Antivirus and WinXP??

ImagoX · #1 09-12-2002, 07:24 AM

Can anyone suggest a really good Antivirus that is NOT NORTON for a WinXP box? Besides Norton being a huge system hog (I've read online), I also have heard that it can cause some system instability when loaded.

I hear Panda is good. Any thoughts/suggestions?

If possible I'd like my antivirus to also:

~Be loadable on other PCs, even those running Win98SE

~Not be on a "pay subscription" virus definitoin model. But I WILL PAY for updates, if I can update multiple PCs, as in the scenarion above...

Thanks!!

augie2 · #2 09-12-2002, 07:52 AM

been using avg for 4 mths, seems good with xp
best thing it's free

get it here http://www.majorgeeks.com/showfiles.php?cat=29

excorcist · #3 09-12-2002, 08:00 AM

yep, avg is the best

augie2 · #4 09-12-2002, 08:53 AM

Sinnce we're on the subject, check out ad aware , finds and deletes spywarwe and zone alarm, decent firewall. These are also free or can get the shareware. These and others are in the security section of majorgeeks.com.

ImagoX · #5 09-12-2002, 11:11 AM

Ad Aware states on their home page that:

"Ad Aware is not designed for Windows XP, but some users have reported success running it under that environment. A patch is underway".

I ran Ad Aware on my Win98 machine and LOVED IT... how have you guys seen it working under XP?

Also, I went and loked up AVG Antivirus... their web site states that virus definitions are distributed MONTHLY, but several reviews say it's not distributed WEEKLY... How often are definitions updated?

Thanks SO much for the advice everyone!

augie2 · #6 09-12-2002, 01:41 PM

Been running ad aware with xp pro for 4 mths along with the other s\w that i mentioned above. have'nt fount their disclaimer for not running on xp, however i find several doubleclick and servedby spies every time i run it. i find that the phonehome progs are non existant, checked by zone alarm. Anyway works for me.xp pro w/o sp1

Have fun.

augie2 · #7 09-13-2002, 07:52 AM

Check this thread if not installing SP1
http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com...&threadid=427. Very imp

ImagoX · #8 09-13-2002, 08:30 AM

THANK YOU augie!

I actually started to run the SP1 u0pgrade, but canceled it because I got to thinking about all the new stuff I just added (like AVG and Ad Aware, etc.), and was not sure if I'd be messing anyhting up majorly by implementing it. SOUnds like I REALLY SHOULD install SP1, correct?

Oh, and I got the AVG antivirus downloaded and installed last night, and so far, so good. It hasn't caught any viruses yet, but I am more relaxed knowing that I DO have protection (especially on email) now. How often do you check for updates though?

Ad Aware seems to run well on XP so far as well also- it caught *15* spyware apps running in the background, and I've only been using the new PC for about 5 days. YOW!

Thanks again for all the help- I really appreciate it!

augie2 · #9 09-13-2002, 10:46 AM

First of all, whenever making a big change to OS, backup. CD-RW media and writers are cheap. Since you have a virgin install, start with SP! and then start with loading everything else, one at a time and testing each for stability.

However, surfing around, I am finding lots of people having problems with 3rd party software.

SP1 has just been born, I suggest that the labrats weed the crap out of SP1. Your call. But use the above fix!!!

Assuming your s/w is legal. Otherwise this is useless and look elsewhere.

Ad Aware, I find that 15 spyware detected in 5 days is alot. And I am not a married man

Getting that many per month. Please give the exact summary line. Usually, I get new components, i.e cookie file. Never registry or processes. If you are getting processes, then you better get a firewall NOW!!!

Have a nice day.

ImagoX · #10 09-13-2002, 10:52 AM

I'm behind a Linksys hardware firewall, and am thinking about ALSO adding in ZoneAlarm, for when I have my PC in the firewall DMZ (I set up game servers often, and the firewall usually can't forward enough ports).

Almost all were from "Ad Click", which I think I know what site I'm getting those from. Not that it's a huge deal, but spyware IS annying. I hear KaZaa is notiorious for spyware too, so I'm, gonna get the special "KaZaa Lite" version that someone made with all the spyware stripped out.

Any other apps/sites anyone knows of that are notorious? I have a suspicion that Astalavista is setting them as well...

augie2 · #11 09-13-2002, 11:02 AM

Kazaa-lite ok, but if running dial up, this is always trying to connect to down or up load files. jams my modem. do it atnight and cancel when finished. uses bandwidth.

Any site that wants to send a download prog to run their web site info, to me , I don't want it. Most are spy and scumware. There are some, such as adobe 5.0 reader are ok. Use the others at your own risk.

No idea about harware firewall. Anyone?

Keep on Truckin

emf · #12 09-17-2002, 05:25 PM

I have AVG running on one with SP1 installed on an existing XP and one new from a slipstreamed XP+SP1 --- no probe with either one - works like a charm and doesn't slow the system down.

emf

Disk_Contented · #13 09-17-2002, 10:15 PM

Norton 2002 and XP work very well together, service pack or not.
I have used it with XP since it arrived and the only hitch i had after SP1 was cured by liveupdate (scan on demand window had to be forced to close).
It is not the system hog you think it is. By its very nature of working it will cause a slowdown as it checks files that are opened. As will any virus checker worth using.
Have a look at virus checker head to head reviews, you will see that the free virus suites still have catching up to do.
Sorry to go on bud.