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Antivirus software is must-have protection. This review picks the best
antivirus software based on its virus detection abilities, features,
and breadth of protection. Whether you're seeking total system coverage
or an ala carte solution, each of the following products provides
superb virus protection for Windows-based PCs. Because every system is
unique, evaluate several of these antivirus products to find the
software best suited for your PC and your level of experience.
1. Norton Internet Security 2009
Symantec's
antivirus products have historically always provided excellent
detection and removal of malware. On the downside, that protection came
at the price of often crippling system performance. That's now a thing
of the past. Performance overhauls are the hallmark of Norton Internet
Security 2009, which features 'pulse updates' to deliver more frequent
and thus smaller signature updates, whitelisting to streamline scan
times, and a lighter, sleeker footprint that installs in mere minutes.
2. Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Premium
AntiVir
is a consistent leader in independent antivirus tests. Avira's AntiVir
PersonalEdition Premium is a low-impact, easy to use virus scanner that
also the ability to make an antivirus rescue CD for your system. Also
includes WebGuard to protect against malicious or compromised websites.
Five euros of each purchase is automatically donated to the Auerbach
Foundation, a non-profit that supports various charity and
community-related services. AntiVir PersonalEdition Premium should be
used in conjunction with a firewall.
3. McAfee VirusScan Plus
McAfee
VirusScan Plus is an ideal candidate for those seeking an
antivirus/firewall combination without all the bloat of traditional
Internet security suites. McAfee VirusScan Plus makes an easy job of
removing adware and spyware, something not all antivirus products
deliver. SiteAdvisor service is including, helping to guard against
malicious websites.
4. Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal
Kaspersky
Anti-Virus Personal offers excellent antivirus protection, perhaps
unsurpassed in its ability to unpack and scan compressed files -
something that trips up a lot of other vendors. Should be used in
conjunction with a firewall.
6. BitDefender Antivirus Plus
Softwin's
BitDefender Professional protects against viruses, spyware, and instant
messaging threats, as well as offering firewall rules to block
undesirable traffic and a privacy gateway to keep your identity and
preferences private while surfing the Internet.
7. Eset Nod32
Nod32
features a small footprint, low performance hit, and fast scan speeds,
providing focused virus protection ideal for gamers or those with an
older PC. Should be used in conjunction with a firewall.
8. AVG Anti-Malware
AVG
Anti-Malware combines traditional virus protection with adware and
spyware scanning, in a low impact footprint ideal for resource-strained
PCs or those who just want the best performance possible out of their
computers. Free tech support is available via email and the standard
license includes two years of protection. Should be used in conjunction
with a firewall.
9. G Data AntiVirusKit (AVK)
AntiVirusKit
(AVK) provides a double layer of protection, bundling two of the best
antivirus engines - Kaspersky and BitDefender - under a single,
easy-to-use console. You'll want to bolster G Data's AVK with a
firewall.
10. F-PROT Antivirus
F-PROT
Antivirus for Windows offers a feature that's increasingly harder to
find - it includes a command-line scanner that can be used to create a
rescue CD for scanning the system in Safe Mode. This is a particularly
effective way to remove stubborn resuscitators. Firewall not included.
antivirus software based on its virus detection abilities, features,
and breadth of protection. Whether you're seeking total system coverage
or an ala carte solution, each of the following products provides
superb virus protection for Windows-based PCs. Because every system is
unique, evaluate several of these antivirus products to find the
software best suited for your PC and your level of experience.
1. Norton Internet Security 2009
Symantec's
antivirus products have historically always provided excellent
detection and removal of malware. On the downside, that protection came
at the price of often crippling system performance. That's now a thing
of the past. Performance overhauls are the hallmark of Norton Internet
Security 2009, which features 'pulse updates' to deliver more frequent
and thus smaller signature updates, whitelisting to streamline scan
times, and a lighter, sleeker footprint that installs in mere minutes.
2. Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Premium
AntiVir
is a consistent leader in independent antivirus tests. Avira's AntiVir
PersonalEdition Premium is a low-impact, easy to use virus scanner that
also the ability to make an antivirus rescue CD for your system. Also
includes WebGuard to protect against malicious or compromised websites.
Five euros of each purchase is automatically donated to the Auerbach
Foundation, a non-profit that supports various charity and
community-related services. AntiVir PersonalEdition Premium should be
used in conjunction with a firewall.
3. McAfee VirusScan Plus
McAfee
VirusScan Plus is an ideal candidate for those seeking an
antivirus/firewall combination without all the bloat of traditional
Internet security suites. McAfee VirusScan Plus makes an easy job of
removing adware and spyware, something not all antivirus products
deliver. SiteAdvisor service is including, helping to guard against
malicious websites.
4. Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal
Kaspersky
Anti-Virus Personal offers excellent antivirus protection, perhaps
unsurpassed in its ability to unpack and scan compressed files -
something that trips up a lot of other vendors. Should be used in
conjunction with a firewall.
6. BitDefender Antivirus Plus
Softwin's
BitDefender Professional protects against viruses, spyware, and instant
messaging threats, as well as offering firewall rules to block
undesirable traffic and a privacy gateway to keep your identity and
preferences private while surfing the Internet.
7. Eset Nod32
Nod32
features a small footprint, low performance hit, and fast scan speeds,
providing focused virus protection ideal for gamers or those with an
older PC. Should be used in conjunction with a firewall.
8. AVG Anti-Malware
AVG
Anti-Malware combines traditional virus protection with adware and
spyware scanning, in a low impact footprint ideal for resource-strained
PCs or those who just want the best performance possible out of their
computers. Free tech support is available via email and the standard
license includes two years of protection. Should be used in conjunction
with a firewall.
9. G Data AntiVirusKit (AVK)
AntiVirusKit
(AVK) provides a double layer of protection, bundling two of the best
antivirus engines - Kaspersky and BitDefender - under a single,
easy-to-use console. You'll want to bolster G Data's AVK with a
firewall.
10. F-PROT Antivirus
F-PROT
Antivirus for Windows offers a feature that's increasingly harder to
find - it includes a command-line scanner that can be used to create a
rescue CD for scanning the system in Safe Mode. This is a particularly
effective way to remove stubborn resuscitators. Firewall not included.
