News & Tips

Customers are always asking, what is the best anti-virus and why. It's really sad to see that so many of them have been bamboozled into buying Symantec Norton Antivirus or McAfee Antivirus by local computer stores. Like most technicians we hate these programs with a passion for they come with a laundry list of problems that we deal with on a daily basis. Here is a small list so you can judge for yourself.

• Can't scan outside of Windows, DOS mode as we used to call it. Both programs
• ccapp.exe crash on shutdown  thanks Norton
• 75% drop in system resources thanks to both programs
• Neither program can remove a virus currently in memory.
• If you can uninstall the bloated programs your in luck, if not you need their removal utility found on their websites. Good luck getting it once it kills your internet connection.
• Neither of their Internet Security packages are the least bit user friendly. With a host of pop-ups and access questions that only a technician could know. Make a mistake and there goes your internet connection. again
• Last but not least, they make you actually pay for this garbage.

Now, some of you will argue these programs are the best thing going since sliced bread and that's fine. This is just our opinion based on the several thousand computers that we've worked on. If you feel they work well on your system than by all means keep using them. Unlike retail outlets we don't get kick backs for pushing software, we just push what works, plain and simple.

So what can you do to protect yourself? Make sure your Microsoft updates are turned on and up to date. Make sure you have antivirus, if you don't some of the best anti-virus software is free just look in the column to the right. Make sure it's installed and up to date.

Here is a great program that's free and will remove just about all spyware, and if you decide to pay the $25 dollars it will run in the background and help keep them out of the system for good. make sure you run anti virus with it. like Avast.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46

Version: 1.46 File Size: 6 MB
                Operating Systems: Microsoft ® Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 (32 & 64-bit versions).

Or

Super AntiSpyware
another great free spyware remover

Remember, never load more then one anti virus or anti spyware program on your computer. It may seem like your doubling your protection but in the end the programs can cancel each other out and you may end up with little to no protection at all. These programs have databases that look like viruses and spyware to other programs and could be removed by mistake.

Don't buy, get the best software for FREE!

• Avast Antivirus, I believe to be one of the 2 best antivirus' to date. Free for home users.

 

• Microsoft Security Essentials, Rated 8 out of 10 as one of the best anti virus and anti spyware. It works really great I even run it on my system.
  ( Great option, as long as you have a valid copy of Windows that is.:-)

 

• HiJackThis, This program will show you every starting application on your system from everywhere. And let you kill them. For advanced users only.

 

 

• Best backup Solution. MOZY on-line backup the is the service I use and can honestly say it's worth every penny, about 15 cents a day. Do it now and you won't be sorry later. Click on the banner below to get started.

 

 

REMEMBER: There are some programs that claim to be free or to do on-line scans that are just viruses in wait for you. Do yourself a favor and just use one that we recommend and you'll bypass these pitfalls altogether.

 

 

 

last updated 10/10/2010