NCSAM: Anti-Virus and other layers of protection (Part 2)

by Steve Ragan - Oct 7 2008, 17:35

Part 2 of this Anti-Virus article for the NCSAM series will focus on what to look for when purchasing Anti-Virus software as well as list some of the well-known vendors and what they offer. Refer to Part 1 to cover some of the basics.

What should I look for when buying Anti-Virus?

The simple and short answer to this question is what ever product works best for you. Now, with that said, you must consider several factors.

Price:

There are commercial (that you buy) AV products and there are free ones. However, remember that most free AV software, while superb, does come with some restrictions.

Here are some free AV programs to consider, most of these are free for personal use only.

AVG Free:
AVG Free makes a great layer of security on a computer. You will need to add other tools, such as Spyware scanning (Spybot Search & Destroy), to round out the protection. AVG Free is supported by email only, it is also not allowed for business use.

What is missing from AVG Free that is located in the commercial versions of AVG?

Firewall, Anti-Rootkit, Anti-Spam (there is some spam coverage in AVG Free, but it is sparse), and Safe Surf. (Safe Search is included in the free version of AVG, which is different from Safe Surf.)

Comodo Anti-Virus:
Comodo’s AV offering is free for both business and personal use. Comodo’s offering is exactly like the paid versions you see from the larger (McAfee, AVG, Symantec) vendors. However for the price, Comodo’s offering is comprehensive and makes a great layer of security on a computer.

PC Tools Anti-Virus Free Edition:
Free for personal use, PC Tools’ free offering is exactly like the paid version when it comes to coverage. The major difference is access to 247 support and high-speed updates.

System Usage:

Another factor that you want to consider when picking an Anti-Virus program is how much of a drain on the system it will be when you use it. You can learn this information from reading reviews, but also from testing out the trial software all vendors offer.

What you want is a good mix of protection, while keeping as much of the system resources as you can. For example, most of the new software versions of various AV products are smaller, use little if any system resources, and limit the number of popup warnings and alerts.

There are also some AV products with gamers in mind, so that the system protects you in a silent mode when you play games. This silent setting will halt notices and other alerts while you play the game, allowing you to focus on that instead of clicking on an “OK” button to clear a notice.

Another feature that is included with most new AV software is the ability to scan only when the computer is idle. This allows you to use the computer as you want, and skip the lag that comes when you try to work on editing a video or surf the web when the scanner is working.

Again, the only way to test this and find a product that works for you is to try them all and use some of the trials they offer.

Usability:

Another feature you want to consider is usability. How easy is it to update the AV program? How simple are the controls and navigation? How easy is it to locate help or support if you don’t understand a setting or term?

These things are important, because if a product is hard to use, then it is often left neglected.

Who are the vendors I should look at?

The question of who is the best security vendor is one that no one will agree on. IT people have their personal favorite, and so will your friends and family. Still, it never hurts to talk to others about what they use and why.

The list of vendors below is in no special order, simply a list of common vendors. Check each of them out, use their demo software, and pick one that works best for you.

Symantec:
Creators of Norton AntiVirus and Norton Internet Security.

The cost will vary for the Symantec products, and like most, it is a renewing license for the software. You can easily find hundreds of reviews on Norton products. Read them all and then try the demos.

McAfee:
Creators of McAfee Total Protection and McAfee Internet Security. Both of those products use the McAfee VirusScan.

McAfee is known best for their Internet Security and VirusScan products that are shipped OEM on many new computers. The company has been around for years and is constantly mentioned as the largest alternative to Symantec products.

AVG:
AVG offers both free and commercial products as mentioned. If you want to use AVG, but skip the free offerings, check out AVG Internet Security 8.0.

AVG Internet Security 8.0 offers all of the protection of AVG Free, but adds what the free version misses. Like offerings from McAfee and Symantec, you will want to read as many reviews as you can and try the product to ensure it is exactly what you are looking for before you buy.

BitDefender:
BitDefender is another security company that is often referenced with the other “big boys” in the security world. Their new product, BitDefender Total Security 2009, is a huge advancement over earlier offerings.

One of the significant improvements in Total Security 2009 that stands out is faster scanning, which was one of the more pronounced complaints about the company’s product line.

They offer a full featured demo, and it is well worth a look.

ESET:
ESET is the vendor who you rarely see mentioned in the press with the other larger vendors. However, just because you do not know this company’s name, do not discount what they offer. ESET gained most of its fame for NOD32, the Anti-Virus software available for Windows, Linux, and FreeBSD. The last two platforms are largely responsible for the buzz and reputation ESET has earned over the years.

Their new program, ESET Smart Security, comes with a 30-day trial and all of the slick offerings you see in the offerings from Symantec and McAfee.

Panda Security:
Panda is another company you might now know of, as they are often low-key with regard to marketing on a massive scale. They have quietly moved into a spot where they are compared to McAfee and BitDefender as a challenger to the number two or three spot in the top AV vendor lists.

Another interesting aspect to Panda is that you could argue that they invented the process of cloud-based Malware scanning. You can argue this because they were using it for over a year before you saw it mentioned with the other larger vendors and in the press as something new.

Panda’s Internet Security 2009 software uses the global-based Malware scanning technology, which they call Collective Intelligence, to increase detection coverage and provide faster protection to new threats.

They offer a 30-day trial as well, so if you are looking at AV vendors add them to your list.

Kaspersky:
Kaspersky is easily the vendor of choice for many geeks. They have a great system of coverage, and often release new signatures before anyone else. One of the things most users love about their software is how it adapts to the user.

Depending on the computer’s usage, Kaspersky’s Internet Security 2009 scanning speed will adjust itself based on activity. So if a scan is in process while you try to watch a video online or work inside an Office document, the software will slow or even pause scanning to adjust itself allowing you complete control over resources.

The other option that some users like is the ability to scan new files or modified files only.

Again, Kaspersky offers a free trial, so if you are looking check it out.

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