Best anti-virus for 2012

title speaks for itself

I've used ESET for years, and think its the best out there. Yet, you will find that everyone has their own opinion on the "best" out in the marketplace. So, I guess you just have to do some of your own research on all of them, or just get a feel on what most folks use or recommend.

I haven't tried yet, but I like Avast.

I've been using Webroot for about 5 years now ever since it was just a spy-sweaper that I combined with my Norton 360. I had Norton 360 for the first year on my old system and I HATED it. Just totally took over my system and I could not stand it. After that first year Webroot expanded into a full security suite, called Webroot Security Essentials, so I went with just that and have never looked back, but that may be changing.

What I like so much about Webroot is it has, or I should say had, a Gamer Mode that disables some of the more resource hungry protections with out disabling the program completely. It also does not annoy me with critical messages prompting me to turn my protection back on or die like Norton did.

But that looks like that is all changing. They have released a new Webroot Secure Anywhere that is getting really bad reviews and longer has the gamer mode that I liked so much. So far I have not been prompted with a forced update to this new version but I unfortunately just renewed my subscription before they released and will be pissed if I am forced to use it for a year. That ESET looks promising when it comes time to renew next year though.

I'd like to see that review on SecureAnywhere as I have not heard good things about it. As someone who has been a Webroot customer for over 5 years even I will not touch it because it can not be suspended or disabled with out actually closing the program. Previous versions of Webroot have a gamer mode much like ESET does but SecureAnywhere does not.

I'm also confused about the "(just needs internet)" comment as Webroot has had active internet and browser monitoring for a couple years now.

I never trust any good review of Norton as their measure of "good" is not the same as mine. I don't need my computer locked down like I'm protecting military secrets or anything like that and I will not tolerate any AV program that operates like that. For a business that has lots of sensitive info it needs to protect from targeted attacks it's fine. For a normal user who only has to worry about themselves and is very smart about what they do on-line it is just not needed.

Another side note on SecureAnywhere, it's scan times and performance is actually a cheat. Webroot has had an option to only scan new or changed files in order to decrease scan times for over a year now. SecurAnywhere does that by default and I don't know of a way to disable it with SecureAnywhere like you can with the old Security Essentials. For more frequent scans that option is nice but I for one do a full 100% scan of all my drives once a week. I don't want to chance something getting missed because the AV program skipped it in order to get the scan done more quickly.

Yeah, that's what I was saying because I have not seen good reviews for it. I've used it for so long because I liked it and I'm smart enough and careful enough to limit my exposure to potential threats. They've slowly made Webroot worse and worse to the point that even I won't don't want it any more but like I said I just renewed it recently.

Oh well, it's done it's job for me for the last 5 years but I won't renew with them again. If they try to force me to switch/upgrade to the SecureAnywhere I'll dump them for something else.

Yeah, I got an offer to renew early and get an extra 3 months for free if I did. My sister back in Chicago needed an AV for herself and my nephew has their Macafee ran out and she did not have $60 to renew it. Like a lot of AV programs Webroot can be shared so I renewed mine sent her and my nephew my serial number so they would have something.

My current subscription for this year is actually good until mid December so I would look in to cancelling it and getting a refund if I could except that my family is using it now and I don't want to take it away from them.

McAfee is heavy and horrible, stay away from it.

I love eset, but I would use avg before I used McAfee.

@shikhak

Originally posted by DST4ME McAfee is heavy and horrible, stay away from it. I love eset, but I would use avg before I used McAfee.

Maybe I was not clear but your system is slow because of McAfee, I suggest you drop it, and get yourself a better one. I do know about anti viruses.

Edited by DST4ME - 07 Dec 2011 at 10:23am

In comparison of free AV, what does everyone think about Microsoft Security Essentials.

I have been using it on a couple different machines, and seems to work well.

I've been using Microsoft Security Essentials (in combination with Spybot Search and Destroy) on the recommendation of a senior tech at Digital Storm. Seems to work well. With MSE you just have to remember to go to Windows Update and download the latest definitions everyday.

My laptop has Microsoft Security Essentials and my DS desktop has Norton. Never had a problem with either.

I use Microsoft Security Essentials on all of my rigs. Six desktop and two laptops.Never had anything get in.  

McAfee BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!