Avast is un-installable rubbish--any good anti-virus programs?

[Eve]

Gosh what an awful computer night I had--first trying to work remotely; we have two remote-access programs at my office, and neither of them was working, so Patricia Medina's obit went unsent to the media.

But I have a different aggravation to ask about. I have Avast anti-virus, and it's always been pretty good. But it is expiring, and I cannot reinstall it! I paid for it, downloaded the little desk icon, and it keeps asking me to "insert license file," which they are supposed to have e-mailed me but never did. Avast has no support: no telephone number to call, just an e-mail address (my two e-mails have gone unanswered), or "ask on Twitter or Facebook!" Fuck that noise.

So some guy on my commuter train told me Microsoft has a good anti-virus program, easy to install (I have a p.c., not a Mac). Are they any good, and installable by dim-witted little old ladies like myself?

[CookingWithGas]

Microsoft's Security Essentials is very good, free, and unobtrusive (no annoying "Buy the full version!" messages, advertising, or promotional messages inserted into your emails). It performs at least as well as any other free security app. Here are some reviews.

[Eve]

Originally Posted by CookingWithGas

Microsoft's Security Essentials is very good, free, and unobtrusive (no annoying "Buy the full version!" messages, advertising, or promotional messages inserted into your emails). It performs at least as well as any other free security app. Here are some reviews.

Thanks--that's what my commuter friend told me, but I wanted to hear it from you guys, too. I guess I go into my "start" system and uninstall any crap that's already there first, and hope the evil viruses don't attack me in that five-minute window?

Also gotta tell my credit-card company not to pay Avast. Bastards.

[don't ask]

Should be keelhauled or at least made to walk the plank.

[kanicbird]

Another vote for MS's program.

Also I would recommend the free Avast over the paid one, a bit less intrusive and less of a resource hog.

[Tom Tildrum]

I can second the vote for MSE. I installed it when I was fighting an infestation, and it found things other programs did not. It runs unobtrusively now that my system is clean.

[Eve]

Thanks! Will try to install it tonight.

And doubtless come bleating to you with more of my computer incompetence post-haste . . .

[BwanaBob]

Been running MSE for a couple of years now. No regrets and have saved lots of money on my former McAfee license habit.

[Czarcasm]

If you have CCleaner, run it, then run it's registry cleaner, then install Microsoft Security Essentials.

[Eve]

Originally Posted by Czarcasm

If you have CCleaner, run it, then run it's registry cleaner, then install Microsoft Security Essentials.

No clue what CCleaner is--can I download it? Is it free?

[Czarcasm]

Originally Posted by Eve

No clue what CCleaner is--can I download it? Is it free?

You can get it free here. It'll clean all the random crap out of your computer, and the registry cleaner will take out bits left behind after programs are uninstalled. It might even make your computer run a wee bit faster.

[Sister Vigilante]

I use AVG but CCleaner was the only thing that cleaned my computer of viruses when it got hit pretty hard.

[Eve]

Originally Posted by Czarcasm

You can get it free here. It'll clean all the random crap out of your computer, and the registry cleaner will take out bits left behind after programs are uninstalled. It might even make your computer run a wee bit faster.

Thanks!

[t-bonham@scc.net]

Originally Posted by Eve

I guess I go into my "start" system and uninstall any crap that's already there first, and hope the evil viruses don't attack me in that five-minute window?

Use Revo Uninstaller to do that uninstalling. It's more effective, gets more of the leftovers, than you can do by manually uninstalling things. And it's a free download. (Don't buy their paid version. It's not worth it for an average computer user. In fact, don't pay for any security/anti-virus/protection software -- the free ones are just as good for the average users.)

And about that five-minute window: download the stuff you want and save the files (don't install). Then disconnect from the Internet entirely -- physically unplug from your modem/router/whatever -- and install those downloaded files. Only when you have your security programs installed & working should you re-connect to the Internet.

(During installing them, you may get warnings like 'unable to check for latest version' or 'unable to connect to server', etc. -- ignore them for now, and complete the installation. Once your system is protected & connected back to the Internet, you can update them. Some will do it automatically, others you will have to find a 'check for update' function & manually start that.)

[Eve]

Gosh! I am going to do all this over the weekend when I am rested and have time. I am so frazzled and tired at night after work it would end in tears.

Thanks for all the tips!

[Khadaji]

Another vote for MSE. I dropped Avast! after having too many issues with it.

[Animastryfe]

It seems that these recommendations are only for Windows. As it seems that the OP's question has been answered, what good anti-virus programs are there for macs?

[SkipMagic]

For Mac OS X: ClamXav.

[dnooman]

There are some great (and FREE) antivirus programs out there, but the notion that having just one (any one) is enough, is utter crap. Malware removal was almost exclusively what I did for a couple years.

I used to like Avast, until it became too annoying with upgrade requests. I have it on my Droid, but it never asks for shit. People used to tout AVG Free as a great anti-malware, but they also got really annoying for the free users. I have only once paid for an anti-vir software. That was when I saw a lifetime license for "Super Anti-spyware" for $20, Yes that is a legit program, and effective too.

That program runs nightly, and I keep up to date on Spybot immunization updates. I run Glary utilities once a week or so, and Win ASO reg optimizer too.

Malwarebytes is mainly there for a just in case. It's VERY rare for it to find something that other software didn't already. Combofix is there in case of a really big root kit emergency, as is GMER.

Norton, Trend Micro, and McAfee may have some clout, but I've seen every stinkin' one of them miss something HUGE, which to me = FAIL.

CCleaner and Auslogics defrag are always on my PC cleanup list too, unless you have an SSD, in which case no defragging allowed.

[shiftless]

My AVG subscription ran out yesterday. I had gotten rid of Norton a year ago because it was sucking so much CPU and IO that even the simplest task were stalling. AVG was supposed to be better and seemed to be, for a while, but sometimes my PC would stall for a few seconds. I suspected one of the dozen or so AVG processes that were running at all times but could not be sure. They sure did use a lot a IO, far more than all other work I did combined.

So I uninstalled AVG and installed Microsoft Security last night. Very, very simple and it seems to be much less intrusive. Everything runs noticable faster, better than when I doubled my RAM. Its only been one day of course.

Looking at my AVG history, in a year it never found anything of any kind that it identified as a problem. So $60 (I think it was), hours of scanning and a year of headaches is what I got from AVG. The antivirus software WAS the virus.

[md2000]

I'll suggest AVG free also. The trick is to navigate through the web pages that try to trick you into downloading a trial version of the paid AVG instead. Eventually you will get to the free version.

If you are hit by a virus, Malwarebytes and Trend Micro Housecall are also two good free virus cleaners that can do a full scan of your PC. If the virus won't let you go to those web sites, you may have to download the "loader" on someone else's PC and then run it from yours.

[GuanoLad]

Every few years, almost like clockwork, the popular Virus Checker software of the moment goes one or two steps too far and becomes unacceptably awful in some way or other.

I would happily pay for one that does its job properly, silently, and efficiently, but it seems that is not possible. Every software manufacturer seems to want to bugger it up somehow by adding unnecessary features and obfuscating interface crap.

[DrDeth]

Kaspersky is the best, but it's not cheap. It has suites that also handle spyware adware and malware, and even spam.

[Eve]

Originally Posted by shiftless

So I uninstalled AVG and installed Microsoft Security last night. Very, very simple and it seems to be much less intrusive. Everything runs noticable faster, better than when I doubled my RAM. Its only been one day of course.

Woo-hoo! I am totally going to do that this weekend.

[Deegeea]

Can't believe no one mentioned this, but if you've received no emails from Avast, it might be somehow the address they're sending it from got into your spam blocker settings. Have you checked your junk, gray, etc email, and settings to make sure? Also try emailing them again and say you haven't received any of their replies and are going to cancel their payment in your credit card if you don't hear from them by (give a date, maybe 2 business days later) and your phone number.

[dnooman]

Originally Posted by DrDeth

Kaspersky is the best, but it's not cheap. It has suites that also handle spyware adware and malware, and even spam.

Agreed, except it goes on sale on Newegg about once a month. It's a 3 license package that ends up being free if you're good with mail in rebates. Otherwise I think it's like $40.

[Alley Dweller]

Originally Posted by dnooman

Agreed, except it goes on sale on Newegg about once a month. It's a 3 license package that ends up being free if you're good with mail in rebates. Otherwise I think it's like $40.

The single PC version is available right now (5/4/12 through 5/10/12 or while supplies last) at Fry's Free After Rebate with free shipping. Sales tax may apply.

Every major anti-virus is available somewhere Free After Rebate all the time.

[Eve]

Originally Posted by Deegeea

Can't believe no one mentioned this, but if you've received no emails from Avast, it might be somehow the address they're sending it from got into your spam blocker settings. Have you checked your junk, gray, etc email, and settings to make sure? Also try emailing them again and say you haven't received any of their replies and are going to cancel their payment in your credit card if you don't hear from them by (give a date, maybe 2 business days later) and your phone number.

Yep, and after a week I got a totally useless reply from them directing me to their terrible "help" site and ignoring my complaint that they never sent me a license file. They need to get food poisoning, as far as I'm concerned.

[Vinyl Turnip]

Originally Posted by Animastryfe

It seems that these recommendations are only for Windows. As it seems that the OP's question has been answered, what good anti-virus programs are there for macs?

If we say "I don't know of any" are you going to say "yeah, you know why? Because Macs don't need them," and start prancing around like a peacock?

[FoieGrasIsEvil]

I don't get the hate for Avast (or why on Earth you would actually pay for an anti-virus program!). I've been using the free version in conjunction with Mawarebytes (also free) for over three years and I have zero complaints about it. Its not resource heavy, updates itself automatically and unobtrusively, and only prompts me to upgrade to their paid version once a year when I have to renew my license for the free version.

I think its great software.

[Headrush042]

I think for most typical users, Microsoft Security Essentials is perfectly fine (and it's free!). It usually rates pretty high with virus testers, it's pretty unobtrusive, and doesn't require a lot of resources.

Right now I'm using Norton Internet Security 2012 -- they had a bad reputation for being really resource-hungry and slowing down systems, but this current iteration is fantastic. It's small and lightweight, and it scans your computer in the background using your CPU's idle cycles, so it never draws resources from what you're doing. I got a 1-year 3-computer license free with rebate when I built this current system. It also ranks pretty high with virus testers.

I used to use AVG, but it seems it's gone the opposite of Norton -- it went from lightweight and fast to being resource-hungry and bloated, though I wouldn't really have noticed if I hadn't installed it on my weak little netbook.

[CookingWithGas]

Originally Posted by md2000

I'll suggest AVG free also.

It might work fine but I didn't like the fact that it put a message in every outgoing email I sent. It was on its surface a notice that no viruses were found in this email but was basically a one-line ad.

[t-bonham@scc.net]

Originally Posted by GuanoLad

Every few years, almost like clockwork, the popular Virus Checker software of the moment goes one or two steps too far and becomes unacceptably awful in some way or other.

I would happily pay for one that does its job properly, silently, and efficiently, but it seems that is not possible. Every software manufacturer seems to want to bugger it up somehow by adding unnecessary features and obfuscating interface crap.

True. It seems to be about a 3-4 year cycle.

Right now Microsoft & Norton seem to be on the 'good' part of the cycle, while Avast & AVG are heading into the 'bad' part.

[JustinC]

I would like to eleventieth Microsoft's Essentials security which, along with regular cleaning with CCleaner seems to be sufficient for my daily exposure to the nasty interwebs.

[Lubricious Integument]

Originally Posted by Eve

Gosh what an awful computer night I had--first trying to work remotely; we have two remote-access programs at my office, and neither of them was working, so Patricia Medina's obit went unsent to the media.

But I have a different aggravation to ask about. I have Avast anti-virus, and it's always been pretty good. But it is expiring, and I cannot reinstall it! I paid for it, downloaded the little desk icon, and it keeps asking me to "insert license file," which they are supposed to have e-mailed me but never did. Avast has no support: no telephone number to call, just an e-mail address (my two e-mails have gone unanswered), or "ask on Twitter or Facebook!" Fuck that noise.

So some guy on my commuter train told me Microsoft has a good anti-virus program, easy to install (I have a p.c., not a Mac). Are they any good, and installable by dim-witted little old ladies like myself?

That seems strange to me. I've been using avast on all my computers for years and all I get is an annual request to re-register. Updates are automatic. Are you using the free avast or a paid version?

[Eve]

OK, done and done! Uninstalled Avast, ran CCleaner, installed Microsoft's anti-virus. Thanks for the tips, all!