What is the best malware/virus scanner?
- Thread starter Roadface
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I prefer AVG and MSE.
TBH, you should only have one running - but when you set aside time to do actual scanning, having a second installed is a smart idea. I've seen too often where one app will miss something, but be caught by the second . . . even with some of the bad-ass paid for A/V programs.
It's kinda like going to the doctor in some instances - it's a wise idea to have a second opinion!
TBH, you should only have one running - but when you set aside time to do actual scanning, having a second installed is a smart idea. I've seen too often where one app will miss something, but be caught by the second . . . even with some of the bad-ass paid for A/V programs.
It's kinda like going to the doctor in some instances - it's a wise idea to have a second opinion!
I hope you already know this OP, but malwarebytes doesn't cover viruses, just malware. You need both a good malware scanner and a good antivirus; most paid suites -- such as Kaspersky and the paid versions of Avast! and Avira -- will do both, but with the free stuff, you're looking at a minimum of two separate programs, and that's before you start looking into firewalls. Personally, I use Avira for viruses, Superantispyware for malware, and Malwarebytes for the stuff that Superantispyware isn't capable of removing. As for the absolute best on the market, that was Kaspersky the last time I checked, but you have to pay to use it; there isn't a free version.
I use AVG as my main anti-malware/antivirus scanner.
Paid-for Internet Security is a waste of money if you exercise common sense on the internet and scan often. For specialised problems, there are dozens of specialised programs. I like AVG because it has a relatively low system resource footprint and the database seems pretty good too.
Paid-for Internet Security is a waste of money if you exercise common sense on the internet and scan often. For specialised problems, there are dozens of specialised programs. I like AVG because it has a relatively low system resource footprint and the database seems pretty good too.
AVG is trash, it has a very low pickup of infections. If you're going to use a free one, use something else, I beg you. For your own sake.
In general, for-pay ones are overpriced, but free ones just take up your RAM and provide no real protection from anything. To give you an idea, a few years ago, one of the PC magazines I read did a test of all the major free AV scanners by seeing how much they could pick up and remove from a heavily-infected system. The winner was the old version of Windows Defender (now not nearly as good) at a glorious 55% of infections cleaned
In general, for-pay ones are overpriced, but free ones just take up your RAM and provide no real protection from anything. To give you an idea, a few years ago, one of the PC magazines I read did a test of all the major free AV scanners by seeing how much they could pick up and remove from a heavily-infected system. The winner was the old version of Windows Defender (now not nearly as good) at a glorious 55% of infections cleaned
I have Kaspersky. It is a monster in a land of men. This thing is a freaking tank. It will alert me if the .rar archive I just downloaded has a password. This thing stops infected programs when I stupidly run them and deletes them, and prevents any harm from any vius on my computer. Before I had it though, I had a really surprisingly good anti-virus. Called the power button when I had a virus installing or whatever, if I hit it and turned my computer back on, everything was normal next time.
If you know how to use a computer you shouldn't need anything. But if you insist on getting something use AVG free or Microsoft Security Essentials. If you want to pay for something, get the full version of MalwareBytes.
People will tell you AVG sucks, they're lying, or they have no idea what they're talking about. I've been using AVG free for years and I've never had a virus or a trojan that is hasn't caught.Download.com will support me on this one, AVG free was the most downloaded software of 2010 on their website.
People will tell you AVG sucks, they're lying, or they have no idea what they're talking about. I've been using AVG free for years and I've never had a virus or a trojan that is hasn't caught.Download.com will support me on this one, AVG free was the most downloaded software of 2010 on their website.
You are implying that popularity does not mean dependability. I see what you mean, but they also reviewed it as being one of the most effective softwares for virus protection, right along side Microsoft Security Essentials for boot time and virus catching capability. I think Cnet is fairly dependable, and as I said I've been using it for years without issue.KalosCast said:
in my opinion, ESETS is powerful, but too aggressive and difficult to configure so Kaspersky takes the cake as far as best scanner, its extremely thorough bootable scan is AMAZING. And if you pay attention a few times a year they put out a mail-in rebate where they'll send you your money back making it free in the end.
BUT the best anti-virus/malware/etc is virtualBox. Do your internet surfing/downloading/etc in a virtual machine (virtualBox is free, open-source, and customizable) preferably loaded with Linux or OSX, and any of the options that allow it to interface directly with your real computer turned off. Should you get a virus, delete the VM and start again. Using VB and Linux makes this completely free and infinitely more effective than any of those scanners.
BUT the best anti-virus/malware/etc is virtualBox. Do your internet surfing/downloading/etc in a virtual machine (virtualBox is free, open-source, and customizable) preferably loaded with Linux or OSX, and any of the options that allow it to interface directly with your real computer turned off. Should you get a virus, delete the VM and start again. Using VB and Linux makes this completely free and infinitely more effective than any of those scanners.
I agree with this. I don't know whether it's the best software out there, but it hasn't done me wrong so far. ^_^Jark212 said: