[savedbygrace]

I've heard good things about BitDefender and NOD32.

Opinions? Other recommendations?

[RSmithOpt]

BTW, please I apologize for not mentioning this earlier...both Norton and Kaspersky 2009 versions will cause you serious problems if you try to run other security software at the same time....that’s a big downfall. It’s not a big issue if only one is running and you want to disable one temporarily and run the other.....I have found, on occasion, some of the freeware to catch spyware and malware Norton was asleep on.

[wally_bert]

I have been using VIPRE by Sunbelt and so far, so good.

[Semper911]

.

[Sudetenland]

Spend the money and get the best. Eset's Nod32 is the best anti-virus as tested against the broad panoply of known viruses. I has a small footprint and is reasonably easy to use.

The other "best" is Kaspersky. It performs almost as well as Nod32 but is somewhat easier to install.

I use Nod32 and have never had any difficulty in installing it.

From this review, Top Ten Review It appears that BitDefender is also a "best." My two cents.

[WestCoastGal]

Odd thing just happened in Photobucket. I was going to change a few files around and a complete unknown page pops up telling me my computer is infected and wanted to scan. I deleted it, and don’t have time to check it right now as I’m off to work. It was not my antivirus from Ca Security.

Has this happened to anyone?

[wildbill]

look into Threatfire from PC Tools.

It works on identifying and stopping potentially malicious behavior as it occurs instead of scanning to find items after they are in your computer and have been identified by a traditional anti-virus program.

I use it with AVG.

[ShadowAce]

[sionnsar]

safety ping

[stylin_geek]

I’m currently using Zone Alarm’s anti virus. So far, it’s been pretty good. I tried a few others, gave up, because they wouldn’t let me turn off things I didn’t want or need.

Zone Alarm anti virus comes with a built in firewall. However, I’ve turned that function off, because I’m behind a hardware firewall.

Were I you, I’d invest in router/firewall. For instance, the Linksys BEFSX41 EtherFast Cable/DSL Firewall Router is a decent piece of hardware.

[dubie]

We use NOD32 at the company I work for. 500 seats. No problems this past year. The NOD32 is not the best at spyware detection but I’m told their smart security is more designed for that. Small footprint...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I don't know how reputable this Review Site is...but it might be useful:

AntiVirus Software Review

Pinging others as we seem to be turning up useful information...

This Malware Game keeps changing....what was good last year seems to be an alsorun this year....

[Darwin Fish]

Self ping for later

Also, good info here on all things digital:

http://www.komando.com/downloads/categories.aspx?cat=Security

[rabscuttle385]

Recommend Nod32 from Eset.

[HAL9000]

The amount of time people waste trying to protect Windows is ridiculous. Those anti-virus/anti-spyware utilities are absolute garbage.

Get a Mac and stop worrying about it.

[savedbygrace]

I apologize for not replying to posts sooner, but I was busy researching the ideas and recommendations many of you made.

What I’ve decided to do for the moment os to get the 30 day free trial of NOD32 for an AV app and the free version of Online Armour for the firewall app.

Then, after I see that the two are working for me and not driving me crazy, then I’ll purchase the $$$ versions of each. I’d go ahead and purchase now, but I’ll be doing this for 3 PCs, and that would be something like $150.

Thanks, everybody - great thread.

[woollyone]

I’m no expert, but Avast works for me...and it’s free

http://www.avast.com/

[mysterio]

Not a firewall, but I would recommend running Malwarebytes regularly. It's free, and it has fixed my computer from attacks that I almost had to format the hard drive to get rid of.