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DEL.ICIO.USConsumer Reports rates malware tools
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Consumer Reports magazine, in its September print edition, has a really great section on fighting computer viruses, adware, and malware in general.
You’ll be able to read many of the reports free on the magazine’s Web site here. However, the actual ratings of the products are restricted to subscribers.
Since I do subscribe I can tell you that the highest rated anti-virus software came from BitDefender and Zone Labs. When it came to spyware, the champions were F-Secure and Webroot. Trend Micro and Allume Systems were at the top for anti-spam.
I’ve included clickable links for all these companies. Keep in mind that most of these are commercial for-pay products. Also remember that many of these companies offer an array of products and that the recommendations by Consumer Reports were for the specific product, for instance an anti-virus program, not the entire product line.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Viruses, spam, adware, etc.
Comments
By Godfrey
August 10, 2006 04:23 AM | Link to this
Thanks. Also cnet a great sight. Thanks to you I went there trying to get low down on wireless printers. Much good stuff there. Keep up the good work.
By Rob
August 10, 2006 04:06 PM | Link to this
I read the Consumer Reports article and was surprised they left out the free antivirus program AVG, from Grisoft.com. TechnoBuddy and other have highly recommended this program in the past. It has a daily update feature that is works great.
By Bill Husted
August 11, 2006 06:51 AM | Link to this
Hi Rob, yes, that is interesting. And it doesn’t look like CR even tested Grisoft.
I talk to someone there on a semi-regular basis and I’ll make a point of asking if the product was tested at all and recommend that they give it a try if it wasn’t.
The only free anti-virus program on the list was Alwill from Avast.
I found a review - from 2005 - that talks about the two free anti-virus programs.
By Nick G
August 14, 2006 08:35 PM | Link to this
I have the Zone Alarm Security Suite which has a firewall, anti-virus, anti-malware, and other feautures. I do agree with some opinions that it is one of the best all around systems out there, but you do have to be a little bit of a computer geek to get it to run smoothly. Too much protection and your connection to the world (dial up, Dsl, cable) will basically be blocked and too little protection probably won’t really hurt you.
The learning curve is somewhat steep, but really isn’t that bad. It’s actually kind of interesting and fun to fine tune it to your needs.
My only problem is the anti-spam feature, which lets in a decent amount of obvious spam mail even after a year of use. Otherwise it’s a great system.
By Brenda Heinze
August 23, 2006 03:00 AM | Link to this
AVAST Antivirus says it’s a free download right up until you’ve filled out the info. - then they want money.