Commercial or Free Software?

Vigor

Vigor

New Member
I know having a free antivirus is better than none at all, but are paid ones better than free ones?
I currently use Norton Internet Security 2006, would having AVG or Antivir and Zonealarm or Sygate PF be better?

Also would Ad-aware SE and Spybot S&D be better than Webroot Spysweeper?

Thanks.
 
Looking at how Norton works, yes I would say other utilities besides Norton would be better. Reason is because Norton uses a lot of resources and you basically have to renew to keep it working. So don't expect to keep your copy of Norton forever. It also depends on which other utility as some swear by the free ones and some don't.
 
there are other fairly recent threads that go very in debth about this subject elsewhere in the forum. Some good info in them very relevant to your ?.
 
Some freeware versions of retail products will see some good results. Webroot Spy Sweeper is a good one even in the 30day trial. But it's still a shareware with a time limit until you pay the full version. The tryout here saw it catch a few trojans not even detected by AdAware, Ewido, Spybot S&D, and AVG. Even with a full version of any of them it depends on what hits your system. No one program "gets them all" 100% of the time. Being familiar with a good list of the best ones goes further.
 
IMO, trendmicro is one of the better commercial packages out there. It scans faster than the others and isn't so resource heavy.
 
The one drawback when trying to use their online scanner however is the need to remove any other antivirus program in order to install their "PC cillin" or whatever to run the Housecall online scanner. That's great if you are running without anything. You have nothing to lose by installing anything on your system then. But it can be a nuisance if you already have a favorite running already. But that's how they get you :eek: to buy their products. :P
 
Norton and McFee don't seem to cut ir too well with most. I', forced to agree with computerhakk about Norton and even some others that like to really tie things up. This is why the advice often given by game manufacturers when support is requested for problems to disable antivirus programs in order to run a game without hassles. Likewise firewalls can get in the way at times just as well.
 
Alright, I just uninstalled NIS 2006(Norton user for 2-3 years) :eek: thank God this time it was a 60 day trial included on my new laptop.:rolleyes:
INSTALLED-
Spyware Blocker: SpywareBlaster
Spyware Removal: Spybot S&D
Adaware SE Personal
Firewall: Jetico Personal Firewall

Antivirus: Avast!

Avast!- slowest scanner of the three, nice MP3 interface(kinda need to get use to), little lower detection rate than AntiVir, multiple features
AVG-quick scanning, corny interface, lowest detection rate of three, regular updates, multiple features
AntiVir-uses most resources out of the three(but still small), highest detection rate, large updates, quickest scanner of three, least featured

maroon1 mentioned Avast!
(Thank you for the helpful link PC Eye
 
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I see you are running the Jetico firewall there. That won't hurt anything. AdAware and Spybot S&D get good reviews. But nothing like Spyware Blaster will "stop" spyware totally. If you get hit with enough of them something will always find a way. Detection and removal are the best tools to have.
 
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