I do wish there was a truly unbiased evaluation of these software suites...a service that put out true and unvarnished reports about the different apps available.

If anyone knows of such a site, I for one would be greatly appreciative of learning of it's existence: Who should I trust?

gmc,

I use and recommend AVAST to my customers, but if they insist on spending money on an AV i sugest kapersky, but I have had a couple of cases where kaperskey was killed by trojans/rootkits/viruses, but it did stop the internet at the same time, so I can not save it was TOTALLY useless,

and as far as the POS norton/macaffee/computer associates JUNK, my first recomendation is disconnect the cables to the modem/phone line switch the modem off, then uninstall the products,install avast, update with an update that was downloaded on a clean computer, then schedule a boottime scan of all files AND DELETE ALL infected files, which could number into the hundreds if not thousands, and after completeing the boot I then install spybot S&D  iobits advanced system care and their internet 360 and do complete sweeps with all three, and also run a hijackthis and remove any startup items that I ahave not seen before if it is not something that the customer knowes about.

sofar this method of attack usually results in a cleaner faster computer that does not have any significant hangups

harpo

I didn't see it on the list (even searched for it), but I've been using Microsoft Security Essentials, and I have zero complaints.  It's been put through a few tests and come out pretty high elsewhere, and it's free.

I presently use Norton Internet Security 2010. and i find it works spectacular, i used to use norton up until about 3 years ago, then it got too bloated and a huge resource hog, but last winter i needed a new security prog, so i did my homework, and Norton Internet Security was what i purchased, and have no regrets, they completely re did the program, now you dont even know its running in the background, where i was using Avg, Avast, and Mcafee, and norton is the best by far

I, too, have been using Microsft Security Essentials....and I love it!  It is not a system resource hog....it just sits there quietly doing its thing.  I had been using AVG these past few years...but it got increasingly more bloated, to the point that I couldn't do a thing while it was updating.

I had an argument the other day with Kaspersky.

It seemed that a definition update decided my NoCD 'crack' to GTR2 was a trojan.... and cleverly deleted it.

And the backup.

I kept dragging it back from the dead and Kaspersky kept deleting it.  Nothing would convince it that the file was 'OK'.

In the end I gave up.....perhaps the file really WAS dodgey....so I looked it up again....and got another GTR2.exe [strangely quite a bit smaller]...that Kaspersky was/is happy with.

I run all my games from the HD as full installs.... and use the No-CDs as the simple solution to the pain-in-the-bum swapping of CDs when you want to fire up a game.  When Kaspersky knobbled my GTR2 I was in a panic....that's my fave game....I've expended quite a bit of time modding it [adding mods and tracks]....and unlike GTR it doesn't have Starforce to bugger up your CDRoms....;p

Somewhat related:

The latest AVG update (free version) keeps periodically minimizing whatever current app I'm running. Rather than disable it while playing games, I just want to replace the damn thing. What's the best replacement for someone running XP? Free is a plus but not necessary.

I've been checking out Comodo ....seems promising [and free]...AV and FW.

I strongly suggest Microsoft Security Essentials.  It is compatible with XP Service Pack 2, Vista, and Windows 7...and it is free!

Here's the link to it:  http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

Fuuny - I use AVG and have it set to manual update. It takes seconds to update and does not bog down the system.

my first suggestion is avast, my second suggestion is comodo, both have 32bit and 64 bit, work on all currently available windows (xp,vista and 7), and BOTH have free versions for home/personal use

harpo

Yeah but after 60 days you have to register Avast and some of my customers get all confused about this and take Avast off the computer. AVG is a better choice.

kona I just give them a home personal registration, that is good for atleast a year, while the registration is irritating, avg has leaked viruses,trojans and rootkits(admittedly not in huge numbers, but enough that I do not recommend it in my experience) since version 8, and for those that want all in 1 type products the comodo av/fw is a adiquate choice.

harpo

Just started using Comodo instead of AVG. Good start, it managed to identify some nVidia files as threats...

Whatever. AVG has never let me down. The registration thing Avast does made many of my customers very upset.

I used to use Comodo as my firewall, not the antivirus. When I switched to Win 7 64 though there was noticable slows downs while surfing so I ditched it.

Really though, it's not that the free versions are actually bad, it's that a lot of them are not user friendly or designed for the people that call me up every once in awhile and tell me they have porn popping up on their computer and wondering if I can come over and fix it for them. There is only so much security software can do. I moderate a couple of yahoo lists, and sure enough someone through their own wicked wants or infected themselves will send a link to a trojan. Avast, AVG, Windows Essentials, I've seen them all catch them so far.

I downloaded Microsoft Security Essentials and all it wanted to do was turn on auto updates of every Windows program that has to do with security that comes with Windows 7. No Anti-Virus program mentioned or installed so I ditched it. I prefer to have Windows update turned to manual on all Windows programs or third party programs.

Tell them to stop going to porn sites, and the porn popping up will stop.

I never have had that happen. I guess because I don't 'peek' at those sites. (or related types of sites, like online dating and such)

Really. You only get nailed by those types of things by your own browsing habits. If you click a link in an e-mail, you could be infected. If you click OK to something questionable, you could be infected. And the virus SW may not block it if you click OK, or if the malware is too new for the scanner to recognize it.

It is all about 'safe computing' - which is a concept that seems beyond most users.

Safer computing:-

Microsoft Security Essentials is an all-in-one program.  It has anti-virus, anti-spyware built into it.  It has nothing to do with Windows Update.  I have my Windows Update set to notify me of important updates, but not to install them unless I say so.  I also only allow it to check for Windows files, no other programs.  It sounds like your Windows 7 Update options are the problem here...you should check those settings.

I used to use Eset Nod32 and Online Armor; both are excellent products.

Currently I am using Microsoft Security Essentials (free) and the Windows Firewall. I am testing them out because I switched to Win 7 64 bit and there were no 64 bit versions of the two above products (yet). Plus I did not want to have to purchase new software for them.

I have to say that the Microsoft Security Essentials has gotten excellent reviews and so far in my personal experience it has been working very well.

LMAO!!! That's good!!!

I've been using McAfee for almost 2 years now...no problems here. On the bright side......I get it free with my internet subscription through comcast. Doubt I would pay for it if I had to.

One of the reasons why I use Nod is because it is 64bit

http://www.eset.com/products/MSWin7/index.php

My setting are just fine. Even with Auto updates enabaled Microsoft Security Essentials wants to make sure it's turned on. Look at the second paragraph here in the SS.

"Enable automatic updating and Microsoft Update..."

Sorry. There is a reson I have it turned off. It loves to interrupt my gaming and other computer activities.