(Free) Antivirus Software, Protection for Your PC

Posted by on 09/08 at 10:24 AM Permalink

In previous Tech Tips we covered the steps for building a computer, installing peripherals, and installing the Windows XP operating system. In this Tech Tip we will discuss the need for an antivirus software program, and how to find a good one without going broke.

Installing computer security software is the most important task you can do after getting the operating system up and running. If you bought a computer rather than built it, the same urgency exists. It is absolutely critical that you protect your computer from viruses and other harmful attacks before you install any other programs or connect your computer to the Internet.

Read Full Article Here:
http://www.geeks.com/techtips/2006/techtips-10sept06.htm

Do you wish to add to this article? Click the “comments” tab below and let your voice be heard!

    Posted by AlaskaJoe AKA Joe Polinsky  on  09/10  at  04:21 PM

  1. I have been using and selling NOD32 for a few years. It check for updates every hour and or as soon as you connect to the Internet. In over 7 years NOD32 has not had a Virus or Trojan get past it in the wild.

    “ESET’s NOD32 is the first anti-malware product to achieve both the Anti-Spyware Desktop Checkmark certification for detecting spyware and the Anti-Spyware Installed Checkmark certification for nullifying spyware and is to be congratulated on its double award,” according to Chris Thomas, CTO West Coast Labs.  “This means that users can be reassured that their machines now have two lines of defense from the one product.”

    All of us from the OnComputers radio show all use and recommend NOD32.

    2. Posted by Mark  on  09/10  at  05:52 PM

  2. Need to include a big section on spyware.

    3. Posted by Dennis Miller  on  09/10  at  08:36 PM

  3. As always guys, a great article and well written.
    Always enjoy the tech tips and shopping at the Geeks!

    4. Posted by Martin  on  09/10  at  09:26 PM

  4. Pretty good article except for the fact that you left out one of the best Anti-Virus companies out there.  TrendMicro is the company I use for protecting the network here at work and it is sooo much simpler to use than the Norton/McAfee crud.

    Case in point; about 2 years ago one of the execs got a bug up his rear-end about going with a “name brand” anti-virus program and pushed his weight around and (against my best efforts) got Norton installed across the network.  Not even 2 days later, we were infected and having people leave work because they’re computers were all tied up. Couple months later they listened to me and my staff and got TrendMicro and we haven’t had a problem since. We’ve even loosened our “grasp” over pages/programs/downloads our employees can browse because we are confident in it’s abilities.

    IMHO, BIG oversight Geeks…

    5. Posted by Matt  on  09/11  at  07:47 AM

  5. I was just wondering why you didn’t list Trend Micro PCcillin Virus Protection in your last article about virus protection.  Are they not good?

    6. Posted by Jim Gross  on  09/11  at  12:28 PM

  6. I noticed that TrendMicro’s PCCillin was missing from your list of Anti-Virus software. The current version provides the anti-virus features and firewall that was listed in the article. In addition, it also has anti-phishing protection, spyware and adware protection (though I have found that AdAware SE and SpyBot Search & Destroy free versions do a much better job). You can get the trial version of the software, also. Their website also has a free, online, scanner for finding problems that exist on computers that have either no AV software or software that has expired, to help route out, and eliminate problems.

    I am mentioning this to be fair to the field of anti virus software out there.

    7. Posted by JackG  on  09/11  at  04:43 PM

  7. TrendMicro’s PCCillin is fine in most cases. I had some trouble with earlier versions when I tested it. Thus, I didn’t include it in the listing I gave in my article. My list was not intended to be a definitive list. Due to space limits, I could not list all potential good products.

    The comments about Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D;are right on target. Actually, I wrote about them is a follow-up tech-tips. So great minds are thinking alike in this regard.

    -- Jack

    8. Posted by Fernando Rios  on  09/18  at  01:14 PM

  8. This is a great info, about all the virus roll...before reading this i totally doubted about the free anti-virus programs, but now im convinced that they can work as good as the famous brands A-V programs...thanks a lot..

    9. Posted by Steven  on  09/22  at  08:48 AM

  9. Thanks for the tech-tips.  Even though computer repair is by business and I think I know a lot about computers, there is always something else to learn and some of it comes from your Tech Tips. 

    In reference to the free products for protecting your computer I would like to recommend some others.

    One of the best I have found is called SiteAdvisor.  It is a small program and really quick and easy to install.  Originally developed by the geeks at MIT, it was bought by McAfee and can be downloaded for free at http://www.siteadvisor.com website or at http://www.macafee.com.  It has rated thousands of sites based on what kind of crap you can get from visiting their website, downloading their software, or by giving them your email address.  A browser plug-in, it has an icon in your Mozilla or IE toolbar that changes colors based on the websites rating, green is an OK website, red is a BAD website, yellow is questionable, and a question mark means not rated but you can submit it for rating right there on the spot.  It even links to their website with information on why websites were rated the way they were.  It also places ratings on all the websites found in a search so you can make a decision on which website to visit based on its ratings.  I install this on all the computers I work on including my own.

    Another one is Windows Defender.  I believe this started out as CounterSpy and Microsoft bought it and has used its technology as a the basis for this program.  They used to look very much alike but not any more.  It also catches many malware programs including cookies.  I think, too, it works well in conjunction with AdAware as many of my customers have told me this is so.

    The third one is an AntiVirus product called Avast!  It is free for home use and, yes, I use it too on my home computers.  I bought a license for the business computer, too.  Three years protection for $75 and I like it better than Norton and MUCH better than McAfee.

    10. Posted by Rob Dunn  on  10/12  at  05:03 PM

  10. Avast!  Yes!  I’ve been using this one for years after some annoyance with AntiVir.  I love Avast, and it has protected me more times than I care to remember (or admit, since some of it was a result of careless browsing)…

    Windows Defender + Avast + IESpyAds (since I use IE...*gasp!*) = a very happy system.

    I haven’t used SpyBot or AdAware ever since Windows AntiSpyware (Defender) first came out.  Not that they are bad, but I’ve had great luck with it.

    Rob

    11. Posted by Ken Shafer  on  01/19  at  11:14 AM

  11. I found alot of VERY interesting stuff on your site, BUT, I nees help with my computer.

    REASONS:
    When my son emails vacation pictures to me, I cannot open them. Or when my cousin sent a picture of her parents to me, I could not open it up.
    On most of my emails, when I try to open them (pictures), a box comes up saying that this association does not have a program ( or vica/versa) associated w/ it. I need to create a file for it.
    Being totally computer illiterate, I really need some step-by-step help with this. If you can give me advice on what to do, I’d REALLY appreciate it. I can’t afford to take my computer anywhere to have it looked at. I’m retired and on a fixed income.
    THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP!!!
    Sincerely,
    Ken Shafer

    12. Posted by Martin  on  02/05  at  08:54 PM

  12. Wow, you really dug out this TechTip to post your question!  I’ll try and help out a bit but I’d also try and search for a forum which deals more specifically with this issue (they’re out there, just have to dig a bit).

    I’m assuming that you have a fairly recent version of Windows running on your computer; ie Windows XP.  If this is true, then make sure the file format that your son is sending is a “common” format (JPG, GIF, or worst BMP).  Files like TIF or RAW don’t have built in support within most Windows operating systems so that might be what is giving you your error.

    If you aren’t running XP, you’re probably running Windows 2000.  2000 had inherent problems with this type of thing mainly because it was built for networking; not picture viewing.  In this case, you would need to install some sort of picture editing software (there are some free-bees out there) to be able to view the pictures.

    As I said before, there are better places to post this problem where more people will be more apt to see it and lend assistance.  If you continue to post here, please post your Operating System (XP, 2000, 98, ME, etc.) as well as the file extension your computer doesn’t recognize.

    Best of luck!

    13. Posted by Jon  on  06/11  at  05:36 AM

  13. Review this blog, may be you’ll find something interestin about free antivirus.

    14. Posted by john smith  on  09/28  at  05:11 PM

  14. proction from antvirus my computer

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    16. Posted by Tony Distefano  on  07/06  at  05:04 PM

  16. What a service you do , I’m not real pc savy , to get help takes hours and then 50% You gave me info and web site Thank you people for ur kind help.

    17. Posted by Anthony Distefano  on  07/06  at  07:05 PM

  17. I wrote a mess. awhile ago thanking u for the service you preformed, I take it back, You gave five site that were suppose to provide free anti virus etc. None of them do I spent a long filling out all their info request only to get to the LAST page where there was an option to choose 1 of 3 prices , I found nothing free but they now have MY info.

    18. Page 1 of 1 pages

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