Recommend a business class Antivirus.

[Poppa_Meth]

The new computer system will soon be in place at work for me. I've got my anti-spyware and firewall ready to go. Now I'm rethinking the antivirus solution. The company setting up our system has arranged for a managed version of McAfee to be purchased for three systems. However I'm no big fan of McAfee and after hearing reports lately of a massive screw up on one of the defenition files that caused widespread data loss (not a first from what I keep reading) I'm hesitant to go this route.

I like Kaspersky but it's a massive memory hog. I've seen so many products with good reviews one place and bad reviews another that it's making me sick. I trust the people around here more with a question like this that googling random websites all day. Any input is appreciated. AVG is out by the way. I've seen a few demos of how it's realtime protection is simply lacking compared to other solutions.

[daamon]

Hi Poppa_Meth,

Other big players are Norton and Trend Micro - sites easily found on Google.

Also, a site I trust for reports (both user and of those running the site) is www.download.com

Good luck!

[BJ_M]

avast is robust, not a memory hog, gets top reviews and has a business class solution (managed clients)..

http://www.avast.com/index.html

it is also very good

100% Virus Bulletin award

February 20, 2006 - In the latest Virus Bulletin tests (February 2006) avast! 4 Pro again detected all ItW viruses (i.e. viruses known to be 'in the wild') and was given another VB100% award!

it also has the highest user rating on cnet http://www.download.com/sort/3150-2239_4-0-1-3.html? of any virus program (and that is for the home free version)



Trend Micro as mentioned is also very good i understand

[Faustus]

NOD32 is very nice, but I used symantec av on the network I build. Its quite nice and if you set and extra machine up as the AV server and make sure all the Windows Firewalls are disabled you can PUSH install it out to all the machines.

[Poppa_Meth]

I'm considering both Avast and Trend Micro. Sounds like Avast may be the better way to go. I've given some consideration to NOD32 as well. From all accounts I've heard, it's very good but their tech support is virtually non-existant. I've never had to call an AV company for tech support but it isn't reassuring to know it may not be there if needed. I'll have to look into the managed solution from Avast.

[Poppa_Meth]

I've got the trial of Avast Pro installed on one PC now. Avast has always had an odd interface IMO but I like the program itself. I think I may end up going with this. Looks like the managed client can be downloaded free and installed at a later time. I don't think we even really need the managed client though. I'll have to talk to the tech guys and see exactly why they think I need it on such a small network.

[jimmalenko]

We use Trend Micro across about 100 PCs and are very happy with it.

[Dv8ted2]

I second Jim on this one.

[RDS1955]

Dumb Questions.

Will your work allow you to install another anti-virus on top of the one already being purchased/installed? Or do they allow you your choice in what you want to install on their PC? There was a federal case just recently involving a guy who installed unauthorized software (Not Porno, but a Program to delete files..) on a company computer and he got slammed..

Second Point. I used to have two Anti-virus's installed on my home PC, years ago, but that got to the point where they kept on interfering with each other, and I recently read on a tech site it was recommended not to have two anti virus programs running on one PC.... Just a point..something to consider..

[Poppa_Meth]

We have 3 PCs online and 4 people working in the store. It's a small family owned business. For all practical purposes, I am tech support. They don't care what I put on them so long as it works. The guys setting up out register system want to put a managed version of McAfee on with no real anti-spyware and just the windows firewall. I'd rather have it more secure than that so I'll be taking those choices away from them. I think it's definitely down to Avast or Trend Micro. I'll have to try Trend Micro and see how it compares to Avast.

[Dv8ted2]

Dumb Questions.

Will your work allow you to install another anti-virus on top of the one already being purchased/installed?

That is rarely advisable. The two programs fight each other for control.

[Faustus]

and just the windows firewall.

On a business machine? Never never never. No way I'd use a software firewall. They need to buy a router with a decent firewall in it.

[Poppa_Meth]

I've got that taken care of. I have a Linksys WRT54GS with all security fully enabled. Only one PC is on a wireless connection and it's running very high security settings. I also have Kerio firewall installed now on all machines, which plenty when combined with the router I think. I also have Spybot and Spyware Blaster installed (which to my knowlege are now fine to use in a business application. Correct me if I'm wrong) on all PCs and ad-aware plus on all machines. Now I'm just down to a good AV.

[LSchafroth]

I still recommend AVG. I have it on all 7 of my servers. I've sold my 67th copy to my customers. I have not had any virus outbreaks on any of their systems.

Much better then McAfee or Norton when it comes to system resources.

LS

[eKer]

You could also test AntiVir.
German manufacturer / English version
Visit www.avira.com. Both free and pro editions run quite fine.

[superpotts]

I know you've already ruled it out, but I have to agree with LSchafroth. I've never had a virus on any pcs since installing AVG. I used Avast for about a year, and it was okay, but AVG is much easier to use and performs better and is more reputable in my opinion.

[BJ_M]

AVG is a good application -- but more resource hungry..

easy to use ? there is nothing to do really on almost any antivirus application ..

15th February 2006: For immediate release: ALWIL Software is proud to announce that it has won the prestigious SC Readers Choice Awards for best Antivirus (avast!) for the USA section of the award event.

[lordsmurf]

http://www.grisoft.com/doc/Single/lng/us/tpl/tpl01

I use AVG Free at home, and it uses almost nothing. It's on a diet compared to the resource pigs Avast, Symantec/Norton and McAfee.

[dwill123]

I work for the largest phone company in America (prior to the AT&T\Bell South merger). Everyone of our PCs & laptops (easily over x00,000) runs Norton (Symantec). From an enterprise stand point it is very good.

[BJ_M]

avast uses almost no resources -- in fact it rated one of the best in this area ..

NOD32 was the tops in this category ..


reviews http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3640-2239_4-10375520.html



each one will have their fav picks .... i certainly was heavy pro kap , then avg -- its all personal anyway ....

[MJA]

I started to switch all my pc's/laptops from AVG to Kaspersky for one major reason.Kas have a feature called real time protection.AVG doesn't

[lordsmurf]

AVG has a "resident shield" TSR in the sys tray.

[MJA]

I like Kaspersky but it's a massive memory hog. I've seen so many products with good reviews one place and bad reviews another that it's making me sick. I trust the people around here more with a question like this that googling random websites all day. Any input is appreciated. AVG is out by the way. I've seen a few demos of how it's realtime protection is simply lacking compared to other solutions.[/quote]


I'm using Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal 6.0.0.297g RC Candidate 17.no issues at all . I didn't notice any of the thing your are talking about. it does scan critical areas when windows starts,but that can be disabled.

check this site. Anti-Virus Comparative February 2006 Tested on Windows XP Professional SP2
http://www.av-comparatives.org/index.html?http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/comparatives.html

[BJ_M]

very nice report --

NOD32 also rates quite on this report i notice ...

interesting


note: i switched to avast because i am mostly running winXP64 , which avast runs native on and is a 32 and 64bit application .. but i think other antivirus apps also have 64 bit versions ...

[Poppa_Meth]

Again, that report makes AVG look not so good. I have no issues with AVG at home but I don't think it's up to snuff for business application. Kaspersky definitely looks like the way to go. As far as resource hogging, I'm just judging by their system requirements at this point. Kaspersky recommends at least 128MB or more, which is higher that any other I've looked at. I am noticing a fair bit of slowdown on the machine at work that uses Avast trial right now. I may try Kaspersky on it and see what happens.

[BJ_M]

the system slowdown issue was the reason i switch originally from Kaspersky to AVG ... then again products keep improving ..

[Nelson37]

First, check with the software company and make absolutely certain that your chosen app is compatible with the software you are using. Doesn't matter how good the AV software is if it prevents your POS software from working properly.

Whatever answer you choose, the choice will almost certainly change in 6 months or so. Norton and McAffee are proven solutions which have been around for many years. Many of these other companies will be gone within a few years.

I look for track record and long-term performance. If I recommend some fairly new outfit, and a problem develops, that is my fault. If I recommend a company and product which has been around for over 10 years with an excellent track record and good support, then any resulting issues are less likely to be perceived as my fault.

Hard to go wrong with Symantec products. Just don't get the full Internet Security package.

Just a note on the Spyware - Spybot updates are sometimes quite infrequent. NAV updates every week, new version includes anti-spyware. Ad-Aware failed too many times for me to use it or recommend it any more.

[cyflyer]

I'm kinda partial to Nod32 myself, for the second year running. On others' computers that I've seen with Norton, the AV seems to be churning away constantly in the background and slowing the computer down just when you don't want it. Also when Norton finds stuff after a scan, its usually "found Mrnasty, but cannot delete". Whats the point if it can't delete anything ?

[Poppa_Meth]

I just checked out Norton's specs. 256MB of RAM for an AV program? I think not. That tops the list so far on RAM recommendations. I'm going to try out Kasperky on this rig and see how it effects the programming. I don't have any issues with Avast except some of the programming takes noticably longer to switch pages. I have a paint matching program that use to swith pages almost immediately when you clicked a buttong. Now you click one and you see Avast spin in the tray for a moment and then the page finally switches. I'm just trying to see if I can fine one that doesn't cause that much slowdown, but it may be unavoidable if I want one that will do it's job well. I think the main problem is that this particular piece of software isn't coded worth a crap. Even their tech department told me it was buggy as hell. That's what you get in a $6000 color rig I guess.

[Poppa_Meth]

So far I've tried Avast, Kasperky, and Trend Micro on my test PC. TM is the only one that doesn't cause massive slowdowns. I just wish it didn't have such a cluttered interface. Anyone have a guide for setting up all it's features for optimal performance? I'd like to see how it's going to run for a while before making a decision.