Need some good spyware/virus protection

xmacro
xmacro Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,402
Ok, so I'm getting tired of PC Tools Spyware Doctor - it does a decent job, but it somehow manages to crash my computer, which runs Win. 7 Professional and has 12 GB of RAM. So I'm sick of a POS software that I pay for

Can anyone recommend something, either free or pay, that'll do the job? I'd like to kick McAfee to the curb along with Spyware Doctor (one crashes my computer, the other never detects anything), but my experience with Norton was "it conflicts with everything", so I'm on the look for a good anti-virus as well. Real-time protection is always loved.

Thanks for any help

Comments

  • Hayblet
    Hayblet Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,400
    I use a combo of Comodo, Spybot Search and Destroy and McAfee yet to have a bug and Comodo by far is the best way to lock down your system to keep things out
  • Diamondog
    Diamondog Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,169
  • Russ55
    Russ55 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,762
    I use Antivira, ccleaner, adaware, and Hyjack This. All free. All good at what they do without slowing down, or effing up your system.
  • djbeenie
    djbeenie Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 469
    Diamondog:
    Free AVG and Microsoft Essentials. These are the two free anti-viruses hackers like to avoid. Trust me I know. :) Don't pay for antivirus it is a rip off. Plus anything signature based is dead anyways. You should read my blog. I have some suggestions and you will never get viruses.
  • djbeenie
    djbeenie Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 469
    Here is my blog where I talk about it. http://www.my-pcgeek.com/wordpress/?p=221
  • bigharpoon
    bigharpoon Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,909
    I use AVG free edition and Spybot search and destroy (also free). Seems to work well for me, I've had techy friends recommend these to me and I'm happy.
  • MTuccelli
    MTuccelli Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,587
    I use Avast internet security the free version works good too.
  • ellinas
    ellinas Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 329
    MTuccelli:
    I use Avast internet security the free version works good too.
    agreed. i got avast not too long ago and it's really good
  • james40
    james40 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,450
    ellinas:
    MTuccelli:
    I use Avast internet security the free version works good too.
    agreed. i got avast not too long ago and it's really good
    I use avast as well. Great free stuff.
  • zoom6zoom
    zoom6zoom Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,214
    I have switched everything over to MS Security Essentials and am very pleased.
  • docbp87
    docbp87 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,521
    +1 for avast. Been using it for a few years. Also use Comodo for a firewall. If you really want privacy, or are up to no good on the 'net... Tor is the way to go for browsing.
  • Lasabar
    Lasabar Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 4,457
    I don't use Antivirus... I'm a non-conformist
  • lonewolf2011
    lonewolf2011 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 503
    I have evaluated many AV products and by far the best I have used is Eset. It is not free but works great and wont slow down your machine. For spyware use Malwarebytes it is free, I use it both at home and work.
  • djbeenie
    djbeenie Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 469
    All, you know that antivirus is dead. I can easily get around any antivirus because malware can be generated on the fly. Why is it dead? It is because antivirus runs on what it knows "signature based". Which means if a certain malware that is found in the wild a signature is created for that and pushed to all the antivirus agents. If I can randomly create a virus on the fly, then I have a new signature that no company knows about. So this is why this technology is dead. You have to have antivirus to keep up with the old stuff, but my best solution is to follow my article above to help protect yourself. If you have any questions, I will help you get yourself protected.
  • fla-gypsy
    fla-gypsy Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,023
    I use a combo of free programs with good success. They are Avast, Spybot S&D, and ZoneAlarm