Antivirus Software: Reviews

Independent testing labs concur that German-developed G Data Antivirus 2010 is the leader in identifying and blocking viruses. Part of the reason for this success is that G Data's program uses two separate antivirus… engines to hunt down threats. It also has a lower rate of false positives than other antivirus software. However, the user interface and customer support are reportedly weaker elements of G Data Antivirus 2010, so reviewers recommend it more for advanced users who have a good idea of how they want to customize their antivirus protection.

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Among the many free antivirus applications, reports point to Panda Cloud Antivirus Free Edition as one of the best choices. One plus is that this software constantly updates itself, which keeps antivirus protection very… current. The software exacts a relatively light load on computers thanks to its technique of uploading file data to Panda's servers for checking instead of downloading massive files of malware signatures. One downside is that while Panda Cloud Antivirus is very effective at keeping systems clean in the first place, like other free programs, it doesn't do the best job in cleaning everything out of an already infected computer. Also, Panda Cloud Antivirus Free Edition must be continually connected to the Internet in order to be fully effective.

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Among top all-in-one security suites, reviewers like Norton Internet Security 2010's simplified interface and the fact that most operations occur seamlessly in the background. User reviews indicate that it's quick to… install with minimal impact on system performance. The biggest advantage of using a security suite instead of separate antivirus, firewall, anti-spyware and other security applications is that the potential for software conflicts is eliminated. However, reviewers note that Norton is best used as a standalone application; users report conflicts with security software from other vendors.

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Norton continues to be the best-selling antivirus program -- and if you buy a new computer, you'll probably find a trial version of Norton installed. Reviewers say Norton AntiVirus 2010 is excellent at detecting viruses.… Professional reviewers say the 2010 release builds on the successes of the 2009 version, which was light and fast. Not only is it much more user-friendly than older Norton products, but Norton AntiVirus 2010 consistently performs very well on independent tests (though it is slightly edged out by G Data this year).

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Although Macintosh operating systems have far fewer viruses designed to attack them, Mac users, reviewers say, should still protect their systems. This is especially true for Macs networked to computers running Windows,… or Macs that have both the Mac OS and Windows installed on their hard drives. Intego VirusBarrier X6 is lauded as the best antivirus program for Macs, thanks to its quick, unobtrusive and effective operation. The price, a sticking point in earlier versions, has been significantly reduced, but users must pay a yearly subscription fee (*Est. $30), similar to that for Windows antivirus software.

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