Comments on: The Anti-Virus Story

By: Carmelia Godoy

Carmelia Godoy — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:55:18 +0000

I am using Norton security suite for a couple of years now and I have to claim it is a piece of junk. I would love to pay more money for something that worked much better. This software is slow and doesn’t give any assurance it is guarding my computer. I did find some good thoughts out of your website and will be evaluating them this week. Cheers!

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:48:50 +0000

Having something that doesn’t run all time such as MalwareBytes in addition to your always checking anti-virus suite is a good idea. You can run the MalwareBytes scan once a week and it will pick things the other one misses. I also keep a current install for it on a CD or thumb drive and install it first thing on any system before I work on it.

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:34:18 +0000

I suggest also running Immunet, either free or paid version, at all times. It can be run alongside other AVs.

See http://www.immunet.com/plus/index.html

By: richard

richard — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:43:46 +0000

clam win antivirus

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 07:57:28 +0000

I would give a slightly different answer to that question. While you don’t want to install your “always-on” antimalware on an external drive, it is possible.

Actually, doing that is often recommended. Many anti-malware apps include a “Portable” version that explicitly may be run from an external drive. Many anti-malware apps can also be installed on “bootable” CD / DVD / USB devices.

The intent of this approach is knowing for sure that the application has not been infected or tampered with by malware. Many malware attacks include disabling or damaging antimalware. Using the external approach you can run a “manual” scan of your system. The key point to remember is that you are going to have to download the latest signature files.

Actually, running anti-malware scans/repairs from an external drive is often listed as the last resort. The ultimate last resort is to use a tool that boots into Linux to scan your infected HD. That way you can be (almost) absolutely sure that it won’t be infected by malware running in Windows.

By: Hemachandra Babu

Hemachandra Babu — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 05:40:06 +0000

I have a 256 mb ram in my system. Whatever anti-virus I install, it slows down my system very badly. I have tried several anti-virus recommended by you but the result is the same. Once I uninstall the anti-virus, my system runs faster. Can you name an antivirus especially for a system with 256 mb ram please? Thanks.

Hemachandra Babu.D

By: Robert Joslin

Robert Joslin — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 04:07:50 +0000

I found out the hardway that you don’t need more than one anti-virus program. They will conflict like you won’t believe. Windows 7 has a built in firewall,so you don’t need another program with a firewall. You should have a mallware program also.