Av Programs

I was surprised at these results.
I thought some of the well known ones would have fared better.
Red arrows show more info.

http://www.av-test.o...er/marapr-2012/

 

Interesting ...............AVG, which has been reported as not being up to the mark lately, comes out extremely well compared to MS Essentials which seems to be the AV of choice with many ..............including myself.

I think I will stay with Essentials until Pete tells me otherwise

 

Are we looking at the same page?

AVG they score low at protection compared to MSE on their block scale, but after saying that looking at the figures page they don't seem to match up to the block rating?

 

I am running MSE on 2 desktops. I find it's doing the job OK.
Only issue I found was when I allowed a false positive, MSE froze.
Didn't like it one bit.
Other than that I am satisfied with MSE.

 

Since its release, I think Microsoft are playing catch up, but in doing so Security Essentials seems to be improving on a weekly basis. I ran a scan on Wednesday with it and for the first time it pulled out and removed a fairly harmless tracking cookie, it hasn't bothered with them till now as I usually let SAS do that anyway. So it seems that each normal and automatic update brings improvement with it. It certainly beats Avast, which I used for a long period of time till it started pulling too many false positives, as well as that pain of a voice telling you it has been updated every day.
So yes I will stick with the Microsoft freeby.

Nev.

 

Mine too KenB, as you are the GENTLEMAN Who introduced me to Microsoft Security Essentials.
thank you
Love
kayrose

 

As the topic says AV programs. I once again went with AVAST (Free).

Thanks
Wildman

 

.I'm not sure exactly why you posted that. Are you suggesting that MSE is not an antivirus program?

 

I am using Avast Pro version. So far so good.

Nev you can turn off that voice announcement. Bring avast on to your screen, click on Settings, then Sounds ... uncheck the Sound. Voila' you will now have a silent update.

 

I think this article says a lot about AV software reviews and the problems involved

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-sites-reliable-antivirus-software-reviews/

But it would be interesting to here where our malware specialists get their information from.

 

There is no such thing as a perfect test, however if AV programs are all put under exactly the same test then I think we can get some idea.
There is not one AV that is 100% effective because the huge amount of new malware released daily these Companies will be forever playing Catch Up.
Safe Surfing is so important.

 

Good article there Match and well done for finding it as that guys comments make you think, as well as his links and descriptions of other AV test and review sites.

That now brings me to your good knowledge and advice Dougie, you are so right that no AV is ever going to be a 100% winner. They just cannot be in the real world, so safe surfing is the best answer, and to do that successfully requires a lot of good knowledge coupled with common sense.

However, there is at least one good tool to help the average person to accomplish safe surfing, although not foolproof, and for similar reasons that no AV can be, WOT (Web Of Trust) is a good thing to have as a plug in or add on to your browser which can warn of known risky websites.
Though not as well liked by some, there is also the McAfee site advisor which does a similar job.

Add as accompaniment to your AV, general malware scanners such as Malwarebytes, Superantispyware, and the stand alone monitor Spywareblaster.

Then apply common sense and the knowledge to not click on any links you aren't sure of where they came from, both on websites and e mail, also stay well away from any P2P sites and programs, then you are well on the way to safe surfing.

Stay safe from the criminals folks.

Nev.

 

Heavens no, just that there are others as good or perhas better suited for some individuals.

Thanks
Wildman

 

The top 5 in AV tests perform about the same. There is no stand out winner.
AV programs that update a number of times a day is a good indication they are staying on top of the new variants.
Really comes down to personal choice in the end and what interface etc you are most comfortable with.