March 26, 2008 1:03 PM PDT
The 'other' antivirus apps
It's true. Some security apps get more fame and recognition than others. Why is Spybot Search & Destroy cited more often than BitDefender Free Edition, or McAfee's online virus scan better known than Trend Micro HouseCall, a tool that also removes what it detects?
In a stab at fairness, we've picked out five of the more overshadowed, but still reliable, antivirus software titles and highlighted their main points. Give them a whirl and let us know in the comments why you can't live without your favorite undersung security app.
- Topics:
-
Security and spyware
- Share:
- Digg
- Del.icio.us
a better queston would have been "why is AVG cited at all?"
I like running freeware as long as i know it does what it says it does. One in particular is spybot S&D. I does what it says it does, not to say others dont do well. I do use combinations when need be to get rid of threats not easily removed by one peice of software. I also try new ones that have been referred on forums. I think ppl try something and dont know what they are doing and then they tell ppl it didnt work.
I am not completely naive: I checked it out a little and found several different complemenatry reviews on different sites. (I didn't check CNET.) I may have been a little too trusting. It seems Bitdefender has waged a internet forum and ad compaign that snowed me anyway. I went looking for trial ware and ended up with BitDefender free edition thinking I had trialware. Then I got a virus that was recognized but couldn't be removed no matter what I tried, including booting in safe mode. I realized that the spyware tab was greyed out like it wasn't a functioning part of the software leading to a belief that a upgrade was in order. I was upset because I thought I had fully functioning trialware software. I emailed sales and they sent me some download links. I realized that BitDefender misrepresented things and actually had NO TRIAL VERSION and I would have to buy first if I wanted an "upgrade". I felt misled and was angry and mistrustful and with the problems on my computer I couldn't continue to surf the web safely so I had to walk into a brick and mortar store and buy Virus ware. I got Spysweeper. It told me I had like SIX viruses on my system and removed them all except the one BitDefender recognized but could not remove either. The one BitDefender had recognized as a mildly dangerous virus and not removed Spysweeper recognized as a highly dangerous virus and could not remove.. I had to do a complete reinstall which happily went well (even though I downloaded every night for almost a week to get my service pak 2 and 3 and other upgrades and downloads. I have dial up)
I have had Norton Symantec for years and never had a virus once except for a few cookies. I got tired of the rising price and the slowed performance. I had to upgrade my old Dell to one gig memory just to surf the internet. Spysweeper isn't as idiot proof as Symantec but scans and downloads are much quicker in Spysweeper.