Poll Suggestion

[Maydup]

Dear Ed
I have less than a week before the subscirption expires on my security and anti-virus protection. There are so many conflicting views on the best and most reliable options; whether to pay or take freeby I wondered if we might have a poll for a few days?

Do you use x,y, or z? etc
Would be an enormous help
Here's hoping!

[murraymints]

Microsoft security essentials..free download..does the job for me...

[vivandorron]

In my opinion it is pointless having a poll when most of the Techies in AB recommend MSE. The moment your subscription expires I suggest you download the best free Virus Protection.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/security-essentials-download

Ron.

[jno]

MSE doesn't do it for me (it didn't recognise my external hard drive). AVG used to but got too intrusive. I now have Avast, which is fine. All these are free. But it jut goes to show not everything is right for everyone.

[boxtops]

we vote Norton every time - we'd rather pay to be happy on this matter

[SlackAlice]

MSE for antis virus, free download, free to use.

Anti Malwarebytes (Free version), use once a week.

[jason.p]

So,do we have a poll?

[wiltsman]

Like jno, I use Avast on the recommendation of the village computer nerd, and I'm very pleased with it.

[jno]

boxtops, I used to have paid-for Norton, and it was a real nuisance. It wouldn't let me look at the Adverts section on AB, for a start.

I gather it's got a lot better. But the free ones are just as good, honestly; you don't need to pay anything.

As far as having a poll goes, I don't know if it would help. I'd vote for Avast (plus free Malwarebytes once a week as SlackAlice says), but I'm well aware most people are perfectly happy with MSE.

I'd say the short answer is just to install one and see how it goes. All of them "work" in the sense that they keep viruses at bay; the only problems I had was that some of them worked too well.

[ummmm]

Yeah, I remember not being able to use the adverts category with Norton.

I use MSE now and I'm happy with that.

[boxtops]

How odd - I don't have a problem with the Advert category!

[ummmm]

This was years back.

[jno]

as I say, I think Norton is said to have improved since then (that was maybe five years ago), but I decided to begin a new life without it and I have never looked back.

[vivandorron]

Whilst my preference is for MSE, some folk prefer other programmes. The important thing is Do Not pay for anything when there are free items available and which are just as good as purchased programmes.

You could download a free programme at this stage, as a file into your Downloads folder and, the moment your subscription expires, open the download and install. However it is important Not to have two Anti Virus programmes running on your computer because they will conflict with each other and cause all sorts of problems, with neither doing its job correctly.

Ron.

[tenrec]

Good advice vivandorron.

[Maydup]

This is useful. Any more for any more?

I be really grateful for as many opinions as possible since my time is probably more limited than my budget this week. I need to know that I won't regret spending an evening uninstalling something and installing something new. I've never had a problem with my current chargable option. No conflicts and no nasties .

[AB Editor]

I'll pop something up shortly.

[albaqwerty]

^^ and this is a family site!!

[craft1948]

I'm a Norton fan................

[AB Editor]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Internet/Question1203809.html :)

[Maydup]

You're an absolute darling Ed. Thank you.