Best overall anti-virus program for home use

I'm looking for buying a anti-virus program and haven't decided yet which one to use. I've heard that Norton AntiVirus is ok, but I've also heard that there are betters ->

I've been hearing throughout many years lots of good things about Kaspersky Anti-Virus, but lately I've heard good things also about newcomer namely NOD32.

I'm targeting the usage for normal home use. I'm already using ZoneAlarm so firewall options aren't important. I'm also quite familiar and learn easily new programs so the ease of usage isn't important.

Gimme your opinions! Which one should I buy?

 

Do not go with NAV. Symantec has poor support and bugs are often not fixed when a new version comes out. A new version means you have to pay for it. KAV and NOD32 offer you all updates for free (program and signature) within one year. So you can use always the latest software with the lastest features.

KAV and NOD32 are both excellent products. If you have an extra anti trojan protection the NOD32 might be the right choice. If you do not want to buy an extra anti trojan protection KAV might be the program for you.

wizard

 

I know many people using NAV 2001 without any problems. IT specialists who's opinion I value told me NAV 2002 was slow, but I haven't tried it myself.

I found KAV to be very slow especially the 4.0 version.

I have had some compatibility issues with NOD32 and my soundcard while it scans some resident programs.

Right now I'm happy using DrWeb. PC-Cillin 2002 was just released and I'm also going to evaluate it.

If I had to choose between those three I would probably pick NAV for average endusers and NOD32 for more advanced users.

 

So NOD32 doesn't have any kind of protection against trojans?  

 

sure it does, just not as extensive as say TDS-3 which is a dedicated anti- trojan. I have never seen NOD32 NOT detect a trojan I had a copy of. But I don't have many.

Also NOD32 is the fastest of all the AV scanners. I don't think anyone can prove that wrong.

www.virusbtn.com has good info.

 

couldn't agree more.

 

The choices are very few to pick from, but luckily enough I use NAV 2002, Now last year and all the years prior to that I used McAfee, and I would still be using McAfee, but I had too many compatibility problems with XP, and exchanged to many e-mails with their support, sent them many pictures, and other things they ask for, after a month I gave up and got NAV 2002, and I like it.

 

I was a NAV user for the last 3 years and McAfee before that.  Just went with NOD32 and it found 3 virus on the first run that NAV never found in the previous 30 full system scans.  

Full system scan with NOD took about 7 minutes, all files, and I have 60 gigs, 3 drives.   NAV would take 30 minutes.  

NAV users beware of what it will miss.  40 bones could save your entire investment.  

 

NAV 2002, has of yet missed anything, I also run PP, I will not be changing AVP's, I have heard both good and bad things about NOD32, But not enough good from people I trust to even try it. I have used KAV, and I liked it but I chose to use NAV 2002, and fully recommend it.

 

What are the negative things about NOD32? 17th Virus Bulettin awards in a row so that software can not be bad.

I would not recommand any Symantec products anymore. Poor user support. And when the licence year ends (2-3 month to go) you do not get product fixes anymore. Instead of that you have to buy a new program version.

So the way NOD32 or KAV handle the licence time is more than correct. You get all updates (not only signature updates) within the time.

wizard

 

Why buy at all?  I use AVG and love it. It's free, it's good, it catches what NAV2002 misses (I've seen it)....
http://www.grisoft.com

 

AVG has a poor detection rate.
See http://www.avtest.org for some results.

Anyway AVG is in some parts of the world not a free program. Here in Germany and most other European countries you have to pay for AVG.

wizard

 

I like AVG just fine. No viruses in 2 years. But, I'm not stupid and click on every attachment I get.

 

I notice no-one mentions mcafee at all. I have been using Mcafee Online scan service for 3 years now on 4 different versions of windows and its picked up a virus everytime. Though I do use Zone alarm pro 3 too and it also picks up unusual things that mcafee might not. I used to use symantic and I cant say wether they have improved or not but when i was using it I was constantly bombarded by viral infections which Norton did not pick up, thats  why I changed.

 

i couldn't vote which one of those 3 AV listed were the best for home use because i am also looking for the "best for home use" too! ~lol~

Hello ozboy!  (mentioning McAfee here just for you)

i also have the on-line McAfee and i've used McAfee for 4 yrs.....and i have had my up's and down's with some compatibility problems with it, but find i don't have the same compatibility problems now with the on-line version.  (only thing i don't like about the on-line version is i miss the being able to click on one file and scan it without having it pull up my browser and log in and go to McAfee's site just to scan one file.)

i am extremely careful when it comes to attachments and if i don't know the person emailing me very well...it just doesn't get opened at all!!  i am also pretty careful where i surf too but with everything that's out there now, even the familiar sites i go to often are under attack.  i went to a favourite PaintShop Pro site i've been too numerous times before, but this last time my McAfee popped up and caught a card-steeler virus.  Surprised the heck out of me since i've never had it pop up before. ~l~

The virus came through my brower into it's cache and McAfee caught it right off or i'd never even have known it was there.  i even went to the McAfee site to read about this virus and no where on their site was it even mentioned......did a 3-day search for this virus too...and still, nothing to be found on it.  So i was VERY impressed it even caught it!  (it is listed there now at McAfee's site as low risk, but it was a positive for me that my V-shield caught it and i didn't have to deal with it after the fact)

i am still looking for a better AV though, because when i do the "updates" i still find myself holding my breath and crossing my fingers everything will work together ok after i reboot.

 

I have used mcafee, NAV, NOD32, Panda, fprot, IPE and AVG at various times over the past few years...AVG is unbeatable as a freebie (and is sometimes better than a paidfor AV..be careful of what test sites say, and look *when* the test was done, might not be currently applicable).  If i was going to pay for anything i think it would be fprot for me, or NOD32.  I wouldnt touch either mcAfee (which was my standard until 4.03) or NAV with a 10 foot bargepole.  grossly overrated, both.  they are both sitting on laurels.  

for online scanning for when you think your AV may have let you down (and it *does* happen), i go to http://www.antivirus.com for the free Housecall scan.

 

Hi Snapdragin, thanks for replying to my post.
ONE problem that you can have with the Mcafee installation is having a beta program somewhere on your computer, I went thru an awful time trying to update my definitions and the program once, but after chatting live to their service centre thats what the problem was , I had a beta version of Microsoft.NET server on my harddrive,. Soon as I remopved it , everything was fine.
Also Sometimes having Java errors with Zone alarm 3.0 installed recently. Have to turn off zonealarm to get updates and I'll be Bug.....ed what setting to change to get it to work.
Gary

 

I've used Pc-Cillin 2000 since it came out, it's stopped many infections dead in their tracks and nothing has got through yet.
Updates are regular, usually twice a week, it updates automatically as well as manually, and the program is easy to use.
Support is excellent.

 

Hi,
I'd say NOD32 but the support is not what it should be
NOD 32 however get my vote

 

Thank you very much for your kind offer Paul.
I'll take advantage of it only as"last solution"
Regards

 

Mcaffee virus scan came pre-installed on my xp home edition Pavillion.Didn't like it.AVG was compatable and worked.When I got comfortable and a little more knowledgable,I decided to go with a higher end (pay)program.NOD32 and Kapersky were recommended in other forums by users.Most ppl I know use Norton,but I have heard that there are issues with xp and size.NOD is cheaper than Kapersky and Norton,and I already have an AT program.Than again, you never know until you trial a program.