Okay. I need help. I need a new antivirus. Please help me decide on one.

**GMBazillion** · June 18th, 2004, 11:40 PM

I need a new AntiVirus but the problem is that there are tons of them out there and I don't know which one to choose. Can you please help me.
I am trying to find one that can do the following

* Detect and actually REMOVE the virus from files.
* One that is NOT a memory resource hog.
* Can detect viruses in real time (as new files are installed or downloaded onto my PC it will instantly scan those files for viruses)
* Work within compressed files.
* Is compatable with Mozilla Thunderbird E-Mail browser.

Unfortantently Zeropaid limits to just 5 items on a poll so I chose the 5 most popular.

AVG AntiVirus
Avast AntiVirus
McAfee AntiVirus
Norton AntiVirus
PC-Cillin

The other two I wasn't able to choose because of the 5 item limitation on the polls, but here they are.

F-Prot
Panda AntiVirus

Please vote and then reply with why you voted for that application.

If you need my system specs, here they are...

MOTHERBOARD: KT4AV-L (MS-6712) v10A
CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2100+ Throughbred (1.73 GHZ)
DIMM Slot 01: 256 MB 333MHz DDR PC2700 DIMM CL2.5 (Kingston: Value Ram) (KVR333X64C25/256)
DIMM Slot 02: 256 MB 333MHz DDR PC2700 DIMM CL2.5 (Kingston: Value Ram) (KVR333X64C25/256)
DIMM Slot 03: (None)
AGP Slot: ATI Radeon 9000 (64 MB)
PCI Slot 01: (None)
PCI Slot 02: Sound Blaster Live 5.1 LS (SB0229)
PCI Slot 03: (None)
PCI Slot 04: ATI TV Wonder PCI
PCI Slot 05: (None)
PCI Slot 06: (None)
IDE 01: 40.0 GB Maxtor (6E040L0) (7200 RPM)
6.4 GB Western Digital (WDC AC26400B) (5400 RPM)
IDE 02: Magnavox NEC ND-1100A DVD+R/+RW 4x/2.4x
Power Supply: Dynex 300 Watt (Model: LCB300ATX) (+3.3V|28A) (+5V|30A)

Thank you.

**Bhangra Knight** · June 19th, 2004, 12:01 AM

I'm gonna vouch for Norton Antivirus. I got the proffessional version off suprnova and its worked like a charm. You can set it to automatically download and install virus definitions so you bascially set it and forget it.

**alliercollins** · June 19th, 2004, 12:33 AM

I'm really, really surprised to not see NOD32 up there in your "top 7". I have used all of those and I mean they get the job done, but for example McAfee to a lot of people will miss viruses (not confirming it), Norton is a system hog at best (although coporate isn't terrible and 2004 runs better than previous versions), AVG isn't all that powerful to some, and so forth. NOD32 has always been my hands down choice and I won't choose anything else now. Although I am always willing to install a test of a new one, just to make sure that NOD32 is still the best.

It has the ability to pick up on new viruses, it can catch anything that is already around, it updates often and on it's own without a restart, and it runs on very few resources. I think it actually has the fastest scanning engine to.

Most people who really study anti virus software will more than like confirm what I have just said. It will scan within compressed archives, you can leave the scanning engine running at all times and it won't slow you down (unlike norton 2004 and it's slow file scans of new stuff), and finally I believe that it's IMON part will be compatible with Mozilla Thunderbird. I can't actually confirm this since I use The Bat, but I would be willing to bet it is.

**bookmansour** · June 19th, 2004, 02:30 AM

Sorry I can't help...
I'm of the fortunate few that don't have viruses...
Benefit of being on Mac...
This is one of the many reasons I had to get away from PC's...
Best of luck to you though...
If you get it to work, More power to you...

**FalconXR6T** · June 19th, 2004, 03:18 AM

i use mcafee it works good for me.

**nasrules** · June 19th, 2004, 03:35 AM

I'm the same as alliercollins - ever since I tried NOD32 I haven't been able to get away from it - it's never let anything through, while many other packages have. I don't use Thunderbird anymore but I believe even back in the days of 0.5, NOD32's IMON worked with it fine.

The only thing that's come close to it for me was Symantec's Corporate client. Don't, whatever you do, go for Norton - it's a HUGE resource hog. If you're wanting a more main-stream client, go for AVG.

**stewiegriffin** · June 19th, 2004, 05:06 AM

I really couldn't choose between Avast & NOD32. They're both superb and offer full protection with a minimum of system resource usage. Chose any one between those two and you'll be happy.

**shawners** · June 19th, 2004, 05:11 AM

If you go with NORTON 2004. It has adaware blocking and deleting.. As well as blocking popups and such. Thats what i have, works great and you have to update it every wendsday when they release more definitions. The only problem with new worms or virus is that if they come up with an update next week, sometimes they change the string of code so it still can get to your pc. They only have updates every wendsday. =( But i like it alot, also works good with outlook express and deletes emails with file attachments that are bad.

**lion7718** · June 19th, 2004, 05:22 AM

AVG will do pretty much all that..except..scan downloaded files...you have to Right Click the file & choose Scan With AVG

**Omyn** · June 19th, 2004, 05:36 AM

1GB of ram and a 1.67 processor.

I like norton because...

I used McAfee recently, it was slow, the windows are all java
based and takes much too long, not to mention the annoying
registration and the time it takes to verify who you are. Also
it didnt stop viruses from entering our computers all too well,
it caught some things but not everything.

Norton on the other hand is very good its a little slow
but should not be a problem with your system,
catches any viruses or exploits that were trying to infect
my computer on web sites that were filled with crap while
the same websites would become infected from it.

AVG is a decent anti-virus program, and i will only give it
decent at most because it has a terrible time with removing
viruses, and doesnt protect you from many new browser
exploits that are out, but it is fast.

Avast is probably my second choice for an anti-virus program
it give you quick scanning options and deep scanning options
has always provided me with very good reliability and would
definitely choose it if I didnt use norton already.

**crackerjacker** · June 19th, 2004, 05:36 AM

I use avg and its pretty good. Time to time I also use antivir personal edition too.
I would say anti vir personal edition is good,,,, it can detect viruses, that avg cant. That is why I use both.
Both are free as well.I would say these two programs are what I would recommend you use.
norton hogs your memory.
avg is very stable
thats just my opinion
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**tackdaddy** · June 19th, 2004, 05:51 AM

i used to use AVG until i got virus that it did'nt catch.i now use AVAST and hav'nt got a virus in 8 months plus it updates all the time somtimes daily.it works great and has caught every virus that has come up.

**IshareManyFilez** · June 19th, 2004, 06:17 AM

Norton Antivirus is superb. If you get the 2004 proffessional editiion it goes past viruses, trojans, and worms. It picks up dialers, and other malware that programs like Mcafee don't catch.It hogs resources but does bolster down your computer well. Only reccomended for people with fast computers.

**mxpwx** · June 19th, 2004, 06:26 AM

I use avast seems to work good enough maybe ill check out this nod32 thing but if i had to choose id take avast because of bootime scans

**stewiegriffin** · June 19th, 2004, 08:01 AM

Norton 2004 is crap. Not only did it let a vrius onto my computer it coulnd't even delete it after a manual scan! If you're desperate to use a Symantec product, use the corporate AV that nasrules mentioned.