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[Leatherface]

What's the recommended virus scanner these days? I wanna get myself protected mang.

 

[giga]

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

 

[Krauser Kat]

Securiy Essentials has really stepped up their game. Its quite a complete package. I also use avast to supplement what i dont get.

 

[iNvid02]

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

nuff said

if your not a complete pc-tard and know not to click on obvious stuff, download
from weird sites etc then security essentials will do the rest.

 

[Manics]

Thread nailed in one reply. Close up this biotch.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Surprise that Microsoft has released the best free virus scan.

 

[jambo]

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

+1

Been using it for a year now and love it, plus it's free.

 

[Woffls]

I only use Windows 7 integrated security now. I always forget it's there as well :lol perfect. I've not had a virus in god damn years.

 

[Threi]

Avast 5, MSE, and Avira are all good choices.

I personally use Avast over MSE though.

 

[-viper-]

NOD32 is the best.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

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

/thread

 

[Leatherface]

Wow. I remember testing out Microsoft security essentials back when it first came out and it was really not that great at all. Well ok then. I'll give it a shot. Thanks guys.

 

[Gamecocks625]

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

Been using it for a year now with no complaints at all (using Windows 7).

I can't believe I paid for Norton for so long.

 

[DonMigs85]

MSE is even capable of catching all the common trojans/spyware that links here on GAF may occasionally have. Haven't had a single infection since I started using it 7 months ago.

 

[quickwhips]

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

This is the best. Its like if viruses and malware are terrorist. Then MSE is arnold schwarzenegger in commando or Bruce Willis in Die Hard.

 

[Siebzehn50]

MSE
Avira
Avast

Any of those and you'll be golden.

 

[DonMigs85]

Been using it for a year now with no complaints at all (using Windows 7).

I can't believe I paid for Norton for so long.

Expect Norton or McAfee to design a special virus to target MSE soon

 

[Leatherface]

NOD32 is the best.

Why do you think this is the best? What puts it above the rest to you?

Also to everyone else, is there a benefit to getting 64bit virus scanning software as opposed to 32bit?

 

[Lhadatt]

NOD32.

I don't trust free virus scanners anymore.

 

[Siebzehn50]

NOD32.

I don't trust free virus scanners anymore.

Why?

 

[KernelPanic]

MSE takes it's sweet time to download updates and slows my PC down to a crawl in the process other than that it's pretty good and free.

The inconvenience of running a (good) A/V program pales in comparison to actually removing a virus off your computer.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

Also to everyone else, is there a benefit to getting 64bit virus scanning software as opposed to 32bit?

well a 64bit application should run faster than a 32bit application generally on the same hardware. Ideally everything would be 64 bit on your 64bit OS. So just get the 64bit version of MSE

 

[Nabs]

nod32 is probably the lightest a/v program i've used. been working great so far.

 

[dskillzhtown]

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

Word. I advise all my friends to get that. It's free and works damned good.

 

[Cindres]

And another vote for Security Essentials.

Security Essentials + Common Sense 2010 is all your PC needs.

 

[jmdajr]

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

the end

 

[PumpkinPie]

Kaspersky is the best anti-virus software. Troof.

 

[Manics]

I never understand why people would pay for antivirus software when there's a perfectly fine free one made by Microsoft themselves. It integrates so well with Windows 7 why not use it?

 

[Leatherface]

well a 64bit application should run faster than a 32bit application generally on the same hardware. Ideally everything would be 64 bit on your 64bit OS. So just get the 64bit version of MSE

Ok so that's all it is. All right. I think I'm sold on MSE. Thanks GAF!!!

 

[Lhadatt]

Why?

They're too bloated -- large RAM and CPU usage -- and often miss stuff. I've had a great deal of success with NOD32. It's small, light, unobtrusive, and doesn't seem to miss anything.

 

[Threi]

They're too bloated -- large RAM and CPU usage -- and often miss stuff. I've had a great deal of success with NOD32. It's small, light, unobtrusive, and doesn't seem to miss anything.

Both Avira and Avast have the same resource usage, scanning speed, and detection rate as NOD32. MSE uses (very) slightly more ram, but is equally unobtrusive. NOD32 was the most lightweight about 5-6 years ago, but times have changed.

You should actually try the AV for yourself instead of taking my word for it though. There is NO reason to pay for an AV in this day and age.

 

[Siebzehn50]

They're too bloated -- large RAM and CPU usage -- and often miss stuff. I've had a great deal of success with NOD32. It's small, light, unobtrusive, and doesn't seem to miss anything.

Like Threi said, that may have been true a few years ago but just isn't anymore. Besides Nod costs money so that would count against it.

 

[equil]

I never heard of MSE until now. Im going to have to switch myself.

 

[Mr. B Natural]

AVG no good?

 

[BlackGoku03]

Microsoft Security Essentials

&

Malwarebyte's Anti Malware


Both are great. Malwarebyte's has saved so many computers, it's crazy.

 

[zero_suit]

I just use MSE now. Before that, I used Avira.

 

[kharma45]

Expect Norton or McAfee to design a special virus to target MSE soon

On the topic of Norton, 2010 is actually a pretty good security suite, first time I've used it since about 2002 or so after having been with Bullguard for years, they've really stepped their game up.

I'd never have considered them again if it hadn't been for the good reviews it'd been getting for the current version after getting slaughtered for years.

MSE, Avira and Malwarebytes I've found to be the best free ones.

 

[Visualante]

If you're paying, NOD32 is the only way I'd go. Otherwise what these freeloaders said.

 

[-viper-]

Why do you think this is the best? What puts it above the rest to you?

Also to everyone else, is there a benefit to getting 64bit virus scanning software as opposed to 32bit?

It's lightweight, fast, and I don't have to do anything. I'll leave it running and it updates automatically and scans automatically. Have had ZERO problems with it.

Out of all the virus scanners, NOD32 scans the quickest.

 

[Helmholtz]

I've been using MSE for a while now and I like it a lot. Very unobtrusive and it has a clean, straight forward interface.

 

[DonMigs85]

AVG no good?

The free one ain't so hot anymore

 

[DeSo]

Avira is top dog among the freeware.

 

[Mejilan]

Longtime Avast user that recently switched to MSE, here. Very surprised by it. Pleasantly surprised, even. MSE is basically as invisible as Avast was, perhaps a bit more lightweight, and without Avast's annual license registration requirement, even easier to use/recommend.

Edit - I also dig how it has Windows Defender basically built in. Actually, in replacing both Avast and WD, it's definitely a more lightweight solution.

 

[alr1ght]

MSE is great. The only problem I have with it is that you can't set an update time. It will start updating in the middle of the day and spike the CPU for 2 minutes or so.

 

[Threi]

MSE is great. The only problem I have with it is that you can't set an update time. It will start updating in the middle of the day and spike the CPU for 2 minutes or so.

If i'm not mistaken it updates at the same time windows checks for updates? Maybe you can schedule windows to update at a specific time.

I think that's how it works, i'm not too sure.

 

[Orin GA]

Get Spybot S&D. It picked up shit Malwarebytes and SAS could not.

 

[Leatherface]

Get Spybot S&D. It picked up shit Malwarebytes and SAS could not.

I humbly disagree. I deal with spyware all the time at my job. SpyBot and AdAware have really fallen off the map as far as I'm concerned. Malwarebyes is vastly superior overall. Sure, some programs will pick up certain things others miss but on average, Malwarebytes does a MUCH better job.

 

[Nelo Ice]

cant go wrong with MSE

 

[Leatherface]

cant go wrong with MSE

Just installed. So far so good.

 

[Lionheart1827]

I'll add my vote for Avira free antivirus. Works awesome. I use Spybot for my spyware issues.