# What anti-virus software do u use? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 9, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718 "2004-01-09T21:21:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/21 "2004-01-10T16:19:06Z")
I use NOD32 ([www.nod32.com](http://www.nod32.com)). Simple, lightweight, etc. Works great. ---
**Author:** ![Patr100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Patr100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patr100)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/22 "2004-01-10T17:27:09Z")
Here is another free AV. AVAST 4Home As far as I can see it’s OK for perosnal use as long as it’s non-profit. Nothing about networks as far as I can see on the site. [http://www.asw.cz/i\_idt\_226.html](http://www.asw.cz/i_idt_226.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/23 "2004-01-10T19:41:54Z")
McAfee Virus Scan 8.0. I’ve used McAfee since ver 5.0 and have been pleased with it’s performance. One big exception, may Og help you if you ever have to fully uninstall it. It’s a serious bitch. Thankfully, I’ve only had to do this twice (total system crashes not related to McAfee). ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/24 "2004-01-10T19:52:55Z")
One more vore for AVG. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/25 "2004-01-10T20:20:48Z")
Norton antivirus, i got it on ebay for about $6. ---
**Author:** ![neoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a87d85/32.png) [@neoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neoof)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/26 "2004-01-10T20:24:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kal \* > \*\*A British computer magazine recently tested a variety of anti-virus and anti-trojan programs, both commercial and freeware, using over 58,000 viruses and trojans. > > The top 5 programs (and the overall detection rate) were: > > F-Secure - 99.63% > > Kaspersky - 99.35% > > AntiVirenKit (AVK) - 98.67% > > McAfee - 97.24% > > RAV - 94.26% > The top free anti-virus programs were: > > AntiVir - 77.74% > > Fire Anti-virus Kit - 67.99% > > AVG - 65.68% > One thing that was quite interesting is that, with only two exceptions, the anti-trojan programs tested detected less than 40% of the trojans and backdoors - most of the anti-virus programs\* did better. > > \*Of the free programs only AntiVir managed this, detecting 49.21% of them. \*\* Thanks 🙂 What do u use? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/27 "2004-01-10T20:27:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > \*\*McAfee Virus Scan 8.0. > > I’ve used McAfee since ver 5.0 and have been pleased with it’s performance. > > One big exception, may Og help you if you ever have to fully uninstall it. It’s a serious bitch. > > Thankfully, I’ve only had to do this twice (total system crashes not related to McAfee). \*\* I feel your pain. Outlook on my computer still tries to load the damn McAfee plugin, even though it was uninstalled maybe years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/28 "2004-01-10T20:36:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neoof \* > Thanks 🙂 > What do u use? Shit, I did mean to say. I’ve used AVG for quite a while, but now I’m giving AntiVir a go. ---
**Author:** ![neoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a87d85/32.png) [@neoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neoof)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/29 "2004-01-10T20:36:53Z")
Have any of u heard of bull guard? i had it installed on my last system (trial version) and it was quite good. It told u what was trying to access the internet or change ur registary and gave u an option on what to do. Really easy to use and understand. Loads of options. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/30 "2004-01-10T20:46:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kal \* > \*\*I’ve used AVG for quite a while, but now I’m giving AntiVir a go. \*\* It crossed my mind to change to AntiVir from AVG after I read those test results you posted. Any comparisons between the two you can share, like ease-of-updating or CPU usage? ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/31 "2004-01-10T23:11:46Z")
> [@](#): > > AVG Free Edition CAN NOT BE INSTALLED ON SERVERS FOR ANY REASON. IT CAN NOT BE INSTALLED IN ANY NETWORKED ENVIRONMENT! I have personall installed AVG onto a networked computer just fine, and it has found viruses for me on that comp. I don’t know that you can run the free version from a server to check all the clients, though. I think definitely not. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/32 "2004-01-11T13:54:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > Any comparisons between the two you can share, like ease-of-updating or CPU usage? Offhand, the two main differences I’ve noticed are that signature update downloads are larger with AntiVir and there’s no option to create a bootdisk (not having a floppy drive on the computer it’s installed on, that’s not an issue). ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/33 "2004-01-11T16:52:31Z")
Any reason not to use two in tandem? That is, running one full-time and turning off the option to have the other one running in the background, but giving it the occasoinal scan? I’m doing this right now with Pest Patrol and the free version of Adaware (running PP continuously and occasionally using AA, once every couple of days)? I understand that a virus might be a little more pressing than spyware though… ---
**Author:** ![neoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a87d85/32.png) [@neoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neoof)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/34 "2004-01-23T07:17:51Z")
Shall I just get McAfree? It’s hard to uninstall but if it works, why shud i want to, right? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/35 "2004-01-23T11:38:24Z")
I don’t use anything. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/36 "2004-01-23T15:07:03Z")
I use Norton at work. At home I use common sense. 🙂 I’ve tried out McAfee before and found it to be decidedly inferior. My parents also tried using for a while and hated it. Of course, it might have improved in recent versions, so your mileage may vary–last I touched it was about 3 or 4 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/37 "2004-01-23T16:00:56Z")
I use Trend Micro OfficeScan at work; it’s by far the best for a managed environment. At home, it’s AVG. Can’t beat the price (though you can tie it with Antivir, which seems to work fine, too). ---
**Author:** ![neoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a87d85/32.png) [@neoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neoof)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/38 "2004-01-23T16:43:53Z")
Isn’t antivir the one that cant be used in english? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/39 "2004-01-23T22:02:33Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > I don’t use anything. Me neither. I find people who fuss and fret over firewalls and antivirus software amusing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LordVor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90ced4/32.png) [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718/40 "2004-01-23T23:11:47Z")
Here’s another vote for “the one between my ears”. -lv [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-software-do-u-use/223718.md?page=3)