Symantec Endpoint, I'm biased since I get it for free. Thanks to home-use license
My only con is uninstalling it is insane, best to just format. I only do this when I can get an updated copy from work.
You can always download the norton uninstaller. It has never failed me yet. Currently, there's no good reason for uninstalling it though.
Good point, and if it doesn't work I could always return it.
No, I basically just assumed. Truthfully, the fact that I have dll problems and Norton may not be related at all, this is the internet after all; I don't have to be a reliable source of intel. Also some evidence that backs up your claim, I replaced the apparently corrupted dll with one I found of the internet which was suppose to solve the problem, but nothing changed and I also followed steps posted by microsoft's customer support.
+1 Karma for unprecedented humility and honesty.
Here is how you get the best Anti Virus software.
1) Go to: http://www.ubuntu.com/
2) Reformat your HDD and install Ubuntu 8.10 (or you other favorite Linux distros).
Of course there is always the non software solution to your virus woes
1) Disconnect AC power plug from wall socket.
What this thread assumes is that "the best AV software" is the one that really only detect 90+% of the KNOWN malware. So lets see thats 10% of the malware that is known but can't be detected by heuristics, or is in the 0-day attack window. Don't forget there is another % of all malware in the wild which isn't even known until your favorite security software researchers have time to analyze the submitted code. The last statistic is a little hard to approximate at any one time, but considering the acceleration of new variats on a year by year basis, this not know and not detect figure IS significant.
If you'd like to experiment with your "favorite" AV software, try finding a fresh copy of the Mebroot malware. At the time of this writting the only software capable of detecting this rootkitted virus is GEMER. Once found removal is an advanced process, which will require manual removal techniques.
AV software is inheriently flawed in its assumption that all software can be analyzed and classified in a good/bad bin structure.AV software will always rely on continual updates to try to stay slightly less behind the defense arams race.
I'm a software engineer, computer security expert, and malware removal expert, and my PC is AV and Windows free.
You also make stupid comments implying incompetence and naivety to me.
Here's a stupid incompetent reply I've devised, specially for you:
I reformatted my HDD, reinstalled the discs that came with my laptop computer. I tried to install the ubuntu anti-virus software you recommended, and it entirely failed. Apparently it doesn't support windows vista. How odd...
Oh yeah, sounds awesome. Instead of having Windows and a great AV program like Norton 360.. Let's go the dumb route and install an "open-source" OS which is much more vulnerable to attack. There's nothing you can say to make linux more secure. It just isn't. Hackers will eventually turn on your linux OSes as well.
Impressive.. So you write software?.. Wow.. And a PC Security Expert. Let's give you a run down.. I'm certified on a specialist and enterprise level with Windows Vista. I think I'd trust my word more that Vista is quite a bit more secure than any linux distro you can install. That's a fact. Being a fanboy of Linux is one thing.. The user didn't ask us about an OS change.. He/She asked what av software to use. Stay on topic. And more importantly.. Enjoy your crap OS. You could at least run Red Hat (or even Fedora) and not seem a total joke...
Sorry in advance mods. Had to be done by someone, and mideswell be me.
It's a shame that discussions about software/hardware take on an insulting tone....really, it's only software. Passion is one thing, but anger is another.
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou
I don't think it's as much anger as us replying to stupidity. I see where you're coming from JBHL and trust I have nothing but respect for you in your opinions. You're a good guy. It pretty much sums up to people like those are highly irritating.. We're all trying to help and they are offering advice not even asked for. And not even really advice.. More or less just smart @*~ comments.. Just drives some people nuts.. Mainly me and mickeko lol..
Actually it's not, but I'm not here to prove you wrong. It's as out of place in this thread as Malius comment is.
We use windows, we need AV software. Claiming an OS is antivirus software is silly, as is claiming vista to be more secure than any linux distro.
Now focus on the topic at hand.
My comment wasn't directed at anyone, fellas. Just an old guy making his dumbass remark......I envy all of you your wonderful knowledge and passion. I remember myself (from long ago) in them and thank you all for that, and your kindness, Cynthdivide.
Does Stardock make customizing programs for linux? I don't think so.
How about Mac? Sorry,I'm afraid not.
This is WIN(short for Windows)Customize,or at least it is where I am posting from.
Discussion of other OS's has no bearing on anything in this thread imo.
i still like Vipre
(emphasis mine)
No, it's not silly, it's called being educated. A good OS doesn't need an antivirus. Linux doesn't have viruses thanks to a couple of factors.
1. It's engineered better. Unix started as network operating system, rather than being strapped on later like in case of Windows. For a start, root (administrator) is not the default mode in Linux. You have to explicitely allow a program to get higher privileges.
2. It's open-source. It's not security through obscurity - a couple of guys sitting behind a closed door and hoping that 1) there's no bugs 2) that no one will find out. Security issues in Linux are brought to light quickly, discussed in the open, and promptly patched. There are just many, many more people with eyes on the codebase. It's open source, open standards etc. Good security is not a product - it's a process. Getting things fixed as soon as possible. A secure OS doesn't need an antivus, much like a well-designed filesystem doesn't need a defrag tool, or a good OS doesn't need to restart after installing a driver.
3. Linux itself is like a virus - it keeps mutating. With windows you have a monoculture, possible to kill off with a single strain of virus. See botnets. Linux consists of many different packages and many alternative tools for each task, and is assembled by groups of individuals into distributions. Because people have wildly varying needs, there are over a hundred distribution of Linux ( http://distrowatch.com/ ), with about 10-20 in the spotlight at a time. I'm not tied to Microsoft Office - I can use either Open Office, Koffice, or Abiword. Should I use Kontakt, Kmail, Pine, Thunderbird, or any other email client ? There's no 1 official program for any task, they all get equal treatment and people choose one they like the best. You can't just target Microsoft Office or Outlook and be confident that everyone is using it. Linux is about consumer choice.
Vipre sounds good, but where are the tests on how it performs what it's meant to do?