# Antivirus & anti-spyware recommendations

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antivirus-anti-spyware-recommendations/362500>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 28, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antivirus-anti-spyware-recommendations/362500 "2006-06-28T15:18:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antivirus-anti-spyware-recommendations/362500/1 "2006-06-28T15:18:56Z")

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I realize that these have been much discussed, but I’d like to hear current views of the savvy and sophisticated (e.g. Dopers).

What are your recommendations for antivirus software? I’ve been using Norton, but have come to feel it’s a bit too intrusive. Anyone know about F-prot?

Ditto for anti-spyware. Anything better than SpyBot and/or AdAware?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antivirus-anti-spyware-recommendations/362500/2 "2006-06-28T16:30:58Z")

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Norton AV blows great steaming goat chunks. I’ve been using AVG free edition lately, and it’s relatively unobtrusive and very effective.

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antivirus-anti-spyware-recommendations/362500/3 "2006-06-28T16:47:09Z")

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I recommend either of the A’s - Avast or AVG.

Both are free and consume FAR less memory and processor power than Norton.

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**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antivirus-anti-spyware-recommendations/362500/4 "2006-06-28T17:01:31Z")

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In addition to anti-virus and anti-spyware software, I can’t recommend ZoneAlarm enough. (It’s a program that alerts you whenever a program is trying to do something over the Internet.) Install the free version and _don’t turn it off_. I got a rootkit once (still don’t know how) while I had my ZoneAlarm turned off for some reason and it installed about fifty other pieces of crap before I had the sense to turn ZA back on. By that point, it was hopeless – I had to wipe the drive and start over. Even then, ZA allowed me to disable the spyware to the point where I could at least go through my documents and confirm everything was already backed up.

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antivirus-anti-spyware-recommendations/362500/5 "2006-06-28T17:06:58Z")

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> [@Giraffe](#):
>
> In addition to anti-virus and anti-spyware software, I can’t recommend ZoneAlarm enough.

Indeed. And if you’re feeling the urge to spend some money, ZoneAlarm Pro includes a spyware scanner that automatically udpates periodically.