What's the best antivirus for XP?

[Richard Fangnail]

I've had bad experiences with Norton AV and AVP. What do you
recommend I try now? It doesn't have to be free.

It shouldn't have a firewall - I have Windows Firewall.

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

"Richard Fangnail" <richardfangnail@excite.com> wrote in message
news:d1e991f3-b365-4e4e-abff-ee21245b8511@j33g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
> I've had bad experiences with Norton AV and AVP. What do you
> recommend I try now? It doesn't have to be free.
>
> It shouldn't have a firewall - I have Windows Firewall.

No idea what AVP is, but Norton and McAfee are evil.

Avast4 is free for home use and good enough for home use.
www.avast.com

--
Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
Do not reply with email

 

[Stefan Kanthak]

"Richard Fangnail" <richardfangnail@excite.com> wrote:

> I've had bad experiences with Norton AV and AVP. What do you
> recommend I try now? It doesn't have to be free.
>
> It shouldn't have a firewall - I have Windows Firewall.

And you have SAFER a.k.a. Software Restriction Policies too, as well as
NTFS and user accounts... and your brain.

You don't need any Anti-XXX, you need a "restricted" user account (which
can't write to %SystemRoot% and %ProgramFiles% on NTFS) and SAFER set to
"Deny" except for %SystemRoot% and below and %ProgramFiles% and below.

Of course you need the standard precaution "Don't OPEN files from sources
you don't or can't trust" (just in case malware tries to sneak in through
..PDF, .CHM or some other data file) too.

Stefan

 

[Robinb]

I use avg 8.0 free and pro version
just when you install it make sure you do a custom install and uncheck the
security tool bar
also if you run siteadivsor you need to uninstall this because AVG has one
built in

robin
"Richard Fangnail" <richardfangnail@excite.com> wrote in message
news:d1e991f3-b365-4e4e-abff-ee21245b8511@j33g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
> I've had bad experiences with Norton AV and AVP. What do you
> recommend I try now? It doesn't have to be free.
>
> It shouldn't have a firewall - I have Windows Firewall.

 

[Neil]

In my opinion, anti-virus programs are very much a personal choice, go with
what you like the look and feel of, and feel comfortable with.

It's no surprise that you've had problems with Norton, that and Mcafee are
ideal examples of good marketing making up for the flaws in the product.

If you don't mind paying a little, my personal choice, and recommedation to
many of my customers is Kaspersk - This is available as a full intenet
security suite, or just a stand alone AV program, and represents pretty good
value for money.

I'm told by a reliable source that the Kaspersky engine is used by the well
known 'MessageLabs' compnay to scan E-mails, and they make their living by
providing virus free E-mails to corporate clients, so it can't be all that
bad!

The advice from another poster that you don't need an AV program if you set
up your user accounts properly is a little flawed - yes it helps, but in my
opinion security needs to applied in layers, the AV is one, and user accounts
is another, the more layers you have the safer you are - never put all your
eggs in one basket!

Hope this helps

Neil
ww.nwarwick.co.uk

"Richard Fangnail" wrote:

> I've had bad experiences with Norton AV and AVP. What do you
> recommend I try now? It doesn't have to be free.
>
> It shouldn't have a firewall - I have Windows Firewall.
>

 

[baki]

Hi Richard,
I would recommend Kasperski or NOD32, they have been top AV programs for
long time now.

"Richard Fangnail" wrote:

> I've had bad experiences with Norton AV and AVP. What do you
> recommend I try now? It doesn't have to be free.
>
> It shouldn't have a firewall - I have Windows Firewall.
>