What kind of anti-virus do you use?

[Mrpearlzildjian]

While not completely relevant to game art, this is an issue causing me much headache. I have a workstation I work on and a laptop I use for general things, like internet. For most of the last year, I went to a coffee shop on a regular basis for internet access, but just recently saved up enough to get it at home(it was hard because I only have a part time job). So after swearing up and down I would never connect my workstation to the internet for fear of viruses, I broke down and did at the convenience of having my dual screen setup I could watch tuts and have easy access to upload work and other things. Well my worst fears came true and the second I connected my workstation, within the first day, I had several trojans floating around my system wreaking chaos on everything. I downloaded PC Tools Spyware Doctor, and it's ok, but it misses a lot. I downloaded Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and it works pretty well, but since I havn't paid for it, I don't know the extent of it's real time capabilities.

So I guess what I'm asking is what is the all around best anti spyware, adware, malware, blah blah blah-ware in your opinion i.e. what do you use??

I would like to connect my workstation, but I am paranoid now. I am willing to pay for a signifigant license if the software can live up to the hype. Otherwise I will need to leave my station disconnected, which will lengthen my workflow unfortunately.

As always, all help is appreciated.

[MangledPoly]

AVG

Free, simple, and doesnt put a bunch of crap ware that slows your machine

[cookepuss]

I use AVG Free for anti-virus + Comodo Firewall. Haven't had a virus scare on this PC for...ever.

If you've got a router, also turn on its built-in firewall too. That should secure you from all but obnoxious tracking cookies. Just allow through basic web traffic because stuff like P2P opens you up to problems from the TCP/UDP side.

Beyond that, if you're really paranoid, a P2P blacklist like Protowall or Peerguardian. That should provide at least the appearance of security when doing P2P. Using that in conjunction with Spybot Search & Destroy should cover your remaining bases, as has a blacklist of known malware IPs.

If you're super paranoid about very few specific IPs, you could also manually block them in your HOSTS file in the Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc directory. Easy to do just by redirecting those select IPs to 127.0.0.1 instead. Just make sure to enable read only status after editing, to prevent malware from modding it without your permission.

Beyond that... hide under your desk. ;)

[JacqueChoi]

AVG

Free, simple, and doesnt put a bunch of crap ware that slows your machine

:thumb:

yup yup

[Tipatlong]

I use Spyware Terminator with ClamAV interrogated to it. Its free. It can be also used as a firewall if u want.

[Sauron]

I use Kaspersky antivirus

[TheQiwiMan]

Spybot Search & Destroy here, never need anything else really.

Its free, but my bro (who's even more of a computer geek than me) complains that it kinda bogs down his comp. I don't really notice though.

[Mrpearlzildjian]

I had The Shield installed for a day and although it blocked most attempts pretty well, it bogged down my comp to total crap, which couldn't have been easy because my comp isn't the greatest but it's good enough to hold a steady 5m poly count in zbrush(which I know is pretty much all ram). Ironically, The Shield was praised on internet reviews as using low resources, so I just can't trust the reviews I suppose. I might give AVG a try.

[Beartastic]

I use Spybot S&D, Avast Antivirus and Process Explorer just in case the first two weren't up to the job.

Avast is really good, like AVG but doesn't give you popups all the time and it gives you unmissable sound effects when you browse to the wrong site or get near a dodgy file.

[Mrpearlzildjian]

And thank you much for the suggestions. Makes my life a little easier.

[Lamont]

NoD32. Not a system hog like all the others. But it's $30/yr. Multiple updates daily.

[tiekmir]

I use AVG 8.0 PRO. I have XP x64 and AVG has served me very well. I have never had a Trojan, Virus, or other infection on my system. The Firewall is also very easy to use and configure. All in all I give AVG a huge :thumb:.

[HellMark]

Spybot and Malwarebytes which I love cause it's saved me a few times.

[jandaku cintaku]

avg...but sometimes some virus can get thru....still search for a better anti virus..

[Mrpearlzildjian]

I'm using the Comodo firewall now with AVG free, which is working quite nicely. I'm pretty happy with the protection. Just get a few bad cookies here and there, but I can clean em right up with AVG. I'll probably stick with this until I can afford AVG Pro or something.

@Lamont

I actually am using ESET Nod32 on my Laptop(since it's somewhat outdated and low on resources) and it works quite well.

@Cookepuss

Thanks for the suggestion about Comodo, it's working quite nicely.

Again, thanks all for the suggestions, I can create without being paranoid now! lol

[shadowmonkey]

I use to use avg till i found it was sectertly sending info back to some country dont ask me where.The best paid one and I do "recomend paying" I wont use any other now is Kaspersky.
I also run Spybot once in while.

[cookepuss]

I use to use avg till i found it was sectertly sending info back to some country dont ask me where.
Every one of these types of apps send data "secretly." Well, "secretly" if you don't expect them to send anything at all that is.

However, it's not about IF they send. It's about WHAT they send. I sincerely doubt that AVG is sending your credit card info or passwords. More likely they're sending anonymous performance data.

These apps have to collect this type of info for them to work to your advantage. Bug, crash, intrusion, & miscellaneous incidence reports are essential to making a program like this better. They can't simply rely on the kindness of "white hats" or quality assurance testers all of the time.

I haven't read the ToS for AVG in a while, but there's probably some chance that you explicitly agreed to some sort of exchange of data. This is why you can't carelessly click "I Agree" whenever you see the button. Developers know that practically nobody reads these things. That's why many of them toss in the most ridiculous terms.

Still, to me, you'd be doing a great disservice to yourself by looking for a program that reports or checks for absolutely nothing from the "home base." There's no benefit from a lazy AV program.

BTW: The latest free version of Comodo actually include built-in AV now.

[shadowmonkey]

cookepuss it was a while ago I read this article about it,wish I could find the link but I didnt like what I was reading,maybe it was a scare tacktic*shrug*

What I do know is when I put kaspersky on my PC it found a lot of problems that AVG didnt pick up,Im not sure if this due to running the free version,but since then I havnt looked back since using Kaspersky.

Im sure AVG has become a lot better than when I had it.Anything is better than Norton

[cookepuss]

True. Norton is a memory hog too.

The only reasons why some av programs pick up more or less virii than others is because the scan techniques they use and the size of their databases. The only problem I've ever had with AVG is the occasional false positive.

[shadowmonkey]

Yup I was in shock when I found out how much Norton Hogs ,It was crippling my PC.The best one was they were using it in my old work.I could boiled the kettle, made a cup of cofee before max had even loaded lol.


false positive,,,, i was led on a right merry go round by a free scan once on that issue,where it was saying you have this virus and to get rid of it you need this program ect.took me ages to get rid of it,since then ive learnt my lesson.

[Razvan-Sedekiah]

I use AVG free in combonation with ZoneAlarm (also Free.) I haven't had any problems at all.
AVG is having a special promotion right now where you can get free extra protection if you sign up.
AVG free:
http://download.cnet.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html?part=dl-10044820&subj=dl&tag=button&cdlPid=11016903
FREE Zone Alarm (stops anything from talking to the internet):
http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/anti-virus-spyware-free-download.htm

[cookepuss]

It should be noted that, as of this date, the current stable release of Zone Alarm Free isn't Vista x64 compatible. There's a 64-bit beta out there, but it is effectively a time limited demo of the commercial security suite. For x64 users, the best bet is still Comodo's free version, which includes both firewall and anti-virus.

BTW, not to beat you over the head with it, but you guys should just be aware that tomorrow is April 1 and the Conficker.C worm may or may not go boom. Be sure that, before midnight, you have your PC scanned, your AV database updated, and the MS KB958644 security patch installed.

Most of you, at least those with Windows Update set to automatic, probably already have the KB958644 patch installed.
- For those of you who aren't sure, check your update history.
- For those of you who don't, either use the built-in update service or go to http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS08-067.mspx to get it.
- For those of you who are infected, you'll need to get the appropriate Conficker.C (downadup) removal tool before it strikes (or doesn't.)

As far as AVG goes, in general, now may be the time to jump ship. The app has steadily become more and more bloated, consuming more RAM and CPU cycles. v7.x was generally lean & mean. v8 added in more memory resident features like link checking. Some features you can disable. Some you can't.

It won't mean a lot in the long run when more people have loads of RAM. For now, while the x32 - x64 transition is still early in the game, that increase in bloat a bit of a liability.

[muppet man]

Bit Defender is what I use and it seems good.