Protection & Prevention: AV Programs

[Dave]

In an effort to help with the security issues that computer users face today while surfing on the internet, this thread has been started to give information of various anti-virus programs.

Tech-Forums is providing this listing as a service and is not soliciting, nor endorsing, any program.

About this thread:

• This thread is closed to prevent "clutter". New posts will be added to this thread by the admins or mods.
• Various programs will be added in separate posts.
• If you want to see a particular program added to the list, please PM me, or this forum's mods.
• If you have pertinent information that should be included in a post, please PM me, or this forum's mods, with that info.
• If you have a write-up for a particular program, you may PM it to me, or this forum's mods, for inclusion at a later date. Be sure to use the format as shown.
• If you would like to rate the program using the criteria and scale used in the write-ups, you can PM them to me and they will be included in the rating system. (The rating will show how many users have submitted their ratings, and the average ratings.)
• If you happen to be here when this thread is open, please do NOT post in it. It will be deleted.

Please check back as more programs are added! Thanks.

Dave

 

[Dave]

AVG Anti-Virus

Name: AVG Anti-Virus by GriSoft
Genre: Anti-virus
URL: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php
Versions: Free and Pro
Products: AVG Trial, AVG Free, AVG Professional Single Edition, AVG Email Server Edition, AVG Network Edition, AVG File Server Edition, & AVG Linux Email Server Edition.
Synopsis: Grisoft was founded in 1991 in the Czech Republic by software developer Jan Gritzbach. The main focus of the company is the detection of, and protection for computers from viruses! AVG AntiVirus was born to help protect users worldwide. AVG AntiVirus is currently used by more than 8 million users around the world.

Once downloaded and installed, the AVG interface is easy to use. It's functionality includes tests for virii on hard drives or removable media. If a virus is found, it will remove it or give step-by-step instructions for the removal. Other basic functionality includes:

• Control Center
• Resident Shield
• Email Scanner
• Virus Database
• Other (depending on edition)

Rating:

• Interface looks 4, simple and good looks, not overloaded with graphics.
• Ease of use 5, whether using the top navigation or the larger buttons, it's simple to find and use what you want.
• Ability to discover & prevent problems 5, finds most problems in a quick manner, and works well with email and online connections.
• Ease of eliminating problems 5, most problems can be taken care of with a simple click.
• Use of Resources 4, not an extreme usuage of system resources, quick working.
• Support 4, updates can be scheduled and will self-extract to the program. I have not needed tech support.
• Overall 4.5,

Rating System: 1=poor,2=okay, 3=average, 4=good, 5=excellent

AVG has been very reliable. It also works well with other AV programs, and is preferred by many to work with their other programs.

 

[Dave]

Avast! AV

Name: Avast! Anti-Virus by ALWIL Software
Genre: Anti-virus
URL: http://www.avast.com/
Versions: Free and Pro. Small business to Corporate
Products: Avast! Home, Avast! Professional, Avast! BART, Avast! PDA, Avast! Small Business (Network & Server), Avast! Corporate (Network & Server), and more.
Synopsis: ALWIL Software is a Czech-based company established in April 1991. The company specializes in security software, with its flagship product, the avast antivirus.

After downloading and installing, the Avast! AV is immediately ready to use. The first feature after installing is to restart the PC and begin a scan. The taskbar can include the Virus Database Recovery Generator and the On-Access Scanner. It's functionality includes a memory test upon startup and tests for viruses on hard drives or removable media. The program will remove it or give step-by-step instructions for the removal of found viruses. Other basic functionality includes:

• Simple User Interface
• Antivirus Kernel
• Resident Protection
• Email Scanner
• Virus Chest
• Other (depending on version)

Rating:

• Interface looks 4, not overloaded with graphics, and supports skins.
• Ease of use 4.5, it's simple to find and use what you want when using the menus.
• Ability to discover & prevent problems 5, finds most problems in a quick manner, and works well with email and online connections.
• Ease of eliminating problems 4.5, slightly limited capability of direct repair, good repairing files using automatically generated Virus Recovery Database.
• Use of Resources 4, not an extreme usuage of system resources, quick working.
• Support 4, updates can be scheduled and will self-extract to the program. I have not needed tech support.
• Overall 4.33,

Rating System: 1=poor,2=okay, 3=average, 4=good, 5=excellent

Avast! has been very reliable. It may work with other AV programs, but will not work in conjunction with Norton AV and several adjustments must be made to work with AVG. However, it is a good standalone AV.

Additional Info: Avast! has 3 protection settings and can do deep scans of your PC. Some areas may be excluded due to availability of the scan, such as SpyBot files, java files, etc. A reported drawback is that virus scans are not automatically saved.