Anti-Virus Software: Do I need it? What kind?

[akimbo]

Hi All

Been running my computers for years w/o anti-virus software. Do a LOT of downloading, like everyone, I'm sure. Instead of wading through page after web page of ads, etc., thought I would simply ask the Pro's.

My newer machines , AMD/K6-2 processers, apparently have Trend Chipaway Virus on the main board... This is to detect a boot virus, yes?

But what about additional virus protection...what do the pro's like you use?

Any decent shareware or freeware virus programs? Just askin'

Go.

Thanks agin,

Akimbooooooooooooooo

[Ziz]

I personally use McAfee Anti-Virus, but Norton Anti-Virus is good too. Those are the two biggies. Exactly which is truly better depends on who you talk to and which review you read. Bottom line is they're about equal, quality-wise. Both have free download versions available at their respective sites ( www.mcafee.com (http://www.mcafee.com) and www.norton.com/us.index.html (http://www.norton.com/us.index.html) ).

One general word of advice: Both set themselves up to scan the critical stuff (boot sector, executables, etc.) upon startup. Every once in a while (I do it about once a month) run the scan manually on "All Files" in your system. I once found a virus in a graphic file that someone sent me. Every time I would look at the graphic, the virus would hit. Took me about 2 weeks of backtracking my downloads to figure out where it came from.

[akimbo]

Thanks Ziz
Here's a site that offers a free anti-virus program. Check it out

http://www.cai.com/antivirus/personal/overview.htm

Love to hear how others feel about anti-virus software...

akimbooo

[Susan]

I use Anti Virus Pro www.avp.com (http://www.avp.com)

They have a trial version for download that goes for 30 days.

[philipg]

heres a trick someone told me get a antivirus program trial and when the trial runs out run regclean after you unistall it to take out the reg entry and then reinstall the antivirus fotr another 30 days indefense works well for this setup.


www.indefense.com

try it it works.

[cpt puget]

Susan knows what she is talking about, Anti-viral Toolkit Pro rocks!

[akimbo]

She sure does....she helped me solve a modem driver ?? a few days ago:

see: http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum2/HTML/001426.html

Ed_S ain't too shabby either...he seems to be a virtual storehouse of knowledge.

Akimbooooooooooo

[jayzad]

akimbo Hello http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
here a place you should check out.
bestdownload.com/antivirus.html (http://bestdownload.com/antivirus.html)
And you can get a 30 day trial here just click on the ambulance. It is located on the right side halfway down on the home page.
www.antivirus.com/ (http://www.antivirus.com/)
Godd luck http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by jayzad (edited 06-23-99).]

[xtremsabu]

Get avp it is great easy to use. Runs in background no problems if there a virus it will tell you. Easy to update to. I tried mcafee and norton did not like them. Yeah Avp does rock

[Ed_S]

Thanks for the compliment, Akimbo! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif


Not much help on this one, however. Have used McAfee ocasionally, but mostly nothing. Figure that if virus comes my way, it's time for a format! Just back it up regular.
Also, and this is kinda cheating, have my HDs in removeable racks & use different one for web than for most else. Wipe it out, up & running with another in 1 minute! Then just clone that one back onto first one, done. 15 minutes, tops.

[jadinolf]

philipg
Good idea! Or you could just go to a computer store and shoplift it which is essentially the same thing.