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Antivirus
Software Reviews
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BitDefender Antivirus v10 includes
anti-spyware, privacy protection, a configurable anti-dialer and a bootable rescue CD. BitDefender 10 is the top-rated program of the 17 antivirus programs compared by
TopTenReviews.com, but the effusive review on that site is inconsistent with other sources. Several trustworthy sources rated BitDefender Antivirus v9 as the best program when it was current. One expert user, technology author Kathie Kingsley-Hughes, says BitDefender 10 has virtues, but it creates problems she didn't experience with BitDefender 9, which she had used for a year. She does not recommend version 10. CNet.com likes BitDefender's value, because a license is good for two years. Yet CNet rates it below
Kaspersky, NOD32 and Norton antivirus. Reviewer Robert Vamosi explains,
"BitDefender Antivirus 10 is a bit of a sloth, scoring lower than expected in our CNET Labs real-world application testing."
Another program that reviewers identify as somewhat inferior to last year's version is F-Secure Anti-Virus 2007 from Finnish antivirus vendor F-Secure. Like others, F-Secure protects against viruses, worms and unknown attacks, and detects and removes
spyware. Scot's Newsletter chose F-Secure Anti-Virus 2006 as the Best Antivirus Product of 2006, saying it "offers the best mix of solid protection, usability, full e-mail support, performance, small memory footprint, and reliable operation." However, Scot Finnie says the 2007 version causes too many conflicts with other security programs, especially ZoneAlarm products and other firewalls. He recommends NOD32 2.7 instead.
Reviewers concur that Panda Antivirus 2007 is fast. Freelance computer writer Scott May says in the Columbia Daily Tribune that Panda is his "favorite security software." But PC Magazine's Neil Rubenking finds its protection skills and performance to be
subpar. The application crashed a couple of times while scanning for malware on a test computer. PC Magazine rates Panda Antivirus 2007 as "average."
Windows Live OneCare is an automated web-based security service. It includes
antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall components, and it can back up files. The service includes free 24-hour support. A widespread belief expressed in the computer press is that Microsoft shouldn't be selling security software, since imperfections in its products create most of the need for security. The Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro summarizes, "Depending on how you feel about Microsoft, its new Windows Live OneCare security service either amounts to a welcome helping hand or a particularly sleazy protection racket."
We found one favorable professional review of Windows Live
OneCare, but the leading sources agree that it is inadequate. PC Magazine and CNet.com say the service is not competitive with leading Internet security suites. More than 125 reviews by customers of Amazon.com complete the picture. The average 3.5-star ranking is created by many satisfied customers and a nearly equal number who experienced installation issues or frequent crashing.
CA (formerly named Computer Associates) Anti-Virus 2007 is not rated as one of the best programs by any reliable source, but CA is offering an interesting new feature with its security products: a warranty. The manufacturer says, "If your PC fails due to a virus infection after CA Anti-Virus is properly installed, you can receive up to $1,500 in technical service and hardware replacement." CNet.com editors say CA Antivirus 2007 is adequate, but "suffers from program interface glitches and poor technical support." PC Magazine reviews the CA Internet security suite (which includes the antivirus software) and finds that half a dozen competing suites are better.
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Free antivirus software
If you don't want to pay for antivirus software, you have many options, but according to reviews, none of these are as good as paid software. We found popular support for four free programs: Grisoft's AVG Anti-Virus Free
(http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1), avast! 4 Home Edition (http://www.avast.com/), AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic
(http://www.free-av.com/), and AOL Active Virus Shield (http://www.activevirusshield.com). Mary
Landesman, About.com's guide to antivirus software, had the first three programs professionally tested and found that AntiVir PersonalEdition does the best job of detecting viruses, but only manages to find three-quarters of them.
UK Internet magazine Web User compares all the major free antivirus programs and says AVG Anti-Virus is the best. Reviewer Mark Wilson likes its features and ease of use. AOL Active Virus Shield is his second choice. Wilson praises its performance, but notes it has no scheduling option (which is not true). He also likes the free edition of
BitDefender, even though it doesn't include real-time virus protection. Other reviewers specifically do not recommend the free edition of
BitDefender.
Scot Finnie of Scot's Newsletter reports that
"AVG users swear by this product" even though "its protection isn't up to the level of F-Secure or NOD32…according to many of the independent tests." Scot's Newsletter readers, including IT managers and security experts, recommend AVG over other free programs. However, even though AVG has more than 300,000 downloads from
BetaNews, it earns a lower average rating from BetaNews members than its free competitors do.
Avast! Home Edition has the highest average rating of any free program. AntiVir Personal is also more highly regarded than AVG by downloaders at
BetaNews.
Grisoft, the developer of AVG Free Edition, also makes the commercial program AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 Professional Edition. In spite of the name, it is a consumer product. The Free Edition is a stripped-down version. Only McAfee VirusScan Plus 2007 fares as poorly in reviews as AVG Anti-Virus 7.5 Professional Edition.
While Web User prefers AVG to AOL Active Virus Shield, CNet.com disagrees. AOL Active Virus Shield is free software available to anyone; you do not have to be an AOL member. Active Virus Shield is powered by the top-rated Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6, and it's updated hourly. Though some features are missing, the software uses the same virus-definition database as the commercial version of
Kaspersky. CNet.com's Robert Vamosi says, "AOL Active Virus Shield won't slow your system or otherwise affect its performance." Customer reviews at CNet's Download.com are mostly favorable.
While Active Virus Shield is free, AOL's end-user license agreement
(EULA) says AOL and third parties can send you e-mail. It also allows AOL to collect information about which ads you've clicked and other information. A PC World article quotes security professionals who say this amounts to letting AOL send you unlimited spam and solicitations -- and the agreement isn't limited to AOL. It extends to anyone that buys AOL's subscriber list. AOL assures users that they won't be inundated with spam and that users can choose to opt out of receiving advertising. In a New York Times article about AOL's free features, David Pogue concludes about Active Virus Shield, "If you don't mind seeing a banner ad even in your virus software, this is quite a deal."
It's a close race between AOL Active Virus Shield and AVG Free Edition. Both get good reviews, and both update automatically. One caveat is that while AOL checks for updates every hour, AVG only checks once a day -- which could be an issue during a widespread virus attack. But AOL forces you to expose your e-mail address to an unspecified amount of advertising and solicitations.
The common thread we found in user reviews of free programs is that few people claim they are better than commercial programs. In addition to free antivirus software, you can often get regular software for free if you're willing to send in rebate forms. You can sometimes get a rebate on security software when you purchase related software (like tax-prep software). Other rebate deals are common.
Most antivirus software manufacturers offer "competitive upgrade rebates" if you switch to their brand. You need specific proof of ownership of a competing product (e.g., a CD-ROM). While these rebates rarely equal the purchase price, manufacturers and/or retailers often offer second rebates so retailers can advertise that the product is free.
Another option is to use software provided by your Internet service provider (ISP). The national ISPs offer free antivirus software as a competitive advantage. Comcast and MSN Premium offer a free version of McAfee. Verizon and Qwest also offer McAfee as part of MSN Premium. EarthLink and Cox offer proprietary programs. AOL's program is discussed above.
Antivirus software for Mac and Linux platforms
Many people believe that computers running Linux or Macintosh operating systems are immune from viruses. While nearly all viruses specifically attack Windows, other types of malware are platform-neutral.
If you are running both Mac OS X and Windows on an Intel-based Mac computer, be aware that you need to protect both platforms -- that means you need security software for Windows even if you are working on a Mac.
While worms such as MyDoom may not affect Macintosh computers, they can be unwittingly passed along via e-mail to Windows computers. Mac users who are on a network shared by both Windows and Mac systems need to protect other users on the system from malicious macros and Trojan horses. Macworld recommends Intego's VirusBarrier "for its scanning speed and its well-integrated Mac features." Macworld's Rob Griffiths adds, "Norton AntiVirus is a close second."
Linux is the safest operating system according to PC World's Scott Spanbauer in his June 2006 article. For that reason, he recommends free programs for Linux users. Clam AntiVirus is excellent, he says. As an alternative, "If you'd prefer antivirus software with a commercial track record, try the Linux version of Grisoft's renowned AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition."
Important Features: Antivirus software
Here's what the experts say to look for when choosing antivirus software:
A good detection rate is key. Several third-party companies test antivirus software for detection rates. Mary
Landesman, About.com's guide to antivirus software, says, "Before considering any antivirus solution, you should check their ItW certification by consulting any of the following: VB100%
(http://www.virusbtn.com), ICSALabs (http://www.icsa.net), or Checkmark
(http://www.check-mark.com)." Most mainstream products perform well, including those discussed in this report.
Check the system requirements before you buy. At press time, Microsoft is providing a short list of Vista security software providers, but most major programs are compatible. If you are using Windows XP, any antivirus software will work. If you have an older or slower computer, however, a large antivirus software program can consume a huge percentage of your computing power. Check our Comparison Chart for system requirements for the software included in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers.
An intuitive interface makes software easy to use. Because antivirus software can be customized in many ways, it's important that the interface guides users through the various settings.
The ability to update daily is crucial. Most software provides one year of unlimited free updates. After that, you renew your virus-update subscription, buy a new version of the same program or switch brands. Virus signatures are specific strings of binary code that can be detected by antivirus software. Most programs will automatically check for updates. Some free software relies on a manual check, but AVG and AOL Active Virus Shield both check automatically for updates |
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