Anti virus software
 

I recently had to format my pc as my browser stopped working - I wasnt able to to send any email and acess hotmail, the browser just refused to send over information. I was able to acess email (other than hotmail)without sending though. quite strange. I updated I.E to the latest version, it didnt help at all.

I was stupidly using using the pc as an admin user and think I might have been victim of all the malware roaming on the internet. The anti virus i used was avast home free edition plus a free firewall.

Im using norton now with a 3 months licence and until I buy proper antivrus software after my norton expires I was wondering if anyone could advise me on what free antivirus (preferably one which has firewall too) I could use for peace of mind? Any ideas? Cheers

Re: Anti virus software
 

There is nothing wrong with avast, but it is an anti-virus program. You should also be running an anti-malware software. There are plenty of free ones about. Windows defender works just fine if you are prepared to give up a bit of control of your PC.

I also regularly scan my system with Spybot and Adaware. Superantispyware will remove just about any crap from your system.

Norton is very resource hungry, and good luck trying to uninstall it.

Edit: is your PC is behind a wireless router with an encrypted signal windows firewalls are perfectly adequate.

Re: Anti virus software
 

cheers, I use adsl, so i guess i do need a good firewall. yeah know about norton's appetite...its has slowed down my laptop already, thats why i never used it before, my pc was shipped with a 3 months licence.

i want to keep it simple- need malware, anitivirus and firewall in one application, dont think this is available for free though.

thanks for reply

Re: Anti virus software
 

Norton 360 is actually a big improvement on their previous efforts. Not that that was particularly hard to do given how rubbish the previous versions were (for some reason the free ones AVG, Avira etc didn't want to install on my missus's laptop - but if you are behind a router/firewall the free ones should be good enough for most people)

Re: Anti virus software
 

Your ISP may provide security software for free. As JE said, Avast is a good free choice, you can run any number of AV programs without screwing each other up. Only run one software firewall though or they will fight with each other, it ain't pretty. The Windows firewall is OK. If you have more than one installed uninstall so you only have one and make sure the Windows one is off if you are not using it.

You can also do a free online scan with Trend Micros 'Housecall' It is free to use and will also fix problems, where the other online scanners will only identify them and you have to buy the software to fix them. Check out some of the reviews on PC Magazine etc. I used Norton once! I'm not a great fan of IE, Firefox 3.5 is more secure and faster.

Re: Anti virus software
 

dont know what went wrong, I also installed firefox when IE stopped working, it didnt work either, never experienced this before, it just wouldnt let me check my hotmail account and I thought there was something wrong with hotmail.The browser wouldn't let me do an online malware scan as well and Avast found a few viruses too but this didnt help. Not too sure ISP provides security software though, I use ACANAC...never checked this maybe they do!

Re: Anti virus software
 

You may have a virus. There are some that will prevent the computer doing online scans and reaching certain sites for their own survival. My daughter had this problem and one we cleared the virus, complete reformat and clean load it was OK. No anti virus software will find everything, finding some means there may be more. Were you trying to access hotmail through a mail client, such as Outlook or through the web browser. You do need to accept cookies to get onto Hotmail, check the settings allow Hotmail to set cookies.

Re: Anti virus software
 

there was no problem with cookies, there must have been something on my pc, I couldn't even acess the sign-in page. I tried both ways, through outlook(had the connector installed) and IE. Who are these guys busy writing those virus codes:(

Re: Anti virus software
 

Many of them are very good and under 15 and do it just because they can. One has to feel sorry for them if this is all they can do to fill their time. Just think what they could achieve if they put their knowledge to something constructive (some grow up and eventually do).

Re: Anti virus software
 

good that they cant muck with the robust softwares of aircrafts systems:rofl:

By the way the new norton 2009 reviews say it has improved a lot from older versions.....doesnt slow down the pc. dont know how true this is....although I dont teh licence is for one year only.

Re: Anti virus software
 

I went back to Norton this year as I bought a new laptop. It seems to be quite efficient and has not slowed down this laptop at all. I had been using Avast, but I got a virus which went undetected, and destroyed my computer. It was pointless trying to recover it, given the damage that was done.

Re: Anti virus software
 

They can just as easily get through Norton as Avast. No AV program stops every virus. Avast is equally as good if not better than Norton. I'd stick with Avast and its free. For those with Telus, their security software works pretty well, albeit a but cumbersome on resources.

Re: Anti virus software
 

Why is using the PC as an admin a bad thing to do? I have a mac at work and home but I think my mate does the above and he got a very nasty virus called Home Antivirus 2010 which took ages to get rid of.

Re: Anti virus software
 

Being logged as an admin all the time makes spyware and all the other 'wares' easily installable on the pc I have been told. I ignored this ...paid a big price the other day although I think if one logs as admin vista still gives a hint that something is being installed ...I might be wrong there. Anyway I am sure I had a virus ....was very weird to see how my browser wouldnt send over info, and I couldnt even update avast when this happened!

Re: Anti virus software
 

Avast for AV, Comodo for FW...don't need active spyware scanning unless you keep going to dodgy sites, in which case, don't go to dodgy sites and just do a weekly scan..

Re: Anti virus software
 

Windows firewall + automatic updates + AVG free scanner is all anyone really needs, for XP or Vista. Just don't click any link that you know you shouldn't click on, or download a .exe or codec on p2p.

These days, the biggest problem is rogue security software e.g. "Home Antivirus 2010". It's a huge business for the creators (the conficker C virus from earlier this year is reputed to distribute rogue software from infected machines). If any software gets on your PC and tells you it can fix the problem for $$...read on...

Although virus removal is also a big business for those involved, Microsoft have a free removal service, either online through http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.aspx or phone customer service and ask for the pc safety team.

Re: Anti virus software
 

This is also due later in the year:

Microsoft to give away anti-virus

"No specific date has been given for when Morro will be released, but in the past Microsoft has said it would be out by the end of 2009 at the latest."

Re: Anti virus software
 

That's the one my mate got on his computer. Luckily for him my brother helped us get it off, we think. We had to use 3 different programs to remove it. Horrible stuff. :frown:

Re: Anti virus software
 

If it's as bug free as Windows, we're in for a real treat :rofl:

Re: Anti virus software
 

can any of you guys tell me if norton exists in unlimited licence version? I saw an offer on kijiji , not sure how true would this be and its cheap, norton 2009, selling at $25. Just quickly on norton site, couldnt find any mention of it, they all say 1-2 years subscription.

Re: Anti virus software
 

With Vista go to the control panel, security center, other security settings, then user account control. Make sure user account control is switched on. Once it is, Vista requires your permission to install any new software or run a new executable file.

Re: Anti virus software
 

My local computer expert recommends:

AVG or Avast

http://www.anti-virus-professional.com/avg.html

http://www.anti-virus-professional.com/avast.html

Adaware

http://www.anti-virus-professional.com/avast.html

(make sure you get the Lavasoft site)

And Spybot Search and Destroy

http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html

If you want to uninstall Norton - you can get the Uninstall tool from the Symantec site here:

http://service1.symantec.com/Support...05033108162039

That link works - I have used it myself.

Re: Anti virus software
 

Totally agree that Avast works well, I have tried many over the years including Norton, which personally I found to be dire! Avast seems to be the best so running along side Windows Defender and I also run Ad aware and Spyware Terminator from time to time to just to be extra sure. Good luck!

Re: Anti virus software
 

thanks for replies......

Re: Anti virus software
 

Completely agree with Bob - that's the combo I use and would recommend above any other (and PC servicing/repair is my job.) I also regularly use MalwareBytes as it is by far the best anti-malware software (in my opinion) and is also free.

In addition, though, I would strongly advise installing McAfee Site Advisor. It's free (see the pattern here, LOL!) and will warn you if you try to directly visit a site containing active threats and unsafe downloads. When you use a search engine, it will warn you if any of the search results are actually directing you to malicious sites, before you click through.

(AVG free has the same functionality built in, but it's pretty rubbish at it and seems to miss more unsafe sites than Site Advisor.)

We get an awful lot of machines that have Norton on and that are heavily virus infected. First thing we do with them is uninstall Norton and install Avast and MalwareBytes, which seem to reliably remove what Norton misses. Occassionally we'll have to use more "low level" solutions for specific persistent infections (e.g. Combofix, etc) but generally Avast and Malwarebytes will do the trick. As a final sweep, the Kaspersky online virus scan is great. It will identify threats but leaves you to remove them manually.

In fact, if you're set on not using Avast any more (even though it's great, LOL!) and you want to pay for protection, I'd recommend either Kaspersky or ESET/NOD32.