OT the age old anti virus question.bitdefndr?

epirb wrote on 1/3/2006, 6:45 PM
Sorry but at my wits end with the susyem hog Norton.
Has any one tried Bit Defender?
I know many of you recommened either trend micro or panda but most posts on this topic are about a year old, at least in my search.
Im looking for one that is low in using resources, obviously, but a good product as well.

any thoughts would be great !!

Comments

fldave wrote on 1/3/2006, 6:55 PM
I use Avast! Never know it's there. Free for personal use. Picks up things that Norton/McAfee never did (I keep a disk of real viruses to test).

Burned on Norton long ago. Then used McAfee for several years, due to corporate clients swearing by it. Resource usage became heavy over the years, then tried Avast. No problems, little resource usage. They never bug me with emails.

Dave
jrazz wrote on 1/3/2006, 7:04 PM
I use AVG Free on my system that I use to try out things. Great program great for resources. www.grisoft.com On my editing computer, I do not use anything as I do not have it accessing the internet. I just do my updates manually.

j razz
Opampman wrote on 1/3/2006, 7:32 PM
AVG - Got stung by a virus with Norton several years ago and loaded AVG (free) on both computers. A few days later AVG caught the same virus on my other computer and got rid of it when Norton couldn't. Plus - AVG - you never know it's there unlike the Norton Hog!
johnmeyer wrote on 1/3/2006, 11:27 PM
I have seven computers. I do not have ANY anti-virus software or firewalls on any of them, except for the Dell laptop I just purchased. I had my choice of several anti-virus programs when I ordered it. I didn't want any anti-virus, but realized I had to order something so, after some research, I ordered the program that has the least impact on performance. That program is Trend Micro's Antivirus program Trend Micro. I can't tell you whether it does a good job or not because I've never had a virus or a trojan or anything else. However, unlike Norton, which completely ruins an otherwise fast, healthy computer, the Trend Micro product seemed comparatively benign.

However, my main recommendation is to forget all anti-virus software. Use a router to prevent inbound attacks. Read up on how to configure Windows to reduce threats from "bad" web sites and email attachments. Don't visit porn sites and sites that deal in hacked software. Don't install music file sharing software (some of which contains really nasty "adware" that can provide an entry point for viruses).
JJKizak wrote on 1/4/2006, 5:46 AM
I use the Trend on one of my computers and it does not seem to affect boot-up time or speed as does Norton which I despise. You can also purchase their multi serial number software (serial number for each computer) depending on how many you have. It also checks and uploads updates scads faster than Norton.

JJK
TomG wrote on 1/4/2006, 5:50 AM
Used McAfee for a long time but got tired of the cost and drain on my system. Went with AVG a year ago and it works out very well.

TomG
craftech wrote on 1/4/2006, 6:12 AM
Norton, Panda, McCaffee, are all system hogs. The trick is to run an antivirus program as needed with no antivirus guard running. I use AntiVir which has a good success rate and is free. I do not have the Virus Guard activated (although it is not that much of a resource hog compared to the others). AVG is also in the same category although (IMO) not as good at identifying viruses. AntiVir is updated every day and sometimes more than once a day.
It is also possible to install AVG and AntiVir or any other on demand antivirus software on the same computer as long as you observe the following:
1. Only scan using one at a time.
2. Only run the updates one at a time
3. If you do activate the Virus guard, pick only ONE to run in the background, not both.
For a firewall, there is Zone Alarm although Zone Alarm Free. Version 5.5.094.000 has been the most reliable.

In Zone Alarm Free and Internet Explorer, here are my settings:

1. Zone Alarm Free. Version 5.5.094.000
2. Zone Alarm settings: Internet Zone Security - HIGH. Trusted Zone Security - HIGH. Program Security - MEDIUM (Programs Must Ask for Internet Access and Server Rights). That also includes Internet Explorer and Firefox.
3. Internet Explorer Version 6.0.2800.1106 (128-Bit Cipher Strength)
4. IE Privacy Settings/Advanced: Custom Settings: Allow first party cookies. Block Third Party Cookies
5. Homepage: Sony Forums
6. Security/Trusted Sites: ONLY WINDOWS UPDATE - NO OTHERS
7. Security/Internet and Security/Local Intranet: Settings are cripplingly low. No Active X, scripts, etc.

8. Sony forums load with absolutely no problems what so ever.

9. After EVERY session of IE I ALWAYS delete History, Cookies, Temp files. I also open up Windows/Temp and delete everything in there except ZA (which won't delete because it is running).
10. ABSOLUTELY NO BHO'S ARE ALLOWED ON MY SYSTEM EVER! HiJack This will identify and delete them for you.



For the little goodies that make what we do "fun" such as Active X and the like I use Mozilla Firefox with everything enabled. But I regularly run Hacker Target Number 1 - Internet Explorer crippled for security reasons and I don't use Hacker target Number 2 - Outlook. It is installed because Microsoft insists upon it.

John