Anti Virus Protection

[MarcM]

What is a good anti virus program to get? I have had Norton for the last three years and was wondering if there is anything better out there. I am running Windows XP.

Thanks.

[scott]

Linux.

[edna]

Yes, or an old Mac...

I know many people who download AVAST from the net and are very satisfied. It´s free. And it seems it works much better than McAfee, that threw a party in my husband´s PC and invited a bunch of viruses (though it´s an expensive anti-virus...)

[Mars88]

Marc,

I've been using AVG for years, and it has been pretty good. I'm being prompted to upgrade to the newer version, but I'll hold off on that for a while. I've heard good things about Avira, which is another free anti virus program. Both my computers came with three years of Norton, which I dumped asap. Check cnet reviews for user opinions.

[scott]

Yeah, but an old mac will be slow and crappy, and unable to run lots of programs.

Whereas linux is kept up to date, and runs lots of programs, a lot of the time faster and safer than windows or mac.

And I can venture anywhere on the interwebs and not worry about a thing.

For serious, Linux is the best virus protection.

[Mars88]

scott,

Marc says he is using Windows XP, which he has purchased. He is supposed to erase it and replace it with Linux, a program that has a fairly sharp learning curve? I personally know a few IT people who swear by it, but I don't know whether a regular computer user is going to take the time to learn how to use it.

[scott]

There are loads of different Linux builds

And Ubuntu, has absolutely no learning curve, it's all desktop base, and requires no computer language/programming.

XP might have been paid for, but it's a pile, and will more than likely be crushed by a virus, or used in a spybot network.

and you can dual boot, by partioning your harddrive and running xp on half and linux on the other, to experiment, and use windows programs you need.

[edna]

Yeah, but an old mac will be slow and crappy, and unable to run lots of programs.

You bet...

Nah, I was joking. I thought you was joking too, Scott... Mac and Linux are the best option but yet it´s a new operating system... a new computer...

[The Seeker]

Yes, I don't think Linux is very useful advice... I'm quite happy with Avast. Avira was nice too, I don't remember why I uninstalled it... McAfee was awful, it caused a whole lot of trouble on my laptop.

[Levis]

Isn't Avast Vista-specific? It didn't work when I tried it on XP, but it works fine now that I have Vista.

[The Seeker]

I think it should work on XP too.

[Farin]

Linux isn't a bad advice, but let's face it: if you're not a bit computer savvy (or interested in how a computer works) then it's not realistic

to answer Marc's question: Avira

[edna]

I think it should work on XP too.

Yes, avast works on xp. I had it for one year at work, I had a laptop with xp and avast. Never a problem.

[MarcM]

Thank you friends. I will check out Avira, Avast, and AVG. I will also keep researching. My subscription to Norton 360 is almost up, and I am glad. My computer never ran the same after installing it. My computer is about 8 or 9 years old and when it finally dies, it will more than likely be replaced with a Mac.

As far as learning a whole new system, I am not looking forward to it, but the benefits should make it worth while.