Author Topic: Looking for replacement for McAffee anti-virus (Read 764 times)

Questor · « **on:** December 28, 2009, 03:20:28 PM »

I don't like McAffee anti-virus. The main issue is it's renewal policy. Last computer I had it on it was practically impossible to renew the subscription online. This computer's version makes it easy to renew, but it has a clause in it that it will automatically renew using my credit card information next year at the then current renewal fee. I will never accept a term like that.

Can you recommend an effective substitute for McAffee that you have been personally satisfied with?

mechanic · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2009, 03:36:55 PM »

If you want a free download, there is AGV or Avast. I've used Windows Live One Care the last two years, comes with three computer license. Does not slow down the system like Norton and McAfee.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #2 on:** December 28, 2009, 04:03:36 PM »

I have not received a virus in years since using AVG free. I recomend it highly. Dale

powderman · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2009, 04:15:07 PM »

We too use AVG, but it really slowed things down. No viruses though. POWDERMAN.

Matt · « **Reply #4 on:** December 28, 2009, 04:23:19 PM »

AVAST.....
www.avast.com Get the pro version then after 90 days it rolls to the free version if you dont buy it.

I have tested AVG, AVAST, PC Tools, Norton, Kasper Sky, Panda and a few others and AVAST seems to have less overhead and works great. I get about 10 to 20 viruses on my system a month and run PC Tools and AVAST together and they seem to keep me clean

Matt

Redtail1949 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 28, 2009, 07:11:26 PM »

i have used quite a few different ones it seems to me to have the best balance of protection and overhead. if you want you can lkog on to your account and removed your credit card information and your problem will be resolved. thats what i did. then when they send reminders to renew i fill it back in.

also, i know comcast provides it for free if you have their service. i have it on all my home computors for free as i have comcast cable tv and internet.

kwells2006 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 28, 2009, 07:38:53 PM »

+1 AVG, wify is a Computer Tech at local university and thats what they use

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2009, 08:28:15 PM »

AVG Free 9.0 is good, use it on the wife's PC, but she doesn't do as much online as I do, I've been very happy with Avira Premium for several years, it's caught a lot of bad stuff in real time, before the PC is infected, they have multiple daily updates for new threats, all works transparently in the background except for the immediate threats when they're detected.

Tim

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avira

P.A. Myers · « **Reply #8 on:** December 28, 2009, 09:41:10 PM »

I use a product called ESET NOD32 Antivirus. Runs lean and mean, not intrusive also Not free. By far the best I have used. Most AV programs are just about useless.

Graybeard · « **Reply #9 on:** December 29, 2009, 02:46:40 AM »

I use both AVG and Ad-Aware to protect my computer. So far they are working quite well at it. I have to use the PRO Edition (Paid version) of both because of the odd operating system I use. The free versions are not compatible with my OS. But then it appears no one is writing viruses aimed at my OS anyway due to the very limited number of them in use.

Duckhunter250 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 29, 2009, 03:39:23 AM »

Another vote for Avast. Have used the free edition for years with no problems.

MGMorden · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2009, 05:52:32 AM »

AVG is good. Used to be one called Avast that was free and good too - not sure if they're still around. ClamWin is free and has very good detection rates/updates as well, but it's an on demand scanner rather than on access (ie, you till it to scan your computer and it runs a scan - it doesn't sit in the background looking for them).

You could also give Linux a spin (I recommend Ubuntu as a good starter distribution). It's free, open source (which means none of the control issues you have with DRM and the like from Windows or mac - your computer is your computer) and has none of the spyware issues of Windows. Viruses are virtually non-existent on the platform (partially due to virus writers not targeting it, but also due to a setup that is just inherently more secure than the way Windows does things). In effect it negates the need for anti-virus. In fact the virus scanners that DO exist for Linux actually scan for *Windows* viruses - they're not protecting themselves but rather protecting the windows machines that might later get the file from them (since Linux machines are very often used for things like file servers

).

alsaqr · « **Reply #12 on:** December 29, 2009, 06:27:43 AM »

Quote

This computer's version makes it easy to renew, but it has a clause in it that it will automatically renew using my credit card information next year at the then current renewal fee.

Do not agree to this. I am still getting charges on my credit card 4 years after I dropped McAfees. Every time I call and protest they claim that my credit card info will be deleted but I still keep on getting charges. I always catch the phoney charges but it is big pain.

Questor · « **Reply #13 on:** December 29, 2009, 06:41:41 AM »

That's why I won't agree to it either. I don't trust them. I don't order anything that has an automatic renewal. There have been several magazine subscriptions that I didn't get because there was an automatic renewal clause. There was a podcast I wanted to try for a few months, but I wouldn't do that because of an automatic renewal clause.

I have tried to contact McAffee about some tech support questions and they were so useless that it was just a waste of time. Clearly, they don't care about customers.

blind ear · « **Reply #14 on:** December 29, 2009, 12:15:13 PM »

alsaqr,
You might have been double buttoned. when you subscribed you might have pressed the button 2 times, that would create 2 accounts. AOL had that setup when they started. They lost a class action suite over it. When you call the antivirus company ask if you have more than one account. Tell them that you will be reporting the problen to the "Fraud department" of your credit card. My credit card company advised me of this move and it worked. AOL stopped billimg me. AOL never told me I had a secound account and would tell me they canceled my subscription each time.

Same with magazine subscriptions, don't pay by credit card, annual renewal clauses-pain!
I had to cancel the card and get it reissued to fix that one.

Related: I agreed to pay by check to a later billing a subscription and the mag sent me a bill stating the card transaction didn't work and please pay $5 more by credit card to correct the problem. RIGHT! It is thier time to figure out the threaded shaft elevation.

eddiegjr

If whatever antivirus you choose is too big and slows your computer down, you can load it on a stick and run it two times or one time a month by pluging in the stick. Some of the ones that scan ful time will shut a piss ant computer like mine down. good luck

leather5to1 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 29, 2009, 01:55:58 PM »

+1 for avast have had it for years never had to pay because it is a home computer and never had a problem.

BBF · « **Reply #16 on:** December 29, 2009, 01:56:56 PM »

AVG and Stopzilla

williamlayton · « **Reply #17 on:** December 29, 2009, 11:52:21 PM »

McAfee is the best.
1-408-992-8599 should get you in touch with them and they will download on line.
I think--after tryinag a number of "free" and paid anti-virus--that McAfee is the best.
Blessings

slim rem 7 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 30, 2009, 12:02:53 AM »

ive limited knowledge of this type thing .. but we have mc caffee and have so far avoided any disabling virus..slim

Questor · « **Reply #19 on:** December 30, 2009, 01:34:49 AM »

Thanks for all the info. I'll take a look at these options!