I'm sure there's a thread i could add this too, but i wanted to get different opinions on Antivirus programs that people like.

I like ESET Smart Security or NOD32 as a paid option and Microsoft AV if i was using a free one..

wondering if anybody has other opinions?

never tried it myself wouldnt mind hearing others experiene with it, if you run anti virus personally i think you should run more than one, would still rate avast highly if not as high as it was 18 month ago, avira seems to do the job without slowing the computer to a crawl, used to like superantispyware but it just seems to take to much out of the computer now, for day to day use avg still takes some beating, i would still do a scan with something else once in awhile if i was useing it though

I like Avast's free AV for my main AV program. I have the beta version of their 6.0 and it comes with their sandbox feature. Then I use ESET's free online scanner which uses their NOD 32 AV scanner. Then once in a while I use a program called Hitman Pro which isn't exactly free but you can download it and use it. It uses 40 different AV scanners. I really don't see any reason to pay for an AV program because no matter if your AV is free or costs $1000 it isn't going to catch everything all the time.

I don't use simply just an anti-virus, but a combination. Among the most highly rated free anti-virus are AVAST and Microsoft Security Essentials. Personally I use Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware which has a very good reputation.
First I update Malwarebyte's and then do a full scan with it, followed by a full scan with MSE. I also have Ad-Aware on the PC I'm using right now as well as WinPatrol. WinPatrol is a small program than keeps watch in case something tries to change a setting in your PC. It alerts you and let's you either allow or deny the change.

According to several different Mags that I read the following AV software always seems to be in the top 5 for the last several years

Nod32
Avast
Kaspersky
AVG

So I would say that you can't go wrong with any of these. Now AVG has been sliding down the polls in the last few years because they have turned into a resource hog.

When People come into my shop and ask for a recommendation for AV software I point to Avast for a free version and Kaspersky for a full internet suite.

I have not tried Nod32.

Now my results are a little biased. I really like Avast. And I really like Kaspersky. The reason I recommend KIS over Avast's Paid version is because I am a KIS reseller. The only reason. Now mind you, I would not be a KIS reseller if I didn't believe in the product. I like KIS about the same as Avast's paid version. If I was not a KIS reseller then I would recommend Avast free and paid versions because it would be easier to tell the customers. I would say I can install Avast Free version or if you want more security then we can upgrade it to the paid version.

This is my AV program set up I use Avast 6 Beta (the free version), Super Anti-Spyware, Malwarebytes, Spybot Search and Destroy, ESET's free online scanner, and then if needed I use Hi-Jack This, and Hitman Pro. Pretty much if that don't clean out your system nothing will, and it costs me absolutely nothing.

Originally Posted by hank

This is my AV program set up I use Avast 6 Beta (the free version), Super Anti-Spyware, Malwarebytes, Spybot Search and Destroy, ESET's free online scanner, and then if needed I use Hi-Jack This, and Hitman Pro. Pretty much if that don't clean out your system nothing will, and it costs me absolutely nothing.

I guarantee I can find a rootkit that can get through all that and none of those will see it in a scan. But yes you can get plenty of good programs for free. And Hitman Pro is an awesome program. Great thing about the pay versions is that it has the firewall (microsoft's firewall sucks) the spam blocker, integrates into your browser and more. You can get all the same protection for free but you have to run different programs, so you are using more resources. (slowing down your computer)

I know a lot of computer techs that do not even us AV programs anymore because there are too many rootkits that can get through all of them. I have 2 computers that I don't bother putting AV on them. Wife and kid's computers have AV on them but only because I test out different programs. I don't like having AV on my computer because I want my computer to run as fast as it can.

amazing how much more spyware and viruses you get when you run anti virus on your computer, cant be a coincidence

Originally Posted by popeye67

amazing how much more spyware and viruses you get when you run anti virus on your computer, cant be a coincidence

lol I have heard several people say that they believe that these AV companies create the viruses to keep themselves in business.

wouldnt go that far but i think they certainly attract malware deliberatly or otherwise