As Ive mentioned in several previous threads, our computers here are very system specific, for running stage shows and large video displays. Most of em dont get online unless they are getting a software or driver update or routine maintainence so most of em are AVP butt naked.
However, since I also do a ton of computer repairs and have seen most if not all of em, and tried a few myself, i thought I would offer an opinion.
Remember, I said OPINION, this one is mine, cause I know what I have seen and what works.
For the hardy websurfer with no other life if i had to pick one it would be one of three.
AVG full paid, cause theres too many things the free version will not get. Still one of the most stable and best for the money.
Norton. its a pain in the A$$ and if you have to remove it theres no clean way to do it without having SOME OS side effects when its done, but when its fully updated and fully paid, its still one of the best there is.
Kapersky. Ive never seen a system running with it, that had a virus problem.
For the knowledgable and careful I would reccomend what i use.
The paid version of Malwarebytes anti malware. I first used it about 2 years back while fighting the coolkidwebsearch virus thing. Its not fully automatic, but it dont ask a ton of questions everytime i do something either which is something I personally cannot stand.
I also try a lot of software from sometimes questionable (ahem) sources, and if i want to run something thats a bit below the board, it will let me if i choose to. and it will not eat the source as i download it.
Ive watched it evolve for two years now, its one of the most cost efficiant non invasive AVP's on the market and one of the least known and newest. Also one of the easiest to configure if you are sending a computer to a non techie type. I put it on my 68 year old aunt's computer and this woman will click on anything that catches her eye, and have had no problems, SHE understands it, which is a shock cause this is a woman that can and has burnt water while cooking, and thinks a screwdriver is best served in a tall glass-
Ive had WAYYYY too many issues with computers running McAfee, and spent a lot of time doing fresh installs to systems that ran it. Once again- this is an opinion.
There are others out there, but the REAL issue here comes down to one thing.
If you run a paid AVP, and dont keep your lic up to date and paid, then dont expect it to work.
If you run a FREE avp, and catch a rootkit virurs, remember that most free AVPs are only for viruses , not rootkits and theres a big difference in the two. You get what you pay for, if its free, theres usually a reason.
If it came with your new laptop , and you dont do anything with it, and all of a sudden you have a virus then do not be suprised. Remember, the companies that supply software to the manufacturers do it to get new customers, so you cannot ignore it and hope it goes away, you will keep getting the nags no matter what. either uninstall it, and get something else , or just buy it. I get so many customers that 6 months after they buy a computer will walk in my shop and say " But it came with Brand X anti virus when I bought it" and just cant understand why some trojan just ate your only unbacked up pix of the babys birth or daughters wedding. If you dont activate it or buy it then dont expect it to do anything. Just cause its in your computer does not mean its working.
If you run ANY avp, and its asking for an update but your too damn busy at that moment to let it do so, then dont come B!^ch'n to the local computer shop when you get an adware trojan and dont know what to do cause it locked you out of your own computer.
If you run ANY avp, and schedule your scans for your peak usage hours, and keep putting off the daily scans, cause it interupts what you are doing at the time, the dont expect miracles from its performance.
If you run MULTIPLE avps along with various firewall enhancements, and a bunch of anti spyware, and your computer barely runs cause its so busy analyzing everything that it cannot do anything else, get off the porn sites, re install your os, go wash your hands (please), and find something better to do with your life. and get something that just works and quit being so paranoid. they are not coming to take you awayyyyyyy.
An AVP only runs as well as its owner and or operator configures it, and allows it to do its job, regardless of what brand it is or what OS you run it on.
like I said earlier; MY opinion.
never had a problem with anything