| Author | Content |
Gitagal
Baltimore, MD
(Zone 7a)
September 18, 2009
06:43 PM Post #7078893
| My Sin-In-Law has built me a new computer that will replace the one I have.
He is not too happy with my free AVG anti-virus program. He thinks McAfee would be better.
Is McAfee available as a free download? The full version--with all the bells and whistles???
I, myself, am not too computer savvy, so please don't ask me any technical questions.
I have Firefox as my server and run Windows XP. ...if that helps...
Thanks, Gita |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
September 18, 2009
06:47 PM Post #7078910
| I think they have a 30 day free trial, but if you want it after that you'd have to pay for it. I don't have AVG but I think I've seen people here post favorably about it--hopefully someone who's used it can jump in and comment on whether it's worth spending the money on one of the other programs or whether AVG is good enough. |
Oldgardenrose
Salem, IL
(Zone 5b)
September 18, 2009
06:56 PM Post #7078945
| A lot of people hate it but I just purchased Norton 360-3 for $49.99 after a $30
discount from Staples. It has some irritating quirks but I am happy with the
protection. |
Gitagal
Baltimore, MD
(Zone 7a)
September 18, 2009
09:59 PM Post #7079652
| Oldgardenrose---
I dumped Norton for AVG. It just was not "doing the job" catching/screening the various viruses and intrusions...Yes! I bought al the Nortons at Staples--and after the instant discounts and then the rebates--I got it FREE after all...WHY do they bother????
My SIL spends a lot of time here fixing all my computer woes...so he knows what I have and how it works. They have McAfee and he likes it better...
Waiting for more input...
Thanks to all for your suggestions...Gita |
morrowsmowers
Glassboro, NJ
(Zone 7a)
September 19, 2009
08:40 AM Post #7080625
| We had a full version of McAfee from Comcast -- it was a resource hog and was no better and in some ways worse than other programs out there that are free. We are using Avast! -- you can download it for free and it will update itself as often as needed. About once a year they will ask you to register your free version -- it will then give you a code number to keep it active for another year. No charges, no worries.
Ken |
Oldgardenrose
Salem, IL
(Zone 5b)
September 19, 2009
10:15 AM Post #7080837
| I am not directly involved in computer maintenance since retiring but the only time
I can recall there was a major difference in antivirus programs was when the
company's pc's came with McAfee (sp?) installed. We were a Notes network
and MS Office was the basic software package. Word was being hit with a new
virus almost daily. IBM AV was the only program that could check an unopened
attachment such as a Word doc attached to Notes. IBM had the primary research
lab for viruses and farmed the signatures out to other companies. Some company
bought the IBM operation, possibly Symantec, and now it is Norton AV instead of
IBM AV.
You probably could take 10 different AV packages and each would have it's pros
and cons. Use the one you are comfortable with and use the best antivirus you
can get--your head. Carelessly opening e-mails begging to give you a new prize,
letting your pc autofill your user id and password and downloading everything you
can find listed as free is a recipe for disaster.
|
Oldgardenrose
Salem, IL
(Zone 5b)
September 19, 2009
11:09 AM Post #7080975
| Correction: I rechecked my memory against published info and found Symantec
LICENSED the IBM AV technology and patents plus IBM assigned their customers
and contracts to Symantec. As far as I can read, IBM still retains commercial
operations in the AV field. |
Yuska
San Antonio, TX
(Zone 8b)
September 21, 2009
06:07 PM Post #7088984
| At different times in the past I've used both Norton and McAfee and found them to be so restrictive that sometimes there was interference with regular activity. I'm in my second year with Avast! on both computers and like it very much. Discreetly in the background - efficiently doing a thorough job. Re-registering is simple. Great program. Yuska |
Oldgardenrose
Salem, IL
(Zone 5b)
September 21, 2009
06:35 PM Post #7089061
| One major mistake a lot of people make is having more than one AV program or
derivatives on a pc. One sees the other as a virus or tries to block it's signature
updates as an intrusion. Choose one that works and you like and stay with it.
There is a tendency to compare an anti-virus program with a full featured one.
AV can be as simple as detection of virus signatures or as complex as Norton
360 that has a lot of unnecessary whistles and bells. Norton has combined their
AV with elements of their Norton Utilities which a lot of people do not want or
really need. I, for one, resent software I buy going dead after a year. More
than one does that. That is the same as if Windows Vista died after 12 months
and the only way you could get restarted is buy another copy.
|
dsa2591
North Port, FL
(Zone 9b)
September 25, 2009
11:28 PM Post #7105318
| I use Avira Antivir. It's free, and it's better than AVG. The only bad thing about it is the nag screen, but you can turn that off. |
Gitagal
Baltimore, MD
(Zone 7a)
September 26, 2009
08:38 AM Post #7105925
| My new Computer is now installed--NO more viruses and NO more disconnects...YEAH!!!!
Sent my SIL all your comments from this Post...-we decided to stay with AVG.
Thanks for all your input, Gita
|
Pamgarden
Central, VA
(Zone 7b)
October 06, 2009
10:58 AM Post #7140858
| Hi, I currently have McAfee for AOL as par of my AOL internet explorer. Of course I pay monthly for AOL. I also was 'scared' into getting the full McAfee program from McAfee directly. They told me my computer would not be fully protected without it, so I panicked. It was $140 plus tax & s/h. Only after did I find out it was just overkill and then they had the nerve to auto charge me for the next year. It took me days of emails with their group in Ireland (of all places) to get the charge removed. That was in 2008. No issue since. I'm off to purchase a new Dell desktop to replace my old clunker Gateway. Wish me luck. Pam |
