Best Virus Protection?

[elilode]

I am asking for a girlfriend of mine who has purchased a new laptop - neither she nor I are computer gurus... so I am hoping that y'all will be able to give me some direction on this topic. What is the best virus protection for her? I imagine that she will using her laptop at home and at work (realty company), connecting to the internet at both places (not sure if that makes a difference). I have read over a post on this matter on this site and there were several programs mentioned, Norton(familiar with) , AVG? MailWasher? AdAware?... HELP? I know, don't you despise the idiots of this world! lol. What I would like to understand is, are you all reccomending that there should be several programs installed for virus protection? Let's just say that she doesn't care about spam - JUST EXCELLENT VIRUS PROTECTION... what would y'all say for that?
Much Appreciated! Elizabeth

[Brad]

>>JUST EXCELLENT VIRUS PROTECTION

You should start with either AVG or Norton. Both are outstanding programs.

All the other things you mention, can help against viruses but are not true anti-virus programs.

Start with either of the two above, you cannot go wrong.

[NeedScripts]

Norton AV Rocks :)

[sem4u]

I would go for Norton; get the firewall too.

[mole]

Norton seems to integrate better with Windows and interfere less with the correct running of other software.

[keyplyr]

Here's what I do - use at own risk :)

In addition to installing reliable anti-virus (AV) software, and most importantly to config it to load ALONG with everything else as your machine boots up, there are a few easy steps that will greatly diminish the possibility of a virus even getting as far as your machine.

If you are using Outlook Express as you local mail client, open it up and go to Tools > Options > Security and check the box that says something like "do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentionally be a virus." Also, it's wise to only accept text messages. Most viruses/worms/trojans/etc will be included in HTML email.

Next, if you use Internet Explorer as you browser, go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced, scroll down and uncheck both "Install on demand" listings. Click OK, then open Security and click Custom Level. "Download Signed Active X" is best promped so you can decide on a case by case basis what programs you are willing to let others run on your machine. "Download Unassigned Active X" is safer to disable since the source is not willing to be accountable.

[u4eas]

i use norton corporate client at work and at home =)

i think its the best norton has it seems to use less resources then the other nortons.

I also used in the past Panda with nice success.

-u4ea

[dazz]

I use Norton and it is very good, I also use mailwasher which means you can delete SPAM or Virus Emails directly from your server before you download to your PC.....that means the very few dangerous emails that manage to get past mailwasher, Norton cleans them up!

I find it a nice combination at work and home.

[Brett_Tabke]

>Best Virus Protection

Opera + any email client not made in Redmond WA with a personal policy to devnull all email attachments that aren't images.

That will protect you from 99+% of the viruses and system exploits on the net today. I feel it's actually a higher level of protection than most antivirus programs.

I've never used any virus protection - never had a virus on my machines. And you know mine are on 24x7 and surf a couple k pages a day and get a 4 figure emails a day.

[HowlingWizard]

The most important part of having good antivirus protection is downloading the updates at least weekly, if not more often. Personally I like the Norton AV. Set the Live Update to automatic even with a dial up connection so you don't have to think about it.

I have done a good number of virus recoveries/repairs for clients. Some infections even when the virus def's where about a month old. A single virus can ruin your whole day/week and scrap many many hours of work.

IMO the virus creators are evil and need a proper education. (Thoughts of a good rope and 20 miles of dirt road....).