Antivirus software review

#antivirussoftware #antivirus #software #freeantivirus #paidantivirus #norton #McAfee #webroot #AVG #trendmicro

Anti-virus is one of those software purchases that is almost mandatory, we don't want to pay it every year, we don't think we need it every year, but as previously discussed, its pretty darn important to have.  Living an existence only on steam, completely offline, on a Unix or Linux environment may be exclusions from the general rule, but for the rest of us, browsing the internet, clicking on random buttons either on purpose or by mistake, can result in some pretty hazy results.  What's the best anti-virus out there?

I'm not a loyalist to any brand in particular, I've tried out my fair share of anti-virus software's, and although I've found I prefer some over others, there is no one reigning champion.  Lets dive into a few quick overviews, based on my opinion and experience.

McAfee

Might as well start with one of the titans of the anti-virus arena.  Why put McAfee as the first to give a quick review of?  In short, they suck.  Yeah I'll say it without remorse, I can't stand McAfee, but they've made some solid business moves, so good for them.  Beyond their business moves, the product itself is garbage.  Sluggish at best, consumes resources to do a similar task as other anti-virus software's, yet half as effective, and those other anti-virus programs use less resources.  What business moves am I talking about though?  Partnering up with internet service providers and a couple huge manufacturers.  Effectively force feeding us this mundane crap.  If you can't make a superior product?  Why not just shove it in their faces?  McAfee's new slogan.

Norton

Norton is a very similar monster to McAfee, there are a few things I like about them more though.  Firstly their online presence is pretty damn good, but on the flip it kind of has to be when on occasion you need assistance to remove their product.  Or maybe you'll need help redistributing their product and need to do some sort of command line modifications before it's fully functional?  (yeah that happened to me).  But once again, they are on every damn system out there, internet service providers give them away for free because... why not?  And once again a huge hog of resources.  A digital vampire if you will.  Better online presence than McAfee, need help with uninstall and install, otherwise just another McAfee.  I'm saying this even though I have friends (well pretty chill acquaintances who work at Norton), and I've used them for years.

Unlike McAfee though Norton actually works, its very thorough with its scans, I guess that's why it so intensive?  It did a similar job to a few others, but when you're as big as Symantec, you know they are going to get their definitions out quick.  Security with size.

Webroot

Time for one of those underdogs that isn't exactly "under".  No they don't get distributed by internet service providers, no they don't get installed on computers before you buy them (unless you pay for that of course), a product that is sold and purchased because... its a good product.  Minimally invasive on computer resources, but don't believe this means the scan is substantially slower, no it isn't hogging up the resources anymore, its a little slower, but... its not maxing out your system leaving every other program useless.  From my experience I've been able to game while playing Webroot ran a scan, an online game at that, didn't hog system resources or cause any lag.  Now I haven't been able to find as many controls as I could on symantec, but I really didn't need them to begin with.  Maybe occasionally it would be nice to have those controls, but I don't want to have to go run errands or watch a movie while my system runs a scan like with the other two previously mentioned anti-virus solutions.

And to top it off their online community is awesome, along with their community management team.  I've found both Nic and Richard to be some of the most helpful, and knowledgeable people out there.  Of course they know to push things for the company, but they are down to earth people, not salesmen or corporate robots.  Not a common occurrence you'll find among company men and women.  I like that, makes them a whole heck of a lot easier to talk too.

AVG

Here is a unique one, that unlike the anti-virus above, a vast majority of users of this don't pay for it.  Yes that's right this anti-virus has a free option, really one of the biggest allures of this anti-virus.  The free version isn't very quick, and the virus definitions are generally out of date because they wait to distribute the definitions about a week or two behind the paying customers.  AKA if you're not careful with the free product and get a bit risky, you can still shoot yourself in the foot quickly.  As for the paid version, it doesn't have all the wings and dings, but if you loved their free product, you're probably going to love their paid for version even more.  I personally think of the free version as a stepping stone, whenever I reformat someones computer, I install this for them as well.  Unless its explicitly told to me to install something else, this is the route I go, and then make a suggestion for what they should buy.  Never browse the internet without protection, even if its not as powerful, its better than nothing.

Trend Micro

TrendMicro has a special place in my heart for... not knowing much about them... but also not liking them very much at all on the same page.  Not very intense scans, but not light either, with a somewhat confusing user interface compared to the others.  "But Ryan why do you not like them?", I know you're all thinking it, and simply put, QVC garbage.  Almost anything sold on QVC I come to find is crap, meant to pander to people who would rather be told what they want to hear.  And why would I know this is QVC garbage?  My grandmother (yes the same grandmother from this post), called me over one day to install a great new anti-virus for her, this anti-virus was "the best on the market" and... it lasted a lifetime.  And it was "expensive".  I don't know if you can really say its crap for lasting forever, but I think there is something to be said about a product that is sold with the promise of a lifetime on the box.  It just comes off as too good to be true and, from my interactions with it, it was god awful.  Sluggish, crap user interface, upgrade options.  It was pure filth.  I know there are the licenses versions, but... after seeing a QVC special, I don't know how I feel about the company as a whole.

Conclusion

When it really comes down to it, there are going to be one of three I'm going with.  Symantec, Webroot, or AVG. 

Symantec simply because they have a special place in my heart, I've made good friends with them, and all in all I've had minimal problems with their software.  Sure it may not be the fastest, it may be quite a hog, but I don't hate them at all, it gets the job done, and it does it very thoroughly.  

Webroot has just been a gem, of the three this is my top choice, it has always been functional since I've gotten it, it worked the best with all my games and other programs.  Hands down Webroot was the most user friendly, they have an online community, with some of the nicest and funniest people you'll ever meet.  All hail Webroot.

AVG is just the go to in a pinch solution.  I've never actually used their paid for solution, but I've definitely installed it on more computer than any other anti-virus.  Not because its the best out there, just because its free and is better than poking the bowels of the internet unprotected.

If I had to choose though, I'm going with Webroot.

I know there are a lot more anti-virus options out there like Kaspersky, Avast, Panda, Eset, and what not, I'll post a second review at a later day for them, I'm still testing Eset now, and haven't touched panda yet.  And of course I don't want to waste all my good material at once right?  And as always, be safe my goblins.

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