The Best Paid for Antivirus 2012

Hey guys, I was just wondering what the best antivirus software that you can buy in store. Keeping in mind:

1) Price (The cheaper the better of course)
2) Least Computer Resources Taken Up (CPU Memory)
3) Efficiency (How well it is rated to get rid of everything)

I've been looking at Bit Defender, Norton, Viper, Avast, AVG, Avira, and Kaspersky. I've also looked at PCMag, and other sites, and everyone seems to have a different opinion and they should, but I'm looking for consistency!

Edit: What works best for you? Those with experience

Thanks for any help / suggestions!

 

PC Mag is a horrible source.

This is where most people go: AV-Comparatives - Independent Tests of Anti-Virus Software - Detection Tests

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I'm using ESET Antivirus and COMODO Firewall. Both are really light on the resources, I only notice ESET whenever it updates it's database. Comodo usually pops out when a program tries to connect in the internet.

 

My answer is that there's no reason to pay for anti-virus, on the home computer of the above average internet user.

Get MSE and something like Malwarebytes as a compliment, and there it is, free protection.

 

Perfect! Thats exactly what I was looking for. Yes What you are using seems like one of the best combinations seeing as the ESET Advanced is $20 more when Comodo is great free software (so I've heard).

True say, I have been seeing the MSE + MBAM combos throughout these threads, I'm still trying to decide the route I want to take.
Do these two programs run in the background and automatically catch the bad stuff (virus, adware, malware, spyware)?

I haven't had any experience with free AV software; I see how popular it is and how many people are using them, obviously they work but what I'm not really understanding is why still make programs that cost $ when there are free ones that can be just as good (besides the fact they still make money)? Whats the catch? What would the paid for software be offering that free ones don't?

 

Bitdefender Internet Security 2012!

Very light and has the best detection rates amongst any antivirus!

 

That is actually one of my top contenders at the moment! Does that have everything the AV Plus has? And then the extra for the internet?

 

Offcourse, read about it here: Internet Security Software - Bitdefender Internet Security 2012


And see the comparisons here: Internet Security Suites Software Review 2012 | Computer Security | Adware Spyware Removal - TopTenREVIEWS

I bought a 3 year license for 3 PCs myself for $142 USD

 

I don't know; I would be skeptical about trusting the opinion of any site that gave AVG 4 out 4 stars. I repair computers and remove malware on a daily basis as part of my job and 9 out of 10 infected computers that are brought in for me to clean out have either McAfee or AVG already installed (active and updated, yet infected). The remaining 10% are split evenly between MSE, Avast, and Norton. Rarely ever has one been brought in due to malware infections that was running a fully activated and updated copy of Avira, Bitdefender, ESET, or Kaspersky.

 

Great! So I guess I'm looking at ESET and Bitdefender now; either one looks to be substantial enough!

 

I'd recommend ESET.

 

Would you say it uses less resources than BD?

 

We'll, I've heard people comment on how good the protection Bitdefender Internet Security offers online and then I've heard how ESET is light and works as good as BD. They both seem pretty much equal to my eyes.

BD review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haJiKTPlaUA

 

It's not gonna matter if you have a beffy processor like the basic quads. Whatever you choose, just make sure to configure it properly.

 

That makes sense, how would you go about doing this? The ESET comes with a gaming mode which stops everything from running when playing a game (I think thats pretty neat), but otherwise, say the BD doesn't how do you configure yours?

 

I just renewed ESET Nod32 on three PC's. Had to call them to do it though? It is the only Anti-Virus I trust and I have been using it since 2004.

 

I'm using Symantec Endpoint Protection 11 on my home laptop and despite the slight slowdown of Windows 7 at start-up, can't complain about the software. It runs fine and has been able to protect me from whatever malware I come across.

 

Alright haha, I think I'm sold on ESET; thanks all!

-Mod can close this thread whenever, unless it's of use!

 

True. I just fixed one up that had AVG and Norton Endpoint installed. AVG is resource heavy and just a flop.

 

I prefer bit defender it has cleaned many viruses from friends computers that some other scanners could not detect, I tried trend micro titanium maximum security this year but I'm not too pleased with it I'm going back to bit defender and they are now having a sale 80% off do just 15 bucks I'm gonna get it even though my trend micro still has another 7 months, I like it because u can use it in basic mode if you need to( for the missus) and expert mode for myself haha.

 

Not one AV catches all. However, the Suites are normally large and cumbersome. I have used Eset and AVG, both worked well with the above mentioned Malwarebytes. Over the last year or two though I have changed to MSE and Malwarebytes. Very fast, lean, and free. Do some research, and you will see that there is no single company that absolutely catches everything everytime. However, you also should not run more than one at a time. But don't be fooled that paying is better than not. And the absolute most important things... watch what you do, where you go, and don't blindly open links.

Everyday there are people working overtime to come up with new tricks, and it is after they do that the AV companies can respond. So don't think anyone can come out with a great AV against something not yet in the wild. Research, google, and learn.

 

I agree with the solution, AV is more of a warning system and not really system hardening tool. Blind clicking because you have AV is a sure way to throw yourself off a cliff.

 

The best paid for program would be Sandboxie imo.

Not an AV, but a security program that can run programs in a 'sandbox', isolated from your OS.
Example; if you'd run IE/FF/Chrome and visit a website offering malware through a drive-by download, the malware can only mess around in the sandbox.
When you close the browser and empty the sandbox, the malware will be wiped automatically also.
Requires a bit of reading but pretty easy to set up. And it only costs you $$ once.
The lifetime license allows you to install it on every computer you own.
Combine it with an AV like f.i. free MSE, use the free Windows firewall, a standard user account for good measure and stop worrying.
If you don't mind tinkering, perhaps add EMET (for Windows 8-like security measures).
See sig for links.

 

I rather have a fast system with good protection than a bloated over reacting one. So just Eset/SAS/ and some common sense for me...

 

I use ESET for my home PC, and MSE for my office PC.
I would like say that ESET is really good.

 

I have ESET and am thinking of switching to bitdefender internet security. I like the ESET interface. I am very comfortable with it as I have used it for years. It is also very light on resources. I do not like that it has failed me, multiple times, in real world detection and the last fail resulted in a BIOS virus :\

I have heard great things about Bitdefender's protection but terrible things about it being a resource hog and causing memory links. Has it improved at all in the last 1-2 years?

 

I hear good things concerning that on Wilders security about the current beta 2013...
Why not give that a try?
Bitdefender Total Security 2013 beta - Wilders Security Forums
Bitdefender Total Security 2013 BETA

 

For years, I use ESET to protect my computer. It's awesome. No firewall.

 

Man, seriously your post is useless, please check your sources before posting...

And according to av-comparatives, Bitdefender isn't the best on detection rate.

Here it is...

 

There is some merit to it though- if you look at AV Comparatives's running Real World Protection Test for April 2012 (the latest one) Bitdefender is actually the best- same thing for March.
It's the best one in this particular test this year (see dynamic graph)

 

Do what now??

Here you go: