
Exchange, and Notes sessions.

Recently, I've migrated a number of customers to eTrust or even
AVG/AVast for cost reasons and in many of those cases the first full
system scans found infections that NAV did not.

I've done the say and what I see is not a virus/trojan, but more spyware
alerts than anything. I use AVG 7 for clients that have personal machines
that can't afford a license.

 

[R. McCarty]

I should clarify that I'm speaking about Norton AntiVirus, not the
Corporate Edition of Symantec. I understand that each product
handles varying types of threats. My statements are just directed
at simple AntiVirus software - where Nav 2xxx is removed and
replaced by eTrust, AVG or AVast and undetected threats are
found and removed.

 

[Guest]

Ken, didn't you and some others a few threads back trash ANYTHING Norton and
now you are recommending it. What's the deal?

I didn't trash Norton's antivirus program, which I like and would recommend
as a close second only behind Trend Micro. I don't even have a big problem
with NIS (which I have tried in the past), except that I have a problem with
third party firewalls generally to the extent that they slow down my overall
system in return for arguably negligible additional benefits at best. Also,
I'm running Outlook 2003, which is an effective second line of defense behind
my very effectve ISP spam filters, so I have no pressing need for an
anti-spam program such as the one that comes with NIS.

I still think that the best setup is a good standalone antivirus program and
an up-to-date Windows XP SP2 system using Windows firewall (antispyware
software optional but recommended as well -- I am currently using the
Microsoft beta spyware program, and I run Ad-Aware once every week or two),
but this setup may not be ideal for people who otherwise don't know how to
keep crudware off their system or who seem to have recurring malware
problems, e.g. they have teenagers who use the computer. For them, I
would recommend NIS because I have read that the Norton firewall is better
than the Trend Micro firewall that comes with their security suite.

Ken

 

[D. Bean]

Just a quick take on the anti-virus issue. I have administered PC/Lan
Systems for over 17 years now, and Norton has proved to be the most
effective and have least system impact (if you install the AV only and not
the suites). I have had customers bring in PC's with TrendMicro registering
false positives, and McAfee has missed a couple of nasty viruses (their
definition files were not up to date). For now, I have elected to run with
AVG (which is no cost for home use)-it updates daily, the price is right,
and it has been very effective in keeping itself updated. System impact is
even less than Norton. You can check out AVG at www.grisoft.com . Of
course use a firewall and and antispyware tools for additional protection,
but that would require another post.

Good Luck and Happy (and Safe) Surfing!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,
Would just like to know which is the better anti virus,
Norton Anti Virus, or Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet
Security. Would appreciate any feed back.
Thank you
Bonnie

You'll get nearly as many differing opinions as you will
responses.

I used, and recommended, Norton Antivirus and then Norton Internet
Security, for many years, on Win98, WinNT, Win2K, and WinXP, all
without any significant problems. I had used McAfee prior to that.
But it's been several years since I've been tempted to try McAfee
products. Their quality seemed to take a steep nose-dive after they
were acquired by Network Associates.

However, when my subscription to Symantec's updates for Norton
Internet Security 2002 came up for renewal (at a cost substantially
higher than the preceding year's subscription), I decided to try less
expensive solutions. I downloaded and installed the free version of
GriSoft's AVG (http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php ) and the
free version of Sygate's Personal Firewall
(http://smb.sygate.com/free/default.php ). Both have proven to be
easily installed, easy to use, and quite effective. Additionally, I
was pleasantly surprised to see a small but very noticeable
improvement in my PC's performance, once I'd replaced the Symantec
product.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Leythos]

I still think that the best setup is a good standalone antivirus program and
an up-to-date Windows XP SP2 system using Windows firewall (antispyware
software optional but recommended as well -- I am currently using the

The best setup for a home user with DSL/Cable is a cheap NAT router
(linksys BEFSR41) between the internet modem and their computer, and then
quality antivirus software.

This is ideal since it doesn't use near the CPU load to protect the
machine as does a personal firewall.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have a list I recommend - if this is for personal use I recommend trying a
few and seeing which one you like best.

You miss out my preferred one - eTrust (formerly known under the names
Vet and Inoculate) from Computer Associates (whose URL is not working
for me at present).

I have seen too many side issues with Norton products and Mcafee -
especially in Uninstall, for me ever to recommend either.

Trend and Kapersky both have good reputations

 

[JW]

:




I didn't trash Norton's antivirus program, which I like and would recommend
as a close second only behind Trend Micro. I don't even have a big problem
with NIS (which I have tried in the past), except that I have a problem with
third party firewalls generally to the extent that they slow down my overall
system in return for arguably negligible additional benefits at best. Also,
I'm running Outlook 2003, which is an effective second line of defense behind
my very effectve ISP spam filters, so I have no pressing need for an
anti-spam program such as the one that comes with NIS.

I still think that the best setup is a good standalone antivirus program and
an up-to-date Windows XP SP2 system using Windows firewall (antispyware
software optional but recommended as well -- I am currently using the
Microsoft beta spyware program, and I run Ad-Aware once every week or two),
but this setup may not be ideal for people who otherwise don't know how to
keep crudware off their system or who seem to have recurring malware
problems, e.g. they have teenagers who use the computer. For them, I
would recommend NIS because I have read that the Norton firewall is better
than the Trend Micro firewall that comes with their security suite.

Ken

for those
"who otherwise don't know how to
keep crudware off their system or who seem to have recurring malware
problems",
free anti-virus and free anti-spyware can sometimes be a bad choice.

the free versions of AdAware and SpySweeper have no proactive component
in memory that monitors traffic and stops infections before they do
their damage. They are only designed to mop up the mess, after the
damage is already done. That's why you should use the purchased version
of AdAware or SpySweeper -- not the free version.

I'm not saying there is no excellent freeware. ZoneAlarm is hands-down
the best free firewall, and I've never seen ZoneAlarm use %1 of my CPU
time in TaskManager. (Who needs to spend money on a hardware firewall ?
I would guess those people who are heavily impacted by ZoneAlarm
have slow CPUs.) Spybot S&D is always mentioned here too as required
anti-spyware, and I also like IE-Spyad.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a list I recommend - if this is for personal use I recommend
trying a few and seeing which one you like best.

<snipped list>

You miss out my preferred one - eTrust (formerly known under the names
Vet and Inoculate) from Computer Associates (whose URL is not working
for me at present).

I have seen too many side issues with Norton products and Mcafee -
especially in Uninstall, for me ever to recommend either.

Trend and Kapersky both have good reputations

If you mean:
https://www2.my-etrust.com/commerce/buy.it.cfm

It was only because I do not recommend applications I have not tried/used
myself. So nothing personal there - just have not had a chance to use it
myself.

 

[TomV]

One other product I'd add to Shenan's list is NOD32:
http://www.nod32.com/home/home.htm ($39.00)

NOD32 and Kapersky are both excellent products, and users generally rate
them highly. Avast and AVG offer free versions, and both are very good.
Of the two, I prefer Avast. I'm currently using eTrust EZAV (free for
12 months), and I have no complaints. Here's the link:

http://store.ca.com/dr/v2/ec_main.e...lient=ComputerAssociates&sid=35715&CID=183869

You can also look at the following site for comparative test results
(the platform for the latest comparative is Windows Server 2003), but as
you can see many of the products perform well.

http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archives/tests.xml?200411

Personally, I stopped using Symantec (Norton) and McAfee years ago.
There are many other excellent alternatives, some free, that use less
system resources and aren't as bloated as these two.