It's that time of the year - Antivirus Renewal

[I, Zimbra]

Time to get a new antivirus/firewall package; naturally my first step on that path is to ask the Blondeites!

So, which AV and Firewall progs do people recommend for 2007?

[Bongo]

Nod32 for antivirus.

It should come with a built in firewall soon (I don't know how soon  ) too, but until then I'd grab something like the free version of Zonealarm. If you have a router it will be filtering out most of the incoming crap anyway.

[Stone]

I have had an issue with my Norton recently and have switched to AVG anti virus and firewall. It has a nice self healing antispyware feature (which brings up the infected cookies - often of inappropriate sites ).

Thats my recommendation, there is also a free antivirus download!

[Sheriff Fatman]

I switched to Kaspersky Internet Security from Norton and have been impressed with it.

Sheriff

[Longines]

I use AVG (free from http://free.grisoft.com) for anti-virus.

For a software firewall, I've been quite impressed by the McAfee Internet Security Suite that came free with my parent's Dell PC. Includes AV, spam filtering, anti-phishing, firewall and other stuff. Doesn't seem to be a resource hog like Norton.

Just checked the McAfee site (http://www.mymcafee.com/januarysale/) and it's half-price (£24.99) until January 10th.

HTH.

[kinboshi]

Have used the free version of AVG for a number of years now, and have had no problems and no infections.

I use Kerio as my firewall, and occasionally run a spyware checker (but not really needed to be honest).

The other thing I use is common sense.  If someone sends you an executable file (this can also include word or excel files that include macros), and you don't know who they are, or it's from someone but you weren't expecting it - then don't open it. 

Also, use Firefox.  It's just better than IE.

[Teditu]

Another vote for AVG antispyware and AV.

[Nem]

Nod32 for antivirus.


AVG Anti spyware and Spware Doctor

I use zone alarm free for my firewall.

An independent review team did a review of the 3 main free AV software and AVG came bottom, followed by Avast and then AntVir. The team advised that free antiviral software is useless.

[Graham C]

Not avast Nem?

AVG is stopping its free antivirus this month, but its spyware is still free.

I use Zone Alarm for firewall too.

[kinboshi]

Not avast Nem?

AVG is stopping its free antivirus this month, but its spyware is still free.

I use Zone Alarm for firewall too.

GRISOFT is announcing a new version of the AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition. This new 7.5 version with improved performance and full compatibility with the latest Windows Vista version is available. Users that are using AVG Free 7.1 will be provided with a specific dialog, within the next few weeks, with the opportunity to choose the right option fulfilling their needs. AVG Free 7.1 version will be discontinued on 15th of Jan 2007

That's what I thought to start with.  I think they do this on purpose to mislead people into getting the retail version.

[kinboshi]

An independent review team did a review of the 3 main free AV software and AVG came bottom, followed by Avast and then AntVir. The team advised that free antiviral software is useless.

Did they work for Norton, McAfee or someone similar?

[Nem]

Not avast Nem?

AVG is stopping its free antivirus this month, but its spyware is still free.

I use Zone Alarm for firewall too.

Avast is good, but NOD32 is the best by far, then it's BitDefender

[kinboshi]

Also worth people checking their firewalls on here:

https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

[Nem]

An independent review team did a review of the 3 main free AV software and AVG came bottom, followed by Avast and then AntVir. The team advised that free antiviral software is useless.

Did they work for Norton, McAfee or someone similar?

No they were completely independent. But Nortons and Mcafee are even worst than the free ones

[Sheriff Fatman]

Not avast Nem?

AVG is stopping its free antivirus this month, but its spyware is still free.

I use Zone Alarm for firewall too.

Avast is good, but NOD32 is the best by far, then it's BitDefender

I trialled BitDefender alongside Kaspersky (one on the lappie, one on the desktop).  BitDefender threw up an issue with MSN that needed me to go through their support team and their response time was appalling (over 1 week on 2 seperate occasions).

I wouldn't recommend BitDefender on this basis, as you're likely to take ages going through customer support if an issue crops up.