I'm using AVG free version. I think it is great. No problems.

AVG (free edition) here as well. No problems.

Matt

I put Avast! free version on my client's PCs. If you're looking for free, that's a good one too. Otherwise, I use Symantec.

I have tried all three. Panda takes too much of a hit on your system, plus it won't allow you to use another companie's firewall such as Zone Alarm. In addition to that my current antivirus siftware had detected a virus in the Panda download file.
AVG doesn't slow down your system and works well with Zone Alarm, but it also doesn't detect a lot of virii.
If you want free I would suggest AntiVir. It does a reasonably good job of detecting virii, works well with Zone Alarm, and doesn't put a strain on your system. In addition to that the site has new virus signatures for download everyday and sometimes more than once a day. There are .dll file updates and program updates provided on a regular basis.

John

I'm using AVG free version too and I have no problems. I hardly know its there. I also use ZoneAlarm Pro. I'll have to look into AntiVir.

~jr

AVG, free version, here, too. I keep it up to date, and it's done a nice job spotting viruses and decent job killing them, however, on a recent aggressive attack, it could not find and kill several downloader files that were redownloading malicious code over and over after the viruses were cleaned. As for getting along with Vegas and other programs, no problems with AVG at all.

I'm so paranoid now, I wont tell anybody anything! . . I use 2 cans and a piece of taught string .. Grazie

I'm willing to pay for good antivirus. What's your recommendation for the best antivirus software that works with Zone Alarm and is Vegas friendly?Also, has anyone used Trend Micro? I've gotten a few comments about that software.

That has NOT been my experience with Panda. I use Panda on three computers - Panda Platinum on my laptop where I do my Vegas editing. It is NOT resource intensive - I leave it on when editing all the time. It DOES let you use other firewalls - I use Sygate, which is also low overhead. (Don't know about how it works with ZoneAlarm - I stopped using ZoneAlarm because after one of the upgrades it grew to be a resource pig and was buggy.)

Panda updates itself everyday, and nearly every day it catches viruses in my incoming e-mail.

I'm sure that different people have different experiences - that's why it's important to try these things out. I just know I will never use a Norton or McAfee product again...

I'm with you on Norton. While the 2003 version as ok, the 2004 version was a major hassle.

In terms of Panda, I wonder if the conflict with Norton was the Panda AV, or the Panda firewall?

I have Panda Platinum, which has firewall/antivirus and a few other features.

I have it on all the time on my DSL connected computer. No problems when working with Vegas. It is updated frequently. I haven't had a virus since I got it. It has blocked several hacker attempts-- port scands and dialers. Its system tray icon is a cute little panda.

I haven't used the other products.

"That has NOT been my experience with Panda. I use Panda on three computers - Panda Platinum on my laptop where I do my Vegas editing. It is NOT resource intensive - I leave it on when editing all the time. It DOES let you use other firewalls - I use Sygate, which is also low overhead. (Don't know about how it works with ZoneAlarm - I stopped using ZoneAlarm because after one of the upgrades it grew to be a resource pig and was buggy.)"
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You are the first one I have heard of that called ZoneAlarm a resource pig. And yes, I can see how Sygate would work as a firewall with Panda because in fact that IS what Panda uses for their own firewall.



"nearly every day it catches viruses in my incoming e-mail."

If that is the case, you are doing something wrong. How can you call your computer secure if that is happeneing every day?

John

In terms of my recommendation for a "paid" antivirus, I would recommend Eset Nod 32. It is consistently effective in the VB 100 Virus Bulletin

What's the difference between Panda Platinum and Panda Titanium? Has anyone used Titanium with Zone Alarm?

"If that is the case, you are doing something wrong. How can you call your computer secure if that is happeneing every day?"

John, I'm not sure what you're getting at... I call it secure because my tools are STOPPING the viruses dead in their tracks. I have to use my computer for other business besides video editing. I get a LOT of e-mail, both good and bad. If you send e-mail, ever put your e-mail address on some web page somewhere or otherwise expose it to the web, then you can assume that you will be sent viruses sooner or later. You can't control what people send you - but you can stop it before it is destructive. So how am I doing something wrong?

I used to use ZoneAlarm, and liked it very much. Then, as new versions came out, things started to break. I run a home network. I access virtual computers. I access my own web sites. I access secure client sites over VPN. And ZoneAlarm started breaking things, and, yes, it became a pig in some situations. I don't have time to mess with tools that don't work, so I switched to Sygate. I also switched from McAfee to Panda because McAfee was flaky, too. I have been very happy with both Sygate and Panda.

I'm not knocking your choices - just sharing my experience. And, once I get burned by some software, I usually don't go back to it, even if subsequent releases fix the issues.

IMHO, you gotta have a hardware router, a firewall, anti-virus and spyware-checking software to stay safe. And you need to keep up-to-date with security patches, too.

I, like Busterkeaton, use Panda Platinum. No problems at all. I would not go back to Symantec AV ever again! Difference between platinum and titanium is that Platinum is a little heavier duty and used in the enterprise environment, while titanium is for the average home user. Both good AV's!

dave

Some of the big name virus programs do one thing extremely well; remind you that it's time to plug in your credit card number again for a new "subscription."

That bugs me too. My subscription to Norton ran out a few days ago. It started nagging to renew about two weeks ago. They have the renew warning box with a red color scheme... the same they use to let you know it found a vrius. Trouble is Norton don't find them all. Of course nobody does, but you would think Norton would do better than it does.