What is the best anti-virus/anti-spyware security package for my computer?

Question

I would like something that doesn't slow my computer down too much and that is easy to use.

Answer 1

No single anti virus program is perfect. A friend's PC was hacked several months ago and several viruses left on his PC. We ran three different scan programs on it and each found different viruses! I use an installed programmed and regularly run a free online scan as a back-up

Free online scans:-
Trend Micro Housecall: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ (this was actually the best but it takes a long time and does slow the PC)
Bit Defender http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html (faster but less comprehensive)

As for an installed program:-
*AVG is good
*PC-Cillin is good (this is the installed version of the Trend Micro online scanner)
*Symantec (Norton Anti Virus) is fairly good but slows the PC a bit and some PCs I have used started doing strange things with Norton (like crashing!)
*McAfee is fairly good but several viruses got by McAfee on my friend's PC. The worst part of McAfee is that their customer service is AWFUL - renewing your annual definitions or asking a question is appalling - their staff are totally indifferent to your problems as long as you have paid them your cash!

Answer 2

avg is easy to use as it will run automatically each day and only annoy you if it finds a problem.

Spyware is a little more complicated in that I have found no one package which catches everything however two together can be very effective and I recommend Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware.

As for not slowing your computer down well I am afraid this is going to happen. I have a very fast computer and mine slows. It is the nature of the software that it will use what resources the computer has available to allow the task to complete as quickly as possible. Best thing to do is schedule anti-virus to run when you are not using the computer ie when you are at work, gone shopping, etc.

Answer 3

I've always set up my computers with 3 programs:
1. Anti-virus AVG free - as long as it's at home.
2. Spybot for spyware control + Spyware Blaster
3. Zonealarm for firewall etc

Then for anti-spam, if your ISP's isn't very good for you, try Mailwasher.

These all run very happily together.

I also occasionally use NoAdware.

Some other programs I love are Crazybrowser instead of Internet Explorer and Roboform for all those passwords.

Other than Roboform, you only ned to pay for Spybot by a on-eoff donation of your choosing as the others are free - with some limitations.

They can all be found by searching.

Answer 4

I use Norton Internet Security which up to now has kept all virus outbreaks at bay. Also easy to use once loaded onto P.C.
For Spy-ware try Ad-Aware SE personal, this is free for home use and is very easy to use.
But any package you buy or download will only be as good as your last update. As new virus / spy-ware programs crop up all the time. YOU MUST UPDATE WEEKLY.

Answer 5

Norton anti-virus is very good. Mine is provided by BT and I have not noticed any slowing down. I have been advised by some one that fixes computers for a living that Panda is very good. This can be downloaded from www.pandasoftware.com It appears it will allow you to use it on up to three PC's.

Answer 6

I lean toward Kaspersky too, at least for anti-virus...good as Symantec is, it will slow your computer down (at least during a scan)...also Zone Alarm's suite is pretty good, and includes their excellent firewall as well. Bit Defender is a great (and fast) antivirus program...you can have more than one antispy program running, and I do recommend the Ad-Aware/Spybot combination (make sure you use the advanced mode in Spybot and set up Tea Timer...that's the resident program)

Answer 7

I used norton,Avg,mcafee,zone alarm,pc cillin,kaspersky in 4 years and now I have kaspersky internet security 2006 cuz it doesn't slow down ur PC and the 1st in updates and rank 2 in antivirus reviews.but if u don't need a professional program I reccomend u AVG cuz it is free and good.for the best protection use kaspersky.norton and mcafee are huge names and nice but slows down ur system.good luck

Answer 8

I use mcafe antivirus 2006 it comes with sparmkiller, virus scan, antispyware, internet security, privacy service etc, it's very good and the subcription is for two years unlike norton that expires within a year!
http://securitytipsforall.blogspot.com
http://internetbusinessthatpays.blogspot.com

Answer 9

I asked the same question yesterday and got fab answers, I found that download.com is great I was advised to download an 'ad-ware removal + an antispyware but you should also go to www.eusing.com this has a free registery cleaner programme which fixes problems that we dont normally do http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareb...
spyware blaster stops any more unwanted programmes http://www.download.com
I did these yesterday and my computer is fast and clean

Answer 10

hi, perhaps you can try Norton to remove the virus. but you need to pay for the software.

i recommand you to use firefox with Google toolbar. firefox can disable all virus to run, because the virus can only run on IE.

besides, firefox can block any any poppus and disable any virus and adware, spyware on webpage, so, firefox is much safer than IE. as you know, most of the virus is spread throught internet and webpage.

firefox is much smaller than IE, so i run faster than IE.

download firefox for free:

http://www.bernanke.cn/firefox/

Best Wishes && Good Luck!