What is the best virus protection for me? I have Norton, but I'm not happy with it in the least.?

Question

I've had Norton Virus Protection since I have purchased my computer, and for the first year or so, it ran fine. However, this year, the autoupdate no longer functions. So every time there is a security update, I have to go to the Norton website and manually fix my virus protection. This is annoying to say the least; and from what I can tell, Norton is also failing to keep viruses off of my computer. While it does scans, I sit there and watch the "programs" its searching through... and some of them seem very suspiscious, so I have to deal with that on top of it all.

Recently, I've been looking up customer reviews for virus protection, but every single program I have found has had very mixed reviews. The editors of the website may recommend one program in particular, but the users of the program say very negative things about it, or the reviews are quite mixed from one extreme to another. Needless to say, I am very confused and uncertain as to how to proceed.

I am a PC user that uses her laptop for personal use, as well as school related things. I am not a techie, and I would like a program that gets the job done without me having to go in and fight with a failing program for hours on end. I would like a program that does not slow my computer down, or, if so, by a hardly noticeable amount. (Norton has also slowed down my computer, now that I think about it.) I've also had McAffee way back when, but it was far worse than Norton.

I do not mind paying money for a program, but the cheaper the better... so long as it gets the job done. I'd rather pay and not have to fight with all this than have a program for cheap that fails to function. ANY feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Download Good Anti-Virus Better Protection in you Computer Avira AntiVir Personal Free http://www.download.com/Avira-AntiVir-Personal-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10322935.html?tag=contentBody;mostPopTwoColWrap&cdlPid=10986298



Why Avira Anti-Virus Better Protection Than Avast,Avg,NOD32 Anti-Virus,Kaspersky and Norton? Press This Link http://www.virusbtn.com/news/2008/09_02

Answer 2

Hunter said it best , the only thing I can think of to add is have you contacted Norton about the problems your having ( this year, the auto update no longer functions. So every time there is a security update, I have to go to the Norton website and manually fix my virus protection. This is annoying to say the least; and from what I can tell, Norton is also failing to keep viruses off of my computer. While it does scans, I sit there and watch the "programs" its searching through... and some of them seem very suspicious, so I have to deal with that on top of it all.)

After all the professionals who designed the program will be best at being able to help you

Hunter if it was up to me you would get the ten points

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

I have been using Zone Alert w/AntiVirus. It seems to take very little time in startup and work well. They have a series of products with various capabilities. Two other things to remember. You have a Dell; and they seem to run slowly when loaded, with other friends who have Dells of any sort. And you may be short on RAM memory; many Dells I have seen send you a minimum memory to run the OS, unless you pay much more and buy more RAM to make more things run faster. From what my friends' experiences have been, with Dell, they are cheap, but you get only what you pay for!! I would, in your shoes, buy all the RAM I could stuff in. Now I have also avoided the new MicroSoft Operating systems, XP, Vista, etc, because they are big and clumsy and comsume the resources of the computer in overhead. I run Wikndows 98 and Windows 2000, but with good RAM size, and get along just fine; these are not the resource hogs of other recent uSoft creations.. Not having lots of updates either fixing the holes uSoft leaves in their rush to get a new product out the door. Be sure you get all the updates in!! I have a quarter-G of RAM, much more than the minimum required for either of my OS's; you might look at putting in 1-2G of fast RAM if you can, so everything runs without be "rootbound" by insufficient RAM and lots of swapping. My advice is to look at Zone-Alert with Virus, and also load the RAM on in your computer with the largest, fastest you can put in, since it is a Dell. My ZoneAlert runs in the background of my other programs, and if it is slowing them, it is not noticable. I do prefer the Norton, but cannot afford Norton products anymore! Look in places like Big Lots for year old but still good stuff like ZoneAlert.

Answer 5

Avast is one of the best antivirus software out there because of it's effectiveness and simplicity. I'm a computer technician; many of my clients give me laptops with viruses and spyware to remove. I always recommend removing Norton because it takes up way to much system resources and therefore slows your system down. I frequently install Avast (free) Antivirus because it takes a small data footprint, requires very little memory, and runs quietly in the background without bothering the user. I highly recommend it.



Jeremy Ashburn

http://www.buyapc.org/ - Laptop & Desktop recommendations

http://revitalpc.com/ - Hardware & Software repair

Answer 6

I'm using BitDefender at the moment. It's a great anti-virus with excellent spyware, virus, phishing protection. It is probably the best anti-virus suite out there at the moment. I could go on for a long time about what it can do, so I'll give you a link.



http://www.howtogeek.com/reviews/bitdefender-total-security-2010/



For added protection, you can get the free PC tools threatfire, which is very good with working with anti-virus programs, but with bitdefender I really doubt it you'd need it.

Answer 7

I recommend either avast! or Avira. They both have really good detection rates and don't take up a lot of system resources. The only difference between them is that avast! has a lot more features than Avira but they both do a fine job. If you really want piece of mind than it would be better to buy the paid version of avast! or Avira. Malwarebytes is also great too since it's focus is mainly on malware so it's good to run that once in a while and it won't conflict with your antivirus since it's an antimalware not antivirus.



avast!: http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download



Avira: http://download.cnet.com/Avira-AntiVir-Personal-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10322935.html



Malwarebytes: http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

Answer 8

Three of the Best Free Antivirus Programs

Only install one as installing more than causes problems.

Do not use AVG free as it lacks rootkit protection it is unacceptable.



Microsoft Security Essentials which is free and recently out of Beta may very well be the best of the three but it is too early to say at this time.



Avira

http://www.free-av.com/



Avast

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-…



Microsoft Security Essentials

New, looks very good and uses very little RAM.

http://www.microsoft.com/SECURITY_ESSENT…

=========================

Also install both of the following and update and run a full scan every week or so. They are excellent at removing almost anything that gets past your antivirus protection.



Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware free version

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php



SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition

http://www.superantispyware.com/superant…

========================

Alerts you of dangerous web sites. Install only one.



McAfee Site Advisor (free)

http://www.siteadvisor.com/



Web of Trust (WOT) (free)

http://www.mywot.com/

====================

Make sure your Widows software is up to date. Run "Windows Update" weekly. This is extremely important!

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/



Make sure you upgrade it IE8 because it has the "SmartScreen Filter".. For security I prefer Firefox with Adblock Plus and NoScript add-ons.

==========================

If you want to be 100% safe from malware while surfing the web install Sandboxie. If will automatically set up to use your default browser. Per Sandboxie "Sandboxie runs your programs in an isolated space which prevents them from making permanent changes to other programs and data in your computer. "



In Sandbox settings:

Sandbox Settings > Delete > Invocations > Check "automatically delete contents of sandbox"

(see video below)



Sandboxie (free)

http://www.sandboxie.com/



Video of Sandboxie. Installation and use, (3 parts)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GueXMq-Vy…

Answer 9

Firstly i will recommend u Kaspersky 2010 version

after that Norton 2010 version..... Norton 2010 is d only version, which got some respect and competitive... its all older versions were making pc slow and was nt detecting virurses completly.



I tried Bit defender, mcafee, nod32, Avir, Avast..... I keep on trying anti virus program, and found onlt these 2 as THE BEST

Answer 10

Finally install Avast Anti-Virus which is free and run a boot-time scan, it will remove viruses before they have a chance to start and thoroughly disinfect your computer.



You could download the 3 programs below from the computer you are on and take them to your computer then install them that way.



Keep Avast Anti-Virus installed to prevent you getting another virus in the future.



Avast Anti Virus:

http://malware-virus-spyware-remover-tools.blogspot.com/



SuperantiSpyware:

http://bestfree-spyware-virus-trojan-protec.blogspot.com/



Malwarebytes:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Answer 11

You should get eset smart security.Another person has also recommend anti virus by same company do read that answer as well

Answer 12

i use and personally recommend microsoft security essentials, it is a virus,spyware and

malware remover.over the years i have used norton and various free virus,spyware &malware

removers,i surf everywhere on the net and microsoft security pack catches more garbage

than anything i have ever used.this does not have a firewall,a good firewall to use

is either zonealarm,online armor or comodo,the security program is FREE.

Answer 13

If you have Windows XP then I Would recommend COMODO Internet Security



Free Download: http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/



If you have Windows Vista or 7 then I would recommend Microsoft Security Essentials (Doesn't work to well on XP



Free Download: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Answer 14

If you want free antivirus, get Avast free or Microsoft Security Essentials

Avast 5 free (You may purchase the pro version if you want to)

http://www.avast.com/index

Microsoft Security Essentials

http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

If you want the best paid antivirus, get ESET Nod32

http://www.eset.com/

Answer 15

Since my last reinstall - 5 months ago I don`t have any Antivirus as you think.I downloaded the trend micro`s housecall http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ and scan once a week.My computer is still ok.Not getting slower or faster(sadly),but what I want to say is :Be careful what websites you visit,and what you download.The best defense is to visit not so suspicious web sites and not to download whatever you find.Every customer has his own style and not every AV Software suites him/her.So check the most popular AV Companies and download their trial software.If you like it - buy it.Otherwise you can get some free AV (which i don`t recommend).

Answer 16

ESET Smart Security 4 is your best solution!

Answer 17

I think Microsoft Security Essentials is really reliable. It's effective in treating & removing malware. It's also light weight & it runs very cleanly with the Windows operating system. It also free.



http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

Answer 18

Try Eset Nod32 Antivirus 4



download from (www.eset.com)



get the license free from

(www.nod327.net)

Answer 19

My favorite is the Avast! It is so cool, and litterally tells you by word that you have a virus...All bells and whistles, too...http://free-virus-removal-and-scan.blogspot.com/