Optimal anti malware/spyware/virus software and their necessity

[StevethePirate]

Before I list the softwares in consideration, are computer protection suites even necessary when matched against freeware? If they are, which one of these 5 suites do you recommend and why: AVG, BitDefender, Kaspersky, MacAfee, and TrendMicro. I chose the first 4 because they were among the higher rated in Consumer Report; TrendMicro was included because I have had decent personal experience with it. Thanks for your consideration.

 

[Yerfdog]

Why do you have the worst ones listed?

Use Microsoft Security Esse- *looks at user name*
Oh... that's why you aren't going to use it...

 

[carnageX]

Don't use Consumer Reports... use AV-Comparatives:
AV-Comparatives - Independent Tests of Anti-Virus Software - Welcome to AV-Comparatives.org

They're 3rd party testers that don't get paid by the AV companies.

Also, Eset Security Suite, IMO, is the better suite protection out there.

 

[Yerfdog]

Don't use Consumer Reports... use AV-Comparatives:
AV-Comparatives - Independent Tests of Anti-Virus Software - Welcome to AV-Comparatives.org

They're 3rd party testers that don't get paid by the AV companies.

Also, Eset Security Suite, IMO, is the better suite protection out there.

My friend has tried ESET and Microsoft Security Essentials.
He says that MSE has been working the best.

 

[carnageX]

I have both, and don't have complaints on either. I have MSE on my laptop, and put it on all my clients' computers, and have ESS on my desktop (just cuz I haven't bothered taking it off since I got it/put it on).

 

[Yerfdog]

What I meant is that he says that it's picking things up that ESET doesn't. There were three viruses on a program that he downloaded that ESET hadn't picked up, ESET didn't pick up any, MSE picked up all of them. He says that out of all the AV's he's used, MSE is the best.

 

[carnageX]

And I agree with him, on account of that's all I use for most of my AV needs.

 

[NoNameNY]

I like eEye Blink AV suite. It has wonderful scan capabilities.

I used to run AVG on my personal systems and thought they were clean, installed eEye just to try it out and it picked up several things including 2 worms

 

[Slaymate]

I use Microsoft Security Essentials and I don't cruise the porn sites or download pirated materials. Nothing can help a perv or a pirate, there gonna get ya.