PCA Forums

Since I finally have DSL, I want to install a decent AV software. I currently have Norton AV 2001, but it seems like the viruses target Norton. What options do I have?

I've seen this one before, but don't know how good it is:
http://www.grisoft.com/html/us_index.ht ... 3ac777869f

I've heard of McAfee, but never used it. What do most of you guys use?

NAV2003

norton 2003 just like the RubberDuckie
Quack Quack
SAID

I use to use both but now I just use the free grisoft one. It caught a few viri Norton could not. That's when I switched for good. Updates regularly too.

Yep I installed AVG on blades advice, Its free and doesnt bog down system performance like norton did for me

I was using PC-cillin, but after my last format I installed AVG just to try it. No problems yet.

This post is in the wrong forum!! lol.. Just Ribbin' Ya Exec.. Happy B-Day.. So, I looked up this grisoft last night.. I've been using McAfee for a LONG time about 10 years. The first Virus Scanner I ever bought was Norton back in 1993 and it had a bad floppy in it, I purchased this product brand new. Well, I call Norton up to get a replacement, they tell me "We're sorry, we no longer offer replacement support for that version, you have to pay $40 to upgrade to the new version, will that be Mastercard or Visa?" I told the lady to shove it and hung up the phone. Then I went to Sam's and bought McAfee Nuts&Bolts Deluxe (came with VirusScan) for $10. I've been using it ever since with free upgrades of all the software no problems. I've been tempted by this one though.. Didn't notice, but does it have an "active" scan feature? If it does, I may switch, because McAfee has become rather code bloated.. Lots of frilly GUIs and such.. TIA eGo

NAV2003 if you want an easy to use, low maintenance AV program (just disable script blocking - it causes more problems than it solves).

AVG if you want an AV that isn't as much on virus author's radar, but that won't last long since AVG is making a name for itself. However it IS free and just as good as Norton or McAfee.

I only recommend McAfee if you're an IT tech like me and need to virus scan other people's computers easily. It's rediculously simple to copy the DOS McAfee engine files from you computer to a CD and then run them on someone else's computer from the CD WITHOUT installing McAfee. I burn a copy of the engine files every month and stick it in my kit.

The grisoft site says the free version won't install in a networked environment. Is that true?

everything i have is networked, i believe it cant scan the network, but if every box has its own copy NP.

I use eTrust. Small footprint, stays out of my way, stopped both Klez and Nimda a few months ago when my wife got me infected (she was networked to my machine). She was using McAfee on her company machine, and the latest signatures got rid of Klez, but not Nimda. Installed eTrust on her machine, all was well...

I was using PC-cillin

just curious what you thought overall of it.
slugbait that eTrust looks like a corporation type AV?? mebbe i was missing something...

I run NAV2003 and grisoft on my main rigs, nav2003 on everything else

mcafee really seems to cause a performance hit, esp. with older systems

that eTrust looks like a corporation type AV?? mebbe i was missing something...

Sorry. Here's a link for the personal version.

They used to do personal version for free, using the name InoculateIT. But about two years ago, they changed the name and started charging.

Well, thanks for all the replies. I discovered from an email that I sent to the AVG technical support that they will be charging in the near future. Here is what they said:

We will be coming out with version 7.0 late May of this year. Paid registered users of version 6.0 only are entitled to a free upgrade to version 7.0 for 2 years. The special upgrade packages will be available from the date of general availability (approximately the end of May) until December 31, 2003. After the 2nd year on version 7.0, we will be moving to a 2 year subscription model.

The reason I emailed them was to ask about the use of the free version. They said if I had a network I had to purchased the retail version for a multiuser license. Even though I have 5 pc's in the house, only 4 of them are using a router only. It's not really a true network as no machines can be seen with network neighborhood. I only have a router sharing a single DSL line. For this, they said I had to buy it. Sounds like they will be moving to a subscription model that will require an annual payment to continue to receive updates. Same thing that Norton does.

So I guess there will no none left that are free.