Bought a New Laptop - Virus Scanner Help Please!

[rklhughes]

I bought a new Sony Vaio today from Best Buy and refused to let them set it up with all the crap they always have the geek squad outfit it with.

Anyways I want to know what kind of protection I should be using. I have recently become a fan of AVG, but this laptop is my new baby. I had to butter the wife up really good to for her to let me blow 800 bucks :)

Thoughts?

[Valiant Flame]

1. AVG Anti-Virus, either the newest free version, or the money version.
2. Spybot Search and Destroy
3. ZoneAlarm Firewall (Its very good)

[quinnelsea]

1. AVG Anti-Virus, either the newest free version, or the money version.
2. Spybot Search and Destroy
3. ZoneAlarm Firewall (Its very good)

get them all just in case

[Valiant Flame]

get them all just in case

That's what I meant. I have them all...

[Truestep]

Whichever other antivirus you install, I recommend installing ClamWin antivirus as well.

It's free, it has frequent virus definition updates which are also free, it doesn't use up a lot of system resources, it won't conflict with other antivirus packages, and it gives you another option for scanning any files you might be concerned about.

Spyware Doctor is another good supplement to any other anti-malware software, and has a free version you can obtain as part of the Google Pack.

[Tokolosk]

Here's a nice place with reviews for lots of free AV.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-anti-virus-software.htm

There is also a lot of other software reviews, good if you're looking for quality software but don't want to spend money on them.

[rklhughes]

I went ahead and got the full version of AVG by completing an offer with gamefly and then canceling the gamefly account :)

Thanks to everyone for making my decision that much easier :)

[Troll]

I went ahead and got the full version of AVG by completing an offer with gamefly and then canceling the gamefly account :)

Thanks to everyone for making my decision that much easier :)

May I suggest http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php for good Anti-Malware

[rhynes]

Geek squad LMAO - what else is there to say. Prime example of a bunch of idiots making the right move by getting into bed with a big conglomerate. i love going to best buy and messing with their heads...


Personally, i've been in IT for 18 years now and have earned the right to gripe about microsoft and the direction they are taking. They are forcing many of us IT folk into the linux world. Since the inception of windows vista i've been becoming anti-microsoft - and even moreso since windows 7.

- Do NOT rely solely on your antivirus - the fact is, none of them provide any real protection against the good malware on the internet. AVG is just as good as anything out there, free or paid - yes sometimes the best things in life are free. Unfortunately, AVG is getting hungry for more resources as the upgrades come out.

- Retail antivirus packages are so misleading - norton/symantec and mcafee, are crap. Reason being is they are so resource hungry and really don't do the job they claim. If you are a norton user, and have had it installed for a while, try a test. Download malwarebytes (malwarebytes.org) and run a full scan - i'm sure the results will surprise you.

I've had clients that have been virus free for years now - but they are getting slammed with these rogue antivirus programs. If you don't know what these are, have a read of this wiki - cause you will eventually come across it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_security_software

Yes, do get malwarebytes - the freebie doesn't do real time scanning, but it's a great tool to have on your computer. Get CCleaner as well from ccleaner.com - read the instructions. It will clean your computer very well - that goes for temp files and registry.

[Rheannan]

1. AVG Anti-Virus, either the newest free version, or the money version.
2. Spybot Search and Destroy
3. ZoneAlarm Firewall (Its very good)

I recommend those, plus I also use Windows Defender, Ad-Aware, Anti-Malware, and Microsoft's Safety Scanner (http://onecare.live.com/site/en-au/default.htm).

[rhynes]

I recommend those, plus I also use Windows Defender, Ad-Aware, Anti-Malware, and Microsoft's Safety Scanner (http://onecare.live.com/site/en-au/default.htm).

No offence, but anything microsoft is garbage - I always disable them...

Ad-aware has gotten into bed with some spyware companies - hence won't remove certain spyware from your computer - yep, money talks.

[Maeslin]

As an alternative to ZoneAlarm, try Sunbelt Firewall (http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Home-Home-Office/Sunbelt-Personal-Firewall/) (Formerly Kerio Personal Firewall). About as good as ZoneAlarm but I find its interface better.

Also an essential; PeerGuardian and a good update list. ;)

[Gustave]

1. AVG Anti-Virus, either the newest free version, or the money version.
2. Spybot Search and Destroy
3. ZoneAlarm Firewall (Its very good)

Haven't tried the third one, but the other two are excellent...I have SSD right now cause my super-geeky friend installed it while fixing my pc, had AVG before and all the this time haven't had the smallest problem. Avast is also very good, actually has the reputation of being the best free.

Thumbs up fo rhynes's suggestion, ccleaner is a very useful program.

I usually get my free software from this site, it's safe.

http://www.filehippo.com/

My bro spent 50 euros buying Kaspersky (1 year)...now his PC's Windows takes twice the time to operate :(

[LilKayla]

I have avast antivirus running on mine.

[Dragonomine]

I use both AVG and Adaware. I did have spybot at one point but just haven't felt the need to d/l. I HATE getting a new com because I have to delete so much crap from the programs that come with it.

[The Lord of the Files]

May I suggest http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php for good Anti-Malware

Yes, do get malwarebytes - the freebie doesn't do real time scanning, but it's a great tool to have on your computer. Get CCleaner as well from ccleaner.com - read the instructions. It will clean your computer very well - that goes for temp files and registry.

My vote is also for Malwarebytes and CCleaner as well as PeerBlock.

[Jstar]

My votes would be:

AVG
AdAware
SBS&D
CCleaner
MalwareBytes