Computer virus control?

[JDay]

Well they're definitely right about norton(and mcafee is just as bad), and in some instances cause more problems than they're supposed to solve(they've been nothing but trash bloatware for years).

AVG... it's nowhere near as bad as mcafee and norton, but it's getting there with regards to bloat vs. usefulness.

Norton is not a resource hog like it used to be, they actually cleaned up the code a few years back. McAfee will still lag your system down though.

[odysseus]

Norton has sucked for some time, and there seems to be today still better options. They are simply a big OEM build vendor so they are out there quite a lot.

Now what is popular now is for small house tech support people to resale packages of anti-malware products. You are buying it from them, but it is probably one of several known software engines out there. The hope is that they will master the controls and you will go to them for support on it. However if you have just the basic inkling on how to handle something simple like that, just go buy one of the top anti-malware products out there for cheaper and perhaps with a better package of things (if you need it) and buy directly from them.

[the86d]

Hell, my mother got infected and Windows 7 was trying to "protect us from ourselves". She had some crap in \windows\installer\* and explorer.exe was infected she didn't want to reinstall because of some stupid apps, and didn't want to go through the hassle (my niece is probably the culprit). AVG Free, Free Avast, and Malware bytes couldn't remove it... She didn't want to pay for the paid versions, and the "30-day trial full-versions" wouldn't remove the stuff either. She wanted to call Geek Squad, (due to my lack of time,) but those guys would have clean-reinstalled Windows, and forgot to back up hidden data, or something... I hear horror stories about those guys all the time.

Finally she got sick of the issues and I went over on the weekend when we both had time. I used Knoppix to just rm the folders, and replace explorer.exe with a clean version. It's bad when M$ tries to protect you from yourself, but will not allow you to do what you need to to fix issues even if you know what to do but you can't replace, or delete files using Windows... meh

Sometimes you have to use Linux to fix Windows...

[dynamomark80]

I just got a hit yesterday looking for something. I was at google and searched garden plumbing or something along that line because I was looking for info on how to run water lines in my garden.

so you were searching "how to lay pipe in the backyard", yeah that is totally a safe search. lol just kidding I know how searches can come up with the oddest things. My brother googled his name and it came up with a list of kiddie pron sites. ewww I told him to change his name asap.

Pron websites still get me...

you dont say. with 99% of the web being pron sites how does one avoid ever them? entrapment is say?

I have never used freeware for my antivirus solutions. I have tried McAfee, Norton, Panda (for a few years), and now im back to Norton. I try base my decision on reviews from Cnet, Max PC, and Tomshardware.
My current Norton sub I bought online as a download for 1 key to cover 3 pc's for about $25. no issues yet. one thing I do like about Norton is that they have safe web integrated into the browser so if i go to web page know to be infected my screen will display a warning and ask if I really want to proceed to load that page. Im sure that feature has saved me in the past from much trouble. Just remember to update at least daily and run full system scans at least once a week.

[GM_77]

The folks that are trying to clean up my computer are also trying to sell me thier virus utility. They say that the Norton controls I now run are degrading my system everytime I use it. What say you? Thanks...

Believe it or not Microsoft Security Essentials is a option and I have been happy with it so far. I was skeptical because it is Microsoft but it has very low footprint (i.e. I don't notice it at all) and it was recommended to me by a subject matter expert (White-hat).

[xhy]

+1 for MS Security Essentials

[jrock]

sister just told me her notebook(vista\sony) locked up using ie and is showing the "fbi" page after she tried to download an app to watch online laker game.
after reading this thread i think ill have her go to frys and get the nod32.
good reviews here and our dad runs it.

im guessing nod32 should come w\some tech support to walk her thru the recovery.
i had to do this long time ago for the "adobe update virus" which kasprsky cleared w\good tech support.

[billofrights]

[QUOTE=jrock;9664703]sister just told me her notebook(vista\sony) locked up using ie and is showing the "fbi" page after she tried to download an app to watch online laker game. [QUOTE]

Had the same issue with someone up in our Sacramento campus that "needed" to install some BS to watch the World Series final. Got infected with one of those bogus security warning windows. This helped him, but every single machine I've run into with that "fbi" warning one I've had to completely wipe and reinstall Windows. Try it first though, it'll save you time (and your data) if it works:

http://www.selectrealsecurity.com/malware-removal-guide/

[Iknownot]

I used to like Norton (Never MacAfee as it seemed to miss catching stuff when I was using it back in the day).

Norton is a pretty big resource hog though. I'm still running an XP machine and it started really choking on running Norton.

I switched to ESET Nod 32 and I really like how light it is in terms of resource usage.

My newer machines run like it's not even there and the XP machine is nearly as good.


BTW, I am running MSE on an older VISTA laptop I have and I have had no issues with it either. MSE gets pretty good reviews for being free.

[exklusve]

BTW, I call BS on having a computer with no AV for 10 years and not having any issues. I am sure there was a spot or two of trouble. I run a modified host file, active firewall (netlimiter) AND every now and then something gets a drive by installation in on me and I gotta spend 20 minutes reversing the damage. This might happen about once every 7 months or so and since I know how to react it is cleaned up rather fast, but the point is, **** still is out there even if you DO know what you are doing. Thankfully I think like a piece of malware sometimes so that give me an advantage.

Not BS. Just because it happens to people, or to those who think they have an 'advantage' doesn't mean it happens to everyone.
Its funny how knowing what you're doing makes a big difference. 10 years ago it was a bit different, but its actually really hard to get hit with malware etc today unless you are doing something really stupid.


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[tdyoung1958]

I use MS Security Essentials . . . because it's free

otherwise I'd use Eset's Nod32, but it's pricey