Ciao tutti. I'm getting really fed up of my McAfee security system. Although in its favour it has kept my laptop free of virus and intrusion; it seems to be more and more slowing me down, and always up to something. Even as I write this it is taking me several minutes, whilst McAfee is doing something in the background. It says it's 'updating'. If I dump it, even though still a few months to run on subscription, can anyone recommend a reliable and FOC substitute?
Many thanks for any advice.
ciao for now,
'o nonno

(to write this out, submit, press 'edit' button to add this comment, and re submit has taken 12 minutes!)

I preface this with the warning that I am a dunce on computery.
However, I do occasional translation work for a firm and they checked out my pc and added a Comodo Security Systems firewall (or something) to protect their documentation. I am sure it is freeware and it seems to work.
But get a second opinion.

avast

Ononno,
I assume you using a PC(Windows).I have Microsoft Security Esssentials(directly from Microsoft) on all the time.Also I periodically scan with Malwarebytes Antimalware and "clean" my registry with CCleaner.All are free and easy to use.
Hope this is a help.
Dippydon

Thanks for suggestions so far. Am using a HP Pavilion laptop. About 6 years old and OS Windows XP.
Further ideas/comments welcome. (Apart from obvious 'get a new computer')
ciao for now.
'o nonno

Anti-virus programs are quite memory intensive.

I can recommend AVG as a free anti-virus (there is also a paid for version with bells and whistles) and Zone Alarm as a free firewall to control which programs can send and receive data from/to your PC.

I would also clean up your PC with Tune-Up Utilities on the 30 day trial, this will clear your PC of unwanted and old junk, clear temp files, etc.

If you can afford it, the biggest improvement would be to add more memory, this will speed things up, although it's not going to turn into Speedy Gonzales but you'll definitely notice the difference when you'll launch programs.

Microsoft Security Esssentials
AVG the free one

I've used AVG free for years and have not had a problem.... but I do scan eveything I download before opening. I also do the occasional scan with Malwarebytes Antimalware.

Scratcher

Hi Ononno,
if you install a new antivirus, free or not, remember to uninstall the old McAfee. You will find the speed of the computer will get much better.
regards
H&G

I have a desktop in UK and laptop in Spain, originally ran Macafee for about 5yrs but hit a wrong button and ended up with a virus. Tried contacting Macafee to assistance but they wouldnt let me play on their website as I had a virus.
did some research and managed to find the operational elements of the virus and deleted and or doctored them so now non operational

Bought Norton, £25 for disc that can be used on up to 3 computers. Have had no problems since. sometimes I think it is a bit of a nanny but it is doing what I asked it to do, the same as a security guard would.
I don't think that is a great cost for the security it gives me on both computers.
you can get it via PCWorld or Amazon at that price, direct off the Norton website it is about double.

hope this helps
rgds

Many thanks to all for your suggestions - food for thought.
McAfee must have read us too; it all seems much quicker this morning.
Am going to try Duffer's suggestion of Tune Up Utilities for a start.
ciao for now,
'o nonno

As someone who uses computers all day and tries most software the best anti virus is the free one, clamwin, macafee is a monster that is useless, everybody who I advised to use clamwin loves it, just google clamwin and install , you will not even know its there but it works perfectly , to completely get rid of macafee which is worse than a virus download a trial "advanced uninstaller" and carefully get rid of it, nortons is as bad, clamwin is five star

this is the link http://www.clamwin.com/content/view/18/46/

Clamwin doesn't offer real-time protection, so you need to manually scan every file you download, so yes it probably is less memory intensive than the other programs because it is not continously monitoring for threats.

I would much prefer to take a slight hit on computer performance in order to have something working pro-actively to prevent infection in the background.

Hi ononno

I can empathise. Our laptops were taken over by the same Mcafee monster. OH took out a new subscription for the upgraded Mcafee after having naively thought that renewing a subscription included the upgrade. But the upgrade was still problematic. Despite many hours on the phone to kindly, patient 'helpers' at Mcafee things did not improve.

So we defected to Norton and have been delighted. We got the 3 computer deal that Domino refers to and Norton now chunters away discreetly in the background. Yes, a bit nannyish but so far trouble free.

Good luck!