Renew Kaspersky? Or get AVG free?

[fast]

My registration to paid Kaspersky antivirus expires later this month
and I'm wondering whether to renew, or to just get free AVG, which a
lot of friends of mine use.

The computer is used by my wife and me. Neither of us receives
malware by email, and my email is all web-based.

We have had close to no malware incidents, ever, in ten years. In
fact, the only episodes I can remember were spyware introduced by me
hastily and carelessly downloading a "free" program without the
appropriate amount of due diligence. No viruses I can ever recall.

I manually sweep the computer using Spybot and Ad-aware and it always
comes up clean.

Kaspersky has worked fine for a year, but there have been some
episodes of quirky Windows behavior I've attributed to it, and support
for the product, even the web forum-based support seems sparse and
sketchy. As originally configured, it seemed aggressively alarmist
about too many things, although I managed to dial that down.

Still, when I read reviews, Kaspersky always gets high marks, and I
often read criticisms of AVG free.

Our good record of safe computing makes me lean toward thinking AVG
free is "good enough." But I'm also a big proponent of "if it ain't
broke, don't fix it."

So based on the above, what might people recommend I do?

 

[M.Balarama]

My registration to paid Kaspersky antivirus expires later this month
and I'm wondering whether to renew, or to just get free AVG, which a
lot of friends of mine use.

The computer is used by my wife and me. Neither of us receives
malware by email, and my email is all web-based.

We have had close to no malware incidents, ever, in ten years. In
fact, the only episodes I can remember were spyware introduced by me
hastily and carelessly downloading a "free" program without the
appropriate amount of due diligence. No viruses I can ever recall.

I manually sweep the computer using Spybot and Ad-aware and it always
comes up clean.

Kaspersky has worked fine for a year, but there have been some
episodes of quirky Windows behavior I've attributed to it, and support
for the product, even the web forum-based support seems sparse and
sketchy. As originally configured, it seemed aggressively alarmist
about too many things, although I managed to dial that down.

Still, when I read reviews, Kaspersky always gets high marks, and I
often read criticisms of AVG free.

Our good record of safe computing makes me lean toward thinking AVG
free is "good enough." But I'm also a big proponent of "if it ain't
broke, don't fix it."

So based on the above, what might people recommend I do?

I quit kapersky and went to avg--but I use a spyware program that costs $19
a year..that seems to be the biggest threat spyware-programs you are using
are good but I don't think they cover everything--I use
counterspy 3.1
http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/

 

[Kayman]

My registration to paid Kaspersky antivirus expires later this month
and I'm wondering whether to renew, or to just get free AVG, which a
lot of friends of mine use.

The computer is used by my wife and me. Neither of us receives
malware by email, and my email is all web-based.

We have had close to no malware incidents, ever, in ten years. In
fact, the only episodes I can remember were spyware introduced by me
hastily and carelessly downloading a "free" program without the
appropriate amount of due diligence. No viruses I can ever recall.

I manually sweep the computer using Spybot and Ad-aware and it always
comes up clean.

Kaspersky has worked fine for a year, but there have been some
episodes of quirky Windows behavior I've attributed to it, and support
for the product, even the web forum-based support seems sparse and
sketchy. As originally configured, it seemed aggressively alarmist
about too many things, although I managed to dial that down.

Still, when I read reviews, Kaspersky always gets high marks, and I
often read criticisms of AVG free.

Our good record of safe computing makes me lean toward thinking AVG
free is "good enough." But I'm also a big proponent of "if it ain't
broke, don't fix it."

So based on the above, what might people recommend I do?

Avira AntiVir® Personal - FREE Antivirus
http://www.free-av.com/
(The free version won't scan your emails.)

Unless you are using Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes (MAPI or VIM),
scanning email is good-for-naught.

Why You Don't Need Your Anti-Virus Program to Scan Your E-Mail
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm
Ensure your e-mail program is configured to display e-mail messages in
'Plain Text' only.
You may wish to consider removing the 'AntiVir Nagscreen'
http://www.elitekiller.com/files/disable_antivir_nag.htm

Routinely practice Safe-Hex.
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html

 

[Clark]

My registration to paid Kaspersky antivirus expires later this month
and I'm wondering whether to renew, or to just get free AVG, which a
lot of friends of mine use.

The computer is used by my wife and me. Neither of us receives
malware by email, and my email is all web-based.

We have had close to no malware incidents, ever, in ten years. In
fact, the only episodes I can remember were spyware introduced by me
hastily and carelessly downloading a "free" program without the
appropriate amount of due diligence. No viruses I can ever recall.

I manually sweep the computer using Spybot and Ad-aware and it always
comes up clean.

Kaspersky has worked fine for a year, but there have been some
episodes of quirky Windows behavior I've attributed to it, and support
for the product, even the web forum-based support seems sparse and
sketchy. As originally configured, it seemed aggressively alarmist
about too many things, although I managed to dial that down.

Still, when I read reviews, Kaspersky always gets high marks, and I
often read criticisms of AVG free.

Our good record of safe computing makes me lean toward thinking AVG
free is "good enough." But I'm also a big proponent of "if it ain't
broke, don't fix it."

So based on the above, what might people recommend I do?

you could go the same route I went, I don't run an antivirus at all, I
installed MS Virtual Machine (free from Microsoft) and I use the virtual
machine to surf the internet to watch videos and the like, when doing online
banking and other non risky stuff, I use the computer on the internet
without the virtual machine.
The trick is to make a copy of the virtual machine after you have it
established the way you want it, (always choose save state when closing it)
Should the virtual machine get infected you can just go to the backup copy
you made.
MS Virtual Machine can be a pain in the butt to do, but there is a lot of
help out there to go to if you get stuck etc,
I have been doing this for years, I also infect the virtual machine on
purpose on occasion as I remove virus and spyware etc, for a living. and I
have no fear should I bork the OS trying to remove something I can just go
back to my clean copy and I'm all set again!!
Clark...

 

[What's in a Name?]

you could go the same route I went, I don't run an antivirus at all,
I installed MS Virtual Machine (free from Microsoft) and I use the
virtual machine to surf the internet to watch videos and the like,
when doing online banking and other non risky stuff, I use the
computer on the internet without the virtual machine. The trick is
to make a copy of the virtual machine after you have it established
the way you want it, (always choose save state when closing it)
Should the virtual machine get infected you can just go to the backup
copy you made. MS Virtual Machine can be a pain in the butt to do,
but there is a lot of help out there to go to if you get stuck etc, I
have been doing this for years, I also infect the virtual machine on
purpose on occasion as I remove virus and spyware etc, for a living.
and I have no fear should I bork the OS trying to remove something I
can just go back to my clean copy and I'm all set again!! Clark...

a more simple route would be to use something like Sandboxie.
http://www.sandboxie.com/

max

 

[Clark...]

Sanboxie is for lazy half assed slackers, or so I have heard
and yea you are looking at a top post!

Clark...

 

[What's in a Name?]

Sanboxie is for lazy half assed slackers, or so I have heard
and yea you are looking at a top post!

Clark...

That's Mr. lazy half-assed slacker to you!

max

 

[What's in a Name?]

You could also use a program called "Sandboxie"(do a search). This
program will put every thing you go to in a "box", and it never gets
in your PC. When you get ready to shut down, go to your sandbox,
select delete contents, and your pc is back like it was when you
started surfing, or going to web sites. I use Avast and have
received a warning or two of a virus, but using sandboxie, it never
got into my pc. Just to test it, I ran a virus check and I was
clean. I have no connection, nor affiliation with that company. I
just happened to find it, liked it, and now use it. Some people like
it, some may not.

hellooooo-that's what I said!

 

[Clark]

That's Mr. lazy half-assed slacker to you!

max

I'm sorry, my bad.. ;-)

Clark...

 

[Dustin Cook]

Sanboxie is for lazy half assed slackers, or so I have heard
and yea you are looking at a top post!

I'd have your hearing checked then, or better yet, find someone more
knowledgeable to listen too. They are filling you full of shit. Sandboxie
is a fine program for malware prevention and research.

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

grafxwork's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/196789.htm

So you joined that Usenet-leeching 'web forum' today, just so you could
reply to year-and-a-half old threads? <lol>

 

[FromTheRafters]

Are you saying that they refused after being told of your difficulty?

 

[David Kaye]

Are you saying that they refused after being told of your difficulty?

Hmmm...if they're in the U.S. they're in violation of the Americans with
Disabilities Act and can be sued for their refusal to make accommocations for
you, provided that you (that is, the original poster) have documentation from
a doctor on your speech problem.

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Beauregard T. Shagnasty: a poltroon well named!

Why is it when one of you techarena people post in this Usenet group, I
find that it is your first post ever? That you just joined? It must be
that then you go away, find the *real* Usenet and learn something...

 

[FromTheRafters]

Hmmm...if they're in the U.S. they're in violation of the Americans
with
Disabilities Act and can be sued for their refusal to make
accommocations for
you, provided that you (that is, the original poster) have
documentation from
a doctor on your speech problem.

That was my reaction, David. It goes beyond poor support into blatant
discrimination.

Then again, if the OP didn't mention that to them...