What type of anti-virus software do you guys recommend? I've been running AVG free and it just recently automatically upgraded from the 8.5 to the 9.0 version but I keep getting a pop up window stating to restart the PC for update completion, every time I do a restart any type of online activity is almost useless due to pages either not loading or loading extremely slow. I've uninstalled and reinstalled after the restart, checked all of the setting and the PC is working back to normal but the pop up window keeps showing up.

Maybe I ought to look at something else, either free or pay?

I used AVG and Avast in the past exclusively. If your using our machine as a HTPC or running windows 7, I would suggest trying the new "FREE" Microsoft Anti-virus. I plays nicer with all your windows network and firewall options and there are some other benfits for HTPC use, which I forget at the moment.

Jeff I'm not using the PC for HTPC, running windows XP with Mozilla Firefox. Did you run the free AVG?

I did a lot of reading a year ago, and AV from most of the bigger players is pretty good. Norton has really cleaned up and unbloated their AV. Caspersky (sp??) also has a very good reputation.

I'm currently using the AV my ISP supplies and am quite impressed by the reporting and config options they give.

Yep, the free AVG and the free Avast. But all machines are using the microsoft anti-virus now. small footprint unobtrusive. My HTPC isn't used for surfing or downloading, only updating "known" software already in use. My notebook is my net machine, but is mostly known sites, and web based email. No probloms yet. On my WHS, not running any anti virus, but their is nothing on it, that hasn't already gone thru the other machines.

Thanks guys ... I'll look around.

I use Ralph Kramden's sidekick.

I used that for years Adrian but switched to the free AVG upon Wid's suggestion ... I often felt Ralph's sidekick wasn't doing his job at times so I fired him.

Ralph's sidekick has gained way too much weight over the last decade.

I use AVG

I use AVG free edition. Overall pleased but it seems like it can be a memory hog. Can anyone confirm this?

on my 2GB memory vista laptop, when Idle AVG only takes about 300K of memory, when running a scan the 3 processes running only takes about 10,000K so really not touching the total memory

I'm planning on using Forefront, or whatever Microsoft's consumer (free) version of that is, as soon as I get my computer back together.

I use Bitdefender. It gets excellent reviews.

I was using Zone Alarm, but I grew tired of answering tons of questions everytime I did anything. Now, concerning firewalls, a network person where I work said your pc doesn't even need a firewall as long as you are also using a router. I have mine running this way currently for now although I'm not too comfortable with it yet.

Oh good lord, that network person should be fired. Fast. And a security audit needs to be performed on your network.

Routers as a base device provide at best NAT. That's it. Any competent hacker can get through NAT. It's security through obscurity.

Now, me, I find Windows Firewall with Advanced Security (read, the Windows Firewall included in Vista and 7) to be enough, but I'm also not doing anything critical on my home Windows machine.

LoL. I don't thing we've ever had a "good" network person. He's much better that the one he replaced though, but he's hard to communicate with. It's like he thinks he's smarter than everyone else.

I checked my settings and I do have both Windows Defender and Firewall activate. I'm not sure I know what you mean by "with Advanced Security" though. All I see is it's either on or off with many options to turn on or off.

Edit: I guess by "read: Vista or 7" you mean that if you have at least Vista, it's the advanced version.

Edit2: Looks like we both responded at the same time.

If you've got Win 7 or Vista, you've got Advanced Security.

Another AVG user here.

Rick, I've had the same problems with pages not loading with the 9.0 version of AVG. I ended up uninstalling it and tried the PC with out it and my PC ran super fast.

I ended up not reinstalling AVG and went with Avira Anti-virus. It too is free for personal use and the PC is running great again.

I've been using Avira Free for a while on all my machines. It's very unobtrusive and uses very little resources. I'm also a diehard fan of Zone Alarm. Once you get your programs set up, it's not too annoying.

I wear a condom when I'm on the computer.

Rick, does that help?

When you're on the computer, or when you're ON the computer? I would imagine it would protect the computer in the second case, but I now have to go wash my brain out with borax.

I'm using Microsoft Security Essentials now, but historically I haven't even used an anti-virus program. I've only gotten viruses a couple of times over the years, and I was thankfully able to get rid of the viruses by temporarily installing an anti-virus program then uninstalling it immediately afterward. Well, one of the viruses required finding the right program that could deal with the specific virus, but that was the only hiccup. I guess that's the problem with trying to choose one anti-virus program. If you encounter a virus it can't deal with yet, you need to install another program, anyway.

Very true. FYI, everyone, the best tool I've seen for dealing with the fake antivirus type viruses (if you have a program that says you need to enter your credit card to get rid of a virus, uh, use your brain...) is Malwarebytes. It doesn't do much else that I know of, but it takes out those bastards like nothing else.

AVG user here on our Windows XP, Vista64 and Windows 7 machines. Overall very happy with it after using it for a couple of years. I've heard other liking Avast too.

I will have to check out Malwarebytes though. My oldest daughter (heck, my mother for that matter too) seems to like finding the sites that put spyware/malware on to the computer.

I haven't ever tried the paid version with active protection; we use it as a single run utility.

The smart IT guy at work, not the ones in control also recommends Malware, and found a very nasty bug and did a "bugs be gone" with it on my work machine. I have a copy at home now.

I use Bitdefender as well, no complaints

Mel

ESET. small footprint. fast. works for me.

I've had great luck booting to safe mode and using the portable version of Super Anti Spyware to clear insidious malware off of infected computers. Just did it last week for a non-profit my wife volunteers for.

ESET is a great piece of software. I used it with XP for years. For the last 6 months or so, I've been using the protection built into Win7 and it's been good so far.

My dad got one of those fake anti virus program viruses... Tried several programs to get rid of it and malwarebytes was the only one that worked out of the several tried...

Rick, partly because of my own research and partly on the recommendation of an acquaintance who runs a computer repair shop, I use Avast in its new 5.0 version for basic real-time protection. Then, for something that might sneak through, I have Malwarebytes which has already been mentioned, which only would be turned on for a supplemental scan. In both cases the free version is fine.

I want to know if Mark has given his computer a virus from forgetting to put the condom on after a couple drinks .

I'm going to download the free version of Malwarebytes tonight. In time I might also try Avast.

Does anyone run Windows Defender these days or is it pretty crappy compared to other programs?

I would run it, but McAfee HIPs interferes with it. I'll be running it on my home/gaming computer once I get my video card.