This report covers antivirus
software, which scans your hard
drive, removable media, incoming
and outgoing mail, e-mail
attachments and instant-messaging
chats for viruses, worms and
Trojan horses. Antivirus software
is just one component of Internet
security. Reviews say that Windows
computer users should also employ
a spyware scanner and a firewall
to keep their computers safe.
ConsumerSearch has other reports
on anti-spyware software , spam
filters and firewalls
You can save quite a bit of time
by choosing a security suite, such
as ZoneAlarm Internet Security
Suite 7.0, which bundles all these
features into one program (see our
report on Internet security
software for more information).
The most comprehensive and
believable review source we found
is Scot's Newsletter.
Computerworld editor Scot Finnie
spent months thoroughly testing
and comparing 15 well-known
antivirus programs in sequence. He
reports his findings in his
monthly newsletters and receives
hundreds of responses from
readers.
The methodical, comparative
reviews of antivirus software
packages conducted by PC Magazine
are also comprehensive; editors
have recently covered a dozen 2007
security suites, which include
antivirus software. PC Magazine
bombards each program with known
viruses and "zoo"
viruses -- which include old
viruses, bits of malevolent code
and Trojan horses. They then
record detection and removal
results. Consumer Reports magazine
has a good, but controversial,
review of antivirus software, but
it has not yet covered 2007
versions. CNet.com is the best
reviewer of 2007 software overall,
though the publication's antivirus
reviews are less detailed than
others. A UK website,
WebUser.co.uk, has the best
coverage of free programs.
We found the most recommendations
(four each) for Kaspersky
Anti-Virus 6.0 and ESET's NOD32
Antivirus 2.7. Both Kaspersky and
NOD32 rank at or near the top in
tests by independent labs for
their ability to prevent and
remove viruses. The issues
expressed in reviews of both
programs involve ease of use. In
some reviews, Kaspersky has
compatibility conflicts and other
annoyances, though it gets much
higher user ratings than the
best-selling McAfee and Norton
antivirus programs. NOD32 is
simply hard to use and hard to
understand for most average users.
All reviews say NOD32 is best for
those with a high level of
computer knowledge. An amazingly
strong consensus of Newegg.com
customers agrees that NOD32 is the
best antivirus program. The Newegg
website is especially popular with
computer builders and others who
are more computer-savvy than the
general public.
Although both programs receive
some favorable coverage, the most
credible sources agree that McAfee
VirusScan Plus 2007 and AVG
Anti-Virus 7.5 Professional
Edition are not the best choices
overall. Of the seven current
antivirus programs reviewed by
CNet.com, those two receive the
lowest scores.
The Internet security suites from
both brands earn the lowest scores
of the dozen suites recently
reviewed by PC Magazine. Reviewers
agree that McAfee causes an
unacceptable drain on system
performance. Customer reviews at
Newegg.com, Amazon.com and
CNet.com are unflattering. People
complain about conflicts with
other programs. Even acknowledging
that unhappy customers are most
likely to write reviews, McAfee
receives extraordinarily low
average ratings.
Symantec, which makes Norton
security products, dominates the
antivirus market. McAfee is a
distant second, with a share of 13
percent. Like the McAfee products,
the Norton security programs have
been widely criticized by
professional reviewers and
consumers for overly slowing
computer processing speed. Many
owners of both products complain
of software conflicts or
installation problems.
Professional reviewers agree that
the new streamlined Norton
programs are faster and lighter
than past versions, but most
reviewers say the system drag
caused by Norton is still a major
competitive disadvantage. Continued
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