Anti-virus software?

[Redoverfarm]

Just looking around for some reliable program to use.  I have had Norton which is about to expire. It came with the computer when I bought it a year or so ago. I have had some issues with it that it apparently didn't catch.   Any thoughts or experiences?

[Pox Eclipse]

I highly recommend AVG 8.5 Free Edition.  Updates everyday, scans daily on a user schedule, automatically removes bad items.  Pretty bullet proof, and it won't slow your computer down as much as Norton or McAfee.  The best part is, it is completely free for home use.

http://download.cnet.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html?part=dl-10044820&subj=dl&tag=button&cdlPid=11014801

[fishing_guy]

I run Macaffee, which is free with my cable.  In addition, I also run Spybot and Adaware.  Both have free versions which take care of issues that the anti virus programs do not.  You could also run AVG which is a good antivirus program.  

I think you have to run a combination of anti-virus and anti-spyware software to be fairly confident these days.  Spyware can take down your computer just about as quickly as a virus can.

[ScottA]

I also use AVG. Works good.

[glenn kangiser]

AVG Free - I paid for Norton Bloatware- took the resource hog off and went to AVG Free with never a virus problem.

[MountainDon]

What fishing_guy said. You should not simply trust to only an AV program.

[IronRanger]

I used to help on a computer security forum. 

Add SpywareBlaster to the list of freeware.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

I've used Nod32, but I've switched to the free version of Avast anti-virus.  It's more system heavy than AVG though, so I wouldn't suggest running it on an older computer.

[peternap]

I use AVIRA. it has a free version and carches things AVG didn't.

[rwanders]

There are several good ones available but, AVG is invariably one of the recommended ones----I have found it to be very easy to install and, importantly also, easy to keep updated.

[OkieJohn2]

+1 on Avira, I used to use AVG till I awoke one morning with my computer constantly rebooting, seems AVG had "fixed" a problem, and deleted an essential Windows file, had to do a repair re install. So if you do use it, don't have it set up to automatically fix anything. Some people don't like Avira because once a day it pops up a window wanting to sell the non free version, one click and its gone, so I think thats a small price to pay for a free anti'virus.  I have also heard very good things about NOD32, but I'm a cheapskate and its not free.  Norton has also improved greatly in the 2009 version, not the resource hog it used to be.