If you want to know where you’re going to get the very best antivirus software, it’s always a good idea to simply take a look at what’s popular.
This isn’t always true of everything. For example, popular music, modern jazz, the Ford Pinto, American Idol. Popular things aren’t always good! However, when it comes to killing viruses, nobody really has anything in mind except… killing viruses, so you can generally trust that people aren’t going to be praising software that doesn’t get the job done.
So, by user reviews, here are some of the very best, top rated, most well reviewed virus scanners available.
McAfee Security Center
McAfee Security Center, depending on where you get your reviews, tends to get an average of four to five out of five possible stars, and for good reason. McAfee is designed to be the only security software you’ll ever need, and in many a reviewer’s opinion, mission accomplished.
McAfee gets regular updates, it’s incredibly easy to use, and it will cover you on every possible front, from virus, to spam, to popups to spyware, it gets the job done. Fifty bucks would be a little much to ask for just one of these, but it’s the only program you’ll ever need to keep your computer safe, so you’re saving money in the end.
Avira AntiVir
Avira AntiVir may very well be, bar none, the very best free virus scanner available. In fact, it’s something of a surprise that it’s being offered for free in the first place, as it could easily compete alongside many of the bargain priced antivirus programs, and certainly beats a few of them. Avira usually ranks around five stars. Part of that is because it’s a great program for being free, and part of that is simply because it’s a great program, period. It receives updates every single day, sometimes several times in one day, and it’s only the rare update that requires reinstallation. Most updates will apply themselves with no hassle at all on your part.
Avast! Home Edition
Avast Professional Edition offers a sixty day trial offer and tends to rank around four or five stars in customer reviews, while Avast Home Edition is completely free… and tends to rank around four or five stars. The home edition is probably all you need. It’s a slightly more complete package than Avira, though Avira takes the lead for ease of use and frequent updates.
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Saying that an AV product sold by way of enforced preinstall on new computers is popular is a bit like saying HIV is popular because millions of people have it.
Truth of the matter is that the ‘big two’ (Norton/McAfee) operate in this way, and it creates a distorted picture of which AV products people actualy choose, rather then have foisted upon them.
What about ESET NOD 32? How does it Rank with the rest of the Antivirus?
Amani….ESET NOD32 has the worst support I have ever come across…that being said first it is the best Anti-Virus I have yet worked with.
I agree with Anteaus. I am highly skeptical of anyone or website that is rating software based in what is installed on computers. Similarly I never take serious any security software ratings from websites that have security software adverting or links to purchase this software. The one exception is – http://www.matousec.com/projects/proactive-security-challenge/results.php. Once you read the process involved in testing and how hard they are on the software companies the ads have absolutely no relationshp to the labs ratings. I did some extensive searches looking of anti-virus testing and kept seeing the same thing about ESET NOD32, it ranks consitently near the top. However, I should point out that their ranking drops when their NOD32 suite is tested. It drops because of the integrated firewall. But as a stand alone anti-virus it is near the top. I’ve never had need to call NOD support, but I have yet to find anyone offering great support.