sYn

Just an FYI from a serious experienced Techy. Any virus software you install is a bad idea. Heres why. You want your ports closed. Anti-Virus software opens ports to stay updated and to allow com flow to main databases for virus definitions and reporting. Make sure your windows is up to date and if you can and have XP make sure you have SP2 and have the firewall on. Then uninstall ALL antivirus software. Monthly go to the site Trend Micro - Free online virus Scan using IE not Mozilla. It uses a java based client and doesnt open the ports in your system.

A lot of you think im crazy but I havent had an anti-virus program in 3 years and still have NO viruses to date. Think about, Bill gates owns 40% shares of Norton, McAfee started through MAC, when a virus comes out WHOS the first people to have the fix? And WHY in the world would millions of people sit around all day making viruses for the world? Installing anti virus software is jsut as silly as intentionally installing spyware. A healthy one month scan and a healthy one month spyware search is all one needs. Dont support the makers of viruses by buying their fixes.

Food for thought!

judgez24

good info there, for those of us who are less computer smart, can you tell us how to close ports? i still wanna use my azureus and msn so i dunno if thatll have an affect or not.

nascarmaniac

I like nod32 for a program that isn't free and for a free program i like avast

Ontittech

sYn: If you have a Good Firewall Installed ports aren't usually an issue as Any good Firewall program will only open Ports on an as needed basis for outgoing connections, and will prompt you for any unknown outgoing connections to stop malicious software like spyware that may have been inadvertently installed.

Having AV software installed is just good practice. You may have gone 3 years without a Virus, but in general most people are not as cautious as they should be, and this is how they end up infected.

Frozentide

I dont understand how people have virus problems... Ive always had some form of antivirus software and spyware program and Ive NEVER had a virus problem....

...EVER!!

For as long as I have had a home computer with the internet over 10 years ago. Never once have I had a virus.....

...and this is after using various download P2P software (Napster, multiple versions of Kazaa for many years) AND I still use Limewire.

So the idea that virus software actually causes the problem is stupid, and the idea of not having virus software is also stupid!!

spinbrush111

not to many mac user's on these forum's but they are very reliable and not very suspceptable to have any virsus

Frozentide

Actually as far as I know it is impossible.

Ontittech

It is not impossible, Macs are as susceptible to viruses as PC's are, it is just that there is 1000 times more viruses for PC's. Currently most reputable AV Packages guard against around 19,000 Viruses, and about 1500 for Macs.

Viruses for Macs are different from PCs in how they attack the system, most viruses for Macs are Macro Viruses that get implanted in Word Documents or Excel sheets, or other Mac Programs. Do not fall into the hype that it is impossible for a Mac to get a Virus, it is like saying my Car will never catch on fire. It is not impossible, just very unlikely.

gtprince

i agree

MarkAnthony

Excellent suggestion I am using the exact thing. I use to be a Norton user but then i discovered NOD32.

pmoney

norton is too bundle and hogs up memory resources. Programs like AVG is small and compact and does the job. I use AVG anti virus + Spy bot seach and destroy and it does the job.

sorry to forget mention both programs are under 10mb. norton is about 250mb.

hope that helps

soloazn

NOD32 all the way

akn112

im using combo of mcafee and spyware doctor with no problems. i always feel like i need both, though im not sure of the actual necessity

gamer123

AVG, free, low resource usage

Really you just have to be careful when you surf online.

bazbaz

what about McCafee