Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Drew345]

OK, I know this is a long shot; and I am sorry about reopening something that is discussed every 6 months.

I though that I read something on this forum as recently as a couple of months ago that went something like:
"the free version of (Avira / Avast) now includes (--- ---) and so is the obvious best choice." And then everyone else wrote in agreeing this to be true. OK, maybe that was just a dream because it never happens that way; still, is one really the obvious best choice now. (I searched and couldn't find it again.

I have always used AVG free, and coupled with my safe habits of daily scans, backups, never opening suspicious things, reformating any drive that touches a Korean computer ... , I have avoided viruses or really minimized their damage. But a friend just got hit, so I am thinking of going to stronger protection.

Thanks, Drew

[bassexpander]

I've used Avast on and off (mostly on) for over 5 years. It's generally been excellent, but you have to remember to scan once and a while if you have the free version. Avast's resident protection has improved a great deal, and now works quite well, though. A few years ago, I got hit by something from a download (I hadn't been scanning), though, so I tried other things for a while. I eventually went back to Avast after they improved their product.

I found that Avira, when I have used it, was a royal pain in the butt. It also seemed slow and heavier, pops up screens in the Free version (yes, these can be avoided if you modify your registry, which I never like messing with), and also seemed to cause blue screens for me -- not just on one computer, mind you.

These antivirus products have good and bad seasons, I've learned. Sometimes they'll be #1 in tests, only to drop substantially 9 months later, or encounter some major flaw. Avast has been pretty consistent at being a decent product that just works (save for that one problem I had, which also caused havoc with other brands at the time).

I would like AVG, but the sad fact is that their Free version DOES NOT add rootkit protection. Rootkits are seriously awful, and if one gets into your system, it often means a total reinstall of Windows to overcome the damage wrought (or to entirely remove it).

Avast does have anti-rootkit protection.

I purchased Kaspersky Internet Security for my wife (dirt cheap from legal Korean vendors, and product key works with English versions) because that's what she was used to at work. I liked their 2009 product a lot, and almost purchased it for my system. Their 2010 version was released a bit early, and had enough bugs that I just decided to stay with Avast. Avast has impressed me enough that I'm still sticking with Avast. And it's free. They're supposed to be coming out with a new version and new look soon.

[hanguker]

Microsoft Security Essentials has been working well for me lately.

Free and unobtrusive.

[bassexpander]

[pkang0202]

[bassexpander]

As a side note, my wife is continually disgusted with Kaspersky because it deletes all of those little banking additions that Korean banks insist on installing all over your computer (Woori, apparently) and throws such a fit over them when she attempts to reinstall that she just turns Kaspersky off during banking.

Personally, I think the Korean banking stuff attempts to exert far too much control/power over your system (and stay there) so I won't even do any of that on my main machine. I use my wife's when I have to bank. I am NOT a fan of Active-X.

[newjcubed]

Advanced system care works wonders for my computer. It scans for viruses spy ware, and fixes registry errors. I used to use Avast but got tired of all the pop ups and false virus warnings. They have a free edition which is what I use. http://www.iobit.com/advancedwindowscareper.html