Anti Virus software

[Mike722]

Re: Anti Virus software

I have Windows One Care and yes it is being discontinued. My renewal was Sept 1 and they renewed me free for the next 6 months. 30 days before that they will let me know what the options are as a replacement.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Anti Virus software

I believe there was a industry symposium that determined that it was best to do anti virus protection at the isp level, thus most isp do so, and provide good down loads to their customers. I use Embarq as my provider and they provide an excellent virus and firewall program for free.

stay away from CA, they can be very difficult to remove and will block adding a new one if u choose to install a different one.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: Anti Virus software

I switched from the free stuff to Kaspersky 2 years ago and have not had a single problem with it. The best thing is you don't need to have several scanners as this is an all in one internet security package.It does not slow your pc down and the updates are made as soon as they are released. If you watch you can get a great deal on the package as well. I got a 3 user license for $20. for the year.

 

[Don S]

Re: Anti Virus software

After 5 hours of grief, I gave up on AVG, then had to figure out how to reinstall my Norton (uck) so I could use it some more.
Maybe it's something with XP Home edition, I don't know. But after finally deleting a program it didn't like. It still wouldn't go. Kept ending up with this about 3/4 through the install.

Not worth the hassle to try and make it work, nothing in the AVG forums (for the free people) helped.
Still have 60 days left on Norton, hopefully I get something better.

 

[Tubingluvr]

Re: Anti Virus software

I run AVG and have a personal firewall on each machine (1 Desktop and 2 laptops)
I also have a firewall on my wireless router.
My desktop is currently down, waiting on a new hard drive.
I am currently using an antique laptop which has AVG 7.5 on it and when I tried to upgrade to 8.5 I ran into the same problem trying to download.

 

[justchange]

Re: Anti Virus software

I've used AVG on both laptops. One with XP home edition and the other with Vista. The AVG seems to work a bit more with the Vista but works fine with the XP. On both I also use the Ad-aware. Works great as well.

 

[TahoeQ4Pilot]

Re: Anti Virus software

I was a long-time free AVG user, ended up moving to the free Avasat, to me it is much better.

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Anti Virus software

AVG 8.5 needs Win2000 Pro or later to work (NTFS file system) and anything earlier than that is not supported (no updates).If you log on to the Symantec website and download the program removal software for your particular product and run it according to their instructions I think that AVG will install without any problems.The only Symantic product that I use these days is Norton Utilities and I run it from a CD drive then I go into the registry to delete any reference to it that is installed there after I am finished with it.I do like the Windoctor etc.
Norton was the best in the old days but is best to avoid in my opinion.As said before,their commercial enterprise products are supposed to be first rate but the consumer products just exploit us and I cannot recommend them.Ron G

 

[v1_0]

Re: Anti Virus software

Usually this sort of thing means that things are blocked up - probably on I/O. Could be that a file is locked.

Or, there could be a 'hidden prompt' somewhere... could be that if you move the install status screen you will see a message "do you want to do something? OK/Cancel" hanging out behind the install status waiting for you to say yes or no.

I would do a major cleanup - ccleaner: disk and fix registry issues. Do a scan for malware (it could be blocking the install). Download AVG, but not install. Uninstall your old anti-virus (it could be blocking the install too, these things often are not polite to each other), and temporarily exit your firewall (could be blocking AVG from phoning home). Then install AVG from your harddrive. If it locks up, I'd move the install status screen around on the desktop (not minimize it) to see if there is a prompt or message behind it. If that's not it, and its still locked, I'd go and download some tools from sysinternals.com (redirects to a microsoft site). Specific tools to use: system information utilities - filemon, process monitor, handle, regmon. These should let you poke around to see where AVG is hung up.

Or, you could try to go and get avast.

The thing I don't like about Norton and MacAfee is that they are HOGS and seem to be more invasive (perhaps less 'polite' is a better way of phrasing it) to your PC ecosphere. You'd think that the pay-for-use programs would be slicker, faster, and 'better'...

-V

 

[dolluper]

Re: Anti Virus software

AVAST....ran both avg and avast ....avg slowed things down and missed alot of bad stuff ...AVAST always caught it so bye bye to the avg hog ....plus Avast is free and updates much quicker automayically ....avg sometimes has to be done manually

 

[v1_0]

Re: Anti Virus software

I dont use 3rd party firewall as I have my router for that...no need for apps you dont need when the hardware firewall will block all PCs traffic according to what is allowed...

Ah.. I strongly disagree. If I were to craft a 'client' piece of malware (to run on one of your PCs) that contacted a 'server' using port 80 (usually left open for HTML traffic), I think your hardware firewall would happily allow the communication. I could then download the contents of your PC. You probably also have your FTP ports open as well, so those could be used.

A software firewall would block this, or at least question "program xyz is trying to access the internet".

Your hardware firewall (probably) wouldn't do anything about stuff moving around between your "inside" computers as well.

That said, judging by your post - you practice 'safe computing' (ie: you don't go anywhere that you don't know is safe). Even that isn't 100% - if one of your trusted places gets compromised...

 

[dr_bowtie]

Re: Anti Virus software

After 5 hours of grief, I gave up on AVG, then had to figure out how to reinstall my Norton (uck) so I could use it some more.
Maybe it's something with XP Home edition, I don't know. But after finally deleting a program it didn't like. It still wouldn't go. Kept ending up with this about 3/4 through the install.

Not worth the hassle to try and make it work, nothing in the AVG forums (for the free people) helped.
Still have 60 days left on Norton, hopefully I get something better.

also make sure you have the file save in a folder in the root drive...dont save it to the desktop and run it...AVG claims this causes issue with the installation...I save it to my C: drive and run it from there...

if you still have the installation file try that or try another version...you MUST be logged on as Administrator to run it....you can try right clicking on the exe and select run as admin....

if you cant find another version let me know I have quite a few backed up still...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Anti Virus software

As far as I know, older versions of AVG are not supported. You can't get updates to the program itself or to get new virus updates.

 

[dr_bowtie]

Re: Anti Virus software

as long as it is 8.5 it will auto update...I have most of the 8.5 versions as well as some 8.0 that I have kept....

 

[beerfilter]

Re: Anti Virus software

I use AVG, works good and it is free. Nothing is perfect.

Absolutely golden words of wisdom , THANK YOU !

For the uneducated fanboi's out there , this advice extends to all OS and hardware platforms , as well .
Nothing is perfect . Forget this advice at your peril ...

I have grown pretty fond of Avira from Antivir , myself .
I also like Avast , AVG is decent , not great . Missed a few nasties in the past .

I even run it under Windows 7 , no problems so far .

I am running everything from Windows 98 to Windows 7 in this house , along with several flavors of Linux . I like Macs too , but that Mac Tax is over the top . I might buy another 1 , but , they are pricey ...

Security starts and ends with the user .
Antivirus/ antimalware programs are the LAST link in the security chain .

I gave up on Symantec years ago . 2005 was the last worthwhile version , and , even that took a lot of tweaking to get it play nice .
Ever since then , the home products have been complete garbage , IME .
Currently , Symantec's best software happens to be their removal tools for their products . I have had to use them more times than I really care to dwell on ..

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Anti Virus software

Don't know if anyone ever listens to Kim Kommando but she recommended Avira a few years back. I installed it and have never had a problem. There is a free and a pay version. I have the free, it updates once a day and you get an annoying pop-up once a day wanting you to but the other version. Other than that it works great.

 

[dr_bowtie]

Re: Anti Virus software

Ah.. I strongly disagree. If I were to craft a 'client' piece of malware (to run on one of your PCs) that contacted a 'server' using port 80 (usually left open for HTML traffic), I think your hardware firewall would happily allow the communication. I could then download the contents of your PC. You probably also have your FTP ports open as well, so those could be used.

A software firewall would block this, or at least question "program xyz is trying to access the internet".

Your hardware firewall (probably) wouldn't do anything about stuff moving around between your "inside" computers as well.

That said, judging by your post - you practice 'safe computing' (ie: you don't go anywhere that you don't know is safe). Even that isn't 100% - if one of your trusted places gets compromised...

man did I miss this...

1st...NO...most all ports are blocked and the ones I might need open are changed...no FTP and...

2nd you'd have to actually get in AND get me to run your app...that isnt happening...for 99% of everyone else YES they just click OK without actually looking...thats not me...I am the guy who gets paid to fix that crap so I know 1st hand...

thanks god for other OSs and redirectors when something may get past the router...your back outside...

 

[delfinasul]

Re: Anti Virus software

I must say i'm working in it, repairing computers,servers,etc for company clients. From my experience with clients and antivirus solutions, what you pay is what you get, so free antivirus = poor results. I think i must clarify some aspects of what antivirus does and does'nt. An antivirus solution (avg, avira, bitdefender, kaspersky, etc) will protect you from the application who act like a virus that means many malware remains undetected. For cleaning malware are application like malwarebytes,noadware,etc. Anyway none of the existent solutions offers a 100% percent protection. For maximum protection i suggest a combination of kaspersky internet security2009 and malwarebytes. This combination seems to be ok for my clients (around of 300-400 clients), previous they had avg, avira, bitdefender,panda antivirus,... A good antivirus is nod32 from esset but is below kaspersky. Also using a secure browser like firefox or mail client like thunderbird rise chance to avoid virus or malware problem. Do not use bitdefender, many of our clients have computers full of viruses and malware and bitdefender on those sistems claims to be virus free or complains cannot remove the viruses.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Anti Virus software

Don,

I too had difficulty installing AVS. So I switched from my sometimes frusrating and always expensive NORTON to AVAST about 3 months ago.

I really like AVAST. I have it on both of my computers, old one is XP Home and new one is Vista Premium 64 Bit. Avast works excellent on both....better than Norton. And it's free!

So...another vote for AVAST. In my research, I discovered it gets excellent reviews on CNET and some other places who review such things.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Anti Virus software

What JPBMW325 said.

Then just wash your hands frequently, and don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, and you will be fine.

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