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- Aug. 2
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August 30, 2012 Finding The Best Anti-Virus
So, are you a McAfee Man or a Nortonator? For years, the two big dogs in anti-virus software have been Norton and McAfee. They have been the leaders in taking on the destructive prowess of pimple-faced hackers and virus vandals year after year. Their ongoing fight for supremacy in the online security world has shown the best example of why competition is better than a monopoly, as each continuously tries to outdo the other. Unfortunately, in the course of this Windows war, there have been casualties. Namely, us, the computer users. Somehow, both of those companies have forgotten their roots and purpose. Ask yourself this simple question: why are viruses bad? Aside from the actual damage they can do to your computer or files, one of the most common answers is that viruses make your computer run slower. Today, that's exactly what feature-rich versions of Norton and McAfee will do. It seems that with every generation, the two anti-virus programs become more bloated and slower, causing your computer to get slower and slower. Part of that is because the programs have become so feature-heavy, mostly with routines and processes that most people don't care about. Now, instead of simple anti-virus code, Norton and McAfee include spam blockers, e-mail filters, adware protection, malware hunters, firewalls, and a ton of other security programs. Unfortunately, all that extra stuff has to load up every time you start your computer. The result is that a computer with Norton or McAfee is slow to boot, and once up and running, the computer runs slower as it examines every scrap of incoming code three or four times. Then you have the cost factor. Norton used to be a reasonably-priced piece of software. You paid $19.95 for it, and you could update it until the letters were worn off your keyboard. Depending on the day, McAfee could be even cheaper. Not anymore. These days, you don't "buy" Norton and McAfee, you rent them. The 2012 version of "Norton Internet Security" retails for $69.95. And it's only good for a year. You can get a two-year deal, but at $114.99, it's still pricey. Norton has also started offering just the anti-virus, like in the good old days, but that stripped-down model is still $39.99 for one-year. McAfee's full "Internet Security" version is $54.99, following a longstanding tradition of undercutting Norton's price. But you still have the issue of annual renewals. So which way do you go? The answer: neither. There are newcomers to the anti-virus game that are extremely effective, and have a distinct price advantage. Namely, free. One of the most popular free anti-virus programs is Avast. You can download Avast at http://www.avast.com/en-us/free-antivirus-download. Just make sure you grab the free version. Avast can protect against most viruses. No anti-virus program can stop every virus, not even Norton or McAfee, because new viruses are being unleashed every day. The key to ongoing protection is the update process. The good news is that Avast will update itself every time you turn on the computer. The bad news is that Avast will update itself every time you turn on the computer. That means slower startups. However, the startup will still be faster than either Norton or McAfee. Another very good anti-virus program is AVG, a German offering. Don't worry, everything is in English. You can download AVG Free at http://free.avg.com/us-en/free-antivirus-download. A warning about AVG - like Avast, it has a "for pay" version. Don't confuse the free version with the free trial version, which you'll find at http://www.avg.com. Unlike the actual "free" version, the "free trial" version only lasts 14 days, then you have to pay. Be aware that both AVG and Avast only work for one year, then you have to download another version. They will both try to direct you to their "for pay" versions, and they probably deserve a look because you've been using their software at no charge for the last year. But if you want to continue with free protection, you'll usually have to uninstall your current anti-virus then download their latest free version. One final piece of advice - if you don't have any anti-virus software, or sometimes even if you do, you may encounter a warning that flashes up and claims it found viruses or malware. If the warning doesn't include the name of your anti-virus program, or if you don't have any virus protection installed, TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER IMMEDIATELY. Yes, do the unthinkable and hold the "off" button. These are actually virus-planting programs that will infect your computer, then require you to buy their program to eliminate what they planted. These are extraordinarily wicked viruses that can take hours to fix. The most important advice is to have some sort of anti-virus program on your computer, and keep it up to date. By the way, don't install both programs, thinking you're going to get double protection. For starters, it will REALLY slow down your computer, and in some instances the programs will actually detect each other as viruses when you really don't have any infection. Later we'll talk about some of the other malware and adware software to fill the gaps left open by avoiding Norton and McAfee. But for now, try out one of these, and enjoy a trip in the wayback machine, back when most software was available online for free. *Computer Dude
“The Computer Dude” is a weekly help column published every Thursday at www.MesquiteCitizen.com. It is provided by Computer Help, a computer firm in Mesquite which offers computer tutoring, training, troubleshooting, and repair for individuals, retirees, and small businesses. If you have a question or would like to see a particular topic discussed in a future column, you can send an e-mail to help@compuhelpus.com. You can also find other useful information on their website at http://www.compuhelpus.com/. If you need help with your computer, call Computer Help at 346-6357. |
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