Any vendor who claims 100% protection isn’t one I’d like to have protecting my system. 
Which is this “best” antivirus software?
The one that costs the most ;D
the best antivirus in the world is to unplug the computer from the switch and it will be protected. Many i have heard on this subject saying ( Comodo AV is not that great but their Firewall is superb) .
For many years i have been using this on my main machine since the early versions and i have been safe pretty much more than i have expected . i really mean it . I am not a big fun of big guys or anyone that claims they are the lightest the best the …est etc…
The best factor in my choice is that i have been freely free and really safe . never been deluded
gerti
Just my 2 cents worth here, friends:
This question may be the most critically important factor in Security products for millions of ‘Average’ users. I’ve just reinstalled Comodo. Had to uninstall a long time ago because Comodo definitions got bloated on my computer and it wasn’t fully compatible, hope we do better this time! I’ve always felt for many years Comodo is BEST, simply because it is and has proven itself BEST: end of discussion there.
Ran two AV’s over the last year, won’t name them but they both start with letters ‘Av’. Both made huge claims on their websites. Anybody can check for themselves. One of those SEEMED to offer a Firewall, TOTAL protection, along with AV. They even used the word Firewall protection in Search Engine Results, which descriptions were written by them, to mislead. Problem is the program didn’t have a firewall! Even after posting links on their AV forums to Search Engine Results with the claims clearly stated, I was told on forums, ‘We never said that!’ even though it was displayed in black & white!
Sometimes it’s not what you say, but HOW you say it. The descriptions are displayed at company websites that average people of normal intelligence would see as COMPLETE PROTECTION! The company may add in small print [from all known threats, virus, trojans and worms] which actually limits their former claim, while it seems to the reader to offer even more! Unsuspecting folks out in computer land see only ‘Complete Protection - all known viruses etc.’ and are fooled, which is the clear intent of those companies.
One more thing, regarding cooperation between Security companies: it’s my belief that most viruses, trojans, worms etc. are invented by computer security company employees or owners to attack the computers of people who don’t have their ‘Protection’ installed, to torpedo their competition! Then a dishonest corrupt companies flap their wings and crow loudly about how they were the FIRST to identify/catch/kill and protect against said malware! We catch MORE!
A well known saying in criminal investigations: ‘Follow the money!’. Seriously, how many people stay awake nights going to the most extreme trouble of inventing incredibly time consumning, difficult, complex malware code to attack computers of total strangers and why, why, why would they go to all that trouble for free? Just what kind of folks possess the skills and knowledge to invent this malware, and they’re all some kind of psychotic nuts?
I believe many claimed ‘hackers’ on hacker forums etc. aren’t that at all: they’re Security Company’s professionals, blowing more smoke to make it look like there’s a huge community of thousands and thousands of evil people out to get you, so you’ll BUY $ECURITY $OFTWARE! Make sense? Follow the money…
Slow down a bit.
A security company can make a big amount of income. They wouldnt bring that in danger for a little advertisement stunt.
Comodo is earning money by certificates. Do you think they fake “attacks” so people want to use certificates? Or that they produce malware codes to show the better protection of comodo?
The usual customer wants to be protected against the million things out there. Thats the choice. No one is going to compare specific threats first (related to virus versions).
And if you ask yourself, why people are trying to put “well written” malware on a users computer,
install these things,
and see your banking money disappear,
your personal data used for oders at shops, for fake passports, for blackmail, for pressure,
your accounts getting hijacked,
your computer is sending spam mails,
your computer is ddos ing,
you are becoming the source of criminal investigation.
Thats why people are writing malware. Among others.
My apologies in that I failed miserably to make myself clear. When I said that I have always thought Comodo was BEST, in my own mind I assumed that would let people know I wasn’t including them in any of those following accusations. So to state it in print, I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT INCLUDE COMODO in the description of unscrupulous code writers! Comodo has an entirely different outlook on the business and has very high moral standards that are agressively followed, and hearty congratulations there! They have my respect. Fact is, that’s part of the reason I’m back here, because I hated to say goodbye to the company and the product in the first place. Just wouldn’t work for me back then, hoping for much better this time amd so far, so good.
Also I agree with those specifics you described. I wasn’t meaning those types of malware but again failed to explain. I meant something like this recent ‘Doomsday’ trojan or worm or whatever it was, and similar other viruses etc. that do not return any direct profit to hackers in any way. All they do is damage thousands of computers and the only ones who could possibly profit directly as in financially are Security providers. Within that I honestly believe that yes, some companies may very well be supplying the threats that they just happen to have a solution for! That does not and has never included Comodo as an agent of deceit.
Truly sorry to ruffle your feathers and I deserved the response! Thanks…
I just tried to say, you shouldnt make assumptions about misbehaviour just because it “could” be possible.
And i included comodo as an example because you excluded it
The both antiviruscompanies in your topic are giving you good free antivirus products.
I could not speak bad about them. If you want an antivirus.
Hanlon’s razor: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity. 
Love your work Kail! 
Sorry if i am out of the context,
but did you actually attempt to adequately explain malware coding by stupidity?
I think what Kail is trying to say is that it is wise to not too easily jump to the conclusion that malicious intent is the running principle for all things that one considers failed, improper or not right.
There never has been any proof AV companies are making the viruses themselves.
I understand what you folks are saying, and do agree that in general most Security companies are most likely on the up & up, two in particular. Comodo is one of those two and has been since they started. The others I just give the ‘benefit of the doubt’ as we say. On the other hand "All is fair in love & war’ is a well known saying…
The fact that you and I have actual morals and ethical principles doesn’t mean it’s universal among men and women. Just like all the mean, dirty, rotten, low down scoundrels and rats that Clockwork described above there are those sorts among us, lots of them. Old fashioned values and principles are being pushed aside nowadays and the general thoughts among a large segment of the population are, ‘If it feels good do it’ and ‘You are your own god’ and ‘If it seems allright to you, then it’s allright’. The thought there is that morals and ethical principles are wide open to personal interpretation without the former hard and fast rules of yesterday.
How often we read of people in areas of extreme influence, power and considerable wealth who get caught in huge fraud schemes, outright thefts, misrepresentations [lies], bait and switch, bribery, extortion, assaults, murders, assassinations and other crimes too disgusting to describe here! Fact is there are a whole bunch of people who make up their own rules as they go along and as long as their is a personal gain or pleasure, anything goes. Run it till you get caught.
In most cases people carrying out big time frauds know that even if they do get caught, let’s say defrauding for $10,000,000 [ten million dollars] that the chances are they’ll only get fined maybe $500,000 and have to do maybe 1-2 years in a low security ‘prison’ that’s more like a country club. Most cases, no incarceration at all, just a fine! Not a bad tradeoff, and there’s an even better chance they’ll never get caught!
I surely welcome and support your opinions but I must say I disagree. It’s just a fact of life there’s some real rats out there and it seems to me there’s too much money to be made in the scam I described, of inventing viruses that your security company of course has the fix for. If it’s a real nasty virus or malware it will be splashed all across the news and all the computer related websites, that ‘XYZ Security’ swooped down like a super-hero and saved the whole planet, HOORAY! $$$$$!! Can I prove it? No, I’m not a computer security pro.
[at] Kail - your razor needs sharpening!!! ;D
Sounds like a conspiracy theory and it is usual to counter such things with Occam’s razor.
How does this fit? In several ways, but I’ll only proffer one at this time: Loose lips sink ships.
Of course it can be a fine line between ‘Conspiray theories’, paranoia, and a healthy, inquisitive, questioning mind. Just as well it’s a fine line between wholesome logical thinking and undue caution. I admit I prefer to err on the side of healthy, inquisitive, questioning mind and shy away from undue caution. In this particular case one thing is sure. Regardless of who holds the correct opinion there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it so there’s no need to fret and fiddle oneself into the paranoia category.
However I do see the term ‘Conspiracy Theory’ most often used defensively nowadays to make an accusation of sorts. There’s an obvious flavor about it that leans heavily towards the thought of someone who is paranoid and delusional and to quickly dismiss all consideration of the validity of any statements because we’re surely dealing with a sick mind. It’s pretty hard not to take that personally as an affront, as there’s not much other point in saying it, but unfortunately it’s very common. Just as well it derails any discussion about the subject matter, which is the most negative result. In my case it’s not a matter of concern and afterall, on my part it was merely a suggestion offered with no expectation of a conclusive result. Best to all.
You are meeting just more peoples in your life than in old ages. And you read more bad stories today. That gives the impression.
And even though the “old” rules are more often replaced by personal concideration today, the good effect is overweighting the bad. Old rules have been boundaries. They didnt make the world a better place.
Just one example:
Printed words of “god” have been the concrete leading guide. And i would imagine, the world would have been perefect back then…
But wait, didnt they even dedicate the guns and the soldiers to god? … ON ALL SIDES?!
I am sure that personal concideration is good. And you have to live with side-effect stupids. Avoid them.
Thats better than to be bound one day to a rule giving stupid, and you arent allowed to evaluate yourself.
My suggestion:
Stay with products that are giving you the choice to pay. They dont have an interest in producing “needs”. They offer a product, and you can choose what to do if you are fine with it.
And, btw, “producing new virus” is a bad advertising:
-Until yesterday our customers havent been protected against “this 2.0”. This can happen everyday. We patched just one hole yesterday. Our product needs patches. Our product is not allways safe.-
Customers dont search the “newspaper”. They are reading tests. They are looking how many people choose that product. OR they are not making an informed decision.
The effort/price of a “virus conspiracy” is in no relation to the effect it has.
And the big point:
The inventing work would be produced just to go into the trash. What a waste.
No, this theory is leading to nowhere.
The true core in it is this:
Dont let yourself been lead to pay for security after someone tried to convince you. As long as there is no free version, and as long as you are not making the choice.
Its like in the real world.
It is impossible that we survived the past! There was no chance! (… Compared to the need of regulating and protecting laws and agencies that is propagated as necessary today.)
But the truth is:
These “necessarities” are generating income. And where is possible income, people are creating needs to foundate this income.
A lot of examples… Operation systems… Be sure, you will buy each time a bad/outdated product… No, its not me who is saying this… Its the company itself and the fanboys, when they have the new version and looking down to the “oldtimers”
Use your knowledge to be free.
Dont get confused by possibillities
Make choices.
Hi,
Sorry I am such a late bloomer on this subject but I am currently a programmer for a very large security software company, that’s all I will say about that… and I have been very busy working on a new project for next year.
Quite frankly I can say with all certainty that the Anti-Virus business is about a 50/50 split. Most do actually protect you from harmful downloads or suspicious program activity but when companies add scanning signatures into their databases for viruses or what many would call “malware” before any such payloads are even reported in any way, even to the companies themselves, it makes one wonder.
There has always been speculation that security software companies themselves have even released malware that their software is ready to detect.
Either way, to go completely without active scanning and periodical system scan these days is asking for trouble. Nowadays there are so many great FREE products that there is no reason NOT to have one. COMODO’s products are a good example.
Even though I code for a large “pay” AV company I use COMODO religiously.
IMHO of course. \m/ Rock On COMODO!
What proof do you have for “companies add scanning signatures into their databases for viruses or what many would call “malware” before any such payloads are even reported in any way”?
That accusation is as grave as it is interesting especially since you state to be working for a security company.
Please enlighten us with some cold hard facts.
Read the post before you reply with something like that. Of course therer are no “cold hard facts” that’s why I said there has always been “speculation”.
I need no “proof” because as I said this is IMHO.