Which antivirus is right for you ?

Buying an antivirus is like buying car insurance in the way that you hope to never really have to use it but it’s comforting to know that somewhere on your computer a trusty piece of code if silently sifting through the vast array of email files, downloaded data, and even the bits flowing through your internet connection itself. In my years in the security field I’ve found that most malicious code is in the form of a Trojan horse or in simple terms a program that reports information about you to a network hub ,in many ways you won’t even know your infected .That being said it’s even more vital for novice or casual users to invest in a good piece of antivirus that will do most of the dirty work for you like closing the open ports in windows and in most cases keeping you from becoming infected in the first place .So let’s discuss the various new antivirus and how to choose one that will suit your individual needs.

Well that’s a pretty common question nowadays from companies as well as independent users and the answer is , alot.Computer related security threats have risen dramatically over the past few years propagating mostly from countries outside the United States while we remain the top target among the world in number of computer attacks against us. In 1990, estimates ranged from 200 to 500 active viruses; then in 1991 estimates ranged from 600 to 1,000 different viruses. In late 1992, estimates were ranging from 1,000 to 2,300 viruses. In mid-1994, the numbers vary from 4,500 to over 7,500 viruses. In 1996 the number climbed over 10,000. 1998 saw 20,000 and 2000 topped 50,000. It's easy to say there are more now. What this means for the casual user is that its more a matter of how many attacks rather than “if” their computer will be targeted, luckily we have help.

Anti viruses are great for the most part at what they do, but it’s more a matter of what they don’t do that should be important to you .While most are good at finding viruses once on your system it becomes a matter of keeping them off your computer in the first place and the best place to start is to incorporate a firewall into the antivirus program. Most antivirus programs equipped with firewalls are now marketed as Security Suites and they are really the way to go for all inclusive privacy. Firewalls work by blocking unwanted traffic to ports open by default on windows based computers and this is the key to keeping unwanted visitors off you computer. Only a proficient user would add a external firewall application mainly because they can be complex to configure and add varying annoying to the casual user, but they have done a good job in simplifying the process in the bundle suites.

If you are somewhat new to computers and only do basic tasks we will consider you a casual user for now .So you might think well I’m not on the computer that much why should I spend the money for a fancy all inclusive security suite? Well the answer is in the question, since you’re not on the computer very much that makes you more at risk because you are less likely to be alerted to suspicious files or activity and for casual users I suggest a very inclusive although somewhat costly security suite. Trust me the cost will go out the window the first time it saves your data from an attack or saves you from having to do a complete system restore. Like everything in life there is a tradeoff, these programs tend to be somewhat resource intensive and can slow down the overall performance slightly. That being said the benefits still far outweigh the drawbacks for consumers not wanting a crash course in security .In this category I have two recommendations. One is from a company called Symantec and it’s their latest and greatest installment called Norton 360.The second is from a overseas company noted for its precision in finding viruses called Kaspersky Internet Security. Norton 360 is by far the most comprehensive application combining:

· Antivirus

· Antispyware

· Antiphishing

· Online identity protection

PC tune-up keeps your PC running at peak performance

· Embedded support components diagnose problems and help you quickly resolve common issues

· Includes free support via email and live chat

· Includes 2GB of online storage

The program also features online backup which is a nice asset to the program. Symantec also added a simple although somewhat cartoon looking interface that I doubt power users would enjoy although it makes for simple navigation through the program. Another interesting feature is Phishing protection, basically checks the sites you visiting for possible fraudulent activity. This feature did seem to stall page loading occasionally but could be useful for those who do a lot of online buying. Norton is a great choice for someone looking for a complete suite and little or no fuss.

http://www.symantec.com

Kapersky has a lot of good things going for it, namely its speed of scans and thoroughness of its firewall component.KIS as it’s called had the most configurable firewall which more advanced users will appreciate and its virus scans were as fast as I’ve seen in any program.Kaspersky will slow down your system slightly as expected but nothing too cumbersome. The firewall might be a little much for average users, so I ranked it below Norton as far as ease of use and setup. It does seem to be better at intercepting unwanted traffic at the cost of a heck of a lot of pop up messages and warnings if set to learning mode, it will eventually not bug you as much and learn what is permitted and what is not. Experienced users will appreciate the no frills interface and simple intuitive navigation without all the fancy graphics after all it is a antivirus not a videogame.

Features:

The Best Anti-Virus Protection

* Ranked #1 for anti-virus detection*

* The industry's fastest response time to new Internet threats**

* Standard automated hourly anti-virus updates (Tiny at ~50 Kb each!)

* The most monthly updates available!†

* Real-time e-mail, file and web scanning for safe surfing

Robust Spyware Protection

* Prevents root kits and key loggers from stealing personal data

* Automatically removes hidden spyware

* Detects unauthorized activity & probes

* Blocks unwanted pop-ups & banners

Anti-Hacker Protection

* Fully integrated personal firewall

* New generation Intrusion Detection/Prevention System (IDS/IPS) * Privacy controls protect passwords and confidential data* Parental controls limit online time and access to forbidden sites (with tracking) * Stealth mode to remain invisible onlineAnti-Spam Protection

http://usa.kaspersky.com

Some of the features mentioned before may be a bit overkill for more knowledgeable users who could do without some of the fancy graphics and varying annoyances. For people who want a solid antivirus with great speed and basically have a feel for security itself I would recommend a little less intensive program like Esets Nod 32 Security suite. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of something like Norton but what it does have it makes work quite well. Scans were very quick using Nod32 and it never noticeably slowed down the system at all which was nice to see. The interface is very nice also ,it remains simple and attractive while seemingly keeping all the major functions on display. On demand scans are very quick and thorough although it doesn’t like to scan very large files or folders and tends to bog down towards of the end of the scan which is interesting as large files haven’t affected any other of the programs tested. Overall Eset have turned out a very well designed security suite in its latest offer and continues to receive accolades in the security industry ,after installing Nod 32 it’s easy to see why .Hopefully this helped out your decision when you buy your next antivirus and remember every user has different needs.