Best anti-virus software is ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Crimson Castle
  • Start date Start date
C

Crimson Castle

Hello,

I upgraded my computer to a P4 and installed WinXPpro (service pack1)
on Sunday. I couldn't connect to the internet due to the cable
software compatibility problem with XP but the cable modem was still
plugged in though. (My ISP - telstra bigpond system forces its cable
modem users to use its prop software to connect to the internet) I
installed my antivirus program VET that had the latest patch and went
to sleep. On Monday when the software problem was resolved, I then
proceeded to patch WinXP using windowsupdate.

But then I found that my computer was acting up. The CPU temperature
was going from 47 -59 and the CPU or powersupply fan was making made
high pitched noises. For a few seconds, I even heard an ugly grinding
noise coming from the CPU. The internet connection was also cutting
out and the cable modem lights - RD was flashing wildly and the TD
light was on 100%. The computer programs were very slow, typed words
took a few seconds to appear.... WTF????

My anti-virus program - CA's VET - fully updated - did not find any viruses.
I emailed them and a few days later they replied and told me to get trojan
hunter to fix the problem.
I thought that there were teething problem with the new hardware or
the windows update had screwed up. But then I found wuamgrd.exe and
wuacuclt.exe running in the background. All this in less than 6
hours??? I did the google search and went to sophos.com and followed
their instructions to remove wuamgrd but I couldn't remove wuauclt.exe
so I formated the core drive. I unattached the cable modem,
reinstalled WinXP pro, installed my personal copy of zone alarm pro,
reconnected the cable modem,
then proceed to update and patch XP. I also went to blackviper.com and
followed
his instructions to remove Window's stupid moronic default file
sharing and network programs. The people at Microsoft should get a
good kick in the groin for creating a hacker friendly OS.

Everything seems 100% perfect now. But.... however! I'm worried that
my computer's (data and storage) D: and E: hard drives harddrives,
which were connected, might be infected with the damned virus.

I did a search on wuamgrd but only trendmicro and sophos carry any
information about it. VET, my old av and grisoft do not.

So two questions - 1 - which is the best anti-virus software Sophos or
Trendmicro or any others? And should I be worried that my other
harddrives were infected?

Thanks and sorry for the long post!

Cheers,

Crimson
 
Hello,

I upgraded my computer to a P4 and installed WinXPpro (service pack1)
on Sunday. I couldn't connect to the internet due to the cable
software compatibility problem with XP but the cable modem was still
plugged in though. (My ISP - telstra bigpond system forces its cable
modem users to use its prop software to connect to the internet) I
installed my antivirus program VET that had the latest patch and went
to sleep. On Monday when the software problem was resolved, I then
proceeded to patch WinXP using windowsupdate.

But then I found that my computer was acting up. The CPU temperature
was going from 47 -59 and the CPU or powersupply fan was making made
high pitched noises. For a few seconds, I even heard an ugly grinding
noise coming from the CPU. The internet connection was also cutting
out and the cable modem lights - RD was flashing wildly and the TD
light was on 100%. The computer programs were very slow, typed words
took a few seconds to appear.... WTF????

My anti-virus program - CA's VET - fully updated - did not find any viruses.
I emailed them and a few days later they replied and told me to get trojan
hunter to fix the problem.
I thought that there were teething problem with the new hardware or
the windows update had screwed up. But then I found wuamgrd.exe and
wuacuclt.exe running in the background. All this in less than 6
hours??? I did the google search and went to sophos.com and followed
their instructions to remove wuamgrd but I couldn't remove wuauclt.exe
so I formated the core drive. I unattached the cable modem,
reinstalled WinXP pro, installed my personal copy of zone alarm pro,
reconnected the cable modem,
then proceed to update and patch XP. I also went to blackviper.com and
followed
his instructions to remove Window's stupid moronic default file
sharing and network programs. The people at Microsoft should get a
good kick in the groin for creating a hacker friendly OS.

Everything seems 100% perfect now. But.... however! I'm worried that
my computer's (data and storage) D: and E: hard drives harddrives,
which were connected, might be infected with the damned virus.

I did a search on wuamgrd but only trendmicro and sophos carry any
information about it. VET, my old av and grisoft do not.

So two questions - 1 - which is the best anti-virus software Sophos or
Trendmicro or any others? And should I be worried that my other
harddrives were infected?
Click to expand...

The wuacuclt.exe may have been spyware, BTW. Do you use AdAware and
Spybot?

Both Trend and Sophos are quite good. I recommend KAV and F-Secure as
"top notch". Do you use a firewall? You need one with XP.

See my web site for some further suggestions.


Art
http://www.epix.net/~artnpeg
 
The wuacuclt.exe may have been spyware, BTW. Do you use AdAware and
Spybot?

Both Trend and Sophos are quite good. I recommend KAV and F-Secure as
"top notch". Do you use a firewall? You need one with XP.

See my web site for some further suggestions.


Art
http://www.epix.net/~artnpeg
Click to expand...

Sophos is a great package but is really designed for networks. (mostly large
ones at that) For example, the full blown version's minimum # of licenses is
25. They have recently released a Small Business package that is a great
deal, but it is still not really a package you would want to purchase for a
single machine.
 
The wuacuclt.exe may have been spyware, BTW. Do you use AdAware and
Spybot? Both Trend and Sophos are quite good. I recommend KAV and F-Secure as
"top notch". Do you use a firewall? You need one with XP.
See my web site for some further suggestions. Art>
Click to expand...
http://www.epix.net/~artnpeg

Yes I have been using Zone Alarm Pro for 2 years already. I don't think much
about VET - its performance in detecting new viruses is OK but not up
there.In my experience it has missed several worms like the wuamgrd.exe -
and I don't get much help or courtesy from their support desk.
 
Jibefan said:
Sophos is a great package but is really designed for networks. (mostly large
ones at that) For example, the full blown version's minimum # of licenses is
25. They have recently released a Small Business package that is a great
deal, but it is still not really a package you would want to purchase for a
single machine.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I am attracted to Sophos only because it provided the details and
the solution to solve this new virus. Maybe I'll get TrendMicro or is there
something else called nods?
 
Thanks, I am attracted to Sophos only because it provided the details and
the solution to solve this new virus. Maybe I'll get TrendMicro or is there
something else called nods?
Click to expand...

Making your decision on the basis of which vendors happened to have
descriptions available is a very peculiar criteria :) It's likely that
many av products had and have detection.


Art
http://www.epix.net/~artnpeg
 
Crimson Castle said:
Hello,

I upgraded my computer to a P4 and installed WinXPpro (service pack1)
on Sunday. I couldn't connect to the internet due to the cable
software compatibility problem with XP but the cable modem was still
plugged in though. (My ISP - telstra bigpond system forces its cable
modem users to use its prop software to connect to the internet) I
installed my antivirus program VET that had the latest patch and went
to sleep. On Monday when the software problem was resolved, I then
proceeded to patch WinXP using windowsupdate.

But then I found that my computer was acting up. The CPU temperature
was going from 47 -59 and the CPU or powersupply fan was making made
high pitched noises. For a few seconds, I even heard an ugly grinding
noise coming from the CPU. The internet connection was also cutting
out and the cable modem lights - RD was flashing wildly and the TD
light was on 100%. The computer programs were very slow, typed words
took a few seconds to appear.... WTF????

My anti-virus program - CA's VET - fully updated - did not find any viruses.
I emailed them and a few days later they replied and told me to get trojan
hunter to fix the problem.
I thought that there were teething problem with the new hardware or
the windows update had screwed up. But then I found wuamgrd.exe and
wuacuclt.exe running in the background. All this in less than 6
hours??? I did the google search and went to sophos.com and followed
their instructions to remove wuamgrd but I couldn't remove wuauclt.exe
so I formated the core drive. I unattached the cable modem,
reinstalled WinXP pro, installed my personal copy of zone alarm pro,
reconnected the cable modem,
then proceed to update and patch XP. I also went to blackviper.com and
followed
his instructions to remove Window's stupid moronic default file
sharing and network programs. The people at Microsoft should get a
good kick in the groin for creating a hacker friendly OS.

Everything seems 100% perfect now. But.... however! I'm worried that
my computer's (data and storage) D: and E: hard drives harddrives,
which were connected, might be infected with the damned virus.

I did a search on wuamgrd but only trendmicro and sophos carry any
information about it. VET, my old av and grisoft do not.

So two questions - 1 - which is the best anti-virus software Sophos or
Trendmicro or any others? And should I be worried that my other
harddrives were infected?

Thanks and sorry for the long post!
Click to expand...

I'm not a virus professional, but, I am a heavy user, a professional graphic
artist and Access Database developer on my own, as well as Admin. Assistant
to a Dept head of a major light rail transit operation in So. Cal. I
currently use the AVG6 Free version for my active AV, and F-Prot DOS for my
on-demand AV on my home computer, and I am happy with the way they work.
But, if AVG6 Free failed to provide proper active protection, I would get
Nod32 or KAV.

Additionally, consider that there's more to selecting an AV besides great
detection, such as how compatible it is with your system, how it impacts
your resources in that it is not a resource hog, that it is not so full of
bloat that it is oppressive to your system, that it is not prone to give a
lot of false virus alerts, etc. When you search for an AV, think of how it
is going to work on *your* system, now how it works on mine or anyone
else's. I have WinME. :-)

Jan :)
 
Crimson Castle said:
Hello,

I upgraded my computer to a P4 and installed WinXPpro (service pack1)
on Sunday. I couldn't connect to the internet due to the cable
software compatibility problem with XP but the cable modem was still
plugged in though. (My ISP - telstra bigpond system forces its cable
modem users to use its prop software to connect to the internet) I
installed my antivirus program VET that had the latest patch and went
to sleep. On Monday when the software problem was resolved, I then
proceeded to patch WinXP using windowsupdate.

But then I found that my computer was acting up. The CPU temperature
was going from 47 -59 and the CPU or powersupply fan was making made
high pitched noises. For a few seconds, I even heard an ugly grinding
noise coming from the CPU. The internet connection was also cutting
out and the cable modem lights - RD was flashing wildly and the TD
light was on 100%. The computer programs were very slow, typed words
took a few seconds to appear.... WTF????

My anti-virus program - CA's VET - fully updated - did not find any viruses.
I emailed them and a few days later they replied and told me to get trojan
hunter to fix the problem.
I thought that there were teething problem with the new hardware or
the windows update had screwed up. But then I found wuamgrd.exe and
wuacuclt.exe running in the background. All this in less than 6
hours??? I did the google search and went to sophos.com and followed
their instructions to remove wuamgrd but I couldn't remove wuauclt.exe
so I formated the core drive. I unattached the cable modem,
reinstalled WinXP pro, installed my personal copy of zone alarm pro,
reconnected the cable modem,
then proceed to update and patch XP. I also went to blackviper.com and
followed
his instructions to remove Window's stupid moronic default file
sharing and network programs. The people at Microsoft should get a
good kick in the groin for creating a hacker friendly OS.

Everything seems 100% perfect now. But.... however! I'm worried that
my computer's (data and storage) D: and E: hard drives harddrives,
which were connected, might be infected with the damned virus.

I did a search on wuamgrd but only trendmicro and sophos carry any
information about it. VET, my old av and grisoft do not.

So two questions - 1 - which is the best anti-virus software Sophos or
Trendmicro or any others? And should I be worried that my other
harddrives were infected?

Thanks and sorry for the long post!

Cheers,

Crimson
Click to expand...

Microsoft has a free trial that is good for a year,
It includes etrust antivirus and a firewall.
www.my-etrust.com/microsoft/
 
Jan Il said:
Additionally, consider that there's more to selecting an AV besides great
detection, such as how compatible it is with your system, how it impacts
your resources in that it is not a resource hog, that it is not so full of
bloat that it is oppressive to your system, that it is not prone to give a
lot of false virus alerts, etc. When you search for an AV, think of how it
is going to work on *your* system, now how it works on mine or anyone
else's. I have WinME. :-)
Click to expand...

Thats good advice there.

I am using XP PRO with Zone Alarm Pro and Grisoft's AVG at the moment.

At the moment everything seems dandy. I think the firewall helps to keep out
a lot of the trojans.

I use mailwasher to scan all my emails - I delete all the spam and sus
emails before it even reaches my outlook express.

I only thought of Trend Micro because it provided documentation and a
solution for the new virus. Their online scanner also picked up the virus.
Vet had nothing on it and could not detect the virus. But Vet only came up
with a solution about two weeks ago.
 
Hi Crimson :-)

Crimson Castle said:
Thats good advice there.

I am using XP PRO with Zone Alarm Pro and Grisoft's AVG at the moment.

At the moment everything seems dandy. I think the firewall helps to keep out
a lot of the trojans.

I use mailwasher to scan all my emails - I delete all the spam and sus
emails before it even reaches my outlook express.

I only thought of Trend Micro because it provided documentation and a
solution for the new virus. Their online scanner also picked up the virus.
Vet had nothing on it and could not detect the virus. But Vet only came up
with a solution about two weeks ago.
Click to expand...

I use F-Prot DOS for my on-demand AV as a backup and second opinion to AVG,
which so far, neither have failed. But, when I want to have a third or
fourth opinion when there are new things going around in all directions, I
use Trend Micro Housecalls on-line scanner, and Panda On-line scanner.

I tried the MailWasher, but, it kept crashing my system, so I had to give it
up. I have Cox Cable High Speed Internet service as my ISP, and they have
recently started providing AV service for e-mails, with spam blocking and a
free popup blocker by CheckIt86. So, I don't get much junk any more. Once
in a while a spam will make it through, but, usually I don't get any. Whew!
I really like that.

You didn't mention, but, in case you don't have them, here are a couple of
items that do a great job in helping to keep your system clean as well. If
you already have them then just disregard them, but, perhaps they might help
others.

SpywareBlaster: Free
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Practice Safe Hex
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html

Jan :)
 
Jan Il said:
You didn't mention, but, in case you don't have them, here are a couple of
items that do a great job in helping to keep your system clean as well. If
you already have them then just disregard them, but, perhaps they might help
others.

SpywareBlaster: Free
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Practice Safe Hex
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html

Jan :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, I just realized I am quite lucky. None of my current AV programs
conflict with my Zone Alarm Pro firewall. I just read that some people are
having a lot of problems with them.

I bought Trojan Hunter 3.8. And I'm also using the freeware versions of
Spybot and Adaware.

My AV system is the freeware Grisoft AVG, my firewall is Zone Alarm Pro 5.
Everything is working very well. As mentioned, I was using CA's VET for many
many years. But I'm going to drop it as it is not as good as Trend Micro - I
will buy TM once I can find out how to configure ZA and TM to work together.
 
Crimson Castle said:
Thanks, I just realized I am quite lucky. None of my current AV programs
conflict with my Zone Alarm Pro firewall. I just read that some people are
having a lot of problems with them.

I bought Trojan Hunter 3.8. And I'm also using the freeware versions of
Spybot and Adaware.

My AV system is the freeware Grisoft AVG, my firewall is Zone Alarm Pro 5.
Everything is working very well. As mentioned, I was using CA's VET for many
many years. But I'm going to drop it as it is not as good as Trend Micro - I
will buy TM once I can find out how to configure ZA and TM to work
Click to expand...
together.

I am glad that you are not also having problems with the ZA Pro 5. I have
used the free versions for many years and never had a problem either. It is
good that you have made a suitable decision for your system, and hope it
will work as you plan.

Good luck! :-)

Jan :)
 
That web site makes it look like Norton is the AV with the great
performance, but it is NOD32. Norton comes in second to NOD32.

Regards, hawk
 
Crimson Castle said:
I think etrust is part of VET. Its all done by CA iirc.
Click to expand...

Yes, it is. And I have been using EZ Trust and the previous free
InoculateIT PE by CA for about 4 years. I like it. I believe the firewall
is one of the version 3.xxx ZA's.....just repackaged.

The new EZ Trust has auto updating and scans downloading mail. I don't like
the downloading scan so I have disabled it.

Cheers......Heather
 
hawk said:
That web site makes it look like Norton is the AV with the great
performance, but it is NOD32. Norton comes in second to NOD32.

Regards, hawk
Click to expand...
....


That web site is reporting history, not actual performance!

Roy
 
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