# Anti-virus software requested **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132 "2012-02-07T22:50:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christopher_Robin_Davies)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/1 "2012-02-07T22:50:00Z")
Hello, here is my situation. I am currently running AVG Anti-Virus on my personal laptop which is an HP. Anyway in the last few months I have been getting more and more annoyed with AVG for several reasons. In about a month the license expires so I am thinking of changing to something new and I would appreciate any recommendations. The basic problems I am having with AVG is that it is too intrusive. It is always giving me warnings that a browser is using too much memory and saying that I should close it but that to me makes no sense because the browers never act unstable at these times. Anyway that and other pointless messages the AVG gives me are very annoying. Can anybody give me feedback on other programs? Thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/2 "2012-02-07T23:00:21Z")
Microsoft Security Essentials is unobtrusive. And it’s free. I’ve been happy with it over the past few years. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/3 "2012-02-07T23:06:45Z")
Avast! gets good press here. But have you read through [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=538187](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=538187) ? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/4 "2012-02-07T23:08:42Z")
> [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](#): > > The basic problems I am having with AVG is that it is too intrusive. It is always giving me warnings that a browser is using too much memory and saying that I should close it but that to me makes no sense because the browers never act unstable at these times. Anyway that and other pointless messages the AVG gives me are very annoying. We use AVG Free; I’ve only seen the “browser using too much memory” and “AVG has protected you from these threats” messages. The former about once every two days and the latter about once a week. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/5 "2012-02-07T23:09:12Z")
Here’s one: > [@](#): > > 10 Don’t visit porn sites > 20 GOTO 10 😉 ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/6 "2012-02-07T23:56:09Z")
> [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](#): > > Hello, here is my situation. I am currently running AVG Anti-Virus on my personal laptop which is an HP. Anyway in the last few months I have been getting more and more annoyed with AVG for several reasons. In about a month the license expires so I am thinking of changing to something new and I would appreciate any recommendations. > > The basic problems I am having with AVG is that it is too intrusive. It is always giving me warnings that a browser is using too much memory and saying that I should close it but that to me makes no sense because the browers never act unstable at these times. Anyway that and other pointless messages the AVG gives me are very annoying. > > Can anybody give me feedback on other programs? Thank you very much. I find AVG Free to be pretty good. It gets [pretty high ratings](http://www.av-test.org/en/tests/test-reports/novdec-2011/) on virus protection. (It’s been a while since I’ve looked at it, but I believe it was/is the top performer among all the free versions.) But MSE, Avast, and Avira are also pretty decent. Though, if you don’t mind paying, go for Kapersky. But if you want to get rid of that message about your browser using too much memory, go into AVG and under the \*“Tools” \*menu select \*“Advanced Settings,” _then uncheck_ “Display AVG Advisor performance notifications.” \*Yeah, that browser memory alert goes off at a certain threshold, even if your system is running fine and still has plenty of free memory left. I kind of like it though, that way I take that alert as a cue to go ahead and close any unnecessary tabs before there \*are \*any problems, and before I become inundated with so many tabs that it’s a pain to have to go through them all. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/7 "2012-02-08T03:05:42Z")
Microsoft Security Essentials. Good, and completely quiet. Only pops up when it detects a threat, not when it’s advertising its paid version. Never going back to AVG or Avast just for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/8 "2012-02-08T03:12:09Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Here’s one: > > 😉 Sorry, but you are wrong.:rolleyes: You can get malware from ads on even safe sites- Snopes had a problem for a while and there’s been several reports even from here. I suggest Kaspersky. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/9 "2012-02-08T03:13:33Z")
Avast! Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/10 "2012-02-08T03:25:27Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Avast! > > Works for me. 1. _What_ works for you? 2. Why the pirate imitation? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/11 "2012-02-08T03:26:52Z")
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr gh.😃 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/12 "2012-02-08T03:42:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sorry, but you are wrong.:rolleyes: You can get malware from ads on even safe sites- Snopes had a problem for a while and there’s been several reports even from here. > > I suggest Kaspersky. [Joke](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/joke) > [@](#): > > noun > > 1. something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement, as a witticism, a short and amusing anecdote, or a prankish act: He tells very funny jokes. She played a joke on him. > > 2.\*\* something that is amusing or ridiculous, especially because of being ludicrously inadequate or a sham\*\*; a thing, situation, or person laughed at rather than taken seriously; farce: Their pretense of generosity is a joke. An officer with no ability to command is a joke. > > 1. a matter that need not be taken very seriously; trifling matter: The loss was no joke. > > 2. something that does not present the expected challenge; something very easy: The test was a joke for the whole class. > > 3. practical joke. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Niply\_Elder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@The\_Niply\_Elder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Niply_Elder)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/13 "2012-02-08T04:11:06Z")
Have you considered just dumping windows? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/14 "2012-02-08T05:04:56Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > [Joke](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/joke) Well, the emoticon was a clue.😛 BUT- really too many idiots around here say that, in all seriousness. ---
**Author:** ![Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christopher_Robin_Davies)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/15 "2012-02-08T15:50:48Z")
> [@The\_Niply\_Elder](#): > > Have you considered just dumping windows? This advice seems extremely foolish to me. If I had the skills to use Linux I would not be asking for advice like this. Perhaps I could move to the Mac OS but that would require that I learn how to use it and I do not have the time or inclination. ---
**Author:** ![Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Christopher_Robin_Davies)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/16 "2012-02-08T15:51:55Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > I find AVG Free to be pretty good. It gets [pretty high ratings](http://www.av-test.org/en/tests/test-reports/novdec-2011/) on virus protection. (It’s been a while since I’ve looked at it, but I believe it was/is the top performer among all the free versions.) But MSE, Avast, and Avira are also pretty decent. Though, if you don’t mind paying, go for Kapersky. > > But if you want to get rid of that message about your browser using too much memory, go into AVG and under the \*“Tools” \*menu select \*“Advanced Settings,” _then uncheck_ “Display AVG Advisor performance notifications.” > > \*Yeah, that browser memory alert goes off at a certain threshold, even if your system is running fine and still has plenty of free memory left. I kind of like it though, that way I take that alert as a cue to go ahead and close any unnecessary tabs before there \*are \*any problems, and before I become inundated with so many tabs that it’s a pain to have to go through them all. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/17 "2012-02-08T16:55:04Z")
I used to use AVG but dropped it when it started getting too bloated and intrusive. I have both Avast and Microsoft Security Essentials. So far, they have both performed well and I personally don’t see any reason to recommend one over the other. Avast by default is extremely annoying, and has these loud obnoxious pop-ups to inform you of things you really don’t care about, like the fact that it updated its virus database. If you use Avast, I recommend going into the setup and checking “silent gaming mode” (or whatever it’s called - something along those lines). Once you do this, Avast is no longer annoying and works fine (IMHO). ---
**Author:** ![cards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cards)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-software-requested/612132/18 "2012-02-08T17:33:22Z")
I find ESET to be pretty good, It is not free. > **[US](https://www.eset.com/us/)** > > ESET® protects more than 110 million users worldwide. Trusted by businesses & individuals across the globe. Give ESET® a try today!