Best AV (free and paid)?

[Dos_Box]

We at EduGeek Towers are currently working our way through various AV solutions trying to find one that fits the bill for both our desktops and laptops. So far we have trialled a couple, but have encountered some issues regarding software compatability and other issues. So, what are you using at the moment? Personally.

I'm asking about the AV you use on your personal machines because you all have more choice and are probably better aware than most about having good protection. That and you may not be too happy with the work provided AV solution.

Before you reply, please take into account the following.

 

 

• We want 'standalone' installs. Not centrally managed
  
• Both free and paid for solutions considered
  
• Must have no OTT consumer friendly interfaces
  
• Memory and CPU useage must be minimal
  
• Please don't recommend Microsoft's Defender please as it's been slipping down the detection rankings over the past year or so
  
• If free, no nags
  

 

 

Essentially, we want AV that sits in the background and does it's job without getting in the way.

So, what are you using on your most important machines?

[featured_spectre]

Honestly, I use McAfee at home as I get it free from work. I set it on a perpetual licence, it keeps itself updated and I haven't had it annoy me with pop ups about updates or anything in a few months (unlike Kaspersky which popped up every time I turned the machine on).

 

On my home machine I use Photoshop, Illustrator, Elements and Flash (along with playing games like BF4, EU4, ETS2 etc). It has never affected the performance on any of these machines, so I am happy with it.

[witch]

I use the free version of AVG and mrwITch uses the free version of Avast and we have never had any issues with either of them. Both of us to a lot of wandering around the internet but have had few to none dodgy encounters, AV-wise.

[Norphy]

Buy a Mac! Use Linux!

 

Seriously though, I think the best virus scanner I've used on Windows is ESET NOD32. It fills all of the criteria you listed there.

 

Before we switched to FEP/SCEP, we used Kaspersky. The corporate version was OK when you turned off the ton of extra crap they insisted on bundling in it but as a virus scanner I still preferred NOD32.

[Gatt]

Hmm, normally I'd recommend SCEP 2012 - but you need to have SCCM licences for that - if not its good ol' Defender/Security Essentials

Not too keen on McAfee or Sophos as both of them recently failed to detect CryptoLocker - resulting in several hurried restore jobs on our vast shared areas here at the Uni.

Kaspersky came up ok in that test, but never used it TBH.

[Tesla]

Use avast! for the computers at home now days, used to use MSE, but that's useless now.

[difinity]

I'd also suggest not using IE.

[MkII]

I go on the recommendations of AV-Comparatives Independent Tests of Anti-Virus Software » AV-Comparatives as recommended to me by a trusted security professional.

 

I'm currently on Avast as I've found it great for high maintenance clients over AVG as it needs less intervention in my experience.

[Arthur]

used to use MSE, but that's useless now.

Apparently not...

 

• http://askleo.com/do-i-need-to-stop-using-microsoft-security-essentials
  
• http://securitygarden.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/sensationalist-press-got-it-wrong.html
  
• http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/mse-protect_scanning/news-from-microsoft-pcpro-article-mse/23fd79c8-71f0-4957-b29e-367997348088?page=1&tm=1397427192205
  

[Oaktech]

ESET here...

 

I bought an install of it for home use, and ended up donating it to my inlaws. I've added 2 more subscriptions to the same licence for my Missus and I.

[Tesla]

Apparently not...

 

• http://askleo.com/do-i-need-to-stop-using-microsoft-security-essentials
  
• Sensationalist Press Got it WRONG! Microsoft Does Not Recommend Two Antivirus Programs! ~ Security Garden
  
• News from Microsoft (PCPRO Article - MSE) - Microsoft Community
  

 

Hmm... looks like a stand corrected, but i'm still very happy with Avast and the options if gives you, like running from boot etc

[Michael]

AVG Free 2014. It only generally nags when a newer build/version is available. Memory is cheap these days, so AV software shouldn't be slowing everything down.

 

It's not unreasonable to think a 'proper' workstation/notebook should run a 64Bit OS with 8GB+ of memory.

 

Also you could argue, be it a paid or free solution, a paid solution would be put through Edugeek's books anyway, so it's not going to cost you personally

Edited April 28, 2014 by Michael

[winng]

I use the free version of AVG and mrwITch uses the free version of Avast and we have never had any issues with either of them. Both of us to a lot of wandering around the internet but have had few to none dodgy encounters, AV-wise.

 

I agree with @witch as I've used AVG Free for years on mine and friend/family machines without any issues.

[cpjitservices]

Avast here, I've registered it that many times on as many PC's as I care to remember. People just seem to love it and it's free..

 

At the office, we use Sophos.

 

I used to use AVG when it looked like this.....

 

 

Those were the days!!

 

Could never figure out though why they (AVG) never released the Anti-Spyware thing freely ??

[Bananas]

After the whole debacle many moons ago with it being the spawn of satan I went back to trying Norton awhile back, seriously impressed with it install and uninstall routines were incredibly quick (no stupid cleanup tool needed) didn't kill the machine and just worked nicely, I used to use AVG when it was the only freebie available but went it off it a few years back when had a number of incidents of it completely trashing a few computers.

 

I use Avast mostly for freebies it does nag a bit but it seems pretty good though.

[RichCowell]

I use Norton Internet Security with a three user licence on my Work PC, Home PC, and Laptop... I've never used anything else, and wouldn't consider anything else... It's never let me down, and I've never had a virus... Had one issue with an upgrade once but they remoted in and sorted it for me...

[Dos_Box]

Thanks all so far. It's a shame that hardly anyone makes a small unobtrusive AV solution without a whizzy-whoosy interface.

I also tried Comodo (free) firewall this weekend. It lasted an hour before I removed it in utter frustration at it's constant nags and inability to accept Google Earth as a legitimate app.

Oh, and it's constant attempts to install crudware at each update.

Edited April 28, 2014 by Dos_Box

[newpersn]

kaspersky at home > Free though the bank. Not had any problems.

 

Cleaned a virus up for me a few weeks ago but not had any problems in the last few years.

[robjduk]

MSE at home and Kaspersky at work (may soon be Sophos though). Anyone who uses Norton at home or at work is not a techy. Not my opinion, just fact.

[RichCowell]

Anyone who uses Norton at home or at work is not a techy. Not my opinion, just fact.

 

I disagree! Lol... I've used it since I got my first PC back in the day and it's never let me down... I tinkered with Kaspersky for a year on my PC at work and had nothing but trouble with it so I went back to Norton...

[Sam3773]

Started using Vipre AV recently. Really simple and quite good if you use something like GFI cloud to centrally manage it.

[MordyT]

Avast personally. If in USA, and a school, you can get the top version 100% free.

 

Corporate wise we have started to use a lot of Viper. 1000 or so PCs. Fits your bill 100%

[EduTech]

To be honest, for the past few years I have always used Microsoft Security Essentials and have never had an issue with it... although I don't dig deep enough into how well it ranks in terms of other products in terms of detection etc.

 

You can called me biased! but this comment is from

 

James.

[Tall_Paul]

Another vote for ESET NOD32 here. I've been a happy user for about 11 years now.

[DanTheLacky]

For home usage always avast free.