Windows Vista Best Antivirus Software Options for Windows Vista: Recommendations Needed

Dustin · Jan 11, 2008

Hi,
I installed Vista and I was wondering what kind of anti-virus software I need to install. What's the best over all, and if there's anything free?

Sorry for the basic question.. I'm a happy Mac user so I'm new to Windows and AV.

Matt · Jan 11, 2008

Well, right now, I'm not using any anti-virus, but from past experience, Norton has some pretty good anti-virus apps, though I haven't treid then om Vista (I plan to get it soon). CA is one that you should stay away from, it caused problems for me and slowed down my computer a lot. ESET NOD32 ( http://www.eset.com/ ) is pretty good, it didn't slow down my computer, and seemed good. Windows OneCare has gotten bad reviews,mm but I haven't tried it yet.

So, for now, I reccomend ESET for now, but I'll tell you how the others are on vista (Symantec and OneCare).

Cheers,
Matt

btw, I was just wondering, comming from the mac, what do you think about Windows Vista?

Snake · Jan 11, 2008

AVG Free is the best.

Dustin · Jan 11, 2008

Thanks for the help. I'll check out ESET and AVG.

I actually have Windows installed on my MacBook Pro. The install was great; Link Removed due to 404 Error made a partition for me and the Vista installer is nearly as slick as the OS X version. It only took about 40 minutes to have it up and running. I can use OS X or Windows whenever I want.

I never really used XP, but it looked a bit like a child's toy or something. Vista looks a lot better, a big improvement. The other Macs in the house recognized it right away and networking wasn't a problem at all. Vista has a really cool media center. The Flip 3D thing is sort of neat and I like the preview that comes up when you however a window on the taskbar. I've been using Dashboard on my Mac for years, but the Windows Sidebar thing is cool. I like how it loads right on the desktop. The search is also pretty good. I've been Spotlight on OS X for a long time, and its nice to Windows can search the same way too.

Overall I'd say its a pretty solid OS except for a few things. I need to use a screen magnifier sometimes. The OS X version is instant and quite intuitive, but Windows Vista's lags a bit and has an odd placement on the screen. It also wasn't installed by default so I had to find it on the system disc.

I also installed Vista on a PC that used to run Linux. It has a lot of these blue screen things. I haven't seen any on my MBP yet though.

I guess my biggest gripe about it is that I have to get AV software. It seems kind of funny that a company can't keep its own software secure and actually recommends its customers purchase anti-virus software. Especially when they provide their own for sale. If OneCare makes the system more secure shouldn't they just include it?

Windows Vista is a cool OS, but I couldn't see using it for all my computing tasks.

ArchTech · Jan 12, 2008

You can try Kaspersky 7.0 it's a very good Anti-Virus software also....(i'm using it!) I switched to this Anti-Virus because of good reviews at it was recommended to have it like NOD32 and Norton....
Well if you want free Anti-Virus try AVG Free 7.5, it's a good Anti-Virus software and I have it before(yet mine is licensed software) but for me I recommend Kaspersky 7.0 because it doesn't slow down your computer also, Automatic updates not just daily,Startup scan, and more...

Hope this helps

um can I ask what OS X version you are using btw....Leopard??Tiger???

Dustin · Jan 12, 2008

ArchTech said:
You can try Kaspersky 7.0 it's a very good Anti-Virus software also....(i'm using it!) I switched to this Anti-Virus because of good reviews at it was recommended to have it like NOD32 and Norton....
Well if you want free Anti-Virus try AVG Free 7.5, it's a good Anti-Virus software and I have it before(yet mine is licensed software) but for me I recommend Kaspersky 7.0 because it doesn't slow down your computer also, Automatic updates not just daily,Startup scan, and more...
Hope this helps

um can I ask what OS X version you are using btw....Leopard??Tiger???

I remember hearing good things about Kaspersky too. I'll take a look. When the AV software scans does it slow down your computer? How often does it have to scan?

I use Leopard and Tiger (we have several Macs).

doeda · Jan 12, 2008

Im using Win Xp pro with NOD32 from ESET. its a very good antivirus why dont you try that ? but i dont know if its working with vista. Panda also is very good but it slows the PC very much down.

ArchTech · Jan 13, 2008

Well Anti-Virus might slow computer when scans depending what level setting and computer specification.....for me I recommend to not to use your computer while scanning for performance reasons,
Depending what do you want when to scan, for me at least a once week, or much better as often as possible...yet Anti-Virus automatically detects virus like opening suspicious files...

btw you can try other recommended Anti-Virus if your not contended to it like NOD32,Norton,BitDefender....

Good Luck!

doeda · Jan 19, 2008

I always let my pc scan on sunday night before i go to sleep when im doing nothing on my pc

Matt · Jan 19, 2008

I'm now running Windows One Care on my desktop, and AVG Free on my laptop. They both seem pretty good, with AVG's advantage being that it's free, and Windows OneCare that it has a very good UI and does more than just AV (like backups and tune ups for example).

They both seem good at removing viruses as well, and neither seems to slow down my computer, even while scanning (I'm running a scan on my laptop with AVG as I'm typing this).

So basically, it depends on if you want free and a less polished interface, or to pay to get extras and a nice interface.

THFS · Jan 29, 2008

I would go with Avast! It is free, lightweight, and very nice!

the_blue_master · Feb 3, 2008

GRISOFT AVG ASP FREE ALL THE WAY

Jason · Feb 3, 2008

I'd agree with anyone who suggested http://www.eset.com/products/nod32.php it isn't at all resource heavy and has never let me down.
I know it isn't free, but it is a pretty fair price.
Any of the free products suggested will provide you with a good level of security too though really.

temur · Feb 6, 2008

I'd recommend Spyware Doctor with Anti Virus.
www.pctools.com
Renowed for it's quality, been using it for 2years + First found it on www.majorgeeks.com

Chaoswarrior · Feb 7, 2008

I would prefer Nod32 or zone alarm,they have the hugest database of viruses...

rl2k05 · Jan 10, 2009

Antivirus

Everytime install antivirus on my Windows 7 PC, I get the Blue screen of death. I have tried AGV, Kaspersky and Norton and it happens everytime atfte the install. Any suggestions?

Systems running fine now....but no antivirus......

Radenight · Jan 10, 2009

rl2k05 said:
Everytime install antivirus on my Windows 7 PC, I get the Blue screen of death. I have tried AGV, Kaspersky and Norton and it happens everytime atfte the install. Any suggestions?

Systems running fine now....but no antivirus......

I have AVG Free installed on my 32 bit version of 7 and Kaspersky on my 64 bit edition and have no problems at all with either...

don't know why you would be having trouble with them...

hammydown · Jan 10, 2009

I installed AVG Anti-virus with no problems. The only thing i can think of is that your system came with a virus or something that prevents antivirus software from being installed.

Joe S · Jan 17, 2009

Well I have used free versions of both AVG and Avast Link Removed and prefer Avast. Avast has a very good forum for help much like this one and their tech people are active on it. AVG forum tends to be a bit stuffy and less user friendly. I have had conflicts with Mcaffee and Norton in the past. Mcaffee and Norton both tend to push all in one products down your throat. I currently run Avast on Vista Ultimate 64 bit, Windows 7 64 bit and XP 32 bit with no problems. I have had couple of false posatives with Avast in Slipstreaming and related sofware. When I submitted the files and links to the software the definitions were updated in a day or so to fix the problem. I wasn't the only one involved in Slipstreaming XP that encountered problems with AVG. For some reason AVG hung for several minutes whe encountering Windows XP SP2 files either download of the actual disk.
Joe

Kylethedarkn · Jan 18, 2009

From experience I recommend not getting Norton no matter what. It sucks in every way possible.

I would recomend AVG Internet Security, not only is it cheap to buy, it works and uses almost no memory. I didn't experience any change in my computer's responsiveness after installation. It didn't slow anything down.

Kaspersky is okay, but it tends to limit programs it doesn't know, or are new which gets annoying at times.

Macafee is good as well but it uses a lot of memory.

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