Your choice for security software?
 

almost time to choose security software. { I'm tired of all those expiration notices from the company that was downloaded before I bought this thing}----bummed I can't just purchase it at walmart!, but they don't carry it any more! now I have to make another choice & i'm not certain which is the best to go with--there are way too many reviews to go thru-- What's YOUR preference/experience with your security? aren't they basically the same? is there a "stamp of approval" I should look for?

well i got Webroot from Best Buy when i got my new computer. I like it, so far so good. I've renewed online.

I've never heard of that one--who is it made by?

I used Norton for years and finally got tired of paying for it year after year. I use Microsoft Security Essentials you can download it Free, and then I also use MalwareBytes....you can also download it Free and you can also purchase a One time upgrade for 24.95 (I think that was what it was...not much more) that offers more options.....and you can put it on 3 computers for the same price. I have been using both for over a year now and have had NO problems with either. Some people don't like either.....but everyone is different and has their own preferences.

I use avast free Essential from this site. http://www.avast.com/index

I've used it for 5 years, thru 3 computers, after a few years of problems with McAfee, with NO problems now ever. You will receive notices to upgrade to the $ version, but I have never upgraded and don't regret it. Highly recommend avast. :)

Jan in VA

I often wondered whether the online freebies were worth trying to download or not. i'll have to check them out ! thanks for the tips, all!

Love windows essentials. its free and it works really well. I was surprised that even though Norton was installed on my new laptop so was essentials. I removed Norton right away, nothing but problems and slow pc.

My son is IT and he says to use Kaspersky. Don't think I've had any problems with it.lol

My employer uses McAfee. My ISP at home is Comcast and they provide Norton free of charge so that's what I use at home.

the free versions of security software are the basic functions of the previous years version. you download that version free, and recieve adds toupgrade. the basics are fine for gen'l home use, higher functions safegard the computer better for business.
"Today, 05:05 AMdd
My son is IT and he says to use Kaspersky. Don't think I've had any problems with it.lol"

i have also used kapersky & i agree w your son, it's one of the best. but like norton, mc cafey & some others it is system heavy and really bogs down the processing speed of some older or slower machines. my son writes security software for a adobe, and he was surprised by all the fun little things i could do with the kapersky software :shock:.
saw a tech program few years back. they loaded 11 of ther computers w all the current best security software which included all that you have mentioned here plus others. then they infected the computers with the current (at that time) most virulent malware, virus etcetc. then they ran the programs to clean the pc's. every brand ---norton et al, cleaned differently. there was something left on each pc. so they removed the security programs and switched among the computers.

final analysis showed that each software offering in security programs had different built in focus. their conclusion was that no one security system was capable of doing everything, guarding against or removing all threats. some were bettermthan others but, basically, a pc owner should have several on their pc. one that runs all the time. then a couple others to run when all others turned off. essentially scan your pc w different programs for most effective cleaning of threats.

i don't like the ms free one. it is well rated but not rated any better than any of the free versions out there. i have paid for sunsytems, norton & others over the years. all about equal in performance. i have been using AVG Free for last ten years. very good, have it installed on mil pc also. easy for her to use. i tried a couple others that were rated as good or nearly as good as AVG but supposedly w interfaces more easily used than AVG. even i had trouble w them. so i now run AVG Free on hers, mine & hubbys computers. no problems. monitors email, surfing security ..keeps you clean & safe. and it's Free.

I have used AVG (free) every since it was available. I have never had a virus even before the browsers had built in protection. The main thing is to have Email virus protection and AVG has that. It auto updates and auto runs checks. I set it one time and forget it.

Microsoft Security Essentials...used it for a couple of years and been very, very happy. No problems, no cost and works!

Great timing, just received a email from Norton to update for $49.99. That is $30.00 discount as a 79.99 regular price.
We were happy with Norton, as we had many problems with McAfee...when we had McAfee we crashed, when we called they they told us for $$$ they could tell us where the virus came from I asked why they did not stop it. Of course I did not receive a decent answer to that question. I will try avast.com. Thank you very much Jan

We use Kaspersky. I think even the computer magazines recommend it; I know the salesman at Best Buy said it's the best.

Have had Microsoft Essentials and Malware Bytes on four machine in our household with no problems. the Microsoft Essentials is called something else now, both are free and are good. Had Norton, mcAfee, both slowed the computers down a lot. Also had problems getting Norton off two of our machines. Had to wipe the drive and start over....never Norton again. I had heard that AVG is good, but I'm not messing with anything unless I have issues....The free versions of Essentials now Windows Defender and Malware Bytes does the job.

I just bought a new laptop and on it is Windows Essentials 2013, so it still uses that name. I was happy to see it already installed when I got it and I didn't have to download it after getting rid of Norton. It does a good job. I've had it on my XP laptop and my Win 7 and now my Win 8, all doing well.

This is the one I was suggesting. I had forgotten that it is not so "back heavy" as some of the others, which makes it work better on older computers. Loads more quickly.

Jan in VA

I agree with Jan in VA -- avast is wonderful. I got McAfee with a new computer I bought and caught a virus that lost everything. I've been using the free version of avast for about 5 years now with never a problem.

This is what I use too, for a few years now and so far no problems at all.

i have had that problem e norton also. besides being a system hog, it is a nightmare to do a clean removal

so you use AVG not avast? i have tried, liked, avast in the past. experimented w AVG after reading discussions in tech reviews ...like it. all i use now.

I have AVG free & it has worked great. You could go to "askbobrankin.com". He has checked all the security systems & gives a very informative review on them.

My son has an System security business, he used to work for McAfee and he said for my home computer, AVG is very good and its FREE, I've had no problems in the last several years.

I have been very pleased with Avast which is free and seems to catch all sorts of malicious things before they attack -- I have used the software, downloadable online, for quite a few years -- also have Adblock Plus, also free, which has worked very well this last year :thumbup:

I had McAfee on my desktop because it came with the computer but it expired and I loaded AVG--something I hadn't used in years. So far so good but I've used Avast in my older machines and have it on my laptop and have always been pleased with it--it is the free version.

We downloaded AGV last night, our Norton expired yesterday. It was a blessing that this was the topic. Wanted to add that in 2012 we had Mafee and got a really bad virus, when we called them they said for x$ ( I forget how much) they could tell us where the virus came from. We just wanted to get ride of the virus, so we purchases Norton and that would for us for a year, but a free one was worth a try. Thanks :)

Judy in Phx, AZ

I agree with you - used it for 6 + years with no problems and no cost.

My son, too. I just do what I'm told. :)

Security for computer
 

You can go to downloads. Com and get AVG for free. I bought mine. It is really good.