virgin virus protection

[manofdevon]

My Bullguard virus software program is coming to an end.

Is the Virgin free virus protection anygood?

Does it make the PC (XP/3) run slowly?

[BomberAF]

IMO I think it is is very poor, very un user freindly, and everytime I used it, it always caused my firefox browser to break and not work.

I now use Microsoft Security Essentials which is free if you have a real copy of MS Windows, and you have either Vista or Windows 7. I also use PC Tools free firewall, combined these are just as good if not better than anything you would pay for, so save yourself some money and get MS Security Essentials on your PC

[Acidphire21]

is it still Kaspersky? if it is its resource eatingly low, great protection but its not always the easiest thing to use if you have little or no computer knowledge otherwise its pretty simple to use if you know what programs and processes should be running

[Peter_]

PCguard has changed the all new Virgin Media Security is now fully Windows 7 compatible and features the very latest anti-virus and anti-spyware engines and is now based on Bitdefender.

[BomberAF]

I was using windows Vista and thought it was rubbish.

You seriously just want to use MS Essentials, you dont know it's there, uses no resources and has been given top marks when reviewed, it is very user freindly.

Dont forget an Anti Virus is only as good as it's ability to detect malware, and MS Essentials scored top marks when reviewed in PC Answers, so just go with that and PC Tools firewall, you wont regret it.

[roughbeast]

I use VM's PCGuard because it is free and comprehensive. However I switch off the firewall and use Windows firewall instead.

I have had a few problems though. PCGuard cannot block or clean some trojans. So, as backup I keep a copy of Spyhunter on my system ready to run just in case. This will clean virtually anything, even infections in your boot file.

[blade85]

I use avast. Its free and incredibly good (specially the updated version). did I mention its free...
Also doesn't slow your computer down at all, but still manages to scan files as you load them in the background (also scans web pages you visit on the go, warning you if it spots anything and blocking the site till you've given it the all clear).

these guys seem to agree http://freebies.about.com/od/securit...-antivirus.htm

For spywares I use the free version of Lavasofts Ad-Aware.

Then for even further security I use Firefox with the add ons- Adblock plus and script blocker

3 years later...still no virus infection, only once did I manage to find a spyware..and even that was from a programme I deliberately installed.

[Rik]

Microsoft Security Essentials.

Nuff said.

[martyh]

Originally Posted by Rik

Microsoft Security Essentials.

Nuff said.

i used to use MSE and swore by it but when it let a AV virus through forcing a reinstall i got rid and use VMs now much better stops anything and does a good job of cleaning trojans and pretty much anything else

[iNvidious01]

security essentials for the win, its perfect

[Ben B]

MSE cause VM gave too many false positives

[BomberAF]

Originally Posted by roughbeast

I use VM's PCGuard because it is free and comprehensive. However I switch off the firewall and use Windows firewall instead.

I have had a few problems though. PCGuard cannot block or clean some trojans. So, as backup I keep a copy of Spyhunter on my system ready to run just in case. This will clean virtually anything, even infections in your boot file.

DO NOT USE windows firewall as it is hopeless, it is only a one way firewall, and on top of that it may as well not be installed.

Use PC tools firewall,it's free and does the job of any paid for AV Firewall.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by BomberAF

DO NOT USE windows firewall as it is hopeless, it is only a one way firewall, and on top of that it may as well not be installed.

Use PC tools firewall,it's free and does the job of any paid for AV Firewall.

Actually, I believe the firewall included in XP SP3 is two way. It's still not great, but it's a *lot* better than it was.

[BomberAF]

ALL windows firewalls are 1 way firewalls, you can even look the windows firewall up on the web and see thereviews and advice that the pro's give it.

[Ben B]

No they're not, Windows 7 Firewall is most definitely 2 way

---------- Post added at 22:19 ---------- Previous post was at 22:15 ----------

...and so is Windows Vista

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Firewall