Which is the best?

[MoiInAust]

The obvious question:

In the opinion of posters, 1) which is the best free antivirus program (and
safe source) and 2) which is the best paid for program (with safe source)?.

 

[FredW]

The obvious question:

In the opinion of posters, 1) which is the best free antivirus program (and
safe source) and 2) which is the best paid for program (with safe source)?.

What is the best car?

 

[FredW]

The obvious question:

In the opinion of posters, 1) which is the best free antivirus program (and
safe source) and 2) which is the best paid for program (with safe source)?.

A very good site to help you to make your own decision is this:
http://www.av-comparatives.org/

You can find tests for this year:
http://www.av-comparatives.org/comparativesreviews/main-tests

You can download summary reports here:
http://www.av-comparatives.org/comparativesreviews/main-tests/summary-reports
If you scroll down, you can find a quick overview.


NOD32 (payware) scores very good for some years now.
Avira AntiVir (also available as freeware) is always in the top.

 

[1PW]

The obvious question:

In the opinion of posters, 1) which is the best free antivirus program (and
safe source) and

Avira, AVG, Avast

2) which is the best paid for program (with safe source)?

NOD32

Their own web sites are safe.

Many stay away from security suites. Don't forget antispyware protection.

HTH

Pete

 

[MoiInAust]

More seriously:

FWIW, Maximum PC tested several popular paid and free programs (January
2009, pp.36-48) Highest scores went to Eset's NOD 32 and Norton Internet
Security 2009 (9/10 each), and Kapersky (8/10). They found very little
variation in most program's abilities, based the higher scores on speed
and low resource use.

Thanks for that. Surprised to see Norton there. It has a reputation for
messing up Word.

 

[Alfred Matej]

Thanks for that. Surprised to see Norton there. It has a reputation for
messing up Word.

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

That site has a lot of in depth quantitative reviews of each AV.

 

[Slarty]

The obvious question:

In the opinion of posters, 1) which is the best free antivirus program (and
safe source) and 2) which is the best paid for program (with safe source)?.

How long is a piece of string?

Try asking which ones to avoid.

 

[MoiInAust]

(SNIP)\

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

That site has a lot of in depth quantitative reviews of each AV.

Thanks. A thoroughly depressing read! Seems *none* of the products is much
good!

 

[MoiInAust]

How long is a piece of string?

Try asking which ones to avoid.

OK then....? Which?

 

[Alfred Matej]

Thanks. A thoroughly depressing read! Seems *none* of the products is much
good!

Eh? Theres quite a few that get top rating. If you go back you'll see that
they're constantly battling it out. Eset and Kaspersky got the highest
ranking twice this year. Symantec even got the highest ranking in the
latest test. I hear they finally made a good product, so thats getting
hashed out in the tests.

Also make sure you looked at the On Demand tests not the Retrospective
tests.

 

[Slarty]

OK then....? Which?

Norton, Macaffee for starters. Although some claim Norton has much improved
of late. Trend seems to get poor reports now.

Better that someone who has used these lately replies. For myself I use
NOD32 on one machine, it's never put a foot wrong in many years and through
many versions, and Kaspersky AV on another. I must say that although
Kaspersky AV is pretty good, not quite as good as it used to be many years
ago, their 'Security Suite' (or whatever they call it) should be avoided
like the plague. I used it for abou ten minutes, utterly HATED it and its
wretched 'firewall' and got my money refunded by return.

There you go, sometimes you just have to suck it and see. Good luck (but
try NOD32).

Cheers,

Roy