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Virus Protection software options?

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by hkurt

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Please help us what are the best software options for virus protection and why. Norton, McAfree, Micro trend .....

50 replies

by miles575

If you are in a business or corporate environment you should consider Sophos for your A/V software. The product is available for both server and desktop O/S's and includes monthly update CD's by mail. Your corporate license allows installation on employee home computers to further safeguard your system.

by jeremy.naylor

Hey guys,

What about AVG?

I installed AVG on my deskop PC last night and it looks pretty good.

Also, does anybody know what AVG stands for?

Thanks,

Jeremy Naylor.

by robinson

We have been using Vet for a number of years and I couldn't recommend it highly enough. It has never let us down. We have had lots of virus's but they have never caused us any damage. Vet has a new upgrade available from their site almost daily. Their help desk is extremely helpful and are quick with a response to any email enquiry. Check out their site at www.vet.com.au

Pauline Robinson

by armour

All of them do ther job well acept for one thing are they up to date? Antiviris software is someting that need constant attention if it is a system that is hard to use and get ignored then it wont have the latest protection fo your system. Try a fewdifferent demos (one at a time ) and see witch interface you like and are comfortable using.

by hkurt

We update at least once a week, I'm wondering if it needs to be daily?

by nkqx57a

The anti-virus definitions need frequent updates (every one or two weeks; or depending upon the virus). The software (Program) is only occasionally updated. Most of the vendors have auto-updates for both definitions and software, via the internet. Ilike Norton only because I have been using it for 8 years and have no complaints.

by tjapkesg

I have configured our autodownload to check for updates every 6 hours. We're currently using Computer Associates Innoculan (now Innoculate), which seems old and outdated and has been quirky. Checking for updates this frequently hasn't effected performance at all, and I feel better knowing that we will receive new virus definitions within hours of their release.

Just as a note, we are currently purchasing licenses for Trend Micro's Neatsuite. Serverprotect, Scanmail, Officescan, InterScan, etc... all manageable through one interface, and has the capability of managing antivirus software from other vendors.

by karjma

I'm using F-Secure Policy Manager and it's absolutely best solution I've seen. I get my updates every day, every hour my system polls if there are new virus signature database updates available, it updates signatures automatically to all workstations and servers. Can't be easier, even the installation of the whole system was easy, just select in admin console all the workstation (9x, NT4, W2k) to be installed and remote installation was ready to start.
I can recommend this system after painfulNorton years.

by madeinmontana

the def's come out on thu. so i like to run scans after fri to have tim in case, ready for mon, good luck -mike

by r.jorgensen

I believe most anti virus software is just fine it's all in the set up and the up keep of the software. My situation is probably not unique in that my network administrator had informed me that our Norton Anit Virus protection was recently up to date and that all of our equipment was fully protected. Well on the first week of his honeymoon we were hit bad with 2 virus's and one of them was the new sircam virus. Needless to say, I now have no network administrator but also found that we were over a year behind on our subscription with Norton. It took me 3 full days but we are now up to date on all our equipment (desktops, notebooks, vpn, pdc and exchange server). The moral of this is that everyone should run their own internal audit of virus protection to insure that they don't have any 'holes' in their system. Do Not Rely on anyone else to do this for you. You MUST do it YOURSELF. I now run the live update daily at 5am to insure that any changes that happen, that we are fully protected. Good luck...

by yzowl

Having been on the interternt since it's begining,(way back when) I'd have to say Norton Anti Virus is #1. I have tryed just about every other software available for virus protection & have to say that none compare to Norton in performance or reliablity. My advice... don't waste your time with anything else! Norton Rules!

by braveh4rt

i use norton corporate and new..how to make all the benevits from norton? can it update to all client automaticcly...when the server is updates?
i have about 40 client running wind98..and try to use norton corporate edition..any advice?

by hkurt

You may wish to start your own discussion to get some real input into your question try network or security

by srisner

Yes Norton has been in the business for a long time. Didn't they recently miss the Sir/CAM virus completely leaving thousands of people wondering if they were adequately protected? I personally have decided to second guess the giant. We are plannin the move to AVG. During my research, I discovered NOD32 is one of the top rated systems out there. Our driving criteria is price. AVG won out and still gives us the protection we need. Good luck with your search. (It's equal to finding and retaining a good mechanic!) Both tasks can be expensive if not given careful thought.

by lluke

Assuming you use a tiered approach. You need to look identify the key criteria for selection such as cost both startup and maintenance, ease of implementation/integration, maintenance/support, etc.
1. Desktop - We use a solution that is not widelyknown, but has been extremely cost-effective for use. Take a look, it won't hurt you. Command Software, www.commandcom.com.
2. Firewall - Alladin eSafe, www.esafe.com.
3. Servers - For our Exchange server, we use Trend Micro, www.antivirus.com4. PDA - Pending, but right now you can get it free from Trend Micro (PC-cillin).

Depending on your criteria you also have other good options with Symantec, Nortons, McAfee, etc.

Good luck!

by and_the_beat_goes_on

I have about 100 corporate PC's, rolled out NAV Corp Ed over the last few months. Did the servers 1st, made sure that one server (primary) went to the internet every day to check for updates and updated all the other servers 1st. Set up my alerts and made sure that they worked. Determined how I wanted my clients setup and rolled out to W2K machines via NAV interface (piece of cake), manually rolled out to Win9x machines. Was a pain, because you have to uninstall any oem, retail vers of Nortin NAV product 1st. (which mine all had!) Also, some machines were behind on their version of Windows installer and that also had to be updated. However........setup my clients so that they check with the primary server every hour (yeah I know, overkill)and it has updated all the clients without a hitch since. My life is so much better now......

by hkurt

We intend to incorporate or at least investigate incorporation this advice.

by karjma

It'll be pain if you select different products from different vendors, I think one good is all what I need. I have F-Secure Policy Manager for centralized managenent, from my console I've control to my firewall antivirus scanner as well to Exchange server scanner, all other servers and workstations are all cotrolled by one management console, virus signature databases are updated daily, fully automatically , easy to use and handy but providing full protection against viruses. Try it, you'll be surprised.
www.f-secure.com

by james a bailey

We use CA's (computer associates) Inoculate IT. This is great for administration, and autoupdateing. After the software is installed every machine can be configured from a single server, or you own desktop as long as you have admin privlages. Nothing is better then getting a message from the virus software saying it found and deleted a virus.

by carol

Every morning at 7:00am the primary server's Event log fills with error msgs of clients which were unable to be updated. Most of the error messages are erroneous, other clients are simply not logged in at 7am. When I go to the clients, I verify the definition on the client is to date, and I also verify that there are no viruses in the client's quarrantine, and check the virus history log. I'm not sure why the primary server's client listing showed the indication of viruses being on those clients, but I assume it isn't dynamically set up, and those little X's by the clients are outdated.

I know this must sound pretty lax, of a green admin like myself to have these problems, but I do know that all my servers and clients are protectedto date. And I swear just as soon as I finish up an Exchange, proxy install and a very large pressing solution assessment for a customer.. I'll reinstall it all...

I still think it's great, that I can update it from a single source!

by jcatanich

Hello,

Look at Panda AV. Their site is www.pandasoftware.com. They do daily updates and you can configure the server to autoupdate. Then when users log in they get the most current definitions automatically.

Another benefit is that you configure the "client" on the server. It automatically installs on the clients when the clients log in for the first time. Zero administration!

Great at protecting your machines. Have had it find viruses while Norton and McAfee say the files were clean.

by schutzhund

one thing I didn't mention the last time I dropped by was that panda has Active Scan and it's for free. It's done on line.(no,I don't work for them or own any stock-I am just impressed with their site and approach.
Just remember that all anti-virus software don't like other anti virus software, if you check this out you may have to disable what your presently using.

by yzowl

Is anything free ever any good? Norton may or may not have dropped the ball.... depends on who opened the mail! Education is a key factor. I've heard it a million times myself... Do NOT open emails with attachments from un-trusted sources. Another way to keep your virus protection working for you is regular updates, which Norton handles automatically. In all the time I have used Norton (10 years or more) I have not had ANY viruses infect my system, and would never even consider trusting my system to anything but Norton! Just one look at their website is enough to make one wonder!

AVG Website! www.grisoft.com/

by saint714

While I haven't tried Norton's 2001 security, I've found that Zone Alarm's version 2.6.8 is the best commercial firewall I've seen for PCs after trying several.
The per-application access settings and advanced security settings - allowing you to add peers/friends/colleagues to your local network (particularly good for FTP) - is the major selling point for me.
At least I'm not bombarded with "you've just been hacked by ..." messages after the fact. I like the logging and background operations of Zone Alarm, and I'll stick with it ... right up until the first time I'm hacked.

by lordinfidel

I have posted many times on this subject and I will say it again.

Exhchange 5.5 w/ Mcafee Groupshield 4.5 sp1/2000 will work wonders for your network.

The whole premise here is blocking File Extensions. Any Virus Protection software that allows you to block file extensions is good.

Exchange is just a great mail exchanger, but it needs to be run as pure exchange. No Imap or pop support. All users use outlook w/exchange.

Yes having the virus software update it's definitiions is great and all. But if you block the extensions from the start, definitions are moot.

Plus in exchange you can black hole address'. Which is great and an outside user sends multiple virus' to your network. Just black hole their address, and say byebye to any future e-mail from them. I say if they are irresponsible enough to click on a virus, well then they have no rights using e-mail.

Just a few words of wisdom from another bitchy, elitist bastard of an Admin.

by dylan gray

I have used Norton (with daily liveupdate) for the last 5 years everywhere I have been and never had a virus.

I now use the the Norton Internet Security software firewall and it has prevented about 7 attempts at backdoor viruses.

Based on nothing but experience, it works.

by qatest

Just a test of the email system by TechRepublic QA....sorry for the intrusion.

by the chalky

Whilst this is a UK company, it may be worthwhile talking to them. As the administrator of a small network, it was easier for me to get Star Internet to look after our anti-virus. They check all our email (incoming and outgoing) on their servers and notify us when they catch them.

Given that they use three proprietary AV packages as well as their own specialist package that looks for "patterns" and managed to prevent damage from Nelissa, Lovebug etc. to ALL their customers, this is worth considering.

They also update their signature files every ten minutes. Regardless of how conscientious you are as an adminsitrator, you ain't going to match that. Even the AV vendors don't claim to be that good.

This does not stop us using desktop AV software, but it sure gives the email a different perspective.

Their box (which runs on Linux) includes a firewall and can be configured as a web server as well as email server. Currently, we only use the email facilities, but they have notified us of viruses. Fortunately, none have been sent from here (yet!).

Good luck

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