Looking to get a new virus scanner. Suggestions?

kamyk on 11/1/2010 at 06:05

I've been (semi) happily using Panda for years now, paying half on the license with my sister. Last due date, my sister decided she was tired of Panda, and got something else. To be frank I was sick of Panda myself. I can't count how many times my computer was tied down by pavsrvr51.exe or whatever it is called doing seemingly random scans whenever it felt like it, and tying up 100% cpu till it finished, with no ability to lower priority or end task.

Anyways, so I am looking for a new virus scanner now. Preferably one that only runs when you tell it to. Browsing protection is good and preferred, but running an .exe scan every time I play Thief, run winamp, etc is not. I'd prefer something that has a right click menu option for scanning files, and never runs a local scan otherwise unless explicitly told to (like a system, directory, or memory scan).

Something that asks 20 billion times a day whether or not to block something is also not preferred. Really I was fairly happy with Panda except for its damn on .exe scans. Something with similar unobtrusiveness would be nice.

So far the only suggestion I've gotten is something called AVG, and I've not looked into it yet. I thought I'd ask for opinions here first. Free would be fantastic, but I am willing to subscribe to a service if it wows me.

Renzatic on 11/1/2010 at 06:19

AVG is good software, but a little fat and bloated nowadays from what I hear. The one I'd recommend first and foremost above all others is Avast Antivirus (mainly because it's the only one I've used). It's quick, easy on the resources, and does it's job quite well. It's also (as far as I'm aware anyway) the only AV suite that does a preboot drive scan.

I've also heard great things about Avira Antivir, and MS Security Essentials. Any of these three should do you quite nicely. Read up on 'em and see which you prefer.

theBlackman on 12/1/2010 at 02:02

I use Threat Fire, AVIRA, and Malware bytes. All have free versions and you can just stop the autostart in your Startup (MSCONFIG).

(http://www.threatfire.com/stats/)
(http://www.free-av.com/)
(www.malwarebytes.org)
(www.superantispyware.com)
(www.lavasoft.com)

Threatfire and AVIRA I run on Auto and use the Malware manually a couple of times a month.

I also have ADAWARE and SUPER ANTI SPYWARE that I manually fire up once a week.

Never was happy with Pennicilin and other Panda offerings.

Ladron De La Noche on 12/1/2010 at 06:08

Check this video review of Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 (shareware), nothing gets through. (http://www.youtube.com/user/languy99#p/u/52/_CdVC9QH4L0) link Almost all of the other AV programs fail his intentional infections except the one from (http://www.kaspersky.com/compare) Kaspersky. His default anti-spyware/malware program is Malwarebytes and thats freeware. :)

Matthew on 12/1/2010 at 09:46

I've used Kaspersky for two or three years and have been satisfied with it.

Nameless Voice on 12/1/2010 at 13:45

(http://www.eset.com/) ESET NOD32 is good.
It does scan everything, including exe files when you run them, but it's fast and unobtrusive, so I usually don't even notice that it's running apart from its daily "virus definitions have been updated" notification.

bikerdude on 12/1/2010 at 20:33

Quote Posted by Matthew

I've used Kaspersky for two or three years and have been satisfied with it.

KAV is the best AV product out there in my book, it detects more virus than any other product Ive used and has a brilliant support forum. And if you buy the OEM version (in the Uk its £7 per PC) you save a bundle of cash..

lost_soul on 13/1/2010 at 21:48

Clamwin is free and only scans when you tell it to... That said, I hear that the database is somewhat limited.

My suggestion is to check with your ISP. Some of them will give you free AV software while you are a customer. This will save you some cash. My mom used to use Panda until they hit her up for another year's subscription. I then set her up with the free AV comcast was providing (MCAfee, I think).

It is in the ISP's interest to make sure that customers' machines are clean, because a broadband connection can spew out A LOT of crap if the PC connected to it is hijacked by malware. This is why they provide free solutions to customers.

Enchantermon on 14/1/2010 at 04:30

Personally, I use avast! for viruses/trojans and Malwarebytes for adware and everything else. Both free, both have kept me clean and have caught things that other scanners (such as McAfee and AVG) have missed.

thefonz on 17/1/2010 at 08:27

Microsoft Security Essentials and common sense.
:cheeky: